What Sparks Joy? - Tidy Up With The KonMari Method

I'm very excited that I started tidying up with the Konmari method. Yesterday I uploaded my first video about it. I have always been into decluttering, organizing, cleaning and creating a comfortable environment for myself and others. 

The Konmari Method takes it to another level. It was easy for me to get hooked, because yes I am a sucker for all things Japanese.

Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo is a tidying expert, best-selling author and founder of KonMari Media, Inc.

Enchanted with organizing since her childhood, Marie began her tidying consultant business as a 19-year-old university student in Tokyo. Today, Marie is a renowned tidying expert helping people around the world to transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration.

In her #1 New York Times best-selling book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," Marie took tidying to a whole new level, teaching that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again.

Marie has been featured on more than fifty major Japanese television and radio programs as well as in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, Vogue Magazine, the Ellen Show, the Rachael Ray Show and many more. She has also been listed as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people.

What is the KonMari Method?

Most tidying methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever.

The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.

People around the world have been drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking.

The six basic rules of tidying.

RULE 01 - Commit yourself to tidying up.

 RULE 02 - Imagine your ideal lifestyle.

 RULE 03 - Finish discarding first.

RULE 04 - Tidy by category, not by location.

RULE 05 - Follow the right order.

RULE 06 - Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

Does it spark joy?

Even though it is the last rule of the bunch, I started in my video with the question "Does it spark joy?". I found this question to be very helpful when going through your pile of clothing for example. Why wouldn't you want to keep the things that make you happy and get rid of the ones that don't? Like that, it narrows done the options you have for the clothing you wear and you will always feel happy with whatever you are wearing. 

I see it positively effecting all other aspects in your life. Like the first domino stone to hit the others which will send out a ripple effect of positivity. Asking yourself if it sparks joy to you will be helpful in many areas in your life, not only with tidying up.

I am excited to create the next video! Which rule shall I tackle next?

Let me know your thoughts on cleaning and decluttering with Marie Kondo. Or do you have other ways that work better for you?