The globally successful, charming Japanese Marie Kondo is undoubtedly not the first to come up with an ingenious system to make and maintain order. Still, she is definitely one of the leading popularizers. And, thanks to her, we can enjoy cleaning.
In her understanding, it is actually a complex system of principles or philosophy, which we could initially define by the question, “Does this thing bring me joy?”. The method with the distinctive and easy-to-remember word KonMari is the key not only to postponed cleaning but surprisingly also to knowing oneself better and one’s needs. “How we approach our possessions, relationships, work, and way of life is all interconnected. This is why it’s more effective to tackle blocks from both angles: our possessions and our inner selves,” Marie Kondo points out in her latest book, Kurashi at Home.
The (dis)Order of Our Daily Life
Some people take the ability to clean and maintain everything for granted. Others even find the work of a professional consultant for cleaning and organizing ridiculous. Some deal with it only when necessary. Either way, this is an important job because so many people have a serious problem with a mess, or seeing a pile of things makes them feel helpless and anxious. You have surely heard of cases where people overwhelmed by unnecessary things could not live an everyday life. Buying and keeping unnecessary things led them to financial difficulties. Then, they needed professional help, such as a consultant for organizing and cleaning. Many people are also attracted by the opportunity to learn to create a long-term functional system at home and work, which can significantly simplify life in every way for those who carry the burden of workload.
Clean with KonMari
Marie Kondo enjoyed cleaning as a young girl. She turned her hobby into a serious business, and today, among other things, she offers training for those who want to learn her method and certified courses for future teacher-consultants. At first glance, her interest in minimalism is evident, which naturally complements her philosophy. Marie Kondo is also active in writing – she is the author of several books; the first one was published under the title Magic Cleaning and has become a bestseller in many countries worldwide. She continued with the equally successful book Spark Joy, and recently, her latest publication, Kurashi at Home, was published. It is a summary of the principles of her philosophy, along with beautiful photographs. She also hosted a popular documentary series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, on Netflix. This series helps you realize the problems ordinary people face regarding decluttering and disorganization.
Cleaning is Fun
Although we can rationally evaluate the solution to many situations, we can’t have an exact manual on how to do it. When it does not work so easily, we also need experts in seemingly simple things we struggle with. If it weren’t a problem, we wouldn’t call it a problem. Marie Kondo’s clients often don’t know how to plan the entire cleaning process. People are different, and everyone likes a different pace, so you must be honest with yourself, set realistic goals, and stick to them.
We can all appreciate the pleasant and good feeling encouraging living and working space we see in magazines, advertisements, documents, or when visiting – we will undoubtedly say that we would like to have it as well. Why not? Sometimes, you just need to rearrange your priorities and get started.
Many of you are already familiar with the effective cleaning rules of Marie Kondo. Their effectiveness is also evidenced by the fact that they have gained popularity worldwide, and thanks to them, the charming Japanese woman has become a celebrity in her field. Among other things, she suggests not cleaning by rooms but by categories, ideally in the following order:
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (miscellaneous items)
- Sentimental items
Look at things, hold them in your hands, and consider whether they make you feel positive. If a given item or clothing no longer brings you joy and you assume that you no longer need it, thank yourself mentally that it served you, and get rid of it with a clear conscience. However, cleaning should not stress you out; the point is to be happy that you are creating a cozy living space. Marie Kondo also points out the importance of setting a deadline for cleaning, but consider how realistic the deadline is for you. “Having a firm deadline helps us focus and makes us more productive. That’s human nature,” the Japanese consultant emphasizes with a smile. But what if, even after studying the KonMari methods, you find that almost every item sparks joy in you and want to keep it? In this case, she advises you to clean up your storage space and focus on how you store things to bring you joy.
Text and photo: Miriama Vojteková, source: Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home
