5 Things To Know Before Beginning the KonMari Tidying Method

Joy

Does it bring you joy? Such a simple question but one that packs a huge punch. It is the mantra of Marie Kondo and the cornerstone of the KonMari tidying up method and is at the heart of the craze that is slowly but surely taking over the world. Instagram is littered with pictures of perfectly organized closets and drawers with people praising how Kondo has changed her life. Social media right now is total organization goals and I’m hooked. There is something so satisfying about looking at other people’s things all neatly lined up and it is oddly soothing to me. When I found out that Marie Kondo had a show on Netflix I HAD to watch it and from episode one I was hooked. Kondo herself if the neatest person I’ve seen. The woman is perfectly put together with her gorgeous clothes and picture perfect hair. After binging the entire season in two days I needed to organize all the things immediately. I am a sucker for a bandwagon and if it promises me joy and happiness then I am jumping right on that bad boy.

Confessions of a secret slob

If you look at my Instagram account you would think that I have the perfectly put together home and yes, on the face of it my home is clean and decluttered but a look into my kitchen junk drawer or closet tells a different story. My whole life I’ve struggled with keeping things tidy. I love my home being neat but I find it easier to just sweep things into a drawer rather than actually take the time to put it in its place. Then I lose things and panic and stay up for hours scouring the house until I find it (I’m type A, what can I say?). Have you seen the episode of Friends where Monica’s junk closet is exposed? My basement puts that closet to shame. It is a deep hole of junk that just keeps growing. I’m not proud of it but it is what it is and at the ripe old age of 32 I’m ready to be a grown up and get organized. So my friends I will be your KonMari guinea pig and will be reporting on my progress. Hopefully these posts will become a series and my home, and maybe other aspects of my life, will become zen, harmonious and incredibly tidy. You can learn from my mistakes and see the KonMari method take place in real life, with a real person who just can’t seem to keep her damn junk drawer in check.

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5 things to know before starting the KonMari method

1. Understanding the theory is the cornerstone of the process

   Starting is ALWAYS the hardest part of any journey. It just seems so overwhelming to get everything in your home in order. I think that the most important part of the method is the philosophy and theory behind the madness. I have tried to tidy so many times in my life that I’ve lost count. I get everything neat and throw out my clothes and vow to everything that I will never let my drawers get into that state again but somehow elves or something come into my home at night and screw everything up. I genuinely believe that this is because I don’t truly buy into the process and just do it as a means to an end. If I am to become a KonMari convert I am going to have to totally immerse myself into her beliefs and theory. So, I ordered the book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” from Amazon in the hopes that it would give me some divine inspiration.
   

2. You’re going to have to drink the KoolAid

   I will admit it, I scoffed at the notion of thanking various items around the house and asking if they bring me joy. I mean it sounds like absolute lunacy to look at a tin opener and think that it would give me any joy but it is an important part of the process. I think this is why you start with clothes. It is easier to attach emotions to the things that show the world what we’re all about and therefore easier to gauge how it makes you feel. So put cynicism away and get in touch with your softer side, feel each item, think about it and unabashedly thank it when you throw it away (most of the people in your house would have long run for the hills when you tell them you’re tidying up so at least you’ll look loony in private).

3. Picture what you want to achieve at the end of the process

   I am new to this visualization thing. I am terrible at anything remotely zen and new age-y. My yoga teacher tells me that I have “monkey mind” as I would sneak out of meditation because I just couldn’t deal with laying there with my thoughts as it seemed a little weird. However, this year I have told myself that I want to be positive and a big part of that is visualizing positive situations in my life. So, I thought “why the hell not?” and had a mini meditation session about how I wanted my life to look after this process. When I thought about the organized home and how much less anxiety that would bring I knew that I needed to achieve it. No more Tupperware avalanches every time I open the cupboard. I will be a put together, thirty something whose organized drawers are reflective of her organized life. The main thing I want out of this process is less stress and more calm in my life and this is the driving factor that I hope will get me through the process and keep me on the straight and narrow.

4. Get all the boxes you can find

   Ask your family, friends, neighbours for any small trinket boxes that they don’t need anymore. You really will need a ton of them to successfully separate your drawers and tidy. If you put things into a drawer without dividers they will inevitably smoosh together within 24 hours and all your hard work is undone. I’ve bought a bunch of these Ikea organizers that I LOVE and are perfect for socks and underwear. I also use jewellery and cosmetic boxes. TOP TIP – separate the box and the lid as both can be used to organize. The lids make awesome little holders for pens and small items!

5. COMMIT COMMIT COMMIT

   I’ve only just started but if I’m honest I’m already a little overwhelmed. My house is full of bin bags and I am freaking terrified of when I reach Komono (the phase when you do bathroom, kitchen and miscellaneous tidying). However, even the small amount of organizing I’ve done so far has truly lightened my mind and has in turn brought me joy. I know that I have to see this process through and it might take me a few weeks but the process will be so worth it. Keep that visualization in mind, write it down, put it on a mirror with lipstick, whatever keeps you going. Marie Kondo will be asking me for tips at the end of this marathon.

   

So there you have it, the things you need to know before embarking on this tidying journey. It’s going to long, hard and probably emotional (I’m sentimental and hoard cards and trinkets that I’ll have a hard time parting with) but I am loving it so far. I honestly cannot see how I’ll ever go back to over flowing drawers and once I get used to the folding I’m sure I’ll learn to love it (or at least tolerate it). I really recommend reading the book and starting your own KonMari tidying journey along with me. Misery loves company.

If you don’t hear from me then I might be buried under a pile of early 2000s glitter jeans and old emo CDs so maybe check in on me.  Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list!