Simply..organise....

9/1/2015

The Friday Fling..(real blog-speak that isn't it!)

This is a rewrite. I deleted my long post by mistake!

Also two posts today to get Friday Fling actually on Friday. (Hello brain?)

I thought it would be fun to write an update each Friday about my efforts to declutter my house 'once and for all' using Marie Kondo's book. I know that some of you are also doing it and getting results, and I also knew that making a commitment to blog about it would motivate me (not sure if that is a stick or a carrot!)

I'm intruiged by what she calls the 'click point'. This is the stage at which you have whittled down your stuff to the point where you can handle it all comfortably (see also this recent post).

The 'click point' will be different for everyone of course, but I'm interested that you probably have to be quite sensitve to and aware of your home environment to know when that point is - that in itself will be a challenge if you have a worklife and children at home, and pets and hobbies. In other words if you lead a busy life....

I think I've almost got there in our sitting/dining room, so because I want to know what it feels like to reach that point I'm going to just work in there this week. I know! I know! 'Don't change the method to suit your personality' This means I am deviating from Marie's method, which I admire as very well thought through, before I am properly started. I never could just do what I was told!

I will however tackle it in the order that she suggests - clothes (N/A) books (N/A) papers, miscellaneous, sentimental items last.

Chester is full of papers, some of them definitely under the heading 'sentimental'. Start with the ones which give you no thrill at all, she says....

How are you progressing?

Are you following the rules?

And did you 'visualise your destination' first? This I found really useful - it taught me something about myself - and I'll post about it next Friday....

12 Comments

cath

9/1/2015 12:28:20 am

That's very useful: 'visualise your destination' as I have been wondering how to start this year's new round of decluttering. (and the copy of my book hasn't arrived already...). One of my books had as rule 1: Put like things together. Useful, I think but 'visualise my destination' comes before that as I am striving for an endresult that is very much 'me'.

Freda

9/1/2015 12:55:38 am

'Like with like' is a bit of a mantra with me! So much easier to know what you have got! Kondo's approach is oddly personal although her writing seems impersonal - I hope your book arrives soon and look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Penny L

9/1/2015 02:48:59 am

Freda, I think you're already a bit of an expert, without Marie. I've been going through your archives (yes, I do realise I need to get out more!) and years ago you were recommending picking things up and asking
"does this give me joy?" and pointing out that William Morris had it right, as why would we want anything that is ugly and useless in our homes! So I am going to try to visualise my destination this weekend and am looking forward to your insights next week . Hope you aren't being too wind-ravaged. Have a lovely weekend.

Freda

9/1/2015 03:32:19 am

Gosh, I should read my own archives! The difference is I am dealing now with all the hidden stuff...Enjoy the visualisation Penny and have a good weekend. We are hunkered down with plenty of food and candles.

Alison

9/1/2015 02:52:37 am

I have adopted a modified version of the KonMari method as well. For example, when starting on the clothes, I did focus on off-season as she suggests and did bring all of those together. What I didn't do was bring EVERY stitch of clothing I have together in one place to be reviewed -- too daunting,

Also, I did start asking myself if a piece of clothing "made my heart sing" as she suggests. It's amazing how focusing on the joy things bring changes the exercise from being a mechanical process to being something that's more about finding the true you.

I find the (modified) KonMari approach much easier to apply than any other I have seen in books and on websites. It's feel it's not about mechanically setting up systems, but rather about surrounding yourself with what brings joy and treating those things with respect.

Freda

9/1/2015 03:36:32 am

Feeling that you are finding the true you is what I think makes this so enjoyable (though it is also a bit daunting). It's good isn't it? Keep us informed!

Madeleine

9/1/2015 05:00:50 am

Hi Freda,

lovely to hear what you are up to with this. So far I haven't followed the rules because I had guests coming so the kitchen/living area was a top priority. I realised that along with multiculturalism has come clutter in the kitchen - too many cuisines mean too many ingredients, and I had way too many teas to store in my tiny space! So my kitchen is pared down to things that fit with my Mediterranean-style plant-based diet and everything else is gone - I can breathe again!
I didn't need to go through my clothing much as I did this years ago and can honestly say I've found the 'click point' there - my two armoires have not been untidy in almost three years. If only I could say that about the rest of my cupboards! I have folded all of my socks and underwear into baskets using her upright storage method and I LOVE it! No matter how tired I am I find I cannot just throw these small items in, I'm compelled to do it properly.
I plan to do the rest of the process in order beginning with books.
I did visualise the life I wanted before I started, and for me that meant more visitors and laughter in the house. Astonishingly, because I've still got a lot to do, I have had non-stop visitors lately as well as running into people I haven't seen for years who were visiting town. I've also had spontaneous dinner parties (easy when kitchen is flowing) and it's been simply wonderful!
I would love to rush in and do my Studio (full of music books and papers) as I'm sure work will be easier when I do. But I'm determined now to try and go in the suggested order.

Madeleine.x

Freda

9/1/2015 05:16:20 am

What a wonderful result Madeleine! I like the comment 'I can breathe again!' I'm finding it slowish but very effective, and easier the more I do. After the sitting room I may also go in the suggested order. I'm actually having fun with it, and you are inspiring me..

Leah

11/1/2015 10:45:29 am

I ate up an e-version of her book and got excited to do all different parts of it at once, but am trying to restrain myself! I trust she's right that recognizing when feel joy gets easier with practice so you need to start with things where it's obvious, but for me clothing is pretty emotionally loaded so I'm not sure it's going to be the best area in which to train myself. With a baby at home I haven't yet found the time to go through my clothes, but I am already starting to treat my things with more appreciation and respect, and it honestly puts me in a better mood--I think partially because expressing gratitude makes you feel good and partially because my space is cleaner and better cared for.
Keep posting on your adventure, Freda--it's great inspiration!

Freda

14/1/2015 07:16:00 am

I love that it puts you in a better mood when you treat your things well. It sounds as though this is really working for you Leah.

Lucille link

12/1/2015 04:15:56 pm

My only stumbling block so far has been scissors! I put them all together as recommended and then became frustrated at the number of trips up and down stairs to retrieve and replace them. My son pointed out that Japanese houses are generally very compact and so this is less of a problem. Min Hogg is quoted inTerence Conran's Easy Living, as having a pair of scissors in every room. I am looking for a happy medium.
Meanwhile I am having success with selling books through Amazon Trade In and sites such as We Buy Books and Book Brain. These are expensive technical and specialist tomes which cannot justifiably be foisted on charity shops or binned. They still only realise a fraction of their cover prices but the amount is building up nicely and the shelves are emptying.

Freda

14/1/2015 07:19:24 am

Some things have to be scattered - we have upstairs and downstairs duplicates of a few things too. Well done with the books - a good, if time consuming solution. (Glad you got your machine working! Thanks for re-posting.)

Simply..organise....

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