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Have you been inspired by the Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo to declutter and organise your home? Have you started to sort your clothes only to hit a roadblock?And, now you are sitting at home wondering why you cannot get your home organised.
The answer!
Maybe the KonMari method to organising is not right for you, and that’s okay. I’m going to share different insights into how you can go about decluttering and organising your home. Please note this post is all about offering a different perspective to organising and is not intended to discredit anyone or any method instead it’s about providing alternatives.
So, if the KonMari method is working for you then that is great keep going, you will get so many benefits from living in an organised space. If it’s not working, don’t give up and keep reading.
6 Alternatives to Consider If the KonMari Method Isn’t Working for You.
1. Get results by finding a decluttering and organising system that suits you not everyone else.
The KonMari method to organising is just one method, but it is not the only method.
Think about it.
It’s like exercise, some people like running, weights, boxing etc. I hate running but many people love it, and even though I hate running it doesn’t mean that I don’t exercise, it means I need to find a fitness approach that works for me which is lightweight training and the cross trainer.
The same approach needs to be applied to decluttering and organising your home.There is no one size fits all approach to organising you need to find the right method that works for you based on your organising challenges, needs and style.
And yes this may take some time, some trial and error and may even require you to work with a professional organiser to help you find the right organising solution.
The key is not to give up.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Humans are social creatures, so you may need some help to get organised. Assistance can be in the form of a supportive and non- judgemental friend/ family member or a professional organiser. The right support will ensure you get it done.
A critical thing that Tidying Up with Marie Kondo highlighted is that people were able to work through years of clutter and disorganisation through the support of a Professional Organiser (Marie Kondo).
I see this with my clients. Through having me help them through the organising process, they get results.
Remember:
It’s okay to ask for help.
3. Get faster results by finding quick wins
Picking up every item you own and determining if it sparks joy may be too overwhelming and exhausting for some people and, would slow the organising process down.
Try and find some quick wins that can help to speed the process up. I find setting up rules is a great way to get some quick wins.
How do rules work?
Rules are something you can set up at the start of a decluttering process to help you quickly discard items. For example, if you are organising your kitchen, you can set a rule that every chipped plate, cup, bowl etc. would just be discarded without any thought. Rules will make the decluttering process less overwhelming and more efficient as there is very little thought involved when decluttering.
Other quick wins might include:
- Food that in the pantry/ fridge that has expired can go straight in the bin
- Clothes that no longer fit go straight into the donate bag
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4. You need to set the goals and the order.
One thing I love about the KonMari method is it does provide structure. And for many people who struggle with disorganisation structure is essential, as it allows for a starting point.
The key is determining the right structure for you. I agree with Marie that sentimental items should be left to last as they are the hardest items to deal with and can slow the process down.
However, what is a sentimental item?
Well, that needs to be determined by you. What is sentimental to one person may not be sentimental to another person.
I have a friend who couldn’t discard a pair of shoes (which they didn’t wear because they were too small) but said they could easily shed photos. In this case, starting with clothes would not be a good idea.
If you are going to organise by category, then you need to set the order based on what is least sentimental to most sentimental as determined by you, which may mean that clothes and books get done last.
But wait there’s more,
You don’t always need to organise by category; it’s okay to organise room by room.
In many cases, it can be beneficial to organise by location especially in a situation where there may be health and safety issues. Rooms, where there is excessive clutter on the floor, should be tackled first as they may be a tripping hazard.
Establishing the approach to decluttering and organising your home should be determined by your goals and needs. If your goal is to start writing a book, then it might be a good idea to start organising your writing space. It wouldn’t make sense to tackle your clothes first as this is not important to you.
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash
And in some cases, you may need to organise by category and location. The key is to create your structure that suits your needs and one that is also flexible.
5.Have a goodbye plan
One of the most critical steps, before you start to declutter, is to know how you are going to discard items you no longer want. Many people hit a roadblock when organising as they don’t know how they are going to discard unwanted items, which may lead to you holding on to unwanted stuff.
In my experience.
Knowing how you are going to deal with unwanted items makes the organising process more manageable as you will know how to deal with unwanted items and there is no risk of unwanted items staying in your home.
Also, the quicker you get rid of unwanted items, the better you feel.
6. Understand your needs and challenges
Decluttering and organising is more about the person and not the stuff. It is, therefore, vital to understanding your individual mental and physical health challenges that might be causing you to become disorganised. Factor such as ADHD, memory issues, or physical ability etc. does need to be factored into the organising process if organising is going to be successful and sustainable. A qualified professional organiser can help you with this.
If you have been inspired to organise your space but have hit a roadblock, please don’t give up. Remember there are other ways you can go about organising your space it’s about finding a way that works for you.
If you have tried the KonMari method to declutter and organise, how did it go? What worked? What didn’t? For me, the KonMari folding method has worked, and I now fold all my clothes this way.
Please share your comments below. Also, if you need help, you can email me at joey@creatingpositivespaces.com.au or give me a call 0401 149 185 (Australian residents only).
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