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Organizing book

ironkurtin

Veteran

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10.....tion=click

"Ms. Kondo’s decluttering theories are unique, and can be reduced to two basic tenets: Discard everything that does not “spark joy,” after thanking the objects that are getting the heave-ho for their service; and do not buy organizing equipment — your home already has all the storage you need.

Does it spark joy?” would seem to set the bar awfully high for a T-shirt or a pair of jeans, but it turns out to be a more efficacious sorting mechanism than the old saws: Is it out of style? Have you worn it in the last year? Does it still fit?"

I'm totally checking this out.

27 replies

Latest reply was from gradfashionista

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Dana, my husband sent me this link this morning.

I told him we were old hats at this at YLF. It's all about the "happiness factor." If it gives you no joy: Don't buy it in the first place; don't try to persuade yourself to wear it if you already have it; don't keep it if it's lost its thrill.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and I'm one of those who thinks a simple essential can give joy. If it's nice fabrication, fills a real hole, adds value.

Susie

Veteran

From kitchen utensils to home decor to wardrobe items, I still like:
Is it useful?
Do you love it?
Would you buy it again today?

A tee shirt might not spark joy, but if it's useful, it stays.

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Lol'ing on the bus and getting some looks! "Clothes, like people, can relax more freely when in the company of others who are very similar in type, and therefore organizing them by category helps them feel more comfortable and secure.” I hope mine are happy with their positions

Carole

Veteran

I like the idea, but some stuff is essential and doesn't necessarily spark "joy". I agree with not buying stuff to store things in...I'm really bad at that plus you can't see what is stored and you end up not using it, so do you really even need it?

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I'm all for sparking joy anywhere and any time I can. She's got my attention!

rachylou

Veteran

I wonder what Ms. Kondo would say to my current dilemma? I have these shoes that are a joy to wear, but not to look at. They're by no means ugly. They're just... girlish.

rabbit

Veteran

I'm intrigued! The things she says about energy and caring for and thanking your things resonate for me. I think useful things used often spark joy for me. Theoretically useful things just sitting in storage don't as much, they can go.

JulieJohn

Veteran

Thank you, Ironkurtin, for this fun article! It tickled me. Plus, I really get a kick out of rituals of gratitude and the peaceful energy they generate.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Someone here (I have shamefully forgotten who) said that she prefers to "retire" her old things rather than "purge" them. It seems like a similar attitude.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting. There has to be joy on some level in order for you to keep the item. If it's ugly but comfy - there is joy. Just not an aesthetic one.

I'm also high fiving Suz and Rabbit.

shedev

Veteran

Sometimes basics can spark joy, if the fit is just right.

amiable

Veteran

I love it! I've been using something similar in my closet lately - keeping my favorites, and slowly passing on those that are less-favored.

I think I get hung up, though, in things that have 'joy-potential'. I'm not sure this item really sparks joy, but it seems like in the right situation, it really could. So I keep, it in probation, until either it does (and that does happen rather regularly), or until I figure out why it doesn't (which can take a while to click)....

Alassë

Veteran

That's a really interesting approach. I also think one of your comments, Suz, is equally powerful: "don't ...persuade yourself to wear it."

catgirl

Veteran

This is interesting and fun to think about. I feel like the appolication of the rule depends on how you dress, though. I may not eat raw flour or baking soda (though I will eat chocolate chips!), but put all the ingredients together and you have the joy of cookies! Sometimes outfits are like that too.

Or maybe as Angie wisely says, there are different kinds of joy. There's the joy of RELIEF, that something works without effort. There's the joy of TRUE LOVE, when it's all exciting and you just can't help it. There's the joy of COMFORT, as in "Aaaah, these fuzzy slippers". And so on.

Anonymous

I operate in a practical way:

Does this item work well for me (serve the purpose for which I bought it)?

Do I wear this item a lot?

Do I like it enough to buy it again?

I just bought a pair of shoes that IMO are ugly, but are so comfortable I'm keeping them to wear at home. Do they spark joy? Only by the comfort they bring to my fussy feet.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh boy, how timely. I just spent the last few hours getting into a few, um, editing projects. The guest room closet is now relieved of 75% of its contents (old throw pillows, picture frames, extra bedding, etc), and our bookshelves just got a thinking out, and are in need of more. One box of books is packed up and ready to donate. Is it cheating that I'm taking a big bag of books to Texas to keep at the ranch? We'll have a nice little reading library there too...

Joy is a pretty high benchmark for belongings like picture frames and books. But I'm getting more strict each year about what stays in our home.

Gaylene

Veteran

I was given a copy of this book by a friend when she learned of our impeding move from our house to a small condo. I found it interesting and thought-provoking because the author is trying to advance a philosophy as well as provide concrete suggestions. What I came away with is that "joy" in this context relates to material possessions that give us feelings of pleasure and contentment, and/or beauty. A soft, well-worn, well-loved t-shirt can arouse those feelings as much as a Chanel handbag. Practical things can evoke joy as much as objects bought solely for their intrinsic beauty.

Using the more common "practical" questions almost always kept me to keeping (and storing!) things because of their potential to be "useful" at some future time and place. Focusing just on "joy" made me realize that only one or two items in a pile of shirts--or books--or watches--or bowls--or whatever--actually gave me "joy". The rest just represented abundance. Abundance is fine if you want to give these items space in your home and your life, but, if your goal is to simplify and live with less, can also be shared and given to others. I also realized that it was fine to acknowledge that I didn't need to make an effort to incorporate items in the abundance category into my life; instead of storing things away in boxes and containers, I could also choose to minimize abundance in my life.

Laurinda

Veteran

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful
or believe to be beautiful.
--Wm. Morris

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bj1111

Veteran

i'm a sucker for "joy potential", Ami.

Anonymous

IK, I thoroughly enjoyed that article! I agree with both of Marie's main tenets. For some reason I have always liked organizing my clothes like with like, because that made my closet look more cohesive. Even though I never thought of my clothes being "happy", I have had the image of them fighting in there when a more bossy item moves in and tries to take over. Once I uproot the troublemaker, peace reigns once again.

Funnily, in the past week, I have decided I am not a gardener, basically because it does not bring me joy. There are many reasons why I should garden. I have the time, the space, I want to eat healthy, organic food, it would save me money and be good for the planet. The list goes on and on. But I don't enjoy it, and perhaps that's why I'm no good at it. At first it seemed like a huge cop-out and I felt so guilty for giving up. But then there was this huge relief and I felt one step closer to figuring out what I want to be doing with my free time. In the same way, I've long felt that I should take up sewing my own clothes. There are numerous virtuous reasons for that, but instinctively I know it will turn out just like the gardening experiment, simply because I do not want to do it. I've sewed enough to know it will not bring me joy. Sorry to derail, but I think the joy factor can help guide us in more than closet cleaning!

E

Veteran

Has anyone else read The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura? It's a really enjoyable presentation Japanese aesthetics for a Western audience (and if you have an ereader, you can get it for free, as it's old enough to be out of copyright). Some of the ideas in that article reminded me of it. It's a book I loved, and it along with the Western arts and crafts movement has been a big inspiration for how I live with objects. Sounds like this new book would definitely be fun, as I prefer to fit my possessions to the space available rather than vice versa!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

"For Ms. Kondo’s instruction on sorting papers is perhaps the most liberating of all her maxims: Just throw them all away. (She is equally ruthless about buttons.)"
It's weird I donated most of my old buttons last week & shredded all the old papers. The joy I felt was out of proportion to the small amount of stuff that actually went out.
E I love that book & the Arts & Crafts Movement - it's these concepts/philosophies that made me understand that to me "joy per wear" was more important than absolute "cost per wear".

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

OMG, this article is totally enabling me to KEEP those expensive booties I just ordered off Shopbop. Or at least the comfy LD Tuttles. Because, they spark joy!

Wait, her logic is meant for purging not acquiring...

Caro in Oz

Veteran

LOL Denise.

SandyG

Veteran

Editing from abundance to joy -- this template will keep me busy for awhile. What an interesting book and discussion!

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for posting this link. I'm a minimalist hobbyist, but don't enjoy the ample books that tell you to buy containers to store your junk. If you like this article, you'll probably like Miss Minimalist's blog and her book.

One drawback to this approach is the value of objects for elderly populations. Photographs and physical objects, their feel and their smell, help older people recall memories that mightn't otherwise be recalled. One could argue that keeping a journal would fulfill the same function, but it too relies on the same kind of memory recollection as asking somebody about an event. Perhaps if we all reached a high level of mindfulness, we wouldn't need these stimulations, but the rate of dementia and Alzheimer's makes me that objects that might cause joy in the future still have a place.