The KonMarie method

GreyQueen

Lara wrote: »

I need to pack a suitcase in a couple of days time. OH reckons all this folding lark takes up more room than layering it down in the suitcase. What do you all think? I'm taking a cabin case as refuse to pay the amount some airlines charge for a suitcase!

I've done a lot of travelling with just a carry-on and I think the kondo-folded stuff will take up less room. It will certainly make it easier to unpack at the other end. Let us know how it goes for you, whilst remembering that the best packed item is the one which you can leave at home.

Have joyfully found some plastic bags to samosa-fold and will be kissing an iron across a few items this evening, under 10 mins repesenting 2 wks' worth of ironing. And then *quivers with excitement* I shall kondo-fold some stuff. Yippee.

OK, I admit to being sad, but I find it so pleasurable to be able to just drop my hands on the stuff I need without flailing around. And consciously-simplfying contributes to ease and less stress. I washed my hair just now, choosing to use shampoo from the single bottle of shampoo, gave it a quick wipe with the towel and put it back on the bath-back. When it's gone, I shall buy another, and this discipline will ensure that there are never 2-3 or more almost empty bottles skittling around the place getting fluffy and 'orrible.

I may have made some konverts as minimalism came up in conversation at a party I was at last night, the other people were thrilled to find someone else who knew The Minimalists and what minsgame was, so I raved about KM and maybe they'll get into this as well.

Keep up the good work, one and all.

VJsmum

GQ can your set square be vertically stored in a bookcase?

I am midway through a holiday with just a cabin bag sized bag. I still have too much in it . The friend who drove us to the airport couldn't belive we had so little luggage for two weeks. It has saved us hold luggage costs but also left luggage as we have left one location and are en route to another. It helped that our holiday house had a washing machine but we have used launderettes in the past.

It took under five minutes to pack last night :T

supersaver1000

Just popping in to say mammoth kondo week over and I had a well deserved snooze after. The framework is done and I'm ready for further ongoing Kondoing and I feel very satisfied and calm/peaceful. Rather than dreading cleaning I'm loving it and do a little every time I enter a room - I just can't help it - what has happened to me:rotfl:

Thanks for everyone's support and for putting up with my frequent posts. I'm back to work now so won't be posting often but will be a frequent lurker.

Happy Kondoing everyone. The talk of packing is getting me in the mood for a trip now, hope you all have good breaks, whatever you are doing.

SS xx

GreyQueen

I don't actually own a bookcase, VJsMum. But the real point is that I don't need this item in my life therefore it can go off to live with someone else, who will hopefully use it and find it joyous.

I've just done ironing (2 shirts and 5 hankies) time for a cuppa to recover.

katsu

I went to the local CS yesterday to be told that they were still not taking donations. DH had tried to give them some about 2 weeks ago so I was expecting them to have made space by now! They felt sorry that I had walked in the heat so took my donations anyway (thankfully). Makes you wonder if the MK phenomenon has increased the overall donation volumes? I wonder if CS managers are experiencing increased stock and decreased customers?

I released kitchen utensils and outdoor eating komono so hopefully the timing will help them sell it on and a suitcase which was very loved and had joyful memories but has been replaced for travel with a more useful bag so I hope it will find a new owner who loves it as I once did.

My kitchen drawer is breathing far more easily without so much komono in it. DH commented it was a shame we didn't free the unneeded stuff before the drawer runner had deformed under the weight!

I've not been doing the proper order: I did clothes a few times then sections of komono. Like others we have lots of hobbies so I've been working through some hobby stashes too.

What I find is currently working so well for me is that I can far more easily identify things that don't bring me joy. They appear in view or pop into my mind and I know I can send something else off happily to a new home.

I'm far less interested in "bargains" and although I have indulged in some new clothes (including a few pairs of needed thin socks for summer heat exercise classes so I can get my hot feet into my trainers!) I'm more easily able to resist charity shop indulgences. I have found myself with more energy and have been spending more money on me than I have for ages: new fitness gear for the new classes I'm taking, new skincare/cosmetics so I'm taking more interest in and care of myself than I have for some time.

I know that whilst I'm so busy at work the bite size kondos seen more manageable and I keep reading my e book. I do wish she had covered folding in more detail as my t-shirts are coming out of the drawer somewhat creased!

I do feel very much a work in progress but at the same time I'm happy with the new thinking. I just wish I had a lovely minimalist house already

Susan1962

Totally agree with mmf007 and GreyQueen. It's so much easier to find what you need now. I always hated getting ready in the morning and hadn't the patience to look out clothes the night before. But with items neatly folded in the chest of drawers and the hanging clothes in a nice, easy to spot order, getting ready is a pleasure. Even better - if I decide to wear something, try it on and decide I no longer like it (or it's torn/stained/whatever) I pop it straight into the donation bag and can put my hand on an alternative in a second. Big improvement!
Well done SS - it must be such a great feeling to have reached this point.
Funny you saying that you're looking after yourself better Katsu. I've noticed a change too. Fewer "bargains" at the CS, although still some, but only items I need to fill gaps in my wardrobe. And given I didn't have room to close the door before, having any gaps is astonishing! I hadn't really linked it to the MK process but she did say something along those lines about her clients making big changes in their lives. For the first time in years I've been using face masks, coconut oil to treat my hair, actually remembering to eat the fruit I always used to buy, etc. I'm still exhausted (hormones) but at last have realised that I can choose to do something about it instead of just giving in to it. MK is a wonder!

supersaver1000

Thank you Susan . It's really funny because I feel very calm, it's not the feeling I used to get when 'tidying' i.e. very stressed and as if everything was going to burst out of the cupboards again any minute (an ongoing battle :eek:).

I've just popped back to post because I realised my beautiful kitchen drawer had been messed up (only a bit as it took me a couple of seconds to sort) by DH. Then I went into the airing cupboard to find his used gym towel, still damp on top of all the beautifully rolled fresh towels. I haven't said anything to DH yet, I just put the smelly towel in the wash and tidied everything. Poor thing hasn't had enlightenment yet. I just put our clean undies away - I threw DHs in his drawer but had tremendous pleasure in folding and storing mine. Poor DH, I may convert him sometime (or may kondo him as per Noah's instructional :rotfl:).

JIL

Lara wrote: »

I need to pack a suitcase in a couple of days time. OH reckons all this folding lark takes up more room than layering it down in the suitcase. What do you all think? I'm taking a cabin case as refuse to pay the amount some airlines charge for a suitcase!

I only take a cabin caser, my husband cannot believe how I manage to get so much in.
I don't layer it in the case but I make two piles of clothes, I then fold/ roll them into two rectangles to fit in the case. Shoes go around the frame. Brushes and other bits go in between the two rolls of clothes.
Hth.

PollyWollyDoodle

Supersaver, interesting what you say about cleaning - I usually hate it and until I gave up full-time work I had a paid cleaner - I feel slightly embarrassed admitting that on a money-saving forum. Part of the inspiration to do MK was the realisation that I needed to make it easier to clean the house, for my own sanity. Now I find myself thinking 'ooh, I'll just run the Hoover over that' - it's so easy to do now. I'm even finding myself thinking 'I must paint those walls'. :eek: what is happening to me?

greyqueen and katsu - I'm really interested in what you say about minimalism. What does that word mean for you?

Lara

JIL wrote: »

I only take a cabin caser, my husband cannot believe how I manage to get so much in.
I don't layer it in the case but I make two piles of clothes, I then fold/ roll them into two rectangles to fit in the case. Shoes go around the frame. Brushes and other bits go in between the two rolls of clothes.
Hth.

Thanks JIL. We had family over a couple of weeks ago and I packed my grand children's suitcase for my DIL. I rolled all the dresses together and have to admit I was surprised at how much I got in the suitcase. They didn't have to worry about costs for suitcases as they live abroad and automatically have luggage included in their plane tickets. Thanks for your tip. I think I'm going to give that a go!