So have you seen the book? Have you read the book? Do you know about the book? Do you own the book??
THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP.
The world seems to have been swallowed up by the soft voice and firm, sensibly manicured hand of Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo. The petite woman who gave herself a miniature nervous breakdown as a teen because she became so obsessed yet never satisfied with tidying up, has created a cult following.
The cult of Kondo.
Holy shit. She's RIGHT. Marie would never, ever say that bad word by the way. Maybe if I want to get organized I should stop saying bad words. Maybe that would help me become more tidy.
I first heard about the book over a year ago when I ran into a Cult of Kondo friend at the local drugstore. We were ...
Wait! Something big and messy is about to happen!
If you could just excuse me for a minute that'd be great because I'm pretty sure my head is going to explode. I've had an inkling that this was going to happen for the past month or so and I have a feeling this is the moment. I'm sure you've been there. There's just too much mashed and scribbled around in your brain so some of it is looking for a way out. Much like a ticking time bomb, my head is just waiting for the exact right moment to go off in a spectacular display. So if we could all just sit quietly for a minute or two until I know one way or the other that'd be great. I'm pretty sure it's gonna happen though. Right now. In the middle of writing a post.
Nope. We're good. Head isn't going to explode today I don't think.
It's only a matter of time though. I know this on account of the fact that there's too much in my head and it's all out of order and mish mashed around in there in such a scrambled mess I can't really call any information up to my frontal lobe when I need it. I think, What will I have for dinner, and instead of pizza or pesto, a little anxiety attack named Sam comes raging forward instead of a dinner idea, screaming at me to give up eating so I have time to tidy up the house instead. I hate Sam. Sam's an asshead.
So back to this book. I found out about it over a year ago from a friend, as I said, but I didn't buy it. I just sort of forgot about it. Here's proof of when I was first told about it because I even took a "note" of the title.
But today that changes. Because TODAY I am buying The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I've left it so late Marie already has another book out on tidying up. I think it's more of a companion book for the already tidy so I'm not sure I need this one.
I'm going to read this book and do every SINGLE thing it says. Mainly I want to get my house organized, decluttered and ready for the fall makeover. I have so many things to move around and a few big storage pieces I may have to get rid of that I have to get my decluttering done before I even attempt to redecorate.
Along with ordering and submitting to the Cult of Kondo there are 2 other things I'm going to do to help me organize my life and house this month.
HOW I'M GOING TO GET ORGANIZED THIS MONTH
Organize my thoughts. Seriously. I need to get this jumble of ideas and thoughts figured out and evict Sam the Asshead as soon as possible. I will prioritize, list, re-prioritize and make a new list of the things I need to get done. Over and over until it's doable. This is just for all the stuff I need to do that *isn't* tidying and organizing. More like figuring out when I'm going to fix the chicken coop roof and making a timeline and material list for redecorating the lower floor of my house this fall.
I will NOT try to organize/tidy my entire house. That's crazy talk. I'll do 4 rooms.
4 rooms in 4 weeks. Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Bathroom.
(Sign up for the 4 Rooms, 4 Week Challenge that starts this Monday!)
I have to confess I'm unreasonably excited about this book. I've already been using Marie Kondo's folding method (the Konmari method) and it kindda has magically changed my life. Opening my tee shirt drawer never made me smile before. Now it does. Now it makes me giddy.
Ditto for my jean drawer and tea towel drawer. You know how you fold your tee shirts all nice and sit them on top of each other, then you need a tee shirt and it's under another one and you pull it out and it makes them a bit messy? Then you're in a huge rush and you just go diving and rummaging through them to find one that doesn't have a hole in it 'cause your fart-face-fussy mother-law-law is coming over and by the time you walk away from the drawer it's a tangle of polyester and cotton? Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore.
If reviews of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up are to be believed it really is life changing. Folding tee shirts her way had me so excited I almost had to pull out the smelling salts so I can't imagine what'll happen to me when I read the whole book.
I *can* imagine what will happen to Anxiety Sam though.
Have a good weekend!
Ev Wilcox
I have had the book for quite awhile but have not read it, though know about some of her theories. I have no prob with mentally thanking ones discards for their service. From all the comments, I will be getting the "Unstuff" book very soon. As far as thanking inanimate items-we have lived on a "rougher edge" in the past, and I am grateful when the potty flushes correctly, and we still have water in spite of NO F'IN Rain! Once you live with water "situations" you become more appreciative! And this old body gets frequent thanks too-still crazy after all these years! So happy downsizing/organizing to all of us, especially our dear inciter, er, leader!
Miz B
Fly lady.net has helped me declutter in a helpful way. She does promote her products, her purple "rags" are the bomb!! But each day she sends encouraging e-mails. On her website, go to getting started. "You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up;
I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?" a quote she quotes EACH day!! AWESOME site!
whitequeen96
You'd all be jealous if you saw how much space I have in my closet! I have my own method; almost nothing actually makes it *into* the closet. I hang all my pants on the back of the chair in my dressing room. Sometimes it gets too heavy and might tip backwards, but I solve that by stacking my folded t-shirts and sweaters on the seat. I also keep the 3 pairs of shoes I actually wear lined up on the floor in front of the chair. That way I can see everything at once. Problem solved! :)
I have a similar method with my magazines and books, which I keep spread out on the floor around my bed. Maybe I should write a book!
Wendy W
I too heard of this book, but didn't buy it. You see, I have a husband, 2 teenagers AND a puppy. Everytime I get things organized, I look up and it's a mess again. So would this book add to my craziness? I trust your judgement. Please review as soon as you can so I know if this will work with my messy family! Oh and they would never READ this book, NEVER!
Jane S
I just watched Marie Kondo's folding video. Just watching made me twitchy. Thank god my t-shirts are on hangers. Much as I need to de clutter, she is not for me.
Eileen
I have both books, so I guess I'm cluttering up some more and I've barely started. Oh, well. People opposed to this method are missing the point. It's not about throwing everything away. It's about identifying exactly what gives you joy and eliminating the excess; then giving those treasures a home and a place of honor. Thanking inanimate objects is just a way of raising your consciousness to a point that you don't take your daily life objects for granted and living more in the now and appreciating what you have in your life. Some people see her as obsessed; I see it more kindly as a passion. She certainly isn't harming anyone and she's suggesting a more focused, neater world. Not so bad.
Mia
The first time I folded Tshirts ala Kondo was for packing a suitcase. What a difference! More room, easier to find. Drawers at home are narrow, so I line them up from side-to-side, not front-to-back, if that helps anyone. That's all the KonMari I've adopted.
Marilyn meagher
Hahahaha. Noelle. Lmao. I thought you were going to show me how to fold them. I will try to figure it out.
Noelle
I hate that f***ing book. Who the hell has time to actually do this? Organize? I can barely feed myself. Does she offer an overhaul service?
;)
Sheila Turchyn
Hi Karen!
I have read many de-cluttering books, including Spark Joy, and find something useful in all of them. I'm a serial clutterer (as well as a cereal clutterer ) and need constant reminders. I chalk it up to being creative. We see things differently. At least that's my excuse! I love the folding method as well and people laugh when they look in my tea towel drawer....it's so perfect! I will look forward to seeing your challenge, although I'm away for 2 weeks in August. Keep up the good work!
Sheila
AngieC
My t-shirts all hang in the closet, I have like 10 pairs of pants total, and I know how to get rid of crap. My mom is very nearly a hoarder but, thank goodness, I inherited my dad's ability to both pack and get rid of shit. That's what I'm doing on Sunday and maybe part of Monday. I feel no guilt in getting rid of stuff, even gifts.
I am, however, messy.
Gretchen Sexton
OMG!
I am so pleased with myself. Why? BECAUSE I ALREADY FOLD MY TSHIRTS LIKE THIS!
Yes.
I started a number of years ago. Of course, they are JAMMED tightly because I have too many.
So.
I will get rid of some of those bad boys.
The thought of simplifying and organizing is a generally overwhelming--even if the result is heavenly.
You. Are. An. Inspiration.
Thankyou.
Sharron Wall
I have Kondo'd five drawers and I appreciate seeing everything in order so I have up front choices. I used to hate the day the blue underwear made it to the top of the pile, now I just thank it for being there in case I don't get laundry done. Looking forward to the 4 rooms in 4 weeks.
Mary W
Boy, Karen - did you ever open a drawer of undies! (can of worms) I think it would be fun to live in a clean, sparse room. Just like a hotel room. But I just can't bear to think about living in it for more than a week - it would drive me bonkers - nothing to see, do, tidy, or feel like my own feathered nest. (My bird is currently in molt.) I buy beautiful magazines when I want to experience that but then I get back to my own, cluttered, comfy, amazingly fun home. The grands bring over every piece of art they make and I proudly display it on my fridge, mantel, window, etc. It's a true clutter dream home. And I'm truly happy playing in it with my art supplies and grands. I buy all one color/style sock and throw them in the drawer when I finish laundry so I can hurry back to having fun - retired and loving it. I owned 8 same color/style T's and did the same. Cleaned out all my work clothes and have one outfit for funerals and weddings - the rest is T's and jeans and shorts. Can't express how happy I am. Especially now that the darn sticker is off the floor. Thanks for your June class - changed me for sure and I know your other classes will benefit those that join your fun.
Gretchen Sexton
I look forward to having a wardrobe just like you. What a great idea!
Karen
I did, didn't I, lol. I don't see Kondoing your home as having to make it sparse. I love having objects I love around and lean more towards clutter in terms of decorating than minimalist. I like minimalist clutter, lol. It's all about what's right for you and makes you feel good or better. I love hotel rooms too (the nice ones) but I don't want to live in one either. :) ~ karen!
Christie Acker
I thought I was a fairly organized person... until I read her book... We just recently downsized from a very large home, to a place a 1/3 of the size... So some de-cluttering was definitely in order. I found it extremely freeing. I'm still getting rid of things... But beware! In the initial frenzy and joy of purging, you sometimes get rid of things that you shouldn't have.... I was recently in the closet of a friend of mine and spotted a great skirt I had given her - and I wanted it back! But tons and tons of stuff (including furniture, linens, household items that were hiding in my kitchen & pantry) went to charity to help those less fortunate.
Good luck with the Kondo method!
Nancee Meeker
Oh, and here is the link to the original museum show that inspired the NY Times to do their own story.
http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/the-keeper
Nancee Meeker
Bought the book, read the book, hated the book. It doesn't work for me. I'm a collector. And that is a problem if you want to be that tidy everywhere. I downsized a few years back and gave away, sold, tossed a lot of stuff. I still have too much, but that is who I am. It makes me way more interesting! But for some real fascinating reading, take a look at this article from the NY times last week!!!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/24/arts/design/the-keeper-collectors-reader-submissions.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fdesign&action=click&contentCollection=design®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
jainegayer
I have too much as well. I read the article in the NY times. I feel better about my collections of monogramed linen towels, old sterling utensils and vintage nightgowns. I use all my stuff and feel like I am their keeper. Just who I am and Marie can't change me.
Karen
I haven't read the book so I can't really say, but I don't think she thinks you should have nothing around does she? I am a BIG proponent of using the stuff you have though. I don't like having a lot of stuff that doesn't have a purpose. If you have antique cutlery USE it, vintage nightgown, USE it ... that's what makes me happy. :) Using stuff. But I can't wait to go through my dining room closet which I just purged a couple of years ago because I know there's already cords and technology in there (Flip Camera anyone) that's already outdated and just waiting to be pitched. ~ karen!
jainegayer
I must admit I do roll (not fold) all my T-shirts and yoga tights now. Marie did inspire me to be more tidy in my closet.
Thera
I haven't read Kondi's book as of yet, but I am already a minimalist, so I will get to it someday and I am sure it will be a great book for decluttering and letting go.
However, for Sam and all that stuff in your head, you may want to consider Morning Pages, a thing developed by Julia Cameron.
http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/
Brita
I don't have enough tee shirts or an appropriate drawer, but I did figure out why my socks live so long.
The most helpful thing about her book is it explains some of the psychological reasons for my holding on to clutter. Guilt. Guilt for the money I "wasted". Guilt for the bad decision. Guilt for not finishing projects. Sadness for unfulfilled dreams.
The book gave me the self-awareness to break through a de-cluttering wall I had hit.
KariMcD
Ok. Bought the book. READ the book. Started with DH's stuff because he uses drawers more than I do. Happy to say his socks and undershirts are still organized her way after three months. Then I did my socks, bras and undies. (I hate wearing all three of those items, BTW) socks still good, but bras and undies...ugh. They looked so pretty the first week...then slowly reassumed their jumble of crappiness. I just don't think that it's practical to have my nether garments folded and sorted by color and type. (HellO cotton Hanes granny panties)
BUT, the book did make me ponder the stuff in my closet I've hung on to because it was expensive, not worn yet, one size too small because I'm going to lose ten pounds, and I have slowly begun purging.
This process is not for a lazy weekend afternoon. It's intense, and it's immediate-all or nothing. But by doing it her way, you actually see results,.,like big results. But you have to commit. I hate committing,
My house is actually pretty organized but I know there's always room for improvement. Like why do I have 13 birthday candles that don't match each other, 500 half used pencils with no erasers and let's not even start about the sheet situation.
I'm part of the August challenge, and I'm going to TRY to do this the right way. Will be interesting to see how the ol' Casa looks on September 1st.
Karen
There's no right way as far as I'm concerned KariMcD. :) If you get rid of some useless stuff you'll feel lighter. Plus you'll create room to store other stuff. My house is pretty organized right now too but the cupboards feel too full, I'm definitely holding onto too many magazines, etc. So, as long as you do SOMETHING you're gonna be in a better place on August 31 than you were on August 1st. :) ~ karen!