I like to think I am a pretty organized and clean person.
I try to keep my house clean but somehow, a few days after a cleaning spree, piles of junk emerge from their hiding places and take up residence in my living space. Papers, books, and receipts find their way to my desktop. Shoes are scattered all over my floor, tripping any passerby. Clean and dirty clothes alike gather into nest-like piles on my bed and chair.
Yeah, it's not a pretty sight.
I used to think I didn't have enough space, but I've come to the conclusion that I just have too much stuff.
I'd been meaning to purge my house of all my extra junk, I just wasn't sure how to go about it. That is, until I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.
Kondo is a Japanese organizational consultant, and in this book she goes into detail about the Konmari method of organizing your home, which she named.
The idea is that you go through all of your belongings, type by type, and gather them all up into a big pile. You take each item in your hand and ask yourself if it brings you joy. If it does, you keep it. If not, get rid of it.
Pretty simple, right?
There are a lot more details that Kondo goes over in the book, like how to fold and hang your clothes properly, and how to store things like important paperwork.
She also claims that having a clean, tidy house, surrounded only by things that bring you joy, can help you live a happier and more fulfilled life.
I get it, I really do. When my house is clean, I feel more productive and clear minded. When my house is cluttered, I almost can't do anything else until I clean it up. It's weird to me. I didn't realize other people felt like this.
Kondo says to do all of your organizing in one single go. She says if you start and don't finish, or try to do a little bit at a time, the mess will find a way to creep back in and you'll never actually finish.
I haven't gotten around to starting yet, but I can hardly wait. I think about it every time I walk into my house. Maybe that's something I can do now that I'm on fall break from classes? I hope so! The mess is stressing me out!
Has anyone else drastically reduced the amount of stuff they have? I'll keep you all updated on how it goes!
I'd like to live a very minimalistic lifestyle, but I find it hard to throw away recipes (even though I know I won't cook it) and i'll let some clothes linger for a couple of seasons of neglect in my closet. It really is refreshing getting rid of stuff because I feel like the more space I have, the less hassle I have to deal with.
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