Clutter, emotions, and folding our socks - Kondo thread 6. All welcome!

[SteptoeAndDaughter]

The Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, Cathy Hirano

Summary of the process link from mipmop

Article of top tips by Marie Kondo

Thread 5
Thread 4
Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1

And BeCool's copy of Coughles list of ORDER from Thread 2 for everyone:

"ORDER TO DECLUTTER/LOCATE THE JOY*

Clothes folding by rummy
Books
Papers
CDs
DVDs
Skincare products
Make-up
Accessories
Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc.)
Electrical equipment and appliances (digital cameras, electric cords, anything that seems vaguely ‘electric’)
Household equipment (stationery and writing materials, sewing kits, etc.)
Household supplies (expendables like medicine, detergents, tissues, etc.)
Kitchen goods/ food supplies
Other (If you have many items related to a particular interest or hobby, such as ski equipment, then treat these as a single subcategory.)

KonMari stresses that sentimental items should be left till the end. So for example, when you are doing papers, don't include photos of your children, love letters, old school reports etc, leave anything with a sentimental connection for later."

*As discussed in previous threads, your order for decluttering and finding the joy/spark/recognizing may be different to recommendations.

up - another amazing commitment! Thanks for the inspiration!

JKS Yes, it was Chapterhouse. I got rid of it a while ago too, Snow - probably also before emigrating (have done so twice since then). I quite enjoyed doing it from what I remember, but then it seemed to get into copy-editing rather than proofreading, which wasn't really what I wanted to do. Plus I found a job, so didn't have as much time to spend on it any more. (And whenever I've looked at threads about getting into proofreading on here, no one seems to have a good word to say about it.)

Violetta Wow, 180 hours. Am even more impressed now!

bring Kondoing the acupuncturist definitely sounds like the right decision! Hope you manage to find a slightly more uplifting one soon.

I just didn't have the energy to even start kondoing skincare products this evening, but am hoping to make a start tomorrow morning. I'm also waiting for a CD/DVD wallet that I ordered at the weekend, Snow - other than that, the CDs and DVDs are more or less done.

I've just read the section about folding socks. I am deeply ashamed of myself and must go and apologise to my poor balled up socks immediately

I'm still resolutely balling my socks.

Ooo... You rebel, stuntnun :o

The rationale MK gives for folding socks is bonkers (I've never had elastic give out in all my years of balling) BUT having given in and done the folding, I can see that it's just a much more effective use of space because the socks all line up neatly. I reckon I've got the same number of socks in half the space. And they look lovely, I may have opened my underwear drawer just to look at them....

Stuntnun - go on, try folding just a few sets of socks! Pretty please ...

I laughed in the face of folding socks but now have to eat my own socks!

I didn't quite understand the sock folding instruction when I first started, so I just flatten them on top of each other (so they look like when you buy socks) and then I fold the toe halfway toward the middle/heel, so that the top (ankle) can now be folded over and line up with the middle - 3 fold, so to speak - and then they can be put neatly in the drawer. It's quite a loose fold. Is this correct? I have seen some videos where the sock is semi-balled, and I didn't like it. I now prefer my socks to be "relaxed", as Marie describes it ;)

After watching videos and seeing photos of Marie Kondo I now have a strong urge to get a classic cardigan like hers! I always hated cardigans and would wear zipped fleeces/jumpers instead but now I feel that a cardigan would be a great addition to my wardrobe!

I do quite a loose fold too misscph, I can't remember if it's in the book or something I saw on Pinterest but it depends on the length of the sock: longer ankle/mid calf I do in half then half again, shorter ankle I do in thirds. Gives you a nice little square package with no balling.

bring - well done with making progress with your wardrobe!

I'm sure we will both be really speedy at making decisions by the time we have kondoed our own homes!

Just a very quick thank you for words of advice. Am third in line for the book at our library (wondering now if it will have a note inside...), so might give in and buy it, but trying so hard not to spend this year unless essential.

Hadn;t seen the boing boing link, which helped me clarify the meaning of 'sparks joy' so thanks for that!

Knickers went back into drawer un kondoed, but folded. And apparently I am less emotionally attached to socks and PJS as managed to Kondo them plus DS2's clothes (which live in our room as he still sleeps in with us). So they all now fit into the drawers we have instead of some living on the floor by the drawers.

Feeling positive. Will go back to quietly lurking, reading old threads and waiting for the book...

I had a terrible couple of days, energy wise. Was overwhelmed at the mere thought of kondoing.

Feeling a bit better today, energy is better, and it all seems possible again.

Just a quick reminder not to put pressure on yourself to do it while you are unwell. Felt like pushing water uphill.

Itisnt. Do you feel better now?

Feeling a bit better this afternoon, yes. Thanks. When I'm bad, I think stressing about Kondo is not helpful for me.

I'm sure Kondoing is something we need to do in the right frame of mind. The thought of doing some sections even is quite stressful I agree! When you are ready and feeling a bit stronger, is there an easier section you can do just to start the ball rolling.

Over the weekend I Kondoed the bathroom (2nd pass) and put all of the shower/bath toiletries in use away in the bathroom cupboard. I have to say that I've quite enjoyed choosing what to use out of the cupboard before a bath/shower and it's less than a minutes work to put stuff away again after. Wiping down the surfaces should be uber quick from now on!

Did a second pass on DVDs too last night and whittled down from a 3 shelf and a 4 shelf bookcase full to just the 3 shelf one, so that will be a bookcase going on Freecycle soon :)

I keep thinking that I've finished a category only to go back and find I can easily get rid of a load more stuff. Will be carting carrier bags full to CEX for the next couple of weeks :D

Well, the house has stayed Kondo-ed. Amazing. There is a corner of the kitchen that is still too cluttered so I need to re-do it. And I could be more brutal on a second bash through sentimental. But otherwise -cue scary music- it is Time For The Garage. I have a man coming tomorrow afternoon to quote for emptying it and disposing of contents. So tomorrow morning during LO nursery, I need to remove the bits I want to keep. Which is probably going to be the lawnmower and one spade... I am beyond excited about a potentially almost empty garage

There is no way we are going to be able to reduce all our paperwork to what MK says is possible.

In addition to being child-free and unpartnered, I suspect she rents her home. A lease takes up way less space than home purchase and maintenance documentation.

In awe of all of you at the moment! Feeling very very weighed down and exhausted. Hopefully the book arriving today will give me a new lease of life but at the moment I feel disheartened that I spent ages doing a corner of the kitchen (which looks great) but there is komono (thanks for the explanation) absolutely every bloody where else

Plus with one child at school and two at home, and a part time job (that eats up far more hours, in the evenings particularly, than I'm paid for) I just can't seem to find the time! (God I'm sorry for the moan on such a generally positive thread!)

misschp I fold ankle socks as you describe and really like the effect. I am and at the rate some of you are going! I am really only doing very little bits here and there while I am working. I do find though that I am getting more and more drawn to putting like with like.

I may have to kondo candles! I really like scented candles and burn them a lot, but they are stashed in 2 or 3 different places. Time to bring them all together so that I can see what I've got (and burn up the 5 I have on the go at the moment!)