Marie Kondō shifted how we think about our stuff with one simple decluttering question:
Does it spark joy?
We can learn a lot from Marie Kondō’s KonMari philosophy. While it is fun to re-watch her series with her calming presence and the beautiful space transformations, you don’t have to follow those methods perfectly to improve your space. Instead, consider moving forward with the pieces that resonates with you. In this way, a version of the joy question can be applied to how you move forward in your clutter-taming journey, helping you find joy in the process itself.
While it can be difficult to turn decluttering into a fun game, you can focus on making your space support you. A key lesson from KonMari is to take a mindful approach to your relationship with things. The joy question serves as an exercise to help you learn to let go of items that don’t contribute to your happiness or serve a purpose. In letting go of the excess clutter, you can make space for the things that truly matter.
The all-in, all at once tidying marathon at the center of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up can be a great way to get through the messy middle as quickly as possible and get to the pretty after picture. Unfortunately, tackling everything all at once isn’t realistic for everyone. The time it takes to take everything out by category and sift through each item can be a barrier for many. If time isn’t enough of a constraint, the mental and physical requirements of the all-in process can be overwhelming.
The KonMari method is great for those who prefer a minimalist aesthetic. It champions hidden, meticulously-categorized storage system where everything has a home and everything is neatly tucked away in drawers cabinets and closets. However, having everything hidden can be a struggle for visual organizers who need to see their things to feel inspired or to simply remember they own them. For an artistic person, not being able to see and easily grab supplies might subvert their creative spark, making it difficult to work.
Ultimately, the KonMari philosophy is a powerful starting point, but the most effective organizing system is the one that aligns with your individual brain and lifestyle, whether you’re a minimalist or a visual organizer.
In the United States, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2014) and the Netflix show that followed with the same name inspired many to start decluttering and donating to charity shops, making KonMari a cultural phenomenon.