The Truth About The Marie Kondo Organizing Method
July 17, 2019
source: Everyday Health / Courtesy of Jessica Potts Lahey
It all started with an unassuming little book: The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Now, it seems like every single person I know is obsessed with the author’s Netflix show of a similar title: Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. So, who is Marie Kondo? And why are her methods of organizing so incredibly popular? Simply put, the answer is because they work.
The theory behind Kondo’s method of tidying up is pretty simple. If an item “sparks joy,” then you should keep it. But if an item does not “spark joy,” then you should get rid of it. Kondo’s method is also unique because it doesn’t involve the participant purging their home by room. It involves sorting through everything by category. For example, instead of tackling your closet, you would go through your entire house, find all of the clothes residing in different places, and toss them all in one big pile. Then, you pick up each item and ask yourself the “spark joy” question.
“If you’re having a hard time getting rid of something, thank the item for the role it has already played in your life,” advises Kondo. She recommends thanking the item for the role it played in the past, which makes you free to now let it go. It may sound silly, but letting go of things that don’t serve you is quite a liberating feeling. Kondo’s method isn’t about organizing what you already have; it’s about embracing a more simplistic lifestyle where you are able to let go of the stuff that isn’t benefitting you.
Kondo’s methods of folding clothing have also gone viral (she folds items to stand up vertically instead of stacking them all in one big pile). She also has great advice for letting go of items that make you feel guilty, and even advice on what you should do with clothing you’ve dubbed “loungewear.” All in all, Kondo’s methods of tidying up are now famous because they truly do work. If you embrace her simple yet powerful methods, you may just feel as though a tremendous weight has been lifted from your shoulders.