Spark Joy Library
Explore the KonMari method and learn tips for organizing your space.
The Six Rules of Organizing with the KonMari™️Method
Commit yourself to tidying up.
This is not a simple chore that you do now and then, like raking the leaves or painting a room. This is a lifestyle change. Whether working through the method on your own, or with a professional, you must commit to the process in order to be successful. Doing a little at a time is fine, but it won’t bring dramatic results. A full reorganizing of your home will help put your past and present affairs in order, and bring major changes in your lifestyle and perspective. How much money and time are you willing to invest? When do you want to complete the process?
Imagine your ideal lifestyle
The KonMari™️method is all about joy and choosing the life you want to live. You are not just buying bins and labels, you are choosing what matters in your life. Skipping this step can cause delays and rebounds. Take the time to consider what you have now, and what you want to change. How do you want to feel in your home? How can your house support you? Picture it in concrete terms.
Finish discarding first
As soon as you stop to think about where to put things, you interrupt your progress. This is one of the main barriers to achieving a clutter-free space! You will only be able to comprehend what needs to be stored, and how to store it, once you have decided what to keep and finished discarding a category.
Tidy by category, not location
This helps you understand the amount that you own, and examine it in the proper context. It can also help you identify duplicates, and evaluate your habits and storage solutions.
Follow the right order
Marie Kondo was very intentional about designing the order to help you hone your discernment and joy-checking ability. Think of it as a roadmap to reach your destination.
Ask yourself if it sparks joy
Be unapologetic about what sparks joy for you. This is not minimalism, but a method designed to help you achieve the lifestyle that is ideal for you.
What is Joy Checking?
There are many methods to help you decide what to throw away. The KonMari™️method is focused on what you want to keep, so that your space reflects the things you actually cherish, rather than focusing on the unwanted clutter in the way. The goal is not to throw out as much as you can, but to really be intentional about the things you own and the life you want to have.
Whether something sparks joy is the standard we use to choose what to keep. Joy checking is the process of taking each item in your hands and asking if it sparks joy. It’s so important to handle each item and notice the reaction in your body. Rifling through a drawer and deciding that everything still sparks joy does not count!
“When something sparks joy, you should feel a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising.” – Marie Kondo
Not every item will truly spark joy in the physical sense, but if an item does it’s job well - think kitchen utensils or hand tools - that’s a type of joy!
Sometimes it’s obvious when things are no longer functional, out of style, or expired. If you find it difficult to discern whether to keep something, use the following prompts:
When did I obtain it?
When was the last time I used it?
How often do I use it?
How easily could I replace it if needed?
Am I telling myself a story about why I need to keep or discard this item?
What did I want to feel or who did I want to be when I purchased this item? Do I need the item to feel that way?
Is the ease of owning this item worth the energy it takes up in my space?
Is holding onto my past keeping me from enjoying the present?
Am I holding on to this for someday that may never come?
Trust your body, focus on your own joy, and don’t judge your reaction. If it’s not part of your ideal lifestyle, let it go with gratitude.ot minimalism, but a method designed to help you achieve the lifestyle that is ideal for you.
The Two Causes of Clutter
According to Marie Kondo, there are only two possible causes of clutter:
It takes too much effort to put things away
It’s unclear where things belong
When you need something, you will make the effort to get it out. Unfortunately, if it takes too much effort to put things back, they might never return to their rightful place.
Similarly, if you have to decide where something goes, you are more likely to leave it out.
Consider this when deciding where to store things. Don’t spend too much time thinking about who does what, where, and when. You might be surprised by how much you have unconsciously adjusted your behavior to your things. This is especially true for smaller homes.
Once you have a simple storage plan, putting things away will become instinctive, and clutter will naturally decrease. However, if you start storing before you have eliminated excess, you are likely to rebound to a cluttered state. It’s easier to decide where things belong once you have reduced your possessions.
“When you are choosing what to keep, ask your heart, when you are choosing where to store something, ask your house.” - Marie Kondo
The Greatest Challenges to Letting Go
The two main challenges to letting are:
Attachment to the Past
Fear of the Future
Your attachments and fears shape not only the things you hold onto, but also how you make choices in every aspect of your life, including your relationships with people and your job. These patterns are an expression of the values that guide your life.
When attachments and fears cloud your judgment and clutter your space, it’s hard to know what your are looking for now, in this moment.
The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.
Take a moment to think about what’s holding you back, and how you can move forward.