Finding your path to a tidier life

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/3/2019 (572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Tidying Up with Marie Kondo showed up on Netflix earlier this year, it seemed quite polarizing. Kondo’s methods and advice were either a godsend to those grappling with chaotic spaces or a nightmare to those who dared not part with their belongings. 

Kondo’s KonMari Method of cleaning and organizing had moved from the pages of her best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, to the screens of Netflix subscribers everywhere.

If you’re not familiar with the KonMari Method, it essentially revolves around the idea of joy. You take time to consider whether your belongings "spark joy" in your life, acknowledge your belongings for their service, and if they no longer spark joy, thank your belongings for what they have provided before letting them go.

Based on what I saw online, one area of serious contention seemed to be Kondo’s suggestion for dealing with books. Book lovers and collectors simply felt that getting rid of books just because you might never read them again was going too far.

Minimalism is another lifestyle philosophy that people seem to either gravitate towards or steer away from based on their connections with the objects around them. It can be applied to all areas of life, but from the perspective of cleaning and tidying, it promotes living with less and keeping only what you truly need.

With so much information about house tidying and organizing available in books, magazines, TV shows, blogs, and YouTube videos, it can be hard to know which path to take. I’ve learned that what works best for me is to take aspects of multiple techniques and methods and combine them for my own personalized strategy.

I’ve taken a pinch of the KonMari Method (Kondo’s tips for folding clothes have freed up tons of space), a sprinkle of minimalism (I don’t need impractical items, and I should only buy what I truly need), as well as a dash here and there of other philosophies and methods.

If I haven’t used something in a year, I probably don’t really need it, and if I do in the future, it’s likely something I can rent or borrow. Duplicates are almost always unnecessary, and storage containers are a no-no if I’m just holding onto things that aren’t useful.

My advice is to find whatever works for your lifestyle and comfort level, and stick with it. Happy tidying!

Melody Rogan is a community correspondent for Radisson. You can email her at preeneditorial@gmail.com