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Blog

LIFE CHANGING MAGIC (and how you can spark joy in your home)

2/1/2019

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As a professional organizer you can imagine how thrilled I was to hear about the new Netflix series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.
 
If you’re reading this blog you’ve likely heard of Marie Kondo, whose 2014 book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” swept the nation (ok, the GLOBE!) by storm.
 
In 2016 she published a second book, “Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up.”

​THE KONMARI METHOD™

The premise of the books and Marie’s now trademarked “KonMari™” method include a series of steps for readers (and viewers of the show) to follow:

  • Tackle one area at a time.
  • Start with clothing.
  • Next work on books.
  • Then dig into papers.
  • “Komono” items are next. This is Marie’s term for everything not covered in the previous four categories, and will be a HUGE category for most people. What’s here? CDs/DVDs, electronic equipment, household equipment, everything in your kitchen and bathroom, toys, hobbies, etc. Mementos/sentimental ideas are not included here.
  • Finally, address the remaining clutter -- mementos and sentimental items.
  • For each of the above categories, create subcategories as needed. For example, clothing could have subcategories of tops, bottoms, socks, underwear, accessories, etc.
 
Along the way, homeowners are encouraged to touch every item they are considering, determining if it “sparks joy” in them. If it does, the item can go in the “keep” pile. No sparks? Off it goes!
 
Items to be retained are then folded in very particular ways (some make sense; others not so much) and are organized using boxes or other containers.
 
Finally, the KonMari method specifies the organizing be done ikki ni, which is Japanese for doing it all at once.
 
Sounds reasonable, right? Or maybe you’re already overwhelmed.
 
While there are things I like about the KonMari™ method, it has serious drawbacks for many who try to use it (if you don’t believe me, just refer to Google).


  • You need space to put all your stuff while you’re sorting through it. If every area of your home is cluttered, finding that space can be a challenge.
 
  • “Sparking joy” means different things to different people. While I believe Marie meant this as a pure and spiritual reaction to your belongings, for someone joy could be sparked because they found an item they either lost or didn’t remember they had. That reaction of joy – while real and legitimate – doesn’t necessarily translate to a need to keep the item!
 
  • We don’t all need to mimic a Japanese lifestyle. As a small country with a huge population, the homes in Japan tend to be quite small as compared to those in America. Cultural expectations are different. We simply have the ability to own more possessions due to the sizes of our homes. If you want to have a home that is very empty of possessions that’s fine – some Americans find that a good fit for their aesthetic. What I hate to see is someone feeling shamed into eliminating things that they like and can use (and have the space for if they simply reorganize) simply because an organizing celebrity tells them they should live with a minimal amount of possessions.
 
  • Marie’s system doesn’t get to the root causes of why her clients are living in clutter and disorganization. While your organizer isn’t your therapist, he or she should be asking questions that help you get to the heart of the clutter in your life, so you can break habits that wreak havoc and learn new skills and systems.
 
This last point is a really big one for me. In fact, it’s so important I am working on a book that delves into this topic. Watch for more details on that in the future!
 
In spite of these concerns, there are some things I loved about the Netflix series. Some of the stories were so powerful! I found that many of the episodes had similar themes and outcomes to those experienced by my organizing clients. Here were some of my favorite take-aways (combined from reality TV and actual reality!):
 
A man supporting his wife’s desire to declutter. Even though he wasn’t that excited about the project initially, a husband really wanted to support his wife. And in the end, he was delighted with the progress (and results!) they both achieved.
 
Gathering like items in one place to sort. It starts with all your clothes fitting nicely into your closet. Pretty soon you’ve got a surplus of clothes, and you take over the closet in the spare bedroom … and then you’re setting up wardrobes in the garage and attic too. When you allow your possessions to move outside the borders of their assigned spaces, you lose sight of exactly what you have – and that often means wasted time (searching) and wasted money (buying duplicates). Putting like items in a single spot to organize is a great way to clarify what you have and what you need.
 
Creating space for new experiences. One of the people on the series talked about how looking at all the shoes they owned made them rethink their values. They had spent thousands of dollars on shoes that had never been worn!  Decluttering doesn’t just create physical space; it also creates an opportunity for new values and experiences. One of my clients was able to move forward with her writing business after taking charge of the clutter that was creating chaos. It truly changed her life!
 
Rethinking your possessions … and the way you view your life. I was really struck by an episode where a widow cleared out many of her husband’s belongings. My own organizing clients have found their joy in having a dining room table cleared off so they can eat as a family again. Another was able to reignite her creative spark because she was finally able to find her craft supplies after reorganizing her space.
 
It’s emotional awakenings like these that are at the heart of why I love being a professional organizer. Of course, it’s satisfying to see a client’s home get decluttered. But it’s the space clients regain in their lives that is equally rewarding.
 
As you watch the Netflix series (and I hope you do!), what emotions does it trigger for you? And does it make you wonder why you are holding on to things that may not serve you well?
 
 
 
If you’ve tried to reorganize your life using Marie Kondo’s KonMari™ method I would love to hear what you think! What worked for you? What didn’t?  

​
And when you're ready to spark joy in your home, please contact me for a free consultation phone call.
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    Holly Southerland, Home Organizer

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Location

We are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Our service radius is 20 miles from 48104.

For any site 21+ miles from Ann Arbor, a travel surcharge will be added.



What Our Clients Are Saying

We are thrilled with the difference they made to our physical space (and it has also been a boost to my mental space too). "

"Thank you for giving me parts of my house back!"

"Worth the time, money, and some serious de-stressing."

"I never felt embarrassed; it was freeing, and the whole process was so motivating."


"The best solution we came up with for all this mess was to burn the house down... then we found you on Google."

"The peace and calmness it brings is truly a gift."

Contact Us

Email: holly@hollysoutherland.com
Phone: 734-545-9006
We are with clients most days... so please be sure to leave a message or send a text!
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