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Let the bell sound for ROUND TWO. DING DING DING!

I have officially decluttered my apartment for the second year in a row. I have now relentlessly purged and ordered. Hallways can be traversed once more, and knick knacks have homes. My apartment finally seems like it can breath.

The impetus for decluttering was The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo. I was determined to follow her regimen strictly this year, downsizing my giant katamari-ball of stuff. If done right, Kondo promises, I will love everything in my space, ideas will come more freely, and I may even detox and lose weight. Who knew such great perks could come from throwing away excess q-tips!

Determined to declutter dogmatically, I reread Kondo's manual and referred to it as I went. "I have just finished decluttering papers. Now I must declutter komono (miscellany). I just need to beware of mementos. Mementos must be saved for last. Mementos are the downfall."


Kondo has a specific order for how one must declutter in order to emotionally tackle it. She doesn't expressly say that this is why - but this is why. Since her methodology is based on "joy sparks" in the heart, she pushes you build up some stamina and kindling before letting you tackle the dreaded mementos. Even though you may love your sister, and you love the kindness with which she bought you the green "unusual words" book, you want it gone. It carries with it a happy memory that you are thankful for, but you still want it gone. This is ok! Strictly following Kondo's rules, I thanked the book for happy memories, and shipped it to Goodwill.

In order to sense the heart's "joy sparks," Kondo demands a sensory experience. You have to fondle each item and determine if you are madly in love with it or not. In order to fully have a one on one moment with each item, you own, you should first gather all items of that type into a pile on your bed before handling each one. During this process I learned that I love lace, the color blue, patterned clothing, and black accessories. I also learned that my love of stationary runs deeper than I knew. I've been collecting postcards from everywhere I've gone since my elementary school field trips (Yea Luray Caverns!)

Discarding in this holistic way did not strike me as strange and/or revolutionary. I have always cleaned by sorting this way. However, I have not always organized in the Konmari method. For the first time, my socks do not sit in balls. My pants are stacked vertically instead of horizontally, and my books, playbills, and empty journals all live in one place.

If you'd like to declutter using the Konmari method you can follow these steps:

 1. Read The Life-Chaning Magic of Tidying Up. It's a short book. It won't take you long.

 2. Do Marie Kondo's thought exercise. Ask yourself, "What is the lifestyle that I want?" Then, ask "why" at least 3-4 times.

Here's mine: I want a creative lifestyle, with lots of color, comfort, and room to move and dance. Why? Because movement and creation make me happy. Why? Because then I've either created something beautiful on paper, or with my body. Why? Because unlike my childhood self- I want to SHARE my beauty and creations with the world. I want to be a beautiful presence in the world. Why? I mean THE WORLD. I want to travel and be able to easily do so. I'd rather experiences over material possessions. 

3. Put everything of one type in a pile and discard everything that doesn't spark joy.

4. Reorganize neatly what remains.

via GIPHY

Did I lose weight using the Konmari method? Hell, no! However, I did end up reorganizing every room in the house for better flow. I can now have company over. I've rediscovered my fossils and put them on display. My hammock has been freed from it's proximity to the litter box, and I have enough space to hula hoop. It works for me.

NeVeS

It is ok to try things. However, trying is not worth a mention if you do not persevere at it. Cue my new favorite gadget: The Passion Planner. It gives you wings! No, not that. It gives you passion! Things I have tried since getting a Passion Planner: Flossing, Meditating, Running a 5K, Coding, etc.

The Passion Planner is a Planner, with add ons. It has space for doodling. It has space for writing what you are grateful for each week. It has a to-do list and a separate work to-do list. However, most importantly it has a goal brainstormer with monthly check-ins. The Passion Planner is organized to help you reach the goals you actually care about. It was created and funded by a kickstarter because people want help with this. But does it work?

The Passion Planner works so incredibly well! I enjoy creating a new color scheme each week as I take the time to fill in my goals and regularly scheduled programming. One friend bought the planner concurrently and raves about it, and another one bought one based on my recommendation.

Personally, I created this blog because it was one of my goals. I had reminders written in the planner to update my posts, and now my blog has updates. I've had reminders to floss, and now my teeth endure strings of pain. I had reminders to practice running and I actually ran during my last 5K (which anyone who has run/walked/pushed a stroller during a 5K can tell you is not mandatory.) I wanted to write letters to people and receive letters. I've done so so frequently that I've even gotten some back!

You are a Flamingo in a flock of boring ass penguins. Thanks Jackie :)

I even use it for craft projects. When Erin demanded that I recycle my magazines if I want to get new ones I put a collage of my favorite images into the planner.

How do I like mine? At this risk of alliterating, I would say that the Passion Planner is my prized possession.