January 2016 Goal

I figured I'd better hurry and announce my January Goal because I'm supposed to be summarizing how it all went in, like, three days....SO! Here it is.

Have you heard of the book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo? If you hadn't, I'd be a little surprised...but only because those who have read it and tried her system just can't stop talking about it. So yes, I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard someone gushing about it and if we know each other in real life, it's probably me...(blush).

Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing expert. She's also cute, and little, and wears white most of the time. She's a self-professed born "tidying fanatic," spending her spare time growing up organizing and throwing out her family's things without asking them (haha!). But she hasn't just stopped there. She's made a career of it, and has used her extensive experience and natural talent to create a decluttering and tidying method that, like she says, is life-changing. (spoiler alert: it totally is!)

My goal for the month of January was to finish "tidying" (translation: decluttering and putting things in their place) in one month following the KonMari method (the nick name for her process). Here's the quick summary of some of the basics of her method:

1. Declutter by category. Gather everything from that category from around your house and put it in one spot on the floor (or bed or whatever). 

2. Hold each item in your hands and ask yourself the question (that is now iconic): Does this spark joy? She has elaborated on this feeling as something that lifts you up, that doesn't weigh you down with obligation, guilt, feeling burdened, ambivalence, etc. The whole idea of her method is that you are not focusing on getting rid of things (negative), but focusing on what you want to keep and surround yourself with (joy-sparking things!) and letting the rest go. 

3. Your things want to be of service to you. If they no longer spark joy in your life, thank them for the part they have played and let them go by discarding them (donate, sell, throw out). Also praise and thank the things in your life that are useful to you and spark joy. Side note: this is the part that makes people roll their eyes...the whole treating-things-like-they-have-feelings thing...but it's weirdly therapeutic.

4. Store things vertically whenever possible (including folded clothes in your drawer---her folding method is famous!). This creates more space, makes everything visible at a glance, and allows you to take one thing out at a time without disturbing everything else.

5. Finish in a short-ish time frame. She recommends 6 months or less. This way you can really feel/see the motivating difference between the "before" and "after." 

6. Discard until you feel your "click" point. Sometimes that means going through the whole process a couple times until you have *just* the right amount of things for you and your home. It's different for everyone.

7. Don't judge it until you've tried it, all in. Okay, this one is actually just ALL ME, not from the book. Haha! But seriously, though...

And that's basically the gist. It's been an insane month so far, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Not my photo! From here.

Also, I was going to post links to my favourite articles on the topic, but it will have to wait until my summary-for-the-month post. But seriously, if you want to know more about other people's experiences with it, just Google "KonMari method" or the book title. SO much out there. She also has a new book out called "Spark Joy" that is basically a reader's digest version and/or elaboration on her first book. I've read both!

Keep your eye on Instagram for sneak peak photos over the next few days!