Start with Joy
It's hard to imagine the freedom we find, from the things we leave behind.
Michael Card The Things We Leave Behind
This week I’m giving you a little piece of my story and why I resonate with the KonMari Method®.
I have always been an organizer. I’m the one friends and family call when they need help decluttering, sorting through possessions, or figuring out storage solutions.
Even so, I lost my way when I became a mom and my main focus shifted from full-time work outside the home to raising kids. It’s not for the faint of heart! Even if you’re naturally organized, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by clutter, chaos and the constant care that infants and toddlers need.
Loads of laundry, toys taking over living spaces, dirty dishes, closets crammed full of clothes, meals to make, piles of paper, and the immediate response required as a parent all began to take their toll on my normally ordered world.
Still, my longing for calm and order moved me to action, and I decided to declutter my clothing.
My closets—small to begin with—were strained to capacity. In addition, the spare room closet, the top of my daughter’s closet, and bins in the storage room all held what did not fit into my bedroom.
It was difficult to find items—many were buried, hidden, and then forgotten.
I also had clothes I rarely wore.
Items that did not fit my current lifestyle or fashion sense.
Clothes that had been given to me and were not quite my style.
There were individual pieces with no appropriate pairings—
a skirt for which I had no matching top
a dress that was too fancy for every day, yet not quite right for church
a suit I had no reason to wear
jeans that didn’t fit well
The list went on and on.
I had kept some pieces “just in case” and others in the hopes I would “someday” find the perfect pair of shoes or top to wear with that skirt, or the perfect occasion for that dress.
It never happened.
With all this in mind, I sorted through every item of clothing I had in the house. I chose to keep only those clothes which:
I truly enjoyed wearing
Fit well and were comfortable
I had reasons to wear in my current life
Would create complete outfits
I gave myself permission to let go of all the rest, no matter how nice they were, where I got them, or what I paid for them. If I did not delight in the item, away it went. It was a joy-check before anyone had heard of the question, “Does it spark joy?”
I kept so few things, my closet went from being crammed full to having space between the hangers. I had room in my dresser as well.
Best of all I felt free!
I was happy with every item of clothing I kept. When I opened my closet or pulled out a drawer, I found only things I wanted to wear. I did not miss anything I discarded. Stress, frustration, and feeling weighed down went out the door with my donations. I gained joy, freedom, and space.
I’ve never looked back and never had a cluttered closet since.
A decade and a half later, through many stages of life, multiple moves, changing priorities, tasks and responsibilities, I still have space between the hangers in my closet.
With the addition of KonMari folding techniques, I further advanced and now fit my entire wardrobe in my bedroom, with no need to switch seasonally. (If you live in a seasonal climate area, you know this is a big time-saver and a great convenience.)
Years after my closet clean-out, I came across Marie’s book and read about joy-checking as a way to declutter. I recognized the value of it immediately.
It might feel risky using joy as a standard for decisions, but I can tell you from experience, it’s effective and rewarding, not just for clothing, but for every item in your home.
KonMari starts with clothing, and for good reason. Through it, you learn the concept of “spark joy,” and are then ready to apply it to other categories. It’s easy to make decisions about clothing. You feel an immediate difference and you continue to see the benefits daily. This new freedom motivates you to continue the journey.
Tell me:
Do you have Qs about the KonMari Method®?
Have you KonMari-ed your clothing?
Are you happy with the state of your closet right now?
