KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

firebubble

Minnie2 - to add to what others have said, don't push yourself too hard, slow and steady will get you there in the end!

MK says not to worry about other people's stuff, so leave the toys for now (a really good time to declutter toys is in early December, when you can explain to children that as they are about to get a whole load of new ones, maybe they'd like to think about what they don't need, and this can be donated to children who aren't as lucky...you might be surprised how much they are happy to part with).

Regarding pens, sit down with them, check they work and throw out any that have dried up, leak or are otherwise horrible. Then think about the sort of pen you actually like to use - pick those out. The rest of them can go. Add a bundle to every charity shop bag - shop assistants use pens, and people tend to 'borrow' them so they will get through a lot.

It's not MK (it comes from Flylady), but one of her bits of advice is not to focus on what's not been done or is a mess, but to look at what you have done - focus on the clear spots/drawers/rooms and aim to add another little space somewhere to them, rather than beat yourself up about not doing enough. This might be a better strategy for you.

Also bear in mind that in Japan, people typically live in tiny flats rather than houses, and the limited number of rooms make it easier to collect together each category. If you have a house, just climbing up and down the stairs, let alone going through lofts and garages to pull everything together can make more of a mess which quickly becomes really overwhelming. I think it would still work to collect together a whole category per room (say, books), sort through and deal with those, and then when you're looking at another room, when you come across books, you can collect them together, sift through, and then add what's left to the other books you have, and then go through the combined pile. That way you'll gradually pull together the categories in a way that is manageable.

fpcat

I took part used pens to the charity shop and the manager was delighted. She had been picking up biros from the local bank when hers was liberated by customers. She was also very happy to see the sticky notes and the notebooks I had taken.. I'll take more pens in a few weeks. A guide group has asked for craft material so they are getting the pencils and coloured paper and other bits. It's surprising what the CS can take, I'm taking in paperclips and drawing pins on Friday. I think I'll ask if she needs anything I may have, it's shocking what I'm finding in that attic.

Upsy_Staffordshire

I completed my Kondoing ages ago, possibly 2 years ago now, after seeing someone mention it on here and getting completely sucked into it! I don't think I ever got around to posting on here at the time, but I found reading all about the method on this forum so useful and it was what really convinced me to make a start.

I found it so addictive when I got going and I now find it so much easier to get rid of things without the guilt I used to feel. I can't begin to imagine the amount of things I threw out! It's made our lives so much easier - we have so much more space and because we live in such a small house, it's made living here so much more enjoyable.

We are moving to a new house very soon and I can't tell you how much easier it is to move when you have kondoed! Going through everything in the loft and garage would have been a huge job. We have emptied the loft and I've only had to take a couple of bags of things to the charity shop - everything else in the house will be packed up to take, without having to go through everything trying to decide what to do with it.

It can be difficult at times, but honestly, it's so worth it. Looking forward to going back through the thread now and seeing how everyone's getting on! Nice to see some familiar names on here too

Picklepot

Upsy staffordshire
I love seeing posts like yours! I am very much a stop start KM er as i get very sentimental over certain groups of items ( childrens school books atm :eek:) and progress stalls.I drive myself mad with indecision sometimes.i think even when im done it will always need to be kept on top of.
Good to hear how much of a difference its made to you.

Upsy_Staffordshire

Picklepot wrote: »

Upsy staffordshire
I love seeing posts like yours! I am very much a stop start KM er as i get very sentimental over certain groups of items ( childrens school books atm :eek:) and progress stalls.I drive myself mad with indecision sometimes.i think even when im done it will always need to be kept on top of.
Good to hear how much of a difference its made to you.

I can imagine it must be so difficult when you have children's items to go through. My Mum and Dad were saying just the other day that they've got my school books, artwork etc in the loft still. I don't think they can part with it.

There were several things I wasn't sure I should get rid of, so I kept them at the time, but then a while later I realised that they really didn't spark joy, so I got rid. I remember doing this with some dresses that I'd had for a few years and didn't love anymore, but I though I should keep them just in case I needed a dress. I bought a couple of new maxi dresses I really loved and took all the others to the charity shop.

I think this is the main reason I kept hold of many things - the fear of needing them in the future.

minnie2

A big thank you everyone!!!!! Theres been a few replies so hoping i have thanked you all.sorry for late reply but i had assessment on my back yesterday so had a bad day.

Siebrie

I am very impatient i want things done there and then such a fault of mine.it then plays on my mind.we bought this bungalow to do up but it had hidden problems so the work is still not done then we were threatened with redundancy so havent done the extension either.but reading her book has made me think differently at the min about the house which is good.i think as well i can only get things dones when kids arent here so i go at it all guns blazing when they are at nannys for an hour!! And i never get to tody up or finish an area.

Kids are 3 and 17months so impossible.my son did help do his toys and he was very good about it.i always explain everything very clearly etc so he understands so he did make decisions.so proud of him :-) the girl is currently sharing her room with my sister who is living with us so that rooms junk is all my sisters except a chair i love but dont have room for that is going to my mums.

I have put stuff in bags in car for certain places but ive hurt my back so havent managed delivery yet. I will look into charity collection (thank you wort and whiteguineapig )

I have donated some to nursery but they were having a clear out and so no toys but did donate coats and wellies.

I have made a decision on pics catshark and siebrie so ive removed them from their frames and they are now in my photo box for now.the frames were huge so much more space.

Daisy - started tackling the mound this morning before hubby went to work late but he wasn't much help his stuffed stayed my stuff he said to go.but the bin is a bit fuller!!

Firebubble i have done the toys he was fabulous and now has space his room is much easier to clean!! & maintain space.just his bookcase to go.we started the other day but i gave up but i am going to tackled the already declutter junk to disperse first.

Thank you about the pens they are in my car to go hadnt thought about charity shops needing them not sure one will want a hundred so many need to visit a few.i have to go to pharmacy again for more medication i know they are always looking for a pen so may give a few there.

Thanks again everyone!!

catshark88

Minnie, you are doing AWESOMELY well!:T:T:j

minnie2

Thank you catshark. It was such an emotional journey the first session but it is muh easier now think i tried to do too much and alot of my emotional connections have gone and i am not a hoarder anyway i always throw out but i do have emotional attachments to things.but ive taken pictures of these things and getting rid so will have digital memory instead.

Do have a bag of babies first outfits not sure what to do with them as i am keeping them for children to decide.but i am in two mindswith those now too

catshark88

minnie2 wrote: »

Do have a bag of babies first outfits not sure what to do with them as i am keeping them for children to decide.but i am in two mindswith those now too

Do the clothes make you smile and feel happy when you handle them? If so, keep them. This is all about keeping the stuff you really love, but getting rid of things that you don't. To be honest, I'm v sentimental about my kids' baby clothes and have a boxful, carefully selected and lovingly folded, in my loft, so you might want to ignore me on this one! :rotfl:

I think you can have baby clothes made into soft toys these days? Maybe one of those for your children might be a nice reminder?

catshark88

One box of wine glasses (still boxed, an unused wedding present) went to my lovely cleaner today. I never liked the feel of the glasses, but I LOVE the work of my cleaner, so it seemed a very good option!