Did you use the Marie Kondo method? Did it stick?

[Anonymous]

For helping me with shopping and folding, it was great. Thanking things before getting rid of them sounds ridiculous but it helped everyone in our family so much! Having that last sentimental moment with something makes it much easier to let it go.

For paper, it was not great. Not great at all. Maybe it even made my paper problem worse?!

And then everything went off the rails because I actually needed to save stuff because I lived in an area that was locked down for a long time and stuff wasn’t accessible. That messed with my mindset and I’m still recovering from that temporary shift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For helping me with shopping and folding, it was great. Thanking things before getting rid of them sounds ridiculous but it helped everyone in our family so much! Having that last sentimental moment with something makes it much easier to let it go.

For paper, it was not great. Not great at all. Maybe it even made my paper problem worse?!

And then everything went off the rails because I actually needed to save stuff because I lived in an area that was locked down for a long time and stuff wasn’t accessible. That messed with my mindset and I’m still recovering from that temporary shift.

Someone should really do a Kondo esque paper update. Someone who actually uses paper and has more useful advice than trash it all.

I'd also like more break down of the kimono category.

The rest of her method is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has stuck for me, in that I bring a lot less stuff into the house than I used to and am less tied to keeping things for the “just in case”. My house isn’t perfect, but it’s manageable. I also use her folding methods, which are great for helping you see what you have.

Just in case is my nemesis.

How did you break that habit?

Not PP, but the "keep only those things that spark joy" helped me break the "just in case" habit. Like I kept an extra comforter around just in case, but realized that I didn't love it. If I thought I really needed an extra comforter, why not look for one that really makes me happy every time I look at it? Then when I see it taking up space in my closet, I don't get irritated by the lack of space, but feel happy to see it.

But then you get the flu and are shivering and wish you had an extra blanket and all you have is an empty space in your closet...or maybe you took advantage of the empty space and now have 4 new pillows there for guests. what sparks joy today and in a month could be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For helping me with shopping and folding, it was great. Thanking things before getting rid of them sounds ridiculous but it helped everyone in our family so much! Having that last sentimental moment with something makes it much easier to let it go.

For paper, it was not great. Not great at all. Maybe it even made my paper problem worse?!

And then everything went off the rails because I actually needed to save stuff because I lived in an area that was locked down for a long time and stuff wasn’t accessible. That messed with my mindset and I’m still recovering from that temporary shift.

I bet we may see a little more of the Great Depression type mindset following the pandemic, at least for those of us who had trouble getting things.

[Anonymous]

Yes! The principle of it definitely stuck with me and maybe once a year I will go through a major declutter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She (Kondo) even abandoned it, after having a baby. (And making tons in the book I am sure.)

Pretty funny!

(Perfection is an illusion people)

She abandoned it because she realized she could make millions selling crap to her audience. You can't make money selling nothing once everyone has read your book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You mean do I spring clean and donate stuff? Yes.. yes I do. Only dummies fell for her schtick and parted with their money while she recycled the free wisdom of our grandparents.

Nothing like the wisdom of my grandparents!

Exactly! My grandparents taught to save everything since it might come in handy and there certainly wasn't money to buy more. It's that mindset that is holding me back.

[Anonymous]

I now use the "covered in sh!t" method.

If the item was covered in literal sh!t, would I go through the trouble of washing and sanitizing it to save it? If the answer is no, it's not important and can go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She (Kondo) even abandoned it, after having a baby. (And making tons in the book I am sure.)

Pretty funny!

(Perfection is an illusion people)

I never thought she was trying to make people have perfect homes. Rather, I took her method as a way to make sure the things that surround me are things that are truly meaningful to me.

I agree. I think she said that if you really love all your stuff, keep it. But most people don't really love all their stuff as much as they like space and freedom.

My stumbling block is economic security. There was never enough money growing up to buy new clothes that fit and we had to keep whatever we had (sewing up holes, ignoring stains) because there wasn't likely to be more. I think her book talked about letting go of that worry and trust the process, but it's hard.

+2. The best thing about KonMarie is that it helped me to save SO MUCH MONEY by not buying things I don't need or love.

+10!!

The key is not to buy things in the first place...not to have to declutter or worse buy organizational products.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now use the "covered in sh!t" method.

If the item was covered in literal sh!t, would I go through the trouble of washing and sanitizing it to save it? If the answer is no, it's not important and can go.

I've heard the "what if someone spilled red wine on it?" method, but yours would cause me to get rid of a whole lot more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She (Kondo) even abandoned it, after having a baby. (And making tons in the book I am sure.)

Pretty funny!

(Perfection is an illusion people)

I never thought she was trying to make people have perfect homes. Rather, I took her method as a way to make sure the things that surround me are things that are truly meaningful to me.

I agree. I think she said that if you really love all your stuff, keep it. But most people don't really love all their stuff as much as they like space and freedom.

My stumbling block is economic security. There was never enough money growing up to buy new clothes that fit and we had to keep whatever we had (sewing up holes, ignoring stains) because there wasn't likely to be more. I think her book talked about letting go of that worry and trust the process, but it's hard.

I came from poverty too, and so my instinct was to hold on to everything also. But then I realized that all these things I was keeping just because I was afraid of having nothing was keeping me from actually enjoying my home, and that was even worse.

What helped you really grasp the last point? How did you get yourself to that stage? My situation is similar. I know the above intellectually, but have a very hard time realizing it fully.

[Anonymous]

No, it never brought me joy.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Having grown up in a messy/cluttered house, it really filled in some holes for me. I’m not some perfect minimalist now, but “Kondo-ing” my apartment that first time really built some skills I was lacking. The “pile and sort” method really works for me and the idea of making a home for each item which is clearly delineated when the item is NOT in it - those are core concepts I’m still working on.

The book cost like $10 or would be free at the library so idk about the PPs who say it was a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I still use some of her methods. All our clothes are folded as she recommended, so now our t-shirt, underwear, and sock drawers are organized and things are easy to find. The house goes through phases of more or less clutter, so I employ the spark joy/thanking recommendations every now and then. It actually works for us. It's mystifying how some people react so belligerently to her methods. I mean, who hurt you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now use the "covered in sh!t" method.

If the item was covered in literal sh!t, would I go through the trouble of washing and sanitizing it to save it? If the answer is no, it's not important and can go.

Kids make this so tough. I would not do this for any of my kid’s toys. But I need to keep some toys. And my kid would do this for literally every tiny piece of plastic doll detritus. So we can’t use either of our sh!t tests and have to meet halfway (or I estimate where halfway is while they’re at school).