"The Life Changing Magic of Tidying" continues to magically change lives (PT 2)

[BeCool]

Come fold your loved clothes, and feel the spark of joy in every object you own (or thereabouts).

Continuing our journey on from the Original thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/2178442-The-Life-Changing-Magic-of-Tidying-Marie-Kondo?msgid=50091328#50091328

Hello all :) ok I've started reading and I'm sold! I've done my clothes and books (took 5 bin bags of clothes and 4 bags of books to the charity shop). I found the clothes pretty easy, the books had a lot more sentimental attachment. The clothes has impacted already! I have so much less but I have things is forgotten about, all my clothes left I love. I had a lot of guilt about books that were gifts that I hadn't read but some were 15 years old! Will read back on this thread for hints and tips.

MsBug yes they're the Ikea HYFS extendable boxes - each totally worth the whopping 2.50 price tag I reckon! Have done DD's clothes now. It turns out she is not short of leggings after all

Today I also finally made a proper dent in the books, which I had been putting off, but once I got going the decisions were easier than I expected. Phew.

I still haven't found time to get started but I'm on my third read of the book!

I think I've fallen off the wagon a bit... I've still been decluttering - yesterday, in a spare hour whilst baby was sleeping, I did a bit of a smash and grab on some random toys in a cupboard (incidentally whilst playing The Joker to Ds' Lex Luthor, so lots of things I was looking at had to pretend to be kryptonite- related! ) but I didn't take everything out or thank anything. :( I think its all just too overwhelming. I guess at least its still progress though, as the pile of things for the nearly new sale is growing steadily.

Everything in the house seems to get overwhelming so quickly. Pockets of clutter seem to breed and multiply quickly until spaces that were cleared look hideous again.

I wish I had the time/space/energy to Konmari it properly, as I do thing that that is the long-term answer. :( Also I need to do a blitz as ds is having his first ever playdate this week (it was forced on me - I don't usually have people I don't know in the house) and he asked me if we could clean and tidy the whole house first - I could weep with shame, but clearly I'm collapsed on the sofa after another bad nights' sleep Mumsnetting and having instead of getting anything done.

The thread seems to be getting quieter too - perhaps I need to go back to the beginning and start reading again to be inspired? Or could all the KonMari-converts post inspiring tales of their progress please?

I am a convert! I have managed to convert my best mate too - she has just sent me a pic of her towering pile of clothes destined for the charity shop tomorrow, after Konmari-ing her wardrobe last night! Maybe you could buddy up with someone nice, to swap before and after photos for motivation - one corner at a time though, let's keep this attainable

I think my mojo is still here mainly because the house is really small, so anything I do makes a visible difference as there is nowhere to hide! I have really had to fight my "just bung it in the garage for now" instinct though. When I get as far as the garage, I think I'm just going to pull out the lawnmower, and throw in a match...

Ok here's some konmarie geeing up for you- everything I've done in my house has stuck.
The pants are still in their little storage boxes by colour & DH's rolled up in his. Socks are still being rolled up and standing up happily. Tshirts are rolled & standing up cheerily in the ikea HYFS boxes in the wardrobe.

Bath toys now in 2 plastic tubs & we switch around each night. No more showering in a swamp in the mornings.

Little bits of konmarie in the kitchen have stuck, it's still tidier.
Huge declutter on the dresser & huge bin bag gone. And it's still clear on the top. And I'm finding myself clearing it off, if stuff starts building up on it.

This shit works.

Only keeping what you use/ brings you joy. Chuck (recycle, charity, sell, tip) everything else. Then you can see your stuff and it all stays tidy.
Life changing for me and even no more low mood (verging on depression if I get bad).

Do it!

Taken me a couple of days to get back at it (pesky cold!) but following the nightwear clearout, I've done outerwear this morning...and have another bag destined for the charity shop. Quite frankly embarrassed by the volume of 'stuff' so far...

Off to do some of this. I want to prepare for moving house, probably in a few years time but if an opportunity arises before I want to feel ready and "light" enough in terms of possessions.

I don't think I'll do my socks the KonMarie way though, it's my one reasonably organised category! Apart from the spare sock drawer which needs to be tackled..

Bakewell go on do the sock rolling, they aren't all stretched out of shape by being balled up. It's lovely

I was dubious about the sock rolling thing. I was a ballerina, but I'm converted. They feel like new socks and not old stretched ms shapen things.

I was not a ballerina (I wish). I meant sock baller!

justgotosleep that's brilliant to hear.. Think that's why thread a bit quieter, have a feeling that once people have gone through process it sticks so no need to kept repeating it. I've hit a wall. Done clothes (wardrobe still tidy after 4 weeks which is a mini-miracle!) but can't seem to face the paperwork. Off for a week in December so might try and tackle it then.
bakewell try the sock thing, I was v dubious but they are oh so lovely now in their neat little rows... It's the simple things!

Still here. Marking my place. I started well and built a huge pile of 9/10 bin bags around three weeks ago. I'm still climbing over them. I'm not sure how / where to get rid. So now they're just mocking me on a daily basis.

I love her ideas and am really inspired but have just stalled. But I want my mojo back so I may need to re-read the book

Thanks Jam and JustGo - the geeing up is very much appreciated. I found a bit of motivation and used it to hoover the whole house (which doesn't sound that much 'til you see how much stuff needs to be moved so you can find the floors!).

I used it as an opportunity to empty the stairs (OMG how much stuff??) - 1 bag of recycling (all xmas catalogues straight in bin without reading to avoid temptation), 1 of toys for ds' room, 1 pile of baby hats/socks/mittens that need a better home!

And all washing from the upstairs hallway is now gone (I did wonder where ds' last school shirt had gone and found it had made a den with 4 flannels, 3 odd socks, loads of pegs & coathangers, 2 blackout car window blinds and a summer duvet between/behind an airer and the dehumidifier!).

Is there a thread for slatterns? I'm starting to think I should join it?

I have managed to get the 7 bags of clothes to the charity shop yesterday and took 3 big shoppers and a suitcase of books to the oxfam depository today. Had a bit of a set back though health wise and now even less time than before so I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a bookcase and a book storage cupboard (eek) to go. The books have been less satisfying than the clothes because I've had no time to use the newly found shelf space or do any housework so everything looks a mess despite all my hard work.

Oh on the plus side, I went clothes shopping and bought the exact top I needed and not another patterned shirt!!

Rip just get the bags to the chazzer. Don't hold on to them to Ebay/maybe ask a friend. The space is worth more than the money you 'might' get for them. Plus listing things to sell/waiting in for a buyer etc is a total PITA. If you can't get them to the chazzer, stick them on the pavement with a sign saying 'old toys please take' (or whatever the contents are). This is why you're stalled because you haven't yet seen the benefits of your decluttering.

This advice is of the do as I say, not as I do type

Aw leeloo you have a baby, everything is harder with a baby and lack of sleep. Remember that it can take up to 6 months to tidy, according to the Kondo way. Just keep going one category, or maybe sub-category or even mini-category at a time. Try not to get stressed, focus on the order you have achieved so far, rather than I have so much to go through.

FWIW, I too have stalled but all the categories I have done, have remained perfect.

Leelo I promise you that it really does work. If everything has a place then it is easier to find things and to put things away. As you don't have much time just concentrate on what you can achieve and what you have done and not what you have not. I never used to have an organised house but what helped me years ago ia something a friend said to me. She said that when you have something in your hand put it where it belongs rather than just on the side as that is how things build up. HHonestly everything I have folded has stayed folded. I had lots of old towelsand bath mats that I had been givwn when my ggrandmother's house was sorted. I kept them not because I was using them but because I felt that I should.Being on this thread helped me get rid of them and pass them on.

Sorry for typos

Sock rolling..This is a cult right?

FFS my ILs deposited a suitcase full of DHs shite from their loft (they are de-cluttering) in my lounge today.

My DH has been reunited with cloths 12 years + old that don't fit him and belong in the 90s.

Damn you ILs for sabotaging our KonMari progress. They did bring me two lovely vintage mirrors though which are going to be hung tomorrow.

*clothes

Take the clothes in the case directly to a charity shop. Do not pass go. Do not collect £200.

My house currently looks like visitors are about to arrive.
But they aren't!
it's just us!

(Sooo much easier to Hoover when there's not loads of stuff on the floor.)

The house looks great, and I'm not even finished yet

This may be a cult but I don't care I'm HAPPY

Stalled a bit here too...but the insides of the drawers look so happy. I do feel more connected to my clothes and apologized to DS socks as they were all balled up rather than folded I think it might be a cult....