KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Slinky

Just came across this article on decision making which I thought was interesting. I found it as a link from another article which mentioned that President Obama only wears blue or grey suits so he doesn't have to think about what to wear.

President Obama described an interesting strategy he uses to make his life simpler. “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” he said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

http://jamesclear.com/willpower-decision-fatigue

Would appear to be advising to make your Kondo decisions early in the day, or after eating.

GreyQueen

Interesting to read the comments on the bemorewithless link about giving books away. What a hot-button subject this is.

In a way, I am glad that the extreme smallness of my home makes a limited book selection the only sane way forward, as I am a major book-lover and there are so many opportunities around me to acquire books for pennies that things could easily get out of hand.

As I think I mentioned before Xmas, my gift from my brother was the books in a 14-strong cycle of fantasy fiction which aren't available in the library system - I read book 2 over Xmas/ New Year, book 3 in early January as part of my gift and am presently on book 4 (library). These are doorstoppers, about 3 inches thick even in paperback, and would take up an awful lot of shelf-space.

I am revisiting the series, and catching up with the later ones which I haven't read. The gift ones will, when I've finished with them, go back to my brother for sale online, the library ones are obviously in and out of the library as required and the couple that I own which are a bit tatty will go to chazzers.

I find myself enormously-satisfied with this gift, as it took a bit of chasing around to get the missing volumes together so's I could read them all in sequence. And the deep satisfaction of knowing that I won't be giving them house room once they've been thoroughly enjoyed.

On a smaller scale, something has left via freegle today, and a stray battery I was carrying in my coat pocket has been put in one of the recycling wotsits in a shop. Nothing new has entered the des res, which is looking suspiciously-tidy right now.

Keep a-kondoing, lovely peeps.

VJsmum

But the very presence of books for pennies makes it easier for me to give them away, I find.

I do have favourites that I keep, of course, but most of the books in my house are not mine. Books were the first thing I kondoed and we did get rid of loads, even OH got rid of some.

I find the same with DVDs, most I can watch and pass on. Shops like CEX make it easier, as well as my local tip shop - in the olden (!) days we used to hire videos for the night (yes, children, it's true :eek:) so picking up a dvd for a pound or two then donating back is much the same thing.

Igamogam

Books: we have possibly 300 feet of book shelving in our house.......maybe more. All filled with books:eek: and I have gone through books more than once. We both read......and collect. OH first editions of a certain genre and me first editions of 2 children's authors...so books books stay and are added to ( already failed my KM Brownie badge there then ) Then I have a lot of books connected with work/study but I am slowly reducing them - selling and giving away. I have a small collection of my mother's Famous Five and Adventure books which I read as a child and so did my children .........so they are staying;) There a lot of paperbacks which we will read and some we will re read and I have sold a lot with Z*pper but I think they are breeding! It would seem that when I clear a few feet there are some books that havent been shelved for sometime that find their way into the space. DDs have lots of books too but at least in their rooms and they have regular culls to CS/Z*pper. I did get rid of many many cookery books on the basis that, of the recipes I use, I know them inside out but I have kept a couple of my Grandmothers and my very first 'Delia' as it has some of my notes in the margins!

I tend to spend 10 minutes every now and then pulling books off the shelf that no longer hold any interest so the 'haul' will slowly diminish. Any books I need for my reading group I usually buy for pennies second hand and then they go right back once finished, unless its been a book I thought I might read again I am a lot more ruthless than I was - have even been known to put some straight into recycle bin when in a CBA mood to pass on to CS etc!

GreyQueen

Had a nice thank you email from the freegler who took today's random item, am pleased they're pleased. Told Mum on the phone (it came from her house) and she was pleased, too.

I think a lot of things are held onto for fear of them not being properly homed/ appreciated/ used etc. So, if you can find a giveaway route which works for you, that's great.

My shopping muscle is permanantly ruined, though, keep seeing Stuff and thinking what the heck is all this about?:rotfl:

Reminds me of a late great uncle who always used to refer to knick-knacks and ornaments with absolute scorn as dust-gatherers.

dragonette

Thanks to magic of kondo, my living room finally feels peaceful while still eclectic and very 'me'. Now I just need to work out how to get the serenity back in my bedroom (need to nag my flat mate - he could do with a wardrobe but whether he'll ever tidy enough to get one in his room is another matter, but I'm happy with having cleared it out).

Almost itching to get rid of stuff and organise better, this is very addictive at times!

tibawo

I think some plants in my house fall into the dust gatherers category. Don't get me wrong I have some that give me immense joy, they were chosen carefully for size, where they were going to be put etc and are loving cared for. However, one night mum was baby sitting and her and the youngest were admiring my lovely orchid that I had nurtured from about 25cm to 75cm and is always in bloom with lots of flowers looking healthy. People even comment on it. Anyway whilst the two lovable idiots were admiring it they some how snapped the main stems. I arrived home to two guilty faces, I noticed straight away because they tried to mend it with white tape!

When mum arrived with the third plant in as many months I had to ask her to please stop. I have had to show her the plant is growing again, it is not a problem and I will not tend to the others in the same manner as this one so I water them but don't dust the leaves etc.

S-Iam

Hello! :hello:
I'm only up to page 8 at the moment, but I am really enjoying the new thread.
I started 'normal' decluttering last year, but then RL took over and I never finished the job.
So, new year, and armed with the KM book I got given as a birthday present, I'm determined to complete the job.
In response to one of the pieces of advice given I have just emailed my local women's refuge to ask if the wanted / needed anything. As well as clothes I am also expecting to have some craft supplies that no longer give me joy. So, it would be great if they could go to such a good home. Plus a great incentive to me to complete the job too :T
I'll let you know what they say.

in_need_of_direction

Today I experienced the power of kondo. A picture fell and was undamaged but took a candle holder with it. I had considered its removal a few times but had never gone through with it even though it didn't bring me joy. I feel the high priestess of tidy sorted that one out for me as the pieces are en route to the dustbin.

grunnie

Marie Kondo is on This Morning programme today!!!:j