Organizing Using the KonMari Method

The basic premise of organizing the KonMari Method way is answering one question – “Does this spark joy?”.

This week I read the The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (she coined the term KonMari Method by combining syllables from her last and first names).

Marie’s approach to organizing is unique in two ways:

• first, she asks us to discard items based on emotion, as opposed to logic
• second, she asks us to tackle every organizing project based on category rather than space

UPDATE: This book has proven to be so popular that there is even a Netflix series based on it. You can read my thoughts on the Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Netflix series here.

Discarding is the Key to This Organizing Approach

Let me emphasize that the KonMari method of organizing revolves around the concept of discarding items – not storing them.

And when it comes to discarding something, you must physically hold the item in your hand and ask yourself “Does this spark joy?”.

If the answer is yes – you keep it. If it is no – you get rid of it.

It is that simple.

This concept really hit home with me because I have always said – surround yourself with things that you love.

It makes sense, yet we still hold onto things that we don’t like – mostly for the following reasons:

• the thing performs a useful function,
• we feel obligated to keep it
• or, we might need it someday.

I am sure that you can relate.

Kondo also says that when we do this exercise, we should come at it from the frame of mind of choosing what we wish to keep, not what we wish to discard.

Organize Your Stuff by Category

Organizing using the KonMari method, also involves tackling categories of items, like sweaters or shoes or papers – not spaces, like bedroom, hallway closet, etc.

We usually have items of the same category stored throughout our house in different places.

Using Marie Kondo’s approach – we should collect all of the items that we own of a particular category from every corner of our house and spread them out on the floor or other surface.

Then we should physically pick up each item and ask ourselves if it sparks joy. Once we have decided what to keep, we should then store everything of ours in one place – like our own closet or our own shelf.

Organizing Quickly

To get lasting results the whole process should be done in one fell swoop – which is about a 6 month time frame.

During this period of intense organizing, you should be able to go through every one of your possessions and pare down.

Is The KonMari Method Reasonable?

Clearly, Marie Kondo has used the KonMari method of organizing with her own clients and achieved good results.

As I read through the book, I was struck by a few thoughts.

On more than one occasion – I almost felt that the author was a bit neurotic about the organizing process.

She began having an interest in tidying at age 5 – and read magazines and books about the subject throughout her childhood.

It really shows that she has a passion for what she does – which is really what it takes to be successful at anything.

So kudos to that!

However, at age five most children are doing kid things and enjoying their childhood.

It Depends on the Size of Your Home

Marie’s business is based out of Japan. I must say that I am somewhat ignorant about the customs, and the home and storage logistics of a different culture.

Homes come in many shapes and sizes here in the US – and I imagine that is also the case for other countries as well.

So, in my opinion, no matter where you are, what works in a large home does not necessarily make sense in small home.

For example, Marie recommends that you store all like items together in one place.

And this place is not necessarily the place that you use it.

This makes a lot of sense. When you need something – there is only one place to look for it.

But, if it is not stored in the place that you use it, then you may need to actually get up and walk across your home to get the thing that you need.

In a small home, this is not such a big deal.

In a large home – this could be challenging.

Last night, as the snow swirled outside, I sat on my couch curled up reading – what else? – The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

And I became a bit chilly.

So, I thankfully grabbed a blanket throw that was conveniently draped over the arm of the couch.

We also have a couch in another room in the house – and there is a blanket in that room too.

I think that if the blankets had been in one central location, somewhere else in the house – I probably would have sat on the couch and shivered while reading my book.

Laziness, I know.

But it sparked joy in me to have that blanket right where it was.

My Takeaway

After reading this book, I am definitely inspired to make an attempt at organizing the KonMari method way and start discarding things.

The storage space in my home is finite.

And I definitely become edgy and stressed when we accumulate too much. I am challenged in that we have six people that live here – all with their own stuff.

But this book has shown me that I need to start with my own things and not worry so much about that of others.

Marie is not a psychologist, but one of the most insightful quotes from the book is this:

Many people get the urge to clean up when under pressure … But this urge doesn’t occur because they want to clean their room. It occurs because they need to put something else in order.

When the personal crisis is over, the urge to tidy up goes away – which means that a visible mess keeps us from dealing with the true problems in our lives.

If our home is always in a state of good order, then when other problems arise in our lives, we have the mental capacity and the space to deal with them.

We don’t avoid them by using our time and energy to clean up our house. I can relate to this.

Related: Use the KonMari method to fit more into packing cubes when you travel.

Have You Read The KonMari Book?

What did you think?

Join the discussion by leaving a comment below.

Also, Marie Kondo just released a second book called Spark Joy – which explains the concepts in this book even further. (I just might need to add this book to my book list. 🙂 )

 Next Week’s Book

The next book on the list is The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen R. Covey.

In case you missed it, last week we read Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. You can read the book club review here.

Pin This (My KonMari Method After Photo)

Here is my after KonMari Method photo of my t-shirt drawer.

I think I like it because I can see everything at once.