10 Nov The ‘Marie Kondo’ Gene
I’ve come to realise that Diwali is the festival that activates my ‘Marie Kondo‘ gene. Throughout most of the year, this gene lies dormant in me. However, as the air gradually cools from October onwards, and as the festival of lights approaches, a certain something within me compels me to scrutinize things, and occasionally even scrutinize people, just as Marie encourages us to do. For those unfamiliar with Marie Kondo, you can either Google or Wiki her, or simply keep reading her introduction here.
Marie Kondo is the queen of tidying up. She is the one who gives your socks with the hole, the one that’s hidden below the stack, a moment in the spotlight. If folding laundry was an Olympic sport, she’d definitely take home the gold. She’s like the fairy godmother of decluttering, turning chaotic household mess into a spark-joy wonderland. If your house is cluttered, just ask yourself, “What would Marie Kondo do?” Wakao, your house will be cured and be clutter-free!
Now that you’re acquainted with Marie, you might be curious about her guru mantra. No doubt, many of us have fallen prey to materialism, resulting in clutter in our lives due to the countless tempting purchases nudged and prompted by ubiquitous consumerism. Whether it’s the allure of ‘Sale’ extravagances, impulsive purchases, gadget overload, or succumbing to the madness of ‘Bulk Deals’, there’s a heap of unnecessary clutter we’ve accumulated in our lives.
While Marie’s approach has gained popularity (see inset at the end of this article), I’d like to share what has proven effective for me this season, imparting it to you in the festive spirit and joy that Diwali embodies.
Reduce
Decluttering starts with reducing consumption. It’s a mindset that is developed over time. Embark on the journey of decluttering by embracing the art of not letting clutter come in in the first place. Cultivate the habit that selectively invites only those items into your life, which has immediate utility and value. Steer clear of accumulating things that play hide-and-seek in storage for future use, or things that prey on your emotions. Beware of ‘Sale’ Shopping, Emotional Impulses, Gadgets Upgrade, Beautiful Novelties, Bulk Deals, Seasonal Decors, Fitness Equipments, Cheap Souvenirs, and many more tempting traps.
Remove
Enter the magical realm of Marie Kondo’s algorithm. Round up your possessions, grab an item from the chaos, and pose the joyous question, “Does this thing spark joy?” If it does, let it stay; if not, bid it a gracious farewell and send it on its way to the bin.
Replace
After conquering the Reduce and Remove feats, step into the Replace cycle. Allow the old, worn-out items to gracefully retire. Introduce a breath of fresh air by replacing outdated essentials with revamped counterparts. Perhaps, if the thing has a high emotional connection then a makeover might also help through a thorough cleanup of that thing. The Replace cycle makes the old glow with renewed vitality.
Rejoice
Despite our valiant efforts to Reduce, Remove, and Replace, the allure of acquiring new things persists because the Marie Kondo gene is a dormant gene in our species. There is a joy associated with acquiring new stuff. Embrace the joy of adding new items to your life, but ensure they align with the ‘Replace’ algorithm. If not, contemplate the wisdom of the ‘Reduce’ algorithm. And if both ‘Reduce’ and ‘Replace’ do not work, then in the spirit of generosity, trigger the ‘Remove’ algorithm in you, and shower your loved ones this Diwali with beautiful stuff you end up buying.
The festive spirit of Diwali serves as the backdrop for each of us to explore ‘The Art of Decluttering‘ by 4R steps – Reduce, Remove, Replace, Rejoice.
The Marie Kondo way
1. Gather Everything:
Take out every single item that clutters your world and pile them in one place. This will help you see the full extent of your materialism.
2. Ask the Joy Question
Pick up each item one by one and ask yourself, “Does this thing spark joy?” If it does, keep it; if not, thank it for its service and let it go, let it go.
3. Organise by Categories:
Marie recommends organising by category, not by location. Start with essentials, then move on to non-essentials, seldom-used, and so on. This allows you to see all items of a similar type organised alongside.
4. Organise by stacking, Not by Piling Together:
Marie is an organizing enthusiast. She believes that keeping things properly and storing them upright allows you to see everything at a glance. It also prevents the “avalanche effect” that can happen in overstuffed drawers. You should see everything without having to rummage or remove from a pile.
5. Use Storage Boxes and Separators:
Marie suggests using small boxes, aka organizers, or dividers within drawers to keep items neatly separated. This prevents clutter from accumulating over time.
6. Discard First, Buy Later:
Complete the decluttering process before thinking about buying new items. This ensures that you only bring in things that truly bring you joy and that you have a clear understanding of what you need.
Image note: This photograph was taken today morning and it shows only 1/10th of the clutter being removed this Diwali :).
If you liked this post, then you may consider reading Elements of a Fulfilling Life.
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