Dare I read this book?

lifechangingThere are few things guaranteed to put fear into a book- lover’s life than the idea of getting rid of some books, and other stuff of course.  My mind is starting to turn to the idea of downsizing – at some undecided point in the future – not now, but my house is so full of ‘stuff’ that I will need to jettison a lot to fit into somewhere smaller.  Why not get started now, so it’s not such a shock later I thought, and I ordered a copy of Marie Kondo’s best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying.

Of course, reading it now would mean making an (little) exception to the TBR Dare, but that’s OK – the TBR Dare is not prescriptive.

The big question is: If I do read it, dare I put Kondo’s method into practice?  The blurb says:

‘ The key to successful tidying is tackling your home in the correct order, keeping only what you really love and doing it all at once.’

If I’m brave enough, that’d take the entire Easter holidays and need of a skip going by the amount of clutter I own.  Just flicking through the contents pages, even in the first section I can see that she tackles some essential home truths.

Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever.

Storage experts are hoarders.

marie-kondo-organizing-tips-spark-joy-02Her method uses the concept of ‘Spark Joy’ – each item you own should spark joy in you.  If everything you own does this you’ll be happier. Her follow-up book ‘Spark Joy’ is an illustrated continuation. She suggests sorting out clothes first, then books… uh-oh – I might never get to my ‘Komono’ category.

While I can see the benefits of doing a top to toe clear-out all at once, making it a practical option is more of a challenge.

I’m not convinced … yet.

I am going to have a TBR dare blip and read the book though, because there’s something very attractive about her ideas, and this new Japanese way of doing things. Feng shui does get a brief mention and some of its principles are in harmony with Kondo’s method, but she’s thankfully not prescribing its wackier aspects.  She’s also very young – but seems to come across as wise beyond her years.

Frankly, I don’t think it’s in my personality to be fanatically neat; I would like to be tidier and hang on to less stuff I don’t need though.  When it comes down to it, I do really enjoy a regular good clear-out. It makes you feel really good, however often you do it.  Just tackling my utensils drawer on its own the other weekend did ‘spark joy’!

Wouldn’t doing the full Kondo, doing it all at once, remove all those moments of gratification through repeated spring-cleaning urges, which, through only tidying ‘a little a day’ can be prolonged forever?  Ha ha!  I’m such a skeptic.  One big truth remains though: If I am to ever downsize, I will need to do this!

Have you tried any decluttering techniques?  Did they work?  

2 thoughts on “Dare I read this book?

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