The KonMari Method: Why a Tidy Life Can Be a Joyful One

By Ashley Lenahan on May 22, 2017

While most people, if asked, could identify various aspects of their lives that bring them joy, there are few individuals who determine the value of all belongings based on the joy that they produce. Yet, such is precisely what cleaning consultant Marie Kondo suggest readers do in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

In the book, Kondo introduces her original KonMari method, an approach to tidying that aims to declutter not only one’s personal space but also one’s state of mind. It asks that readers invest their time in the assessment of each material possession that they own to determine if the physical significance of an item is matched in mental value in that it sparks joy in the owner.

Once an individual has evaluated each unique item they possess and has decided which belongings generate a feeling of joy and which do not, they are asked to discard all items that are found to be lacking in joy.

Image of Marie Kondo via https://www.domain.com.au

While such a task can seem daunting, Kondo provides step-by-step instructions to the proper tidying process with her KonMari Method. She even promises that her process, if followed accurately, will allow individuals to organize their homes or other personal spaces in a clear and simple manner without having to ever truly tidy again.

Kondo’s claim, while bold, is rooted in the fact that her approach to tidying is unlike most other methods on the market. It tackles the tidying process by category rather than by room which allows for lasting results.

The KonMari approach too gives a clear sequence of categories, which includes clothes, followed by books, then papers, with miscellaneous items called “komono” after and lastly mementos.

This sequence is viewed as the most effective as it enables those who utilize the KonMari Method to start the process of tidying with the materialistic items that, as they can typically be replaced, are easiest to discard. The approach saves the personal belongings that tend to harbor the greatest emotional attachment until the end of the tidying process.

Kondo acknowledges in her book the customs of her Japanese culture and personal experiences that have influenced the development of her unique KonMari Method. She too outlines the most common mistakes and seemingly rational but invalid arguments that she has encountered from numerous clients throughout her years as a cleaning consultant.

Kondo incorporates such details related to herself and her clients to serve as identifiable viewpoints and experiences to readers as well as to demonstrate why most popular methods identified in various magazine articles and books are likely to fail.

Image of Marie Kondo’s book via https://thetidycorner.com

Kondo also identifies in her book the factors that contribute to the difficulty that individuals experience in discarding any possessions. These include that the items are seen as functional or informative or serve to invoke too great of an emotional response.

Yet, she explains her belief that while all belongings may be of use in some way, they are useless to an individual if not utilized to ignite joy.

The KonMari Method is recognized to provide a simple and innovative approach to the process of tidying. It has been employed by millions of individuals around the world who seek to create a tidy environment in both their physical and mental spaces so that only the aspects of life that spark joy remain.

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