How the idea of “Does it spark joy?” changed my way of thinking.
Over the years I have occasionally edged on the verge of what some may call a hoarder. I’m not proud of this but it came with the self-imposed title of crafter and always assuming I would one day need this or that for a DIY project I started. Getting hooked on Pinterest in college didn’t help this. But living in a small house paired with my husband refusing to get me a storage shed for stuff I just HAD to have led to the house being cluttered all the time.
About 5 years ago my no-nonsense, stark walls, does not attach feelings to material things best friend helped me purge the entire house. It was such a freeing feeling to finally let go of things I had been holding onto since I was a kid. A sticker collection that I had been working on since I was 5, every birthday or holiday card anyone had ever given me, clothes I was convinced I would someday fit back into and the list goes on. After that, I made it a priority to purge the house annually of anything I had let pile up. I thought I was doing really well, but then I heard about this new Netflix series called Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up. And I quickly realized I could do So. Much. Better!
Here are the 3 things I learned:
How to Fold Clothes
This may sound ridiculous but there really are so many ways you can fold clothes and they are not all created equally! I have always scoffed at people trying to tell me how to pack a bag because in my mind it would always take up the same amount of space. Boy, was I wrong! Marie Kondo demonstrates how to fold clothes in a way that they can sit vertically in a drawer. That way, you can easily see every item in the drawer upon opening and don’t end up rifling through trying to find that same shirt you alway wear. It was a game changer! Below is a step-by-step of folding t-shirts.
Step 1: Lay out the t-shirt.
Step 2: Fold the t-shirt in half.
Step 3: Fold the t-shirt in half, long-ways again.
Step 4: Fold sleeves back in line with the rest of the t-shirt.
Step 5: Bring top and bottom of shirt to center.
Step 6: Fold in half again.
At last, the finished product! Now, the t-shirt will stand vertically in your drawer so you can easily pick through your options without rifling through every item.
Here is a peek at the hub’s drawer. He loves being able to easily see all his options!
How to Purge Sentimental Items
Like a lot of people, I tend to associate memories with objects. So those items are always the ones I find piling up and I wasn’t sure how to approach a purge for them. Marie Kondo taught me to instead focus on what items I want to keep and then from there, how to keep them in a way that honors what they mean to me. For example, all the cards I had received from my husband, friends and family over the years I went through and looked at each one. From there I picked out the ones that meant the most. Maybe they had a special note written inside or a cute drawing. Then I put them together in a cute storage box that also adds some flare to the area they are stored. This allows me to easily discard the cards I receive now unless I find them special enough to add to the box. But they all have a home and anytime I want a walk down memory lane, I have a curated collection to look through.
Some things to consider when going through sentimental items:
- Go through these items when you are alone. You need to figure out how you feel about the item without the guilt or pressure from others to toss/keep it.
- Would you even notice if this item was missing?
- If it is something that sparks some happy memories, could you get the same feeling from just having a picture of the item to remind you of the good times you associate with it?
Does it Spark Joy?
I have caught a lot of slack from friends and even family for my full embrace of the, “Does it spark joy?” concept. I apply it to EVERYTHING. The basic concept is that when you hold or look at something whether it be clothing, decor, shoes, memorabilia or whatever you have, it should spark joy. Marie Kondo describes it as the feeling you get when holding a puppy– which was the best possible example she could give me and why it immediately clicked.
Now before I buy something, I hold it up and consider if it really makes me happy. Then one step further, is this something that is going to make me happy for a day, a week or a year. If I conclude that I will likely be bored with it in the next month, I don’t buy it. Not only have I saved money doing this, but have also reduced unnecessary clutter from building up in my house.
Ultimately, life is too short to surround ourselves with anything that doesn’t bring us some kind of happiness or a smile to our face. I encourage you to try a couple of Marie Kondo’s tips and see how by simplifying your life, you can experience even more joy.
