I came across Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up on Netflix while I was on my maternity leave and as a result- my new baby girl spent many an hour watching me clear and tidy our space. After completing Kondo’s programme, I thought I would share with you the things I learned post cleanse.
Minimalism on Female First
Space
By adopting Marie Kondo’s method, you create much more space in your drawers. She advises that you store everything vertically so you can see exactly what you have with one glance. Even more so, if you cleanse your space of the clothes you no longer need or use. I was just about to go out and buy another set of drawers to house my clothes as my husband’s were taking over our shared space- then I applied the Kondo method and I have space left in the drawers now.
Taking stock
One of Kondo’s pieces of advice is to pull out everything from one category and put it in one place. Once you see the sheer amount of one thing you own- it makes you realise that you don’t need so much of the same product or itme. I soon realised this when sorting my kitchen out- we had duplicates of all of the utensils and I realised that I hadn’t ever used the back-up items. The reality is- if something breaks or wears out- it only costs a few pounds to get another so you don’t need things in reserve for that ‘just in case moment’.
Sparking Joy
Her main mantra is to keep things in your space that ‘spark joy’. So, if you don’t love it- why do you have it in your home? I have a much greater appreciation for the things I own now. The key pieces are no longer buried under or behind other things that I don’t need or use. Most importantly, they aren’t disguised by things that bring me no joy. I am displaying my pared down items more effectively now so I can enjoy looking at them such as sentimental teddy bears, pictures and ornaments.
Aspirational items
I think we are all guilty of keeping aspirational items. Clothes we are going to slim down into, books we are going to read, recipes we are going to make. The reality is- if you haven’t done it by now- then it clearly isn’t a priority in your life at present- which is ok. If your things make you feel like a failure every time you look at them- then purge them and keep only the things you use often and get pleasure from.
I now have a one in and one out policy with books- I read one- give it away, take it back to the library or pass it back to the person I have borrowed it from and then allow myself to acquire another. This way I don’t have a huge ‘to read’ pile, which made me feel like I was constantly behind. The way they were stored turned reading into more of a task that I needed to tick off than a pleasurable hobby.
Gratitude
Kondo is a big believer in thanking whatever you are giving away for its service to you when you needed it. I think this is a great idea because it takes away the guilt of discarding items you may find difficult. You are grateful for the time when it had a purpose in your life but declaring that you are ready for someone else to enjoy it. In the same vein, it helps you to be thankful for the things you might not thanks in your life. In Tidying Up, Kondo always begins the process by taking a few precious seconds to appreciate the space she’s in and respect it for what it has given the family, even if it needs some love and attention.
I now take a moment each day to think about how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and a safe place for me and my family to live. Not everyone can say the same and your cherished things become an extension of this.
Honesty
Using the MK method helps you to be really honest with yourself. Are you ever going to wear that top again? Are you really going to learn that instrument? Are you honesty going to read that magazine? Will you ever use that gym equipment?
If you haven’t been passionate about something enough to address it yet, then perhaps you never will be- so it may be time to say goodbye. I decided to rid my wardrobe of all the clothes that were too small for me and leave only the things that fit me now and make me feel good. If I lose weight then I will probably want a whole new style anyway so why hang onto the past?
Easy maintenance
Once you have MK’d your home, it is so easy to keep on top of. I now fold everything from my washing pile in the MK style and put it away. The boxes I have compartmentalised similar items into make it so much easier to find and put things away. It encourages good habits and you are able to constantly evaluate everything in your home so you don’t fall into the same traps as before. Plus, it changes your shopping habits. Once you have gone to all the trouble of sorting your space you become reluctant to mess it up again by bringing more things in to your home. I had many things on Amazon and eBay that I was watching with the intention of buying once I got paid. But now I go away and really think about it and nine times out of ten I decide that I don’t actually need it and the desire for the items has passed.
Thank you Marie Kondo for transforming my attitude towards my belongings and making me realise what’s really important in my life!
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