With lifestyle practices like minimalism and Hygge making the rounds in our homes, it’s no surprise Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has shot to the top of everyone’s must-watch list.
Maybe you don’t have Netflix. Maybe you don’t like subtitles. Or maybe you just don’t have time to binge the series like the rest of us because you have a life and friends and stuff. Yawn.
Well, don’t worry, because we’ve done the watching for you. And we’ve summarised the eight episodes into five inspiring lessons we learnt from the KonMari method that you can use in your home.
1. Belongings Should ‘Spark Joy’
The KonMari method is all about creating a happy home by only keeping items that spark joy in us.
When you’re considering saying goodbye to a belonging, try holding it and seeing if it triggers a feeling of happiness. If it makes you feel good, keep it. If it doesn’t, give it the boot.
2. Clothes Have Feelings
OK, maybe not. But apparently it can be cathartic to treat them like they do.
In the KonMari method, Marie shows us how to acknowledge clothes for their service before removing them from our lives. She encourages us to show gratitude to our clothing by verbally thanking each item.
So next time you’re culling your closet of the clothing that no longer sparks joy, try saying a ‘thank you’ before adding it to the ‘toss’ pile, and see how you feel.
3. Piling Things Up Is Overwhelming – But Necessary
Sometimes it takes one big pile of stuff to see just how much you own – and how much you need to get rid of.
While it may feel counterintuitive to create a big collective mess of your belongings, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo shows us how necessary it can be to get us into a ruthless decluttering mindset.
4. Folding Can Be Fun (No, Really!)
Who’d have thought it?
The KonMari folding method is seriously life changing. You’ll be so impressed with your organised and tidy wardrobe, you’ll actually look forward to folding your clothes after you get them off the line.
Check out Marie’s unique vertical-folding technique here:
5. It’s Not Always The Physical ‘Stuff’ We’re Holding Onto
Possibly the most important lesson (or reminder) we gained from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is that there’s often a deeper meaning behind why we hold onto certain items.
If you’re finding it difficult to say goodbye to something you don’t use or need, it may be due to an emotional attachment or sentimental value.
If the item sparks a positive emotion, it’s perfectly fine to hold onto it. But if it sparks a negative emotion (say, that breakup letter from your ex or the t-shirt they accidentally left behind), it might be time to consider letting go of the item in order to move forward and maintain a happy home.
Check out some of our other favourite shows to inspire your minimalist journey.
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