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Post by procrastinator on Nov 14, 2015 10:12:12 GMT -5
As I’m finished with the Marie Kondo/KonMari process, I thought I would report on it. There were a few small projects for reorganization that I was working on, but I finished those and I think I’m pretty much done. I have some things in my house that still don’t spark joy, but replacing them is going to take time. I have a list and as I find the right item, I’ll go through and deal with those. Not gonna lie. This is not a cure for squalor. If you go into this, thinking that suddenly your floors will always be gleaming, you will be disappointed. I am never going to be a phenomenal housekeeper. I still struggle with maintenance and cleaning. But… - I don’t miss the stuff I purged.
- I can find everything now (like seriously, it’s almost impossible for me to lose things).
- Cleaning is easier because it’s not 75% of me moving stuff around so I can dust or mop or wipe or sweep.
- The process has changed the way I think about organization.
- I seem to have become a more thoughtful shopper.
- And I feel lighter. There was so much guilt I’d imbued so many of my possessions with. Guilt because things were gifts, because I had spent so much on items, because I thought I should keep stuff. That’s gone now.
There were some subcategories that were hard—thank goodness for the folks in the chat room because a few times I needed some serious handholding, but the more I did, the easier it got. All told, I think I spent $200. That includes: - A shredder (purging papers killed my 12-year-old shredder) - $70
- 1 shoe rack $30
- 2 3-tiered-metal shelving units $50 (total)
- Some bins and baskets $50
For the rest, I ended up using stuff I had (I emptied a lot of containers and boxes as I went). So I’m glad I did it. If you think it might work for you, I really recommend giving it a go.
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Post by angela on Nov 14, 2015 10:54:17 GMT -5
Thanks for that report procrastinator. It sounds like you had a fairly positive result from following the principles. You're right about squalor. The pains of maintenance are ongoing and there are few ways out of the need to do cleaning type tasks every day.
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Nov 14, 2015 22:35:29 GMT -5
Good report, procrastinator! When did you begin the process (or, how long did it take for the whole thing?)
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Post by procrastinator on Nov 15, 2015 10:44:19 GMT -5
Good rort, procrastinator! When did you begin the process (or, how long did it take for the whole thing?) August, which I recognize is beyond quick, but I live alone (no pets even) to distract me from anything, and I had a lot of motivation in that I think I had reached my "done" point. Basically without going into too much detail, my life has been spiraling out of control in pretty much every aspect. There isn't much I can do about most of that, but I was recognized that I could control my home environment. Chat helped a lot too. And three things were reinforcements/motivation to keep going. My next door neighbor is a hoarder and I can see a lot of it from my house. I had a friend who was forced to move and needed help. She kept saying "I was going to throw that out" or "If only I'd had more time" every time we took another load out. And lastly, one of my co-worker's had a relative die and needed help dealing with the mess that had been left behind. But mostly it was the desire to have some kind of control and well, enjoyment in something, that kept me going. And I have that now.
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Post by megsb on Nov 15, 2015 11:21:23 GMT -5
procrastinatorThanks so much for writing so honestly about how you approached and implemented the Konmari process!!!! And for writing about what prompted you to take action with your home and your "stuff". I can relate in so many ways. And I kinda think there are many others here at SooS who feel the same way. I haven't read the book yet; haven't even purchased it; but have been following the many posts here about this method. I continually think about her "Does It Bring Joy?" question as I slowly go through the process of de-squaloring/downsizing my home.
I have some physical limitations that most likely may not allow me to fully use her tactics. (I really have to do things a little bit at a time.) But I think I might just purchase her book and follow her suggestions, adapting them to my own abilities. Thanks AGAIN! For the review. And for the hope you have given to many others. And CONGRATS on getting your home "Konmari-ed" ! It is so wonderful that you were able to change your home situation and can now enjoy your home! Meg procrastinator wrote:
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Nov 15, 2015 20:25:00 GMT -5
Yes, thank you for what you shared. It all makes sense to me, those reasons. My intention is to continue KonMari-ing my own home, in preparation for selling the place next year. That's the beauty of this whole site, the sharing of our "experience, strength and hope" with each other.
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Post by peaceandfreedom on Nov 16, 2015 22:34:50 GMT -5
Began going through my books today; 26 of them are now on their way out of my life, using the Kon-Mari method of "Does it spark joy?" Cleaned out 3 smallish book shelves (each 26.5" long.) It is much easier this way than all the other times I've tried to weed them out in the past.
There's just something about that "sparking joy" question that is almost magical.
I wrote more about our situation in my blog, so won't repeat it here.
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Post by joyinvirginia on Dec 31, 2015 17:21:49 GMT -5
Bumping up since new book is coming out in January 2016, "Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up".
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Post by ponygirl on May 16, 2016 16:47:10 GMT -5
Sorry I've been away for so long, friends. Lots of things going on and not much time for posting. Just wanted you to know that I was still alive and okay...for the most part, ! Still plugging away on my Konmari. xoxo
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Post by ponygirl on May 16, 2016 17:00:01 GMT -5
Just went back and read all the posts since I was last here. Amazing job, everyone, who is working the KM method! It's SO true, isn't it? About the single question that changes everything: 'Does this spark joy?!'. It's changed my whole way of thinking and really has helped me to make huge strides getting out from under the hoard. Procrastinator...all those things you discovered have happened to me, too...the lightness...the new way I look at everything involving 'shopping'...which now means 'getting what I NEED and not another piece of random, useless clutter to add to the pile'...not losing things...not having to move things to clean (not that I'm doing that...yet, hehheh...I still have a long way to go)...losing the guilt over gift items and bad purchases/sunk costs...no worries now...release the item with zero guilt for it to go on to its next journey...even if that journey is having its energy released in a burn pile...and, last but not least...not missing ONE SINGLE THING that is gone. None. Amazing, no?! It's true magic. It's life changing, for certain. Nothing else has worked for me. Konmari does. Thank goodness for it.
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Post by peaceandfreedom on May 17, 2016 0:09:07 GMT -5
ponygirl , glad you are back! I've been out working in the yard a lot the last while so have not been decluttering recently, but we are getting ready for a big road trip, leaving Wed. I have been using KonMari's folding methods on clothes for The trip. I think I'm mostly doing it ok now, but it took some practice. Will see how wrinkled things are soon. But it truly makes things way more compact than my old haphazard methods. I don't know how to keep things from getting jumbled as trip days go by and things get used out of the suitcase, then transferred to the dirty clothes bag waiting for laundry, etc. that will leave "holes" in my careful packing scheme! Will give an update later on when I learn more--and it has definitely been a learning process, but I'm grateful for the Spark Joy book. It has nice line drawings with step by step instructions for the folding, much more detailed than in the first book.
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Post by Layla on Jul 21, 2016 4:43:12 GMT -5
I am now reading the Art of Tidying Kon Marie method book, halfway through it, but I had watched videos of women cleaning out their clothing on youtube last yr and watched videos of Marie Kondo, so I had some of the premise down. My husband and I went and cleaned out 2 large trash bags of clothes that night and threw out some items and old shoes.
Since Im reading the book now which I found at the thrift store, I went into my dresser the other night, I havent done the entire pull out everything just yet as I didnt have the space or time for it, but she does say you can do it by category too if its too much (Start with all your shirts, or dresses, etc first) I did my dresser, which was my pants, shorts, pajamas, athletic clothing, underwear and bras. I ended up cleaning out another 2 bags and did the rolling up my clothes to see what I have for the first time as I realized clothes I forgot about already that were buried I didnt see.
Still need to go gut my closet and start over putting everything back in, but thats an entire day project I have to be ready for, and the other part is she recommends doing it alone. So its hard when you know your spouse will be coming home and you have a deadline to complete as him seeing my stuff everywhere is another stressor. But I have made a start. I know books are next and I cant even get near my bookshelves at the moment as clutter is in the way.
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