Konmari converts 2019 assemble!

[BasinHaircut]

I’m almost done with Marie Kondo’s book and I am buzzing with excitement about transforming my home by letting go of old belongings.

This morning I went through my clothes (not shoes, bags coats or scarves yet) and got rid of 2.5 100L bin liner’s worth! I already can’t believe how much space I’ve created.

Planning to do the second half of clothes tomorrow and then convince DH to do his. I’ll do DS’s one day next week when he is back at school (will be impossible with him in the house).

Going to try and go through the categories in strict order and devote at least one of my 2 free afternoons a week to it until I’ve been through everything in the house.

DH has agreed to watch the Marie Kondo series on Netflix with me and I’m hoping he will get involved.

I really think this will improve my mental health and make me calmer and happier.

I'm ordering the book today and will start straightaway with scarfs, bags, shoes and stuff like that. I mentioned it to DH and he gave me the look when I mentioned we could use it to clear the shed and garage in the Summer.

Regarding getting rid of bric a brac type stuff and CDs etc, some of the charity bags that come though the door take this so I generally put that sort of stuff out to them, some also take cosmetics.

User I feel your pain when it comes to getting rid of the kids stuff! You're right, the broken forgotten about item becomes the most important special thing in the world!!

My system for getting rid of DS’s stuff is to slowly remove bits and pieces I know he doesn’t play with any more, and putting them in the shed. If 3-4 months go past and he hasn’t noticed it’s gone, then I permanently get rid to the charity shop.

I don’t think he would quite understand the sparking joy concept yet so I’ve just accepted that I’m going to be surrounded by toys for a few years yet. Plus as an only child I think he probably needs quite a lot as he plays alone most of the time at home.

His clothes on the other hand.....he needs maybe a quarter of what he has I reckon.

Basin- we do toy rotation as the kids bdays are very close to christmas. So with their agreement we put some old toys and some new toys (duplicate type crafty things mainly) up the attic to come down at the start of the summer holidays. Then its like NEW TOYS. Its taken a while but my oldest gets it now and on her bday did an attic pile.

I have just cleared out my walk in wardrobe and all the stuff in my dds wardrobe thats mine. I have a huge pile on my bed and it all sparks joy but doesn't fit so is going up the attic. I have chucked out everything that fits and doesn't spark joy. I mainly buy from charity shops and the sale rail at tesco, so dont feel too bad and it will be taken to the charity shop again today.

I have ordered a few new bits to create a small capsule wardrobe and that will all arrive in the next couple of days.

Need to tackle my shoes, I have a bit of a thing for shoes but only wear the same 3 pairs!

I can definitely feel my.mind set changing. I have bought things in the past as they were cheap or they would do and were in a sale. I can see the value of having less but loving it and then its worth full price. I have loved certain clothes or whatever and have wanted them so much I have bought them then and there- not waited to see if they go on sale or I can buy them cheaper elsewhere and when you value something, you don't mind the cost (within reason).

User5trillion, I felt like that too about my pre-pregnancy clothes. They were nice, well cut clothes, good quality and expensive. I have waited 2 years after the baby and my weight would not shift. I was Size 18 slowly inching towards 20. I gave up and bought a few clothes in the end as I had to wear something.

Couldn’t bear to part with my lovely size 14 apparel, so put it in the attic, but TBH I didn’t have much hope they’ll ever worn by me again.

Guess what! I have lost that extra weight now and back into size 14!!! Two years after the ‘give up on it’ moment. The plastic containers have come down from the attic. Some clothes were clearly not suitable any more, as they belonged to a different life stage, so off to the charity shop they went. Some were now old fashioned, so off they went. But quite a few were still good and stylish. Indeed, I get massive joy wearing them again, as it reminds me every time of my weight loss achievement and brings happy memories of my old career which I had to leave to more of less become a SAHM for 3 children.

So, the moral of the story is, if you are not ready to part with them, don’t force the issue. Pack them away and revisit in 12-24 months. Guaranteed, your vision will be clearer then and you will decided easily which of them if any you wish to keep.

Ahhh million, thanks for sharing that. I sometimes despair I will ever lose weight. I am emotional eater so hoping that getting on top of my house will allow me headspace to think more clearly.

When I was pregnant and knew I would be a sahm I packed up all my lovely clothes, I cried but my dh didn't get it, his attitude was have the baby, go on a diet bring them back down - simples! But its easier said than done. However I have a big bday in a few months and really need to stop making excuses. I am so glad you managed to shift the pounds. I know most of my lovely clothes I will chuck if I get back to a size 14 , currently an 18 pushing 20 like you. My body and lifestyle are different now. The funny thing is no one ever.minds buying clothes the next size down, so at that point I would happily charity shop everything.

Wardrobe looks empty but not judgey so thats a good thing.

Trillion, you may find once you have been through the process and put your environment in order, it will positively affect other areas of your life. You will find you feel less stressed day to day, have more mental energy, your decision making will be clearer and more straightforward. It will give you much needed space to think about other things, physical and mental.

We have been doing renovation work in the house for 12 months and it nearly cracked me. Going from calm and ordered to messy and cluttered quickly, brought it home to me how much disordered environment affects you. It sabotages your efforts, distracts when you are trying to do a job, makes your thoughts scattered and disorganised.

This process is about so much more than a bit of tidying 💐

user5trillion I finished that last chapter of the book this morning and Marie actually reckons that many of her customers lose weight after going through the process because it completely changes their approach to life. Whilst I’d use caution in pinning any hope to that statement, all I can say is that I feel like that book has changed my life or my outlook a bit.

I got the book and chucked out 2 bags of stuff, mainly bits that weren't comfortable and a couple of old handbags. Just got a text from DH saying he was going to use the folding method for his sportswear and t shirts, no mention of throwing anything out though...

Today dh is preparing for a job interview and I have the dc. Have bday party drop off and all the usual family stuff to do but am going to try and crack on. Ds likes helping mummy so will enlist him! He is cheap, he works for sweets or tech time .

Job today is to pull everything else out of walk in wardrobe, hoover (dont think I have since I moved in) and put everything back. Will do the kon mari folding method. Will simultaneously be taking laundry mountain, first load has just finished.

Today with kids clothes, I will be down sizing, they both have far far too many which leads to the laundry mountain, as I don't need to keep on top of the washing as there are so many other clothes. They only wear home clothes 2 days out of 7.

Feeling very positive today.

I’m so proud! Last night a friend who I’d been telling about Marie Kondo text me. She went out and bought the book the next day, and she had just finished her clothes and her kids clothes. She sent me an unreal photo of the biggest pile of empty hangers I had ever seen and 7 massive black sacks of clothes! She feels like a new woman.

2 other friends have now started too and everyone seems so excited about it. It’s like a revolution!

Good luck user5trillion!

I think tomorrow is going to be my main Kondo day, although might try and do books later if DS will let me.

I've started on the kids clothes. Wish me luck!

Good luck everyone, my plan has gone to pot. Ds 4 was very upset big sis is at a soft play party so I am at another softplay with him. Did get 3 loads of washing done and found a couple of lovely kids clothes that they never wear as they get lost in the laundry mountain, so this has strengthened my resolve to chuck out all the kids scruffy, worn and stuff that doesn't spark joy for me. My ds doesn't care and my dd wont care as long as I dont recycle any of her princess dresses. Must take some photos.

Dh will have had 4 hours job interview prep by the time I get in, so he can help.

Done!

Wow brassica that’s amazing well done!

I’ve just done books and 3/5ths are by the door to go to the charity shop.

I also finished folding my clothes earlier and it all looks so good and I can see exactly what I have.

DH’s clothes tomorrow!

Also all books are now on 1 bookshelves and not dotted around the house.

Wow brassica, that cupboard is a thing of joy! I collected my new clothes today and hung them all up nicely. Also finished the washing mountain, so will begin folding this evening. Pretty excited - so rock n roll for a sat night 😂😂😂😂

Oh I've found my people! Starting clearing out and folding the clothes today. The kids drawers & wardrobe look great but the rest of the house looks like a bomb has hit it! One step forward, 2 steps back 😅

Some of today's work 😃

PFB1 good work!

So satisfying to see everything in order isn’t it?

I lent another friend a Netflix log in yesterday so she could watch the series. Going to check in with her soon to see how she found it.

The day for DH’s clothes to be Kondo-ed has arrived! I’m pathetically excited.

Oh good luck with DH's clothes Basin! Let us know how you get on

It's a great feeling. The only problem I'm having is that I'm on my own with a 2 & 5 year old so although I'm doing lots of great work, they are simultaneously destroying the rest of the house 😂 I'm trying not to worry too much about that!

DH has Kondo-ed his t shirts, they all look very neat and tidy but there is only a very tiny pile which may go out. I am doing towels and bedding today

What I'm finding difficult is that while I'm doing the clothes, I'm finding loads of miscellaneous (or kimono) and I'm not at the stage to be able to sort that yet so it's now all over the place 😩 any suggestions?

Thanks for the helpful tip on paperwork. I've been trying to sort and deflated at how much I perceived I needed to keep. Filing is my utter downfall! To be honest I don't feel joy at any paperwork