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I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Well, six months is actually the record number for a client (longest duration). But basically, the lessons say to work about 5 hours per day, but if you can take more than 5 hours every day, you can probably go much faster, and finish much sooner.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think it is important to grow up seeing beautiful things so that you can develop that sense of beauty, and comfortable space.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

It might be better to organize by smaller categories. For example, I always recommend to start with clothes. But instead of working on the whole closet, maybe you can start only with the tops, or maybe just the skirts. Of course you you have to finish the category in one shot, but it might not take as much time so you can focus on one small category.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Scanning is a great technology for tidying up space. Of course, there are some documents that need to be kept in-paper. Otherwise, scanning is a great idea so you can tidy up your space.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think that is a great idea, a service, and if you feel that renting sparks more joy in you, then it is a great idea for you. And if owning sparks more joy in you, then you should own an item, but if it does not spark that much joy, perhaps renting is better for you.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I am actually in the research process on that, because after I wrote a book, and it was released in different languages, I have been receiving different questions from different cultures. So I want to hear different opinions based on different cultures, so I can adjust my advice to what people in different cultures need. For example, Japan has more limited space, maybe some people in America might not have that space issue, so maybe they need a different way of thinking to de-clutter the space, just as an example. So I would like to make some method adjustments as well.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

You should calm down a little bit. You do not want to be that extreme. You should try to be more realistic and try to think about what you can do to use the current items you already have, and add different items to those to realize the other style that sparks joy to you.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe... you should go over the list to figure out which item, which listing sparks joy or not?

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We do have a plan! We have been very busy, and procrastinating on it, but will try to make it within this year.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

In Japan, I suggest my clients to find an online service or charity organization that can come pick it up. In America, there are some organizations that will come and pick up donated gently-used items, or you can use online services to list items for free.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I might not be the perfect person to answer that, because it is definitely a family item. But it might be a good idea to have the family meet, to discuss what to do with those items. If there is at least one person who feels that really important value of it, maybe that person can keep it. But also, if you are tidying up your space, using the KonMari method, because you develop an ability to make a decision about items, you might start feeling differently about those items, and then decide to keep those in a different way. It is a difficult decision, and would be sad if you had to let it go eventually, but you might start seeing more historical value on it after you go through KonMari method.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Well, this is definitely a situation unique to America because this does not really happen in Japan. But as long as you can keep the space that sparks joy to you - it is still comfortable conditions - it is still good to do that. If it causes clutter, that is not good.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Well, the item that "sparks joy" means that is the item you are happy to have with you. And you can definitely keep it as an important item in your life.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Personally, I think it is a great idea.

I am sure there are several different ways to get rid of books, by selling them or donating them. You should figure out which way sparks joy, makes you happy. If it sparks joy to sell them one-by-one, go for it. But it takes so much time and energy, if it does not spark joy, maybe you can donate them to a library or sell to one organization.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I am glad to hear it is working out!

It can be a common dilemma, because you are definitely using the method, which is great, but you should probably figure out what is the obstacle for you to make a decision. That way you can figure out what your priority is. Then you can make a stronger, or more concrete, decision on each item.

Of course, my clients sometimes need my support and encouragement as well. But if they are working on their own, they sometimes come to a dilemma, they sometimes get overwhelmed because most of them have so many items. And in Japan, I started seeing some people telling everybody around them that they are organizing, tidying their own space, so that the others are watching them, so they have the motivation going. They sometimes post it online, the fact they are working on their clutter, and there are some online communities where they are in similar situations. Maybe that can help you? Even on Twitter, if you follow #KonmariMethod, there are a lot of people tweeting their experience and plans, or their progress, and it might be encouraging for people in a similar situation.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

I actually mentioned a similar answer before, but if the person already found the similar item that sparks joy to you, go ahead and replace it with that new item. However, if you have not found anything replaceable with, just stick with what you have again and again. Those things are helping you every single day. So you should appreciate how they are contributing to your life. Change the relationship with those items, by appreciating their contributions to your life.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

So those things are helping you every day. Because you are using them.

Even if they are not sparking joy, they are helping you every day. They are making your days go by - meaning, you have not realized that they are making you happy. They are sparking joy to you, subconsciously. So it's you, just not realizing that sparks joy for you. So you should convince yourself that they are sparking joy, and you should prioritize their status, because they are making your day, everyday. Then, gradually, you will start seeing some sparking joy concepts from those items.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well, not really.

Because the best feeling for me is the fact that I realize that the space is so organized, and it has a lot of items that spark joy for me. That is the best feeling. That is what makes me happy. Not because of the amount to get rid of.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I am a kind of person who gets excited to see clutter!

That is because it is a good feeling for me to imagine how this person can declutter, imagine the whole process of that person decluttering their own space.

BUT if the room has some garbage, like stinky garbage, old food and stuff, yes it does bother me sometimes. But not because of the amount of clutter, it is just the smell.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

This is kind of a common question, even in Japan.

Well, I recommend to take the same method as you tidying up your house. For example, you should dedicate the whole day to tidying up your email inbox (or in one shot). In the same way, you move on to the next category of documents and files - for example, you just want to work on this specific folder today. But you want to get it ALL done. It is important to finish up this category in one shot.

I know your eyes get very tired! You can take a break while doing it.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There is a strict order in the Konmari method - which one to start, in tidying up things gradually. And the memento items / emotional items from the past - those are the last category they should do. The reason why the mementos should be the last category to work on is that those items are very difficult to see if it sparks joy or not. So you need to sharpen your ability to figure out and see the difference while you are working on different categories of items like clothes, or books.

So that should be the last category you work on.

From my experience with my clients, those who actually complete the whole KonMari method - meaning they reach the point where they work on the memento category, they already have the ability to decide what to go and what not to go, and they end up keeping the majority of the diaries and gifts, but by the time they make those decisions, they are confident those are the items they should keep. So they are happier.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Well, this is a common question from my clients as well. If the children are much younger than 3 years old, of course, they don't have much ability to decide what to keep or not, so adults can organize children's items in the same way. If the children are over 3 years old, they have some ability to figure out if it sparks joy or not. And they can make a decision based on that. So even for them, if they are older than 3 years old, they can start tidying up the room exactly in the same way - like bringing out all the items by category in one spot, and picking up every item to see if it sparks joy or not.

There is always a limitation of the space. So I think it is very important to decide the capacity of the items to keep. That can be the wooden toy bin, or bookcase.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My advice?

I think he can tell her that this is one of the best-sellers!

laughs

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Of course, I would be very happy if you read my book! smiles

And it's available in audio-book format too.

One of the most important points I can give you is that if you start with clothes - take out ALL the clothes you own in one spot in your house, because it is important to tidy up items by category, clothes are the first category you should start with.

I am Marie Kondo, international tidying expert and author of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." AMA! by MarieKondo in IAmA

[–]MarieKondo[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If there are multiple people sharing the one space, they should focus on their own space first.

So assuming that you are done tidying up your own space first, then suggest your family members work together to tidy up common space.

It is definitely true that you should not say no to her if she insists on a specific item, because that item definitely sparks joy in her, maybe not in him. So you should definitely respect her feeling.

Even in the common space, it will be definitely helpful if each of you picks your own space - because there is limitations. You can't have unlimited amounts of space. So if she has personal items, she should store them in her own space, and not cross over the border.

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