Marie Kondo, 5S and summer wardrobe
Marie Kondo has brought this philosophy into our homes, and here I share with you a dozen brilliant ideas:
- Start by discarding.
Do it all at once, decisively, and without hesitation. The key criterion for keeping an item: retain only what sparks joy.
- The importance of vertical storage.
Avoid stacking items in piles. Whenever possible, store everything vertically—clothing, socks, and more.
- If you do not need something, neither do your family members.
- Engage in self-reflection while tidying.
Marie advises against listening to music while organising, as noise makes it harder to hear your inner dialogue with your belongings.
- What to do when you struggle to discard something?
If you come across an item you cannot part with, carefully consider its purpose in your life. You will be surprised to realise how many things have already fulfilled their role. By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you not only declutter your home but also bring order to your life.
- Downgrading clothes to “loungewear” is forbidden.
It is not right to keep clothing you dislike simply to wear at home. The time you spend at home is too precious.
- Learn the proper folding technique: watch a video on the KonMari folding method.
After decluttering, most people are left with only a third or a quarter of their original wardrobe.
- Respect your socks.
Do you have a drawer full of tangled, potato-shaped sock bundles? Never tie tights or roll socks into balls—watch the video for proper folding techniques. Video.
- Seminar materials, old notes, cables—discard them all.
We often fail to use knowledge precisely because we cling to materials. Dispose of bank statements, warranty cards, and even old Christmas cards—once you have appreciated them, you can discard them with gratitude, knowing they have served their purpose. Get rid of old mobile phone packaging (it is quicker to ask an expert for information than to search for it in manuals) and that mysterious cable with an unknown purpose (it is easier and less stressful to buy a new one if needed).
- Eliminate dust-collecting souvenirs.
No matter how beautiful the past was, we cannot live in it. What matters is the joy and excitement we experience here and now.
- Photographs.
Keep, for example, five photos from each holiday—what truly matters is rarely numerous. Do not store a large box of photos for nostalgic review in old age; instead, organise them now.
- Assigning a permanent place.
Designating a fixed place for each item is a one-time task, but the results will astonish you. You will stop buying unnecessary things.
A Few Thoughts from Marie Kondo:
- The space we live in should be prepared for the person we are becoming, not the person we were in the past.
- Tidying is an excellent way to discover what you truly love.
- When you organise your home, you gain clarity on what you really want to do in life.
- One of the magical effects of tidying is increased confidence in decision-making. Those who struggle with decisions often lack self-confidence. When we deeply examine why we cannot let go of something, it comes down to two reasons: attachment to the past or fear of the future.
- Confronting our possessions and making choices can be painful. It forces us to face our imperfections and shortcomings.
- How does this method affect your body? When we detox our home, it has a similar cleansing effect on our body.
- Is it not unnatural to own things that neither bring us joy nor serve a purpose?
Once you have thoroughly tidied your space, you transform your surroundings. The change is so profound that it feels as if you are living in an entirely different world. This significantly influences your mindset and creates a strong resistance to returning to the cluttered state of the past.
