You’re doing the KonMari Method and you’re worried. You’ve got a hobby that you love but it comes with a lot of “stuff” and, if you’re honest with yourself, you’re just not sure you’re ready to part with your supplies. You know you’ll have to deal with it eventually and you’re just dreading it. How can you possibly declutter the things that make you the most happy and make up a huge part of who you are?
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Normally, when you think about decluttering, you focus on the fact that you’ll be getting rid of a certain amount of stuff. But how do you declutter your stash when it’s such a huge part of your identity? When it’s what you do for fun and one of the main ways you relax? Thankfully, a quick review of what the KonMari Method is all about will work wonders at changing your perception and shifting your mindset so that, instead of dreading the “craft” categories, you look forward to them!
All you have to do is remember that the KonMari Method is not about choosing what to discard, it’s about choosing what to keep. It’s not about trashing everything; it’s about cherishing what you truly love.
The KonMari Method is not about trashing everything; it's about cherishing what you truly love.
Keeping that in mind, you don’t have to worry about your stockpile of supplies. You won’t have to part with anything you don’t want to. There is nothing in the Method to say you have to get rid of a certain amount so don’t think that, just because you have a large collection of something, half of it has to go in the bin.
For some categories, you’ll eliminate a lot; for others, you might not get rid of anything at all. As long as you’re being honest with yourself about whether the items spark joy, and as long as they all have a “home”, it really doesn’t matter that there are a lot of them. What matters is that you’ve made a conscious decision to surround yourself with joy, and that these are the items that contribute most to your happiness and the lifestyle you want to lead.
So when you think about that stationery stash, or those crafting bits and bobs you’ve got stuffed in bins and baskets, relish the fact that you’ll get to sit down in your happy place and surround yourself with all the stuff that makes you come alive. If you do find you’re ready to part with some of it, all the better. If not, I’m sure you’ll make up for it in future categories. But don’t feel you’re forced to. Each of us is different. If you’re a bookworm, embrace your books. The Method is about making space for your true nature.
Remember, also, that ‘function’ is a form of joy. This video, where I talk about what to do if something doesn’t spark joy but you need it, will really help:
In short, if you’re living in fear of an upcoming category, you’re focusing on the wrong thing. The goal is to surround yourself with joy. Every item you evaluate is taking you closer to that objective, regardless of what you do with it.
Focus on what you love, and have no fear.
8 responses
Laura I LOVE what you’re doing here. And I am finding all your good advice impossible to follow. Thing is, I live alone and so my ‘stuff’ is my family. I often get on better with things than with folk. Weird, I know and not necessarily what I would choose, but there it is. Things don’t answer back and if they are precious (one of my passions is collecting jewellery) they don’t change and they are beautiful. I can rely on things. Quality things don’t let you down. Another passion and a way of expressing myself, is through the clothes I wear. I love having choice and sometimes I’ll re-find clothes or shoes I haven’t worn for years, then find a lot of joy in rediscovery and wearing. HOWEVER, I have w-a-a-y too much stuff and I am very torn between making space (my home is my storage unit) and keeping things I need to be me. I want to downsize and cannot keep taking all my stuff with me. I have become a prisoner of what I own. It is a real dilemma and I am wracked with indecision. What would you advise? Yours, paralysed, Libby
Hi Libby. I’m so sorry you’re feeling stuck. Have you tried following the KonMari Method? I know that, for me, very often the things I thought I could never get rid of actually turned out to be easy to donate. Sometimes the thought of doing something is worse than the reality of actually doing it.
Or sometimes you can realise that, while you love something, you don’t necessarily need multiples of it, and that makes it easier to let some of the excess go.
May I ask why you feel you have “too much” stuff?
I know how you feel! If it’s small it’s not usually a problem to keep it. However a precious item could be donated to a charity auction. If you want to downsize because you have too much of a good thing- I suggest a “competition” between your things. Pick out several things that are alike and have a little beauty contest between them. Keep the winners and let the “losers” go.
Yes, I’ve done this before (with clothes) and it does help. =)
Hi Libby! You wrote this comment on my birthday and it really spoke to me. I grew up in a single parent home with 4 kids and had very little that was my own. My clothes were hand me downs from my older sister and I got my first job at the age of 9 to pay for the few things I did own firsthand. I left home at 16 and had many “lean” years. Now I have so much stuff it suffocates me and I know I don’t need it all. But it’s hard to give up.
I read Marie’s first book a couple of years ago and I have one drawer that is folded beautifully! But that is just a drop in my bucket!
Now that I’ve found Laura I want to tackle this issue so I may enjoy what I have and not just store it.
You’re absolutely correct, it is daunting and scary. Maybe we can encourage each other and find our way through this…
I wish both of you every success. <3
My main problem is finding a home for what I want to donate. While KMing my studio I find I have a lot of craft items that I can donate. I would really love to just send them to the right people or institutions rather than just dump them all in the charity bin. BUT, it takes so much time to make the rounds of local schools and talk to each art teacher or senior center or find groups that still make quilts and would love fabric. I would feel so much better if I knew the right people were getting these things.
Recently, I KMed my gift wrapping area and donated all the paper, bags, ribbons, etc to the charity store only to find the next week that my local food pantry was starting a birthday club for the children that come with their parents. They needed donated wrapping items. sigh What to do? What to do? It has me frozen right now. :(Bea
All you can do is make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time. There is no “wrong” way to donate if all the items are useful and in good condition. Someone who wanted to help out your local pantry may have gone to the charity shop, been delighted to find your stuff, and bought it all. Then the pantry gets the items they need and the charity gets a little financial boost.
There is no “right” person or institution, so just go with what feels best to you. =)