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Post by procrastinator on Sept 30, 2015 18:12:01 GMT -5
Y'all are doing so good. I have to say, though, that I'm not as far along as it sounds. I've truly only begun using the KM method, and I'm still on clothes. Yep. Sigh. I have so much. I've donated, consigned (not much there), and discarded so much; however, what I still have...and still haven't been able to dig to...is truly embarrassing. I can't believe I've done this to myself over all these years. You can totally do this. I just now finished books and while I'm still in shock, it feels . . . lighter? Also, the more I do this, the easier it gets. You will get there!
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Sept 30, 2015 18:25:22 GMT -5
This afternoon I KonMari-ed my way through another batch of winter clothes--some jackets, hats, scarves, etc. Have another bag ready to go to Goodwill, plus a load in the washer right now, most of which will also get donated. I, too, am sort of in shock at how easy this is to do. It just doesn't seem like it is really me doing it so easily! So different from previous attempts to clean out.
Next, I will begin going thro summer clothes that are currently in the closet. Will KonMari them, then wash what needs doing and either get them ready to store or to donate. Actually, after I wrote that sentence, it makes more sense to wash everything first, then Kon-Mari them into piles of to keep and to donate. Yes, that does make the most sense.
I have storage area under the window seat in the bedroom. Before, it was full of mostly things like I went through today. But having now gotten rid of so many bulky winter items, there should be room enough to store all the summer things there now, thus eliminating the big plastic bin where I have for years stored the off season clothes. Hooray!
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Post by emeraldine on Sept 30, 2015 19:57:33 GMT -5
Ponygirl --- "iIt's like background noise, always murmuring." You are so right That is exactly what it is like. Clutter and mess induce a low-level, constant murmuring at my subconscious. it's not unbearable, not unliveable, but it is massively irritating and it is always there. And of course, the voice in my head that says Do This, Do That, which fortunately I am paying more heed to these days. This morning I donated a big 55-litre tub of Lego to my daughter's after-school club. The Lego, which had sat unplayed-with in a corner for more than a year, brought neither of us any joy. But you should have seen how thrilled the kids were. That big tub of Lego sparked so much joy, and I, too, am joyful because the Lego is going to be played with again and enjoyed. Meanwhile, today is Bindependence Day (meaning my recycling bin has been emptied), so I can spark some more joy by turfing another round of old papers.Yay!
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Post by ponygirl on Oct 6, 2015 14:54:01 GMT -5
Reading of your progress and insights brings me joy! Sorry I've been away...we've had to make hay while the sun shines! Literally...getting our winter hay in for the critters! So, with all that work having to be done, I haven't been able to KM for over a week. Hope to get back on track by this weekend. Lighter...yes! We will all be lighter...in our physical realm and within our minds. Sweet, sweet freedom!
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Oct 7, 2015 0:35:27 GMT -5
Have now KonMari-ed my way through all my winter clothes, or at least all of them that I know where they were. Got rid of more than half of what I had, I would guess. Have a couple more bags waiting to donate. Weather has been lovely, so decided to wait a bit before tackling the summer clothes. But I am convinced that KM is the way for me to get through them. What remains are things I truly like.
Have now begun working on the guest room, which needs a complete overhaul. I'm finding the same "joy" principle works just as well on "things" as it does on clothing. Have been decluttering (more things ready to donate) and some into the trash. Moved everything to one side of the room and touched up the paint here and there, and scrubbed that half of the floor. Next, will move things to the clean side and continue decluttering & cleaning on the other side.
Emeraldine, I like your new word Bindependence! For me, I think it means whenever I can get a big plastic bin emptied and not refilled with anything else! Haven't got there yet, but looking forward to it. Onward!
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Post by procrastinator on Oct 15, 2015 19:31:08 GMT -5
I am nearly at the end of the Komono stuff (miscellaneous).
I was looking at my glassware and was convinced I knew what I had and that I loved everything I had. But I've been wiping out cupboards as I go so I emptied those shelves anyhow. And purged about 10 random things I had forgotten I owned and that sparked no joy and weren't even in good condition.
The categories I've decluttered have stayed decluttered. I am astounded to find that I like what I've kept and that I feel calmer in those rooms.
It's still hard. Not gonna lie. But it's better than anything else I've ever tried.
Marie Kondo knows what she's doing.
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Post by mellowyellow on Oct 16, 2015 20:19:36 GMT -5
I did do this to my son's drawers, because it looks so pretty and is oddly cathartic and ... well.... it allows me to forget my own clothing disaster.
Throw clothes on the floor to sort? Ummmmm..... well I nailed THAT part. I have years of practice. Now if I could only get to the sort and purge part....
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Post by mellowyellow on Oct 16, 2015 20:23:57 GMT -5
ponygirl, good idea to look for videos on how to fold. Will pursue that, as it is kind of hard to picture. (I am reading the book on Kindle, which has no pictures. Does the printed version have pix?) Seems like they would get wrinkled, but she says they don't. And I read what she says about seasonal clothes and no need to store them outside the closet. I would imagine that depends upon how large the closet is. Mine is fairly small, not a luxurious walk-in one like some folks have. But, I'm keeping an open mind on all fronts. I have to say, this book is certainly expanding my horizons, and it gives me a lot to think about! Hahaha... seasonal clothing? One autumn coat and one winter coat almost take up my entire microscopic closet. I definitely don't have room to store all four seasons at once.
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Post by shellsncheese on Oct 16, 2015 22:50:09 GMT -5
Hahaha... seasonal clothing? One autumn coat and one winter coat almost take up my entire microscopic closet. I definitely don't have room to store all four seasons at once. I would imagine the ability to store seasonal clothes in your closet varies a good bit depending on where you live and how dramatic your seasons are. I'm with you. I just finished 3 months of shorts, tank tops and dresses, and now I'm pulling out a full set of wool sweaters to make it through the winter. Also, I don't find it logical to keep them there. I won't need shorts for another 7 months, so why not store them out of sight and assess if they still fit when I pull them out next spring??
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Oct 20, 2015 23:07:54 GMT -5
Well, my winter clothes are now hanging nicely in my closet and there is room for them to breathe, instead of being jammed in with way too many others. And it just feels good to be able to open the closet door and see them there as individuals, rather than as one big glob of stuff crammed together. Now will be washing the rest of my summer clothes and then KonMari-ing them before putting the ones away that I will keep. This whole exercise has been amazing, interesting, and surprising. It works! I've never experienced anything remotely like it before. Deciding what to keep instead of what to get rid of sure makes a difference!
Also finished reading the KonMari book and am now going back through it again slowly, just letting it sink in. In the early part of the book she keeps talking about the need to do the whole house quickly, get it over with as soon as possible, do the discarding and then the organizing and putting away. It's been a couple of months since I read the book the first time, and I'd forgotten that she finallly says she defines "immediately" or "quickly" as "in about six months." OK, I think that is reasonable. And doable. I think I'm going to give that a try.
I didn't count how many bags I took to Goodwill since I first found my way here in July, but I know I've made good progress so far. I'm finishing renovating the guest room now, and I've discarded lots of stuff that was in there too.
Just today I was telling a friend about the KonMari idea of "does it spark joy?" and she smirked. Yes, it does sound corny, but I now know that there is indeed something to it.
So. Onward!
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Post by italianlady on Oct 21, 2015 0:25:22 GMT -5
I've been keeping my drawers and closet like this, and I love it. But. Well, I love how it looks and how easy it is to find things and how I can fit more into the drawers and all, but it seems like it's a lot more trouble to do and takes longer even though it's not that bad. It's certainly worth it, but I have found myself wanting to put off the actual folding and putting away, and I've put it off until the next day a time or two but once it's done I'm glad I kept it up and didn't go back to the old way.
Has anyone else felt like that about the folding and such? It may be because it's new and different it just seems more of a bother, and if so maybe that will lessen over time. Either way I really want to keep the drawers this way. It's so great!
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Post by procrastinator on Oct 21, 2015 19:54:21 GMT -5
I've been keeping my drawers and closet like this, and I love it. But. Well, I love how it looks and how easy it is to find things and how I can fit more into the drawers and all, but it seems like it's a lot more trouble to do and takes longer even though it's not that bad. It's certainly worth it, but I have found myself wanting to put off the actual folding and putting away, and I've put it off until the next day a time or two but once it's done I'm glad I kept it up and didn't go back to the old way. Has anyone else felt like that about the folding and such? It may be because it's new and different it just seems more of a bother, and if so maybe that will lessen over time. Either way I really want to keep the drawers this way. It's so great! I've gotten the knack of the folding and it takes me the same amount of time it was taking to find the hangers and try to cram the thing into the closet. For me the key is to try to do the folding on a flat surface. I also found a couple of nice Youtube videos that helped me a bit. This was a really good one:
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Oct 22, 2015 18:28:13 GMT -5
Thank you for posting the video link. Had not gotten around to looking for the videos yet. This gives me a good idea of the folding. Will give it a try. It was hard to picture after just reading about it.
(Note: the videos change to new ones after you watch one. They are not just about folding.)
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Post by procrastinator on Oct 23, 2015 19:43:50 GMT -5
You need to turn off auto play. That solves that problem.
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Oct 25, 2015 23:08:37 GMT -5
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