KonMari 2020 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying

kirstenlouise

Hi all, I’m new to this forum - I’ve joined looked for some advice please!

I tried to KonMari a few years ago but got derailed at books... I’ve recently been watching the shows on Netflix and am feeling inspired to get started again - but honestly, the thought of having to get rid of books nearly makes me want to cry. I don’t think I ever have given books away, I just get more book shelves... I think books might be in my “sentimental items” level of emotion - what do you think, can I change the order I de-clutter in?! Advice gratefully received! 😊 Thanks xx

PollyWollyDoodle

You can definitely change the order of things, but there is a logic to the system - doing slightly less emotive stuff first sort of sharpens your instincts for discarding things. 

Don’t panic about books, you don’t have to give away anything you love, but you might want to reflect on your reasons for starting the process. Presumably you feel that you have too many possessions and you want to create some space. Does owning the books enhance your life and make you feel happy?  If so, then buy the best bookshelves you can afford.  How often do you actually get your books out and read them again?

I love books and I thought I would struggle with them, but these days books are relatively cheap and easy to get hold of. Also, there are so many new books every year that I’m much less likely to re-read old ones. I keep classics poetry books, reference books, and some older books that would be hard to replace.  I also kept my collections of Georgette Heyer (all from charity shops) and Dorothy L Sayers, and my set of Patrick O’Brian ... all of which I reread during lockdown. Stick to the ‘spark joy’ principle and remember you can always revisit books later. 

kirstenlouise

You are a woman after my own heart - my collection of Georgette Heyers are also DEFINITELY not going anywhere!

I think the idea of revisiting is a good one - I can do what I can, then have another go when I’ve had more practice...

Thank you very much for your help! 😊🙏

tanyalasagne

I also love books, but once I started I realised at one point I was just literally keeping everything I read, and as I read on average 50/55 books a year, that was getting unmanageable.  I sorted through with an open mind and kept only those I had really enjoyed, and laughed when I found I had kept books I hadn't even liked.  My shelves bring me more 'Joy' now as I can see everything (nothing is stacked two deep) and I have kept all those I really love.  I took it slowly and it got easier every time i assessed them, I still have lots of books - but quality over quantity now,

greenbee

I've just redone my drawers, as they've been annoying me. While I was travelling for work they were immaculate as I packed/unpacked and used the same folding techniques. As I've been ill since before the start of lockdown, they've got messy. .However, I have had a couple of days of having to listen to online conference sessions, so I've emptied them all out, removed anything with holes, tried stuff on and shifted a few things to the CS bag, and refilled them neatly. This also made enough space to get my woollens out of their summer storage in a camphor wood chest, so all the cushions we use outside have been put away.

I'm now listing stuff for free on FB and so far have got rid of 3 garden recliners, a growhouse, a firepit, two kids' dining chairs, a shelf, a plant stand, 2 car booster seats, and (hopefully!) a playhouse and half a dozen panes of greenhouse glass. I keep looking for other things to get rid of!

maddiemay

Greenbee that must have been a very satisfying shedding of stuff.  First little trip out to neighouring town on Tuesday, met my best friend and delivered 2 large bags of clothes, household and toiletry items to wildlife rescue charity shop that we both support. Nothing came home with me from there, but did fall for a classic style shift dress with slightly longer under slip that really suited me and made me feel good wearing it - sale price too.  Started another donation bag and as I pack for a few days away will be trying on and discarding a few things.
OH and I are quite good with books these days, we do keep a lot of non fiction, but fiction is read and returned to CS.

greenbee

Keep your fingers crossed for me, but it looks like I might have a taker for all the greenhouse glass And I'm just going to keep reposting stuff that doesn't go periodically (and in different combinations as I find new stuff I want to get rid of. 

pumpkinlife

I'm going to join in.
I did my first Konmari when the book came out but petered out halfway through komono. I've dipped in and out a few more times since but recently feel I know who I am and what I want more clearly, so I've started again. I have a loose vision of what I want life to flow like and I have a few items I know spark joy to compare everything to.

Clothes had to be skipped, I have one drawer of clothes only one item of which sparks joy. So I need to gradually replace stuff as I can and actually intend to end up with more clothes than when I started. 

Books are down to about 12 keepers and a small pile of lockdown fiction to get through and then donate. Kindle books will just sit where they are, life's too short to be concerned with invisible megabytes.

I have a pile of paper to burn and the rest is in a magazine file.

And now onto Komono, I don't know where to even start! Probably the kitchen as that will make life immediately easier.

Kosta_g

I'm a late-comer to this party, but better late than never!
I have only started my Konmari journey recently, and have just finished going through all my clothes. *phew*!
Big respect to everyone who's completed this process and living in this way! It takes SOME work! This is round 1 for me:

Seeing the leftover clothes I had... I didn't feel right about donating some after hearing how so many end up in landfill as charities are 'full'... so I spent some time looking thru all the usual inventory apps, and I came across  'Counta' - which appears to assist the Marie Kondo process by it's design.
But the beauty beyond the digital inventory is that it allows you to share and borrow between your friends. (Maybe that would've saved us the excess in the first place? hmmm) 
I've added all my home hardware to it too, and it's been great so far with getting to borrow books and tools from friends, and reducing the amount of new stuff I buy, where possible.

Highly recommended to check it out, if you're on iPhone - I checked with their development team and an android version is coming soon too. 
Full disclosure: I am connected with the team at Counta, and am currently the app's top user 

greenbee

All but a few sheets of greenhouse glass have gone. I’ll put the rest in the bin. 

I’m slightly fed up with people who don’t read the FB posts properly and realise your location. 

I still have quite a bit to shift but will keep reposting in the hope that someone wants it!