Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo came at the best possible time. It hit the streaming platform on January 1, 2019, just when people all over the world were grappling with their New Year’s resolutions. Surely, for many of them, it was to get rid of clutter of all kind, whether it was in their home, their mind, or their heart. Netflix probably thought, well, we know the best person who can help.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant who wrote the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Her approach to tidying is anchored on the concept of tokimeki, or spark joy, which means to only keep the items that spark joy. And this year, the whole world got to know her cute yet effective method.
For eight episodes on Netflix, we got to see Kondo smile, coo, squeal, and jump with families and couples as they purged their belongings. The reactions have been varied: some seemed to enjoy the process while others were more reluctant to part with their things. In the end, though, they got into it and all the episodes ended with them looking happy at their homes.
The thing is: does decluttering even have a point?
Like everything that happens on the internet, people were quick to pounce on the concept. Why is this tiny and jolly woman telling us to get rid of our things? Why is she forcing us to only keep less than 30 books? In a now-deleted tweet, a woman called Kondo a monster for “forcing” people to decimate their library. Another woman called her misguided and said that “every human needs a very extensive library, not clean boring shelves.”
For non-believers: yes, there is a point.
The thing that detractors have missed is that Kondo is not forcing anyone to get rid of their items. What she’s advocating is for you to keep the items that spark joy. By shifting your perspective from throwing items out to keeping your favorite stuff, you really see the beauty of the concept. Imagine having a home with only the things you love. Sounds great, right?
You can clearly see this in the Netflix show. Not once did Kondo command her clients to throw away anything. She didn’t complain when some of the homes looked just as crowded as when she entered. Because the thing is: no one is forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to do.
As for the 30 books, Kondo never said that everyone should have less than this amount. It’s what she has in her own home. By following tokimeki, you can have one book or 300, as long as they all bring a smile to your face.
Strangely, the KonMari method doesn’t just apply to decluttering the home. You can also apply it to your personal life. Think of the people, the situations, and the thoughts in your life. Do they spark joy? Do they still serve a purpose in your life, or do they complement the life you want to lead? Maybe it’s time to get rid of them. But before you do, it’s wise to follow an important step in Kondo’s theory: thank them because they once served a purpose. Then let them go.
KonMari may not be for everyone. And that’s okay. But once you’ve tried it, you’ll experience the life-changing magic of tidying up. Stan Marie Kondo and stream the show. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Do you think decluttering has a point? Share your thoughts below!
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