Marie Kondo - Starting today

[MyView2]

I can’t see a current thread on this but happy to be redirected if there is one.

I’ve finished reading ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’ and I’m ready to get started. I would be delighted if there were others joining me on the journey so we can encourage each other along the way.

I’m starting with my own things in the order set out in the book and then will move onto the kids things in the same order (I’m hoping my husband will be swept up in the process and join in too but that may be wishful thinking!)

Today I’m getting started on my clothes, not sure how long it will take. Is anyone with me?

I have one room that absolutely needs doing. I just need to concentrate on it.

I'm the same. I'll find joy in just about anything. I am currently spending a lot of time being overwhelmed by my junk. I wake up at the weekend and think 'I need to sort out the box room' but usually think 'Where on earth do I start?' then go and do something else.

If I need something I can't find it, or I find that I have several (books usually)

This weekend I put down some lino and put up some shelving in the study (i.e. box room) and have made a start on going through the books. I'm just putting them in categories to start with. I have no idea of how many books I have - boxes and boxes, and they are mainly non-fiction

Some will be rejected because they are duplicates or out of date, or no longer of interest, then I will try to only keep what I have space for

@Redshoeblueshoe the fundamental principle of KM is that you sort by category, not room. It makes a huge difference!

The discard rate under KM is much higher than in a general tidy up.

For example, I love books, but managed to ditch over 70% of mine. The rationale being - many were non-classic paperbacks I'd never read again (and could get for pennies in the charity shop if needed) , most I wouldn't read again, and those I would, were kept. Some were the 'I really should read but just sat there intimidating me, year after year were gone (good riddance!). What I have kept are lovely volumes, all arranged in rainbow colours, and much loved. And I made money selling the others.

I'd never have thought that many would be in the 'to go' pile. It's quite a surprising method when you get into the swing of it.

[quote ablutiions]@Redshoeblueshoe the fundamental principle of KM is that you sort by category, not room. It makes a huge difference!

The discard rate under KM is much higher than in a general tidy up.

For example, I love books, but managed to ditch over 70% of mine. The rationale being - many were non-classic paperbacks I'd never read again (and could get for pennies in the charity shop if needed) , most I wouldn't read again, and those I would, were kept. Some were the 'I really should read but just sat there intimidating me, year after year were gone (good riddance!). What I have kept are lovely volumes, all arranged in rainbow colours, and much loved. And I made money selling the others.

I'd never have thought that many would be in the 'to go' pile. It's quite a surprising method when you get into the swing of it. [/quote]
Ooo this sounds like fun!
Do I have to read the book? Is there an "in a nutshell" version?

@MammaLovesLeopard yes read the book - it's short and easy
In summary,

• tidy in categories staring with the easy stuff, moving to more difficult
• it's about keeping what you love, not throwing things out , so you may keep loads of , for example photos.
• the process changes your mindset and relationship with 'stuff'

Gather everything for a category in one huge pile, hold each item in turn and decide whether you love it. If you do, keep it, otherwise thank it and say goodbye.

Categories (in order) : clothes, books, papers, komono (bits and bobs - HUGE category! ) and sentimental

@MammaLovesLeopard, read the book. You'll probably devour it and wish to refer to it.

I borrowed it from the local library more than once

Watch ‘Tidying Up’ on Netflix for the gist, then read the book.

My bedroom is Kondo'd to the bare bones, I had to empty my hoover 3 times , and I'd just finished when the battery went dead.
Only paperwork and my kitchen left to do.
I feel very liberated, and that once it's all finished I'll be able to sort the rest of my life out, get on with the batch cooking I've been meaning to start for years and start exercising again.

I am working through slowly. I'm not doing KonMari properly though - I'd need DH onboard to do that, and while he's sold on decluttering, he isn't there with the KM process.

Our clothes storage is much better now though, and we have got rid of a huge amount of stuff even so!

Fellow Kondo'ers, are your partners supportive and helpful in your efforts?
My DP is slightly more helpful this time round (I've had many starts) as in he's moved furniture, put my book shelves up, taken some stuff to the dump.
But (excuse me drifting into relationship stuff) he has a habit of contradicting me a lot.
If I have an idea, he shoots it down, and sometimes I can get quite upset with it all.
I asked him yesterday if he'd help me with the kitchen and I had to walk away before it turned into a row.
We have some plastuc boxes on the worktop where we put the daily recycling and when they're full we take them to the outside bins. A total eyesore.
I said if we had the bins in the yard outside the back door, instead of through the gates onto the drive, I'd be more likely to empty the boxes before they start over spilling.
And then the objections started, how the yard would look untidy, how he'd be the one wheeling them through the back gate on bin day.
He picked up a free chest of drawers from a job he was on. They were used for storing linen in the spare room, but I got a linen cupboard a few weeks ago, and these drawers have been sitting in my bedroom since then, with him saying he's going to take them to his workshop to sand and wax and sell.
I got fed up of asking him to move them, in the end I shoved them into his room (we have separate rooms because he snores so much).
He got the hump and moved them into my lovely clean cleared dining room. And put stuff in them.
I could cry....

Nice to see so many of you on board, I’ve gone a bit quiet as I’ve not progressed much recently but I’m getting back on the wagon today. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed with the kimono category but have decided I just need to pick a category of kimono at a time and get on with it. I have a pile of Halloween things in my room so I’m doing that today. I don’t actually think it will take long at all, we’ve got loads of costumes that are too small and they are scattered across three rooms. I’ve also replaced a few items of clothing so have cleared out the old worn ones I was hanging onto so I still had something to wear so I’ll get them to the clothing bank today. I had to look out some paperwork for school enrolment that other day and I must say it was so easy and quick as my paperwork is organised now, I felt very smug! @cherrytree63 I’m leaving my husband out of this process for as long as possible and hope to take him on the journey leading by example. He’s not on board yet but I do recognise some admiration for how easy I can now access my nicely folded clothes so maybe it will start rubbing off soon. Good luck!

With komono there are lots of lists available online of komono subcategories, you might find it easier to get one of those which you can then work through one category at a time, to give you some structure.

I need to restart. I think I will read the books again to get my mojo back.

My OH would not be on board. He cannot let go of things - even the inserts that come in the Saturday paper!

Things that I have taken on from non-KM sources:

Referring to items as "inventory". Depersonalises it, for me. From The Minimal Mom on YouTube.

The "Spontaneous Combustion" theory. If this item spontaneously combusted, would I buy another. From The Minimalists - podcast & YouTube

I have found my people! Am mid-way through MK'ing. Have done clothes and books, am currently buried in kimono. My first ever attempt at this but the results have already been astounding. I'm also loving the approach not just getting rid of stuff but also so much better organisation of what you actually keep. Some of the folding techniques (and the use of a lot of storage boxes) have really transformed spaces for me! DH is supportive and doing little bits himself too but isn't as 'all in' as I am.

Anybody still Kondo'ing?
I stalled for a while, made some more mess but I'm back in the mindset now.
Had an emotional blip when I realised there was no space for my printer on my desk, but OH raised one of my shelves so it fits under. Which does mean I'll have to whittle my book collection down.
No new clothes have crossed my threshold!
OH has made a dresser from one of my empty chest of drawers and an old book case that had no home, it looks really good!
And it solves the annoying storage problem of gloves/hats/snoods.

@cherrytree63

Thanks *@Caspianberg*

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/skubb-box-set-of-6-white-00428549/ I use these.

I'm still Kondo'ing @cherrytree63 - started some sentimental items yesterday and today for the first time!

It sounds like you are still making great progress @cherrytree63 I’m still here too, I went a bit off piste and cleared some of the kids stuff which was out of order but it was spilling into other areas so I decided it was best to get it cleared so I could move ahead. I also cleared out all the bathroom clutter.

I currently have about nine bags of clothing to dispose of that I’ve been driving about in my boot because all of the clothing banks have been stuffed to the gunnels.

I had a break from clearing over Christmas as we’ve had covid so had to isolate and I didn’t want to generate more bags when I couldn’t leave the house. Anyway time to get cracking again now we are free and I’m quite looking forward to it.

I'm having my 2nd hand surgery today, bit cross with myself that I didn't get more done as I'll only have one functioning hand for a few weeks now.
I'll have to nag my OH to help me, I've got a pile of kitchen bits in my downstairs hall been waiting for him to take them to the charity shop for about 3 weeks now.
Won't be able to wring out the mop or any cleaning cloths so he'll need to help me.
He's very tidy but just doesn't see dirt, and is one of those men that needs telling what to do.

Hi I have never read the books, does she give tips on dealing with paperwork? Most of my house is pretty minimalist but our office is a disgrace. I’m getting it decorated soon and will be buying new furniture. I need to sort through all the paperwork (dh’s crap!) first.

You've no idea how this is going to revolutionise your life, OP. Five years on, my drawers are still Kondoed. My folding may not be up to her standard (she uses brand new garments for the most part I think) but I know where to find everything in my drawers.