The most recent trend in professional organizing is the KonMari method. But there are many different ways to declutter and organize to create a relaxed and comfortable home. The professional organizing industry in Canada started in 2001 and earlier in the 1980s in the United States. Over the years, there have been many different trends for dealing with clutter from the S.P.A.C.E. model in Julie Morgenstern’s book Organizing from the Inside Out, Peter Walsh’s Keep/Sell/Toss in the TV series Clean Sweep, Professional Organizers in Canada’s (POC) own Hellen Buttigieg’s TV Series Neat,  as well as a documentary about Minimalism. Premiering in March 2019 is The BIG Downsize starring POC’s Jane Veldhoven. Each family has to find a system that works best for them, whether it’s the KonMari or NonMari method.

Category vs Room-by-Room

In Season 1, Episode 4 of Kondo’s Netflix series, the client wants to clear her deceased husband’s clothes from the closet after she declutters her own clothing. In Kondo’s method, the late husband’s clothes fall into the “Sentimental” category, the last category in the KonMari system. Even though the client seemed emotionally prepared to tackle this task, Kondo was reluctant to deviate from her system.

Decluttering and organizing by category works well if the whole house needs attention or if a category of objects (e.g., books, clothes) has become unmanageable. However, the room-by-room method can be equally effective. It is a useful method if you only need to focus on one or two rooms in the home. It can also be less disruptive because decluttering and organizing are centred in one area. You could use either method or a combination of both. The correct system is the one that works best for you.

Joy vs Necessity

Throughout the decluttering process, the KonMari method encourages clients to keep items that “spark joy” (translated from the Japanese word “tokimeku”). Items that do not “spark joy” are thanked for their service and disposed of.

The phrase “spark joy” does not resonate with everyone. In this video, Marie Kondo pays a surprise visit to a writer for the TV talk show Ellen. While tidying his desk drawer (starting at time marker 3:01), Kondo asks the writer which of his pens sparks joy. He says, “The pens don’t bring joy. They’re kind of what you have to have here.” It may have been more helpful to suggest that he eliminate all the pens that do not work.  This situation is a classic case of someone who thinks you are disorganized trying to ‘help’ you by engaging in the services of a professional organizer when you are not ‘ready’ to receive the services.

We own many items that do not “spark joy” but are essential to daily life (e.g., income tax paperwork, toilet plunger, etc.). It might be more effective to ask the questions, “Do you need it?” and “Do you use it regularly?” The “spark joy” question would be better applied to sentimental items that may not fulfill a specific function. Even then, you do not need to keep it if it does spark joy. Does one need to keep their high school basketball uniform even though they won the championships?

Time vs Life

When tidying with the KonMari method, the client must touch every single item one by one. This can be helpful because the client is acutely aware of every item they own at the end of the tidying process. The client may develop an appreciation for what they own, which will inspire them to maintain a tidy and minimalist environment.

However, touching and evaluating each and every item is extremely time-consuming! I don’t know many working parents who can spend an uninterrupted day touching each article of clothing they own to determine if it sparks joy. Speed up the process by making some broad disposal decisions first. Discard anything that doesn’t fit, is ripped, stained, etc. Then, determine what sparks joy from the remaining items.

With the KonMari method, you spend a lot of time folding clothes so they look orderly in drawers. However, decluttering and organizing is to spend more time doing things you enjoy and less time managing stuff. For some, spending time expressing affection for socks and folding them into exact thirds might not achieve this purpose. To save time, you might buy six pairs of the same sock. They all go in one drawer, and you do not need to spend time matching them up.

Stuffocating vs Unique Thinkers

The clients highlighted in Kondo’s Netflix series are stuffocating (suffocating in the amount of stuff they have). For most people, there are two primary reasons for stuffocating. They have not taken the time to declutter and organize, or they have experienced a major life transition (e.g., move to a new home, death, divorce, etc.). The KonMari method can help them restore calm and create a more comfortable home.

The KonMari method does not address chronic disorganization (neither in her book nor on her Netflix program). The causes of chronic disorganization may include issues such as ADHD or mental health obstacles (e.g. hoarding disorder). Additionally, certain people, such as artists, inventors, professors and entrepreneurs, may not have typical thinking patterns. Traditional decluttering and organizing processes and solutions may not be effective or sustainable for them. In these situations, a professional organizer needs to use their creativity to develop customized solutions that work for these unique individuals. One size does not fit all!

KonMari vs NonMari

There are many positive aspects to the KonMari system, but people must find the best method for their family and lifestyle. This is where a professional organizer can help. Just like a fitness trainer at your local gym, a professional organizer will spend time with you talking about your daily routines and habits, what you enjoy and do not enjoy, and examining where you want to change and improve. The professional organizer should then be able to create organizing solutions specifically for you. If you are considering hiring a professional organizer, Professional Organizers in Canada has compiled a great list of questions clients should ask to find the right organizer.

If you need help decluttering and getting organized, Out of Chaos can provide customized services to suit your needs. For those living outside of our service area, we would be happy to recommend our colleagues at Professional Organizers in Canada. Simply send us an inquiry through our website.

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