When we declutter and organize with the KonMari Method, we use the test of "Does it spark joy?" to decide which of our belongings to keep. But what if that question leaves you scratching your head? Or doesn't inspire you? Or you just can't relate?

Consider a broader definition of "joy"

Joy doesn't always have to mean an intense feeling. Our most prized possessions might make us want to jump up and down for sheer delight. But sometimes joy can be much more subtle and low-key.

One example is the plain white soap dish in my kitchen. It's shaped with a small spout, allowing any water in the dish to drain directly into the sink. Does this make me want to sing my heart out? Not really, but it does save me from having to periodically clean out a wet, messy soap dish. It's just one small thing that contributes to my life in a positive way.

Don't get too hung up on the exact question

Maybe the question "Does this spark joy?" simply does not resonate with you. It can help to remember that this phrasing is just an approximation. In Marie Kondo's books, "spark joy" is a translation of the Japanese word tokimeku ("to flutter" or "to beat fast", like an excited heartbeat). In other words, when you touch the item, you feel something. You could try alternative questions along these lines, such as:

"Is it beautiful?"
"Do I feel something when I touch this item?"
"Am I excited to use or wear this item?"
"Does this item make me happy?"

Or perhaps fluttery feelings aren't your thing, and you're focused more on practicality. Try asking:

"Does it have a purpose?"
"Do I use it often?"
"Does this item help me do the things I want to do?"
"Does this item make my life easier?"

"I just don't know what I feel!"

If you feel undecided, ambivalent, or "blank" about an item, Marie Kondo suggests that you try praising it. Tell the item how much it improves your life. What features do you appreciate about it? Can you find something nice to say about the object's functionality, durability, design, color, size, or safety features?

If you can, then keep it with confidence. And if you really can't think of a single good thing to say, then feel free to let that item go (with gratitude).

Trust your instincts

Very often, it's when we start second-guessing ourselves and spending a lot of time ruminating that we come up against the wall of indecision. Try asking yourself, "What's my first impulse about this item?" and use that as your decision-making test.

In the end, "spark joy" is just shorthand for learning to listen to yourself and to trust your instinctive feelings about what belongs in your life and what doesn't. Find a way that works for you, and you can’t go wrong. 🌱

Happy New Year, everyone! Many cultures have New Year's cleaning rituals where the house is cleaned top to bottom. Ideally, this serves as a "reset button", clearing away the past year's dirt (both physical and spiritual) and allowing us a fresh start for the coming year. However, if there is clutter in our path, we may never reach the goal of making our homes truly shine.

Think about the extra work involved in wiping down a surface where many objects "live". We have to move each item out of the way, wipe away the dust, then return the item to its original spot. Perhaps we'll discard a few items deemed unnecessary as we randomly come across them, but the end result—though it might be cleaner—hardly looks much different than it did in the beginning.

This is why it's ideal to tidy up first, then clean afterwards.

"Tidying" and "cleaning" are often used interchangeably, but as Marie Kondo explains in her book Spark Joy, the meanings are really quite different. When we tidy, we move items and put them away, whereas when we clean, we are removing dirt.

Dirt and dust tend to naturally accumulate, without us doing anything at all. It's a law of the universe. But often you will hear people talk about items "piling up", or "finding their way in". The truth is that objects don't grow legs and walk into our homes. We bring them in. The responsibility for clutter lies with us.

This means that while cleaning is about confronting nature, tidying is about confronting ourselves.

Cleaning (unfortunately!) is a process we'll have to do over and over again. But tidying is different. Once you've gone through the process of deciding which of your possessions spark joy, and then deciding where to store your joyful things, you'll never have to do it again. Your relationship with your home and the belongings in it, as well as the way you shop and acquire things going forward, will be permanently transformed.

Which brings us back to cleaning. People who have completed their tidying journeys often remark that cleaning hardly takes them any time at all now. Some folks even enjoy cleaning, now that it's been made simple because they don't have to do all the extra work of navigating around stuff and clutter.

Whether or not you'll become a person who actually enjoys dusting and mopping, one thing is clear--if you want a clean house for the New Year and beyond, it makes sense to tidy up first.

🌱Ready to embark on your tidying journey? I'd be honored to be your guide. Contact me to get the conversation started.🌱

Blog

Consider a broader definition of "joy"

Don't get too hung up on the exact question

"I just don't know what I feel!"

Trust your instincts

This is why it's ideal to tidy up first, then clean afterwards.