Marie Kondo Tips For Decluttering

Have you jumped on the Marie Kondo bandwagon yet? At the start of 2019 Netflix released the series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”. Based on her best-selling book “The Life-Changing Method of Tidying Up”. This series guides us on how to properly declutter and organize our living space while keeping items that only bring us joy

Here are some tips:

1) Finish discarding things you don’t need before making storage space. Many of us are guilty of constantly organizing things we don’t need or want. Marie Kondo recommends ridding of everything before even attempting the organizing stage. She recommends holding each item and asking yourself “Do I truly need this?” If not, toss it in the trash on into the donation bag it shall go.

2) Fold your clothes side by side in your drawers. This is one of Marie Kondo’s biggest hacks. She has a unique way of folding clothing and suggests that this way allows you to see exactly what you have and it’s a great way to keep things colour coordinated.

                            

3) Only keep things that “spark joy”. If you find it difficult letting go of old items. Hold the item and ask it if it brings your joy. If it does, hold on to it. If it does not, thank it for the joy it once brought to your life and get rid of it.

4) Make sure everything has its own place in your home. This speaks for itself. Make sure to keep everything in the same place. Do you leave your keys at the front door one day and on the kitchen table the next? Have a designated place. This will help prevent rushing and ease your mind knowing everything is where it should be.

5) Store possessions by category. While most of us probably do some sort of category organizing at home. Marie recommends organizing your closet by item. Have a designated place (shelf or drawer) for your shirts, pants, socks, etc. If you’re really in the organizing mood, try doing this while keeping your items colour coordinated 

6) Organize your kitchen by “ease of cleaning”. Mary recommends organizing your kitchen based on ease of cleaning and not ease of use. Keep your countertops as bare as possible. This makes them easy to clean. When an item is needed, bring it out from the woodworks, use it, clean it and put it back in the cupboard or drawer to which it belongs.

7) Fill your living and work space with little delights. We are keeping the items that “spark joy” for a reason, so for this, we should keep them on display.

8) Get rid of unnecessary pieces of paper work. I’d have to say this is one of my biggest issue. I consider every receipt, bill, piece of daughter’s artwork “important”. It’s time to get rid of all those outdated bills and warranties.

9) Carry small change. Do you find loose change all around your house? Mary recommends keeping all loose change in your purse/wallet. This keeps it out of your house and it’s also always accessible for your morning joe.

10) Before and after pictures. Hold yourself accountable. Like losing weight, pictures are always helpful and rewarding. They help you accomplish and maintain.