As we move ahead in the new year let’s take a moment, pause and ask ourselves how we can make the commitment to live more purposefully.

Purposeful living may seem daunting in our hectic and busy world, but it’s most certainly possible! Beyond the daily stress of our jobs, finances, childcare, and other worries, simplicity is always there waiting.

How Can We Attain This?

I have found that one of the most effective ways to begin to live intentionally is to lay a solid foundation within your own home. Take the time to consciously craft your home by creating your own personal sanctuary and safe haven, away from the never-ending demands of life.

Reconnect With Your Priorities

Does your home provide you with a sense of serenity or is it causing you additional mental strain? When you are living in a cluttered environment or a disorganized living space, total relaxation can be virtually impossible.

Thankfully, by establishing a solid foundation for a happy home you can achieve blissful tranquility in no time! The trick is to start where you are, and take it one step at a time, beginning with decluttering your chaos.

The KonMari Way of Decluttering

The KonMari Method™ is the minimalism-inspired approach to organizing your things category-by-category rather than room-by-room. There are six basic rules to this method:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
3. Finish discarding first.
4. Tidy by category, not location.
5. Follow the right order.
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

The Bless the Mess Process

☝️ Now that you’re inspired by the KonMari way, it’s important to note that you can find your own style of organizing.

My own process of helping families get organized as a professional organizer goes as follows:

STEP 1. EVALUATE

Look at the space you are organizing. This gives you an opportunity to determine how you might improve upon it.

STEP 2: PREPARE TO SORT

I find it helpful to have the specific sorting tools on hand to make the process go more smoothly.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Trash bags
• Sorting baskets
• Signage to identify sorting categories

PRO TIP: I recommend using laundry baskets as your sorting baskets or larger boxes called “Gratitude boxes” for the decluttering process.

Your main sorting categories should include:

• Keep
• Donate
• Sell
• Shred, & Recycle

STEP 3: TAKE EVERYTHING OUT

First, empty the space you’re decluttering. Take a good look at the space, place or zone you’re working with. Sort “like with like” items.

STEP 4. PUT ON YOUR SORTING HAT

Pick up each item and ask yourself if it still gives you joy, or “spark joy”

Word of warning: this is where things get messy, so mentally prepare yourself for things to get worse before they get better!

STEP 5: READY…SET…SORT! Sort each of your items by the sorting categories you prepared above. Having baskets already prepared helps you stick with the job at hand.

STEP 6: EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR LETTING GO OF DISCARDED ITEMS

You finished decluttering, now what? Instead of throwing your items away, you can recycle or donate it back to communities in need.

In my work as a professional organizer, I often found that clients were much more willing to let go of items when they knew they were going to someone who could use the item (and not going into a landfill).

The most important lesson is to let go with gratitude which will lessen any feelings of guilt you may have. Letting go will also allow our old belongings to spark joy in the lives of others.

There are countless options for donating, selling, and recycling the stuff you no longer use or love.

I’ve come up with a list of organizations that will happily take your unwanted items. So declutter with JOY and rest assured, I’m here to help you find happy homes for your old belongings.

Would You Like to Hire Someone to Help With This Process?

Since sharing her methods and becoming a global sensation, Marie Kondo is no longer available for hire. However, you can hire me, a professional organizer to tidy your house and teach you these methods first hand.

If you rather not tackle the job alone, you can reach out for a consultation here! Happy sorting!