To Be Completely Obsessed With Konmari?

[SheDoneAlreadyDoneHadHerses]

It's a revelation!

I'm a convert and am spending 2-3 hours a night decluttering, thanking things for their use and their service, and binning them letting them go.

It's so utterly freeing and pleasing.

I've hated my house and it's complete inability to be clean and tidy for YEARS and this is making me think I can actually live somewhere peaceful and lovely.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I think replacing things over time is the way forward... In the meantime, weight loss is definitely in order!

I really want to do this. Am quite good with clothes, sans underwear draw and old coat cupboard, as I have a friend who's recently a single parent and is Ebaying a lot of stuff to make a bit of money, so I gave her a couple of binbags of things. But really want to do toys. It's difficult because mine do play with pretty much everything, there are only a few things I can look at and think yeah, nobody's taken an interest in that for a while. But I think they just play with things because they're there and wouldn't miss a lot of them either, if that makes sense? People keep buying us so much shit, so we have to get rid of the same amount of stuff before being overrun.

I made a pile of gorgeous clothes that no longer fit. I folded them and boxed them up in a high wardrobe. Because I WILL get back into them!

Norty!

I managed to resist the temptation to do this, this time, and it was so hard. In my whole adult life i have ALWAYS had a bag of ''when'' clothes. 'When' i'm slimmer. 'When' i've toned up. 'When' i feel more confident'. 'When' i've saved up for a holiday and got a decent tan. 'When' i've let it out, taken it in, shortened it, lengthened it, found a top to go under it ... aaarrggh.

The Book and past experience made it possible to grit my teeth and let these clothes go this time and God what a relief i tell you. They're not lurking there to shame me anymore. Some of it was 'good stuff', and yes a few bits had cost a lot, some of it i'd never worn - but honestly, if you added up and worried about the 'worth' of all the things you pass to charity or chuck out when you declutter, then it just wouldn't get done and we'd all be up to our necks in it.

In the past, when i've kept a bag of 'slim into' clothes, it has given me nothing but a whiff of depression whenever i've caught sight of it because i havn't lost the weight yet, or done any of the When, when, when's.

Occasions in my life when i have lost a significant amount of weight i haven't wanted my old stuff, or gone looking for it anyway. That moment you picture of gleefully unloading the bag and twirling around all slim and fantastic wearing it all, so grateful that you kept it, never comes. Bin it! :)

Some more questions for you pros:

1. Is it possible to do it all bit by bit? I only ever seem to have 1-2 hour chunks of time between jobs/family stuff. I'm worried about just adding more chaotic mess to my hoarder house when I get interrupted.

2. Is putting stuff in a big bag to Ebay later cheating? I've got lots of new never worn and things that should sell for £5ish which I don't really want to donate to charity as I'm about to have a very broke maternity leave. From other people's experience, do these bags just fester or does it just over complicate everything?

I've been umming and ahhing about this for the last few months.
I hoard stuff. I can give almost everything I own some sort of sentimental value.

I love the idea of just having the stuff we need in the house. However, I really struggle with the concept of throwing perfectly good stuff away, which I paid hard earned cash for (when cash is tight anyway) or giving it to a charity shop when it still has life left in it or could be used in the future.

How do I get over this? I feel like I'm about to actually throw money away.

I guess it stems from years of being tight and thinking I'm only buying what we need.

I know it's not the Kondo way!!

However, some background may help. In my case the weight gain is in huge measure due to the fact I've been quite ill over the past 5 years. Ill enough to have to give up my career and the prospect of having kids. The drugs I've been on cause weight gain, I just haven't been able to work out physically either, and I have been comfort eating. I'm lucky in that I'm now better, and I need to feel like I can rebuild my life. I want to look into the mirror and see the old 'me', on my terms!

If I haven't managed to lose the weight in a year, I will get rid of them. But I am not ready to let go of the idea that I can't claw my way back to some semblance of normality. Not yet, anyway!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel something (the illness) has been 'done to' me - and I couldn't control it and it was scary. And even though I am better, I don't feel like it has been 'undone'. I feel like I'm living in its aftermath and I still have this sense of that helplessness. I feel pathetically vulnerable. Re-establishing control over my space via Kondo and my life and my weight seem to be all interconnected in some strange way.

Today I am finally letting go of a some sentimental items.

I have never been one for or ornaments, however 30 years ago something really caught my eye at a craft fair. Over the next two years I bought 2 more in different designs. Unfortunately friends and relative got the impression that I was a collector and started buying me more and more. I then felt obliged to display them which really reinforced the idea until eventually I got rid of the others and have been left with the original three ornaments that I liked. However 30 years is enough. I am tired of looking at them. I am not going to sell them but with so much free storage I can now pack them away. I think I will put them with the Christmas decorations and bring them out with the tree each year.

Because Of Kondo I can now see that they have given me lots of pleasure, they have done their job and deserve a rest.

I nearly bought 3 pretty little vases in a store last week but I resisted. Now that all the shelf space has been freed of ornaments, I might change my mind and go back and buy them. Before that though I will give some of my other vases to the charity shop.

It really has made me rethink.

The weirdest thing has just this second happened.

I wrapped up two of the ornaments in fabric and put them into a canvas bag.
As I walked away to get the third a piece of cotton snagged my jumper and the bag fell onto the floor smashing them to bits.

Not sure if Kondo was telling me "don't store them" or if they decided that it was better to end it now, rather than live their lives in a cupboard.

shovetheholly - I think the year goal is a really good idea. Perhaps part of my mistake was not putting a time limit on myself?! Here's to reaching goals :)

BettyBi0 - Some more questions for you pros: 1) Is it possible to do it all bit by bit? I only ever seem to have 1-2 hour chunks of time between jobs/family stuff.

Yes! This is me too. I couldn't face taking out ALL of my clothes and putting them all over the bedroom (baring in mind clothes is meant to mean clothes, shoes, coats, handbags, underwear, slobby gear, hats and scarfs, beachwear, etc) Ye gods I would have had just about enough time to get it all out and that would have been the end of it! No time to do any sorting. Chaos.

With a toddler i get an hour at nap time, fingers crossed, and maybe half an hour with her 'helping'. I clothes in managable chunks. I let the areas i kept my clothes dictate the amount. Rail one day. Drawers the next. Bottom of wardrobe the next. Bedside table the next, ect.

I've just done books, dvds and games in the same way.

I know you're not meant to do it by location - room by room, but technically i wasn't. As i went round on a clothing day doing Clothes in different places i ignored anything that wasn't an item of clothing. When book time came they were in different places, different days, but i ignored anything which wasn't a book IYSWIM? It still works.

I do think my only teeny weeny criticism of the book is that it is geared to the single person who lives alone a little bit, with whole days to dedicate to each catagory. There's no way i could cover my living room floor with books and spend ages musing over them. I had to do it in bits.

It's so addictive and satisfying though isn't it? Once you get going.

I've done my bit today, i want to do more and i cant! Other chores call.

I'm up to 'papers'. I can't wait to get started on the bloody great box of filling that's upstairs tomorrow! (and get half my airing cupboard back!)

I did my clothes just before Christmas after losing (most) of my baby weight and stopping bf. My 'tops' literally were the top I was wearing, 2 vests and 2 others (both of which were still a bit tight). I had 2 pairs of jeans, a couple of jumpers, a couple of summer dresses and a couple of coats/jackets. 2 sets of bras & 4 knickers and a 5 pack of socks.

I have since replaced the vests and added 2 more. And added a couple of tops and a pair of boots. All of which make me feel really good when I wear them and fit with the rest of the sparking joy clothes. I still enjoy shopping but will only buy if it's perfect. I don't want to sully my drawers!

Ahh querky how strange. Best to look it as fate! I have had a thorough clean of my clutter free house today and it feels great!! Must make sure I don't allow any new clutter in.....unless it sparks joy of course.

I didn't see how this would save money but today I found two cans of furniture polish under the sink!I forgot to do that cupboard oops. Was about to buy another. I now feel like I know exactly what I have and where it is. I do feel in control now.

Shovetheholly - I think it makes you feel more in control because by doing it you are.. Tidy house tidy mind is a saying or did I make it up. My house was reasonably uncluttered but if you opened a drawer or cupboard it was a mess. I think that was a reflection of my chaotic thought processes. Now I'm trying to make it so that if anyone came in and opened a cupboard in my house I would inwardly groan and feel ashamed. I've done more clothes this am and it feels great. I do have a week off work though; don't know how easy it is to do in small chunks of time.

I wouldn't inwardly groan! Ffs

Snap! Charley Everyone thinks my house is tidy and it is most of the time but my drawers and cupboards were hiding chaos. I can't tell you how smug I was this morning gone opening my underwear drawer. Even DH loved his clothes folded in this new way saying, I can see everything without rummaging. Need a smug emoji!

Yes thebest I'm not going to rest until the inside of every cupboard is a thing of serenity! Then smug grins all round!

Here it is

Dont forget you have around 6 months to do this in.

I have kondoed my whole house, I love it.

It felt quite overwhelming at first. Now its a 5 minute job when DD has outgrown clothes, to get rid of them.

Sorry, I haven't managed to read the full thread, but I was a bit put off when she said in the book not to start until you've read the whole thing.

I'm a bit too impatient for that - did you all read right through first?

I got the book at the tail end of last summer, and made a really good start on my stuff.

Did my clothes, shoes, bags etc, then started on DHs stuff. I sort of made my decisions on his clothes without him. Having been married for 20
Years, I know what he wears/ likes etc. he's just so much of a hoarder. He has yet to complain about stuff 'going missing', so I think the Kondo method has worked.

I went through both our sock and pant drawers, tidied them all up, and they are still in pretty good shape 6 months later.

This thread has re ignited my resolve. I'm going to get stuck in again.

Oh, and I'll be new member number 801 on the FB thread. If they'll have me

I had been doing it for 3 months before I bought the book.

Common sense, MN and YouTube guided me at first. I got the book last week. It has helped me to be more systematic. I really enjoyed reading the philosophy behind it.

If, like me you are impatient, read the how to do it pages first. The go,back to the beginning which is really more autobiographical.

My early attempts, although successful, were random and haphazard. Now I feel I have a good system and am more I control.

I did DH's toiletries, the medicine cabinet and the baby's toiletries last night. DH had 10 deodorants, many of which he'd used a couple of times meaning that he'd take an age to get rid of 1! I got rid of all the stuff I know he doesn't use, anything that had an expiry date was checked (I had an eye bath that expired in 2008) blergh! The baby now has only the toiletries we would actually use for him (he cant use anything by Johnsons, yet I'd kept all of the Johnsons toiletries bought for him).

I have set DH a system like mine, things that are used daily are allowed to live in the bathroom cabinet eg, tablets, contact lenses and razor/shaving foam, tooth brush and toothpaste. Anything that wont be used has been binned and duplicates of any items have been put in a box underneath.

I now walk into the bathroom and it looks pristine. My spark joy mantra has extended to us getting new taps fitted after our bath tap broke, i've bought a new bathmat and it feels like a lovely room, clean and tidy room now instead of a cluttered mess that didn't function as it should.

We have always tended to buy things like bathfoam and tooth paste when it's on offer. We can stop doing that now as we clearly have enough to set up our own shop! I cant afford to throw those things away but at least I know that the things that are kept WILL be used.

Thanks Querky