Order within one's space allows for clarity in his or her life.
This, for me, is the key takeaway from Marie Kondo's best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I gave it a read after at least four people recommended this unique organization method.
The basic tenets of the KonMari Method are
- keep only the articles that spark joy and
- arrange them by category in designated places that are easily accessible.
Removing clutter can elicit dramatic life changes.
After sorting and re-ordering their personal belongings, many of Marie's clients have reported a re-ordering in their lives as well. Some made drastic career changes or received promotions, while others announced purging of toxic relationships and even weight loss.
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life. The sorting process forces us to confront our imperfections, insecurities and past choices.”
After trying her approach to sorting, I can see the benefit. It's pretty freeing to finally let go of items I've been holding onto for one reason or another but that did not bring me joy. Why continue to keep these things around me? Why, especially, would I continue to wear them?
For Bobby, having a designated spot for any given item changed his life - literally. When we met, he kept random kitchen appliances in his closet among his piled clothes. He was never able to find anything and therefor bought duplicates of everything. Now with a specific home for each possession, gone are the days when his accessories & clothes were thrown into arbitrary places and lost forever.
Imagine being presented everyday only with what you love to wear.
Our clothes are what we live in - what we make killer presentations in, close deals in, meet friends for dinner in, finish marathons in, vacation in and sleep in. Spend these moments in clothes that make you happy.
“To truly cherish the things important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”
To start, discard. Assess each article individually and ask yourself - does this spark joy?
If it truly inspires joy, keep it. If not, dispose of it.
Reasons clothing may not spark joy:
- Damage or stains
- Poor fit
- Outdated style
- Discomfort
- Plain dislike
After you’ve decided what to keep, organize your clothes so that they are visible and readily accessible.
vertical storage
Storage Strategies:
- Vertical storage - never stack in piles, arrange clothing up-right
- Store by category, all in one place - all sweaters on one shelf, all socks in a single drawer
Have you tried Marie Kondo's strategies to organize your closet? What do you think?