We all have our different ways of organizing. Of course, I’m assuming (and we all know what implications that has) that there is some form of organization in your world. One can hope right?
Some people fold their clothes and put them away in drawers while others hang everything. Some people fold clothes, others roll their clothes. Some people file while others pile. There are so many options! There are countless ways to organize so do whatever works for you as long as you do something.
The Organizing industry is getting a lot of attention these days. There are TV shows (Enough Already and The Hoarding Show); literature (See books by Peter Walsh, organizer to the Stars and countless other authors) and entire stores (The Container Store) dedicated to anything related to organizing. More than ever before, people are talking about how important getting and being organized really is.
Here is some information about the 3 top trending organizing methods that are getting a lot of press these days (in no particular order). Maybe you’ve heard about them, maybe not. For those of you who aren’t in the loop about the latest organizing trends or want more information about them, this is for you.
• The KonMari Method™: KonMari, originated by Marie Kondo, is a way of life and a state of mind that supports cherishing the things that spark joy in people’s lives. As such, people are encouraged to part with anything that doesn’t spark joy. Belongings are acknowledged for their service and thanked before being let go of if they no longer spark joy.
KonMari places great importance on being mindful, introspective, and optimistic. Read more about The “KonMari” method of simplifying and organizing in Marie Kondo’s bestseller, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”
• Swedish Death Cleaning: In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, a combination of the word dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning”, aka the art of death cleaning.
Margareta Magnusson, author of the book, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Make Your Loved Ones’ Lives Easier and Your On Life More Pleasant” suggests that, once you reach the end of middle age, you get rid of all the stuff you’ve accumulated that you don’t need any more so that no one else has to do it for you after you pass. Once people reach a certain age, many know that eventually, even before they face death, they may end up having to deal with some disability that forces them to downsize or move out of their homes. Margareta suggests that this is a chance to go through your belongings and distribute them on your own terms.
• Minimalism: Minimalism is another organizing method that has received great interest. Brought into the public eye by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus, minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important so that you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom. We tend to give too much meaning to our things, often neglecting our health, our relationships, our passions and our personal growth.
Minimalism is based on the notion that happiness doesn’t come from stuff, but rather from relationships and experiences. So, when you get rid of the excess stuff surrounding you, you can better identify those things that are really important to you and what brings you pleasure in your life. Therefore, it’s up to each of us to determine what is necessary and what is superfluous in our lives.
While I don’t “follow” any of these methods in their entirety, I do try to incorporate the best parts of them all when I’m working with my clients to help them get organized or “better” organized, as the case may be. I take what works for me and my clients and apply it accordingly.
If you or someone you know is interested in getting organized, better organized or just wants to go through their stuff and get rid of the surplus, give me a call. We would LOVE to be of service!