Deciding to truly declutter is a big step – it takes both time and dedication, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. When you start your tidying journey with a clear goal in mind and a positive mindset, you’ll be surprised at how much energy and motivation you’ll find to tackle everything at once. It’s not just about cleaning up; it’s about creating a space that reflects who you are and what you love. And don’t worry, I’ll be here to guide you along the way.

In the end, the effort you put in will bring you lasting joy and help you shape the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of.

This method isn’t about quick fixes – it’s about creating a space that sparks joy and transforms your life for the long term. Take a moment to imagine the kind of home you’d love to live in and how you want to feel in it. Whether through drawing, writing, or gathering inspiration, think about your ideal lifestyle. What does it look like? As you envision this, you’re not just picturing a tidy home – you’re clarifying why you want to tidy and shaping the life you truly want. This process is a meaningful turning point.

To help guide you, I have a downloadable guide on my website with activities designed to inspire and assist you in visualizing your ideal lifestyle. Setting your goals and aligning them with your values will help keep you motivated as you work towards creating the space and life you’ve always envisioned. And of course, I’ll be here to support you every step of the way.

As you move through your tidying journey, remember to focus on what you truly want to keep, rather than on what you feel you should "get rid of." There isn't any "should" in this process. Simply cherish the items that bring you joy, and then say goodbye to the rest with gratitude. Your focus and your goal is to keep only what brings you joy, and by doing this, in the end you will have curated a home that surrounds you with only items you truly love (and perhaps, well... need).

Letting go of items isn’t the main goal of this method, but it is a crucial part of the process. It provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect and learn through your past choices. For example, when you part with something you never used, it teaches you what no longer fits in your life. Thoughtfully considering each item you release will shape how you live and make decisions about what you bring into your home in the future.

Most of us are taught to clean room by room: tidy your bedroom, organize the kitchen, then tackle the bathroom. It makes sense, right? But when it comes to decluttering, this approach can leave you stuck in a cycle of constant tidying.

The reason is simple – we often store the same types of items in different places. You might have clothes in the bedroom, more in the hall closet, and even some in storage. If you tidy each room separately, you can’t see the full picture, and you’ll likely end up repeating the same work over and over. It’s easy to hang on to things without realizing just how much you already own.

That’s why tidying by category – like clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental things – feels so different. It might seem a bit weird at first, but trust the process. When you tackle everything in one category at once, you’ll get a clearer sense of what you really need, and it sets you up for long-term success.

[Clothing --> Books --> Papers --> Komono (I'll explain that one later) --> and last, Sentimental Items.]

Why? Well, it's pretty darn important because it sets you up for success right out of the gate. when you begin with clothing (which is a relatively easy-ish category) and end with sentimental items (which are more challenging), you are able to build and hone your decision-making skills along the way. The categories are handled in order of their relative difficulty, so by the time you reach those sentimental items, choosing what to keep feels almost effortless.

There’s another reason clothes come first: finishing that category provides immediate evidence of your progress - and exciting sense of achievement! Opening your closet each morning to see only your favorite clothes (and knowing where everything is) is a powerful motivator to keep going. Trust me on that one.

As you progress through each category, your energy and decision-making ability will grow. Even though this process can be physically tiring, letting go of unnecessary clutter feels like an invigorating pick-me-up. The more you declutter, the deeper your understanding becomes – not just of the method, but of yourself.

This is one of the biggest differences between traditional organizing and the KonMari method. Using KonMari, you will complete all 5 categories - your entire house - before you begin working with any permanent organization solutions.

Why, you may ask? Because as you move through your home, you will be freeing up more space than you can probably imagine right now. It makes sense to wait on deciding where to permanently store your items until you fully grasp the available space in your home. Temporary storage (ideally something free or repurposed) can be helpful, but hold off on rushing to the organizer store just yet! You’ll want to ensure you have a clear vision of your space first.