5:47 - I paused the video to comment about this! 😂 I appreciate so much showing the difficulty and the vulnerability, it is so relatable and makes me realise that it is possible even though I feel overwhelmed!
I'm an artist. Literally everything is useful. Even broken things. And even broken things can still be beautiful. I love all the visual stimuli and my space becomes a living, ever changing art piece. I've run out of room to create though. 😪
petmom ful with that, if you order everything in boxes but remove it from the room and keep the boxes neat, it should help keep it from becoming too overwhelming. Like when you take everything out of the room, you categorise as you go using boxes etc and then find a bit of floor space to lay them all out/ stack them neatly. If that’s still too much, you could put a blanket or a sheet over the majority of the boxes and work on them one by one 😊
@@bec1.618 Yes, that is a pretty good idea. I may give that a try because I am going to do my closet next. Another problem I have is that I have a very painful neck. So I have to make things easy on myself, and lift nothing heavy. But my husband would lift anything I need him to. Thanks for the tip.
petmom ful no problem- hope it helps 😊 also with heavy things, it might help if you get your husband to put them on a table so you can see them without bending and it’s minimal effort for both of you.
It's lovely to see that somebody else feels the urge to visually arrange stuff until it feels right 'cause otherwise it just keeps bothering you. It made me smile :)
All the minimalist have "tricks of the mind" to weed out sentimental stuff. And all of them are :- do it immediately, no "maybe" piles; do it while you're in the "zone". I've found the opposite helps, if you've got gifted or inherited items that are making you feel guilty whilst they take up space and catch dust. If, as you declutter, you feel you *can't* throw them away, whilst feeling you wish you *could* Itstead of "toss immediately" have a small box, put the stuff you're doubtful about in there. Take a photo of them first. Set a time limit-a week, a month, a year;, if you have nowhere to put the box, that can actually be a reminder of itself, and make the ultimate decision easier. As the time limit is up, ask yourself if you've truly missed the item. If your answer is no, but Auntie Ida gave it to you, it was grandma's- who's going to know? Surely there are better ways to remember Gran, than having to look at that ugly painting. The time limit is up, the painting's been in the box for six months, and remembering Grandma happened quite often, all without thinking of the butt ugly painting. As you decide "toss", don't look at it! If you feel you have to, look at the photo you took. I've really found this works well. I'm not left feeling guilty or remorseful, I'm finally rid of some ugly things, and I don't feel badly about that. TL;dr sorry for the essay. Summary is :- Have a "maybe" pile/box even though the experts say "no". Don't use it for mangled notebooks etc, use it for the stuff that's holding you back.
This was a big lesson I learned about myself a few years ago. I used to get really anxious or flustered in certain situations and couldn't figure out why. Now I know! It's helped me immensely.
If you're like me you'll start to notice it a lot more now! It's been helpful for me because now I know what's causing me to feel flustered and overwhelmed and I can actually do something about it.
Visual simplicity! I turned to my husband and said "Is that why I get overwhelmed when I look at a lot of things?!". I can't stand having a lot of options. I get overwhelmed and don't choose. Streaming services are hard for me.
Yup! There's been research that shows that the more options we have, the less likely we are to actually make a decision. We just freeze up. As an introvert, I find it particularly difficult because I'm very much a thinker, so more options means more mental load for me.
okay .. weird example .. but, frozen pizza! .. in some large supermarkets there must be 30ft of it .. arrrrgggg!!! My head buzzes and I end up always buying the same old thing, which we do love .. but until I could take the time to really check things out, I didn't know there is frozen stuffed crust .. veggie crust .. woohoo, lower carbs - which is very important for me, being diabetic. Being spoiled for choice isn't always a good thing ..
I like to keep a box or two of things that spark joy but would make a space too cluttered to have out. Then every so often I'll have a look through the box and switch things up a bit. This goes for my wardrobe and decor stuff.
When I first moved out at 22 and a little later on in my second apartment, I would every so often change the furniture around and also decor. So I would keep a box to switch out when I felt I needed a change! I don’t know why I stopped doing that. I also had some u pleasant experiences and so let down so many times that maybe I didn’t have spark of joy in my own life that I could not protect that onto beautifying my own space! Hmm🤔
Having read Marie kinds book, I'm surprised at how many people ignore the important first few steps that she says are very important. What you have discovered is what she does first with clients. That's to ask yourself what you want /need feel and envision yourself in the space. Then she asks why. And keeps asking why until your final answer is joy.
All of this stuff survived previous decluttering sprees. They all sparked joy at some point in my life (often because they were recent purchases or gifts so still had that "newness"). Like I said though, I feel I've passed Level 1 of minimalism and am now feeling an even deeper joy. I don't think it was a case of ignoring steps, just that I've changed quite a bit as a person in the past few years. I understand more. I've also transitioned to mostly digital note-taking in recent months, which means I can now let a lot of notebooks go. Ever evolving. ;)
@@HowToGYST Thanks for sharing the 'click point' as it make sense to me! Now I know why I keep holding on to things and feeling like I'm not getting anywhere.
That is really an important point. Having that ideal image for yourself. I’d forgotten that in my constant quest to decluttering and sometimes with stress shopping. Thanks for the timely reminder. Time to go back to the beginning.
I've reached some sort of click point in spaces, but not my whole home yet. to me it's a feeling of joy to simply look at that space where before it felt like a heavy burden that was anxiety-provoking. when I want to look at that space and it makes my soul smile, I've reached the click point. I'll get there, space by space.
I listened very carefully to what you said about reducing the visual clutter and I may not be getting the correct visual perspective, cameras do tend to lie, but it seems to me that there is not much furniture in your room. Noting the struggle you seemed to have over your open shelving, do you not think that perhaps what you need are a couple of pieces of furniture with doors/drawers that you can close and therefore shut everything away, out of sight. It would give you that feeling at the end of the day of everything being put away, a clear space and all is calm again. The fact that it is all on display is the visual clutter all by itself. I decided in my own home to get rid of all open shelving. Now its all in a cupboard or a drawer. Also, in my own journey I made a comment to a friend the other day that while I have spent the best part of 2 years getting rid of stuff layer by layer, I seemed to have forgotten to stop spending and buying more. I too have a bit of an obsession with journals and notebooks, but I have had to commit to using up the one's in use before buying any more and stop going into the shops and tempting myself in the first place. I enjoy pretty things and it's hard to resist not taking them home, but I once heard someone say, "why not store it at the shop?" We think we have to grab it now in case it might not be there when we return, right? Undoubtedly when we do go out shopping again, there will be something else we like as much, if not better. It's never ending. The world we live in is designed specifically to make us spend every penny we've got so that we fill our houses with crap that we don't need. Anyway, that's my rant, sorry! Hope it's a wee bit helpful. Mx
as far as i got it, she is, as me, on a more minimalistic approach. Just because there is space, doesn't mean that it needs to be filled with new stuff or furniture. I do like space myself and in my office it looks quite similar. Just the stuff i need to focus on the things i want to do there and nothing else. It just let's me breathe and be creative. Minimalism is a very personal thing and there is not just one way or one solution for everyone, some do like more space, some don't. (and for a Disclaimer: I don't want to come over as rude, english isn't my native language and i might lack words/vocabulary and my response might be very direct due to that)
I don't think she needs more cupboards- the only things she has left to store in that room seems to be a small pile of books on the standing desk. The doors on the bookshelf are holding the stuff that doesn't need to be displayed. I think the issue was trying to arrange the items she wants to keep and display in a way that looks cohesive, with a minimalist aesthetic. I don't see the point of storing books and keepsakes hidden away in cupboards or boxes. Narrow down what you really, really want to keep and put them where you can feel happy every time you walk past. Exactly as shown in the video. Love it!
She made a quick reference to Cas, who has a RUclips channel called Clutterbug. Her premise is that there are four basic clutterbug, and therefore organizational, styles. Some people cannot stand to see any clutter at all. Some people love to see their stuff. Of course there is a sliding scale and variations, etc. She clearly likes to see her stuff, but wants it to be visually pleasing. Simple to her would be way too much for someone else.
Watches Laura do another round of decluttering and admire her "after" images... Immediately starts decluttering my work desk. LOL! Thank you for sharing your ever evolving process and keeping it real!
Exhausted! And generally fed up. 😂 I thought it would take another few hours, and I honestly didn't think I'd be able to get it right. But then I came down the next morning and a few minutes later I was done!
So true, watching a 10-15 min clip of a room makeover by a professional edited down to just what they got perfectly, while entertaining and satisfying, often leaves me feeling like there must be something wrong with me that they can do in a day or two what seems to be taking me years to learn! Seeing that I'm not the only one going through this and that this is actually normal is very encouraging.
@@WhisperTraining Yes, & Don't forget about "The Work Crew" that most, if not all Professionals have at their disposal to help them clear out a fairly large volume of stuff in a very quick fashion! This action is often "Edited Out" too, so that we don't often see that part. Then, the demonstration on Video comes across exactly the way they want the work to appear, "Not so hard to do", when in reality, it's usually way more work, taking a much longer time to accomplish your goal & having to do most or all of it by yourself! Just my observation.
Very nice video. I enjoyed Marie Kondo's book but the "sparks joy" thing just made me laugh. I can find joy in an old can lable. I got rid of thousands of books and a dozen bookcases. It was painful but SO worth it!
This was really interesting because as an artist I really struggle with my studio. If I packed up all my books and art supplies I could fit the rest in about 3 boxes. But I'd need a UHaul for the art supplies alone! All art stuff sparks joy, so sifting is hard. I eventually settled on 'does it spark enough joy for me to save it in the event of a fire given I'd have a German Shepherd under the other arm?' and went from there. It still didn't click. Maybe this is what I need to do. Get rid of the definite and then remove stuff that's not sparking joy "in that place".
I spin, weave, sew and paint...I always say we could live in a tiny house except for my craft supplies--oh and I teach--so books by the hundreds...but in my 60s, having had to deal with my dad's house, I need to declutter for my children's sake. So I shall add "in this time" to "in this place"
I think you nailed it! When decluttering or organizing there is a moment when you KNOW in your knower, and that moment is as individual as each of us, thanks for sharing! LOVE it! 😊💝
Great job! I think you need to center the bookcase, or cubes, on the wall, so it can breathe. It appears shoved up against the wall & may make it feel more cluttered to you for that reason.
I've been trying this little by little over the years. My hubby tells me "you don't have to get rid of things I know you love" but I reply, "I know baby but this opens the door for better things for us to love" he smiles and goes back to whatever he's doing.
I like what you said about introverts, it really clicked w me. If you're not spending most/all of your time at home it's much less likely you'll get as stressed out being constantly surrounded by clutter. I have one room in my home that's significantly worse than all the others- I mean you really can't even see the floor. Yet every time I think I've got the courage up to do it, I am Immediately completely overwhelmed & drained
Laura is fabulous, isn't she? I love hearing her talk herself things for three reasons: 1) It helps me to know how to handle similar situations, 2) Her personality is so down-to-earth and relatable, and 3) I love her accent! It's never been so fun to listen to decluttering ideas! 👍
This was so helpful. I have not reached a click point yet; however, I have taken some things and put in boxes and labeled them as fall, winter, spring, summer decorations. That way I can easily change things up. You did a great job styling the shelves! Thank you!
I've watched at least a couple thousand decluttering videos and I felt a click point. I've KonMari'd some drawers but I moved into a room where I was supposed to have storage in the basement. I don't have enough room to take ALL my clothes (or any one type of item) out and put them together in a pile! I had resented my landlord for not making good on that basement, but if she had, I'd just have more stuff. I knew it was a good thing that never made good on the stoarge promised, but this video made me truly feel grateful that I don't have the promised extra storage. I haven't yet tried taking everything away and only putting back what I need. I haven't tried taking away thing that spark joy but not in that context. This video gave me inspiration to go through a few more layers, and a sense that I can reach a click point. Thank you, Laura!
I have cats. It apparently sparks joy in them to jump up on furniture, swat things to the floor, and clear surfaces. Problem solved. Except for the floors....
You can get stuff (I think it's called museum glue, or museum putty) that you can attach to the bottom of things to "stick" them to the surface. That might help. =)
How to Get Your Shit Together Totally works. Earthquake putty is another name. It’s a mastic that requires a twisting motion to separate an object from the surface it sits upon. In my case, I have a very large dog with a strong fluffy tale that almost seems designed for clearing coffee tables and the like. Earthquake putty eliminated the problem of having vases and lamps knocked to the floor. I’ve shared this tip with many cat lovers and it works for them as well. It’s available in most hardware stores and home centers. Amazon has versions as well. I have to ask for it in stores as it does not seem to fit into any obvious category within store organization. A brand name for it is Quakehold. Loctite calls their version Fun-Tak.
You make SUCH a good point that you can find many things that "spark joy" in your surroundings but that are still too much for the context. This is VERY true, and hearing someone actually SAY that just affirms what I have been intuiting as well. I recently took a lot of things that I actually do LIKE a lot (joy sparkin) in my kitchen, but which overwhelm the space and were preventing me from being able to function in it. I know it's been said so many times, that famous Frank Lloyd Wright quote that "form follows function" - but it's a great standard, not just for Architecture. I found that I chose to not sacrifice functionality for decor in the kitchen, and I found that I function best in it when it has almost no decor. The dining area I like to see decor because it's meant to be a place to relax, like a restaurant would be, but NOT the kitchen. That's what clicked for me. Context IS very important. Thank you for saying all of this.
I need to be patient - to find that balance or click point (and to ‘click’ the camera!). Do 3/4 of the process then take a break. Going back with fresh eyes and the magic happens. Fab Laura, thank you for sharing. Wish I could go as 'fast' as you! Soothing and colourful - lovely. Balance and harmony. Take away: less is more.
When you mentioned introvert sensory overwhelm, I actually said, "Oh! Duh!", as a collection of ideas all came together. I live with several extroverts with ADHD, who always have music playing and many things happening at once. Their love of visual abundance suddenly makes more sense. Thank you!
The thing I appreciate most of your videos and blog posts is that you never make me feel inadequate or uncomfortable. You're just human like me and almost anyone else watching these videos, and not a perfect instagrammable life stylist. Thins are never easy, not even choosing which one of a thousand pens to keep. That's why I follow you and love so much your content. ❤️
This video is SO HELPFUL!!!!! It actually makes me excited to tackle my craft stuff now!! I've already done several passes with no-buy policy in place for about 5-7 years so the last bit I have been so scared to go through but this concept to bring about the specific space in this way makes me feel so relieved!! (That and the concept of "sparks joy" treasure troves as separate things - from your "counterintuitive" tip video and I think the comments here.) Thank you so so much for this!!!
Well done! U explained exactly the point ive been at for some time. I " KonMaried" my home 1 year ago & although it was a lengthy process, it was so well worth it. I love my new always clean home. But, & i mean, but....things somehow didn't seem right recently. My clutter hating eyes didnt exactly know WHERE to look, bc i THOUGHT everything left was "sparking joy" for me. But like u said, maybe its the place or just not the correct location of certain objects ive chosen to keep. Plus , yes i do believe after decluttering once, & living more intentionally, loving a minimalist lifestyle, &/ or surroundings u do begin to "advance" & re-evaluate once again. Its progress! Loved this video, & ❤you! U r so relatable! Excellent video!!!
I believe I have reached the click point in a few small spots in my apartment although I didn't realize it at the time. My earring box and 2 shelves in the kitchen. I don't remember when I started watching you Laura, but I have been decluttering for over six years. I started so I could make room for when my hubby moved in. We have gotten rid of all we can and now we are just trying to find homes for things. It is hard but we take one area at a time and it will come together soon enough. Our biggest challenge is that we still have lots of things and no real storage. I do love a creative challenge though! I love your bookcase and how the light and dark works. It's beautiful!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your give away stationery pile. You were ready though so well done you!
I was as surprised as you are! I've mostly switched to digital these days so that made it easier to let go of a lot of things. Like you, I'm just plugging away, tweaking and improving things as I go. Making over one little space at a time. 😊
Great point about needing to deal with stuff that *does* spark joy. I live in a small space so my place is easily overwhelmed and cluttered. I simply have to let go of my joyful possessions! I'm going to take photos of mementos.
Super duper job!!! It's DEFINITELY a process...& NOT giving up is the key. The overwhelmed feeling is real!! Pushing forward is tough. I'm going through the process, every day. Sometimes, I take a day or two off, because my mind...well, it's too much, ok? Yes. Go through the process of it all. It's hard. It's worth it!!!! Yeaaaaah!!
Wow, that 'get rid of' pile was huge! Never thought I'd see the day you got rid of so many notebooks and planners :D I appreciate the perspective shift, that not everything that sparks joy has to be there right in front of you. Perhaps even keeping things but having them on rotation so the room as a whole 'sparks joy' and doesn't feel so full and overwhelming. I've just moved my bedroom and office around and it's a dumping ground at the moment. The rooms very small and there's way too much to put in there that's a mixture of things needed for work, craft stuff or that I just enjoy as decor. Not sure how I'm going to tackle it yet but I'll keep these tips in mind :)
I'm as surprised as you are! Ha ha. I definitely agree that it doesn't all have to be on display. It's nice to be able to see things that make you happy, but there has to be a balance. Each item individually might spark joy, but a whole pile of them all together might not. I think I finally found that happy medium. In this space, at least.
Sorry, I know this is an old comment, but I just had an "ah-ha" moment. I love the way you phrased it that the room as a whole also needs to spark joy, not just each of your possessions! That's important to keep in mind as you declutter--always remember the big picture.
Nice to see someone else who loves notebooks as much as me... heehee. My stash right now are books and fabric....you are giving me motivation to work on this weekend! Great video.
Ahh this is it...I am 2 years late, but I am doing what you said and am starting to feel peace from my space. I was taught by society to decorate my space and fill it with cute things but I put most of my decor in a box and the calmness started coming in...just discovered your channel and I'm loving your content!
“This is the point of the process where I feel completely overwhelmed and regret everything.” 😂For real!! I know that feeling well. 5:47 Also I love your little Nintendo plant. Also also, I really like the idea of displaying your childhood toy that you love. How sweet. I definitely have a couple childhood toys that I still can’t part with at 39 years old.
I find if I have a place for every type of item then I can firstly spot if something is out of place and an obvious place when I put things away. This is super helpful when my husband asks where something is, I know straight away where it will be, it has a spot and wouldn't be anywhere else! If you run out of space in that 'area' it is probably because you have gotten too much stuff and need to downsize the stuff in that area
I like what you said about introverts and visual overload. I have gotten used to visually looking past my mess. And the over-processing I do mentally, about trying to clear my space is depressing and overwhelming! I know it will be SO much easier to clean if I declutter. It's just getting started. Lordy!
Love your channel. I made changes to my space in the last 7 days.Wish I had thought to take pictures, that's a great idea. I go rid of an office chair and four boxes of craft supplies today (went to an elementary teacher). Now that I'm working from home (sigh, miss people) I'm motivated to making positive changes in my space and fixing the wear and tears. Also watched Clutterbug and her Hotmess. You ladies are so inspiring, which is what this isolated gal needs, So THANK YOU : )
Oh my gosh I started Kon Marie years ago, too! And it never worked completely so here I am yet again, but this time I'm using all the minimalism ideas with it and am much more successful. I'm finding the less I have is making me feel so much more at peace.
Omg, I didn’t even realize this is what I’ve been doing. I swapped offices with my husband a week ago and have been purging again. I felt like I was striving towards something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but now I get it. I’m just on the edge of that “click” point. Now that I’ve seen your process and finished space I feel like I “know” what needs to happen next. Thank you!
Just so much stuff! It makes me wish I could be there and help y’all you through some things. One tip: for some memory items ask yourself if a photo would work. For instance I had a few stuffed animals that were my kids faves, but now they’re grown. But they’re sweet memories to me! So, I took photos of my grown kids with their snuggly and turned a sad moment into comedy AND I have the photo. Then I could let the toy go❤️
I am an extrovert and I like a simple space because I like being able to relax at home. How can I go out and have fun or get things done if I have a mess to reckon with.when I wake up in a clean space I am like today I conquer and I can just go! My husband is a messy cluttered introvert he comes home and dumps things. So he has spots for that. I can't get him on board but at least it's in his areas.
This was very helpful. I like the idea of clearing off the spot then styling it. I like that some things you love may not make the cut, but they can go somewhere else or maybe they don’t work in your space. Thank you.
Dude, I freakin needed this! Bless! 🙌 I moved to Italy in January and have actually gotten our household goods down to half of what it was before we moved, but now that we're here and living in the land of no closets, I need to declutter soooo much more and I've been overwhelmed. This is exactly what I needed to see 💚
Yes! Thank you! This is great. I think the "sparks joy" bit is so frustrating, this was a tremendous help. I have had to learn that when I'm done, if the whole space doesn't "spark joy", I'm not done yet!
Thank you for the video. I have been working the konmari method for 5 years and have been struggling with the same thing of finding the click point. Will have to put this into action this week I’m reorganizing and moving my office to a different room in my house.
I love watching these videos. My husband never understands why I have to keep moving things. But you hit it on the head, clutter causes me anxiety. I need the visual symmetry/colour scheme/ pattern to work. Also the empty spaces too. Classic introvert!
I started decluttering five years ago too. At the time I was married and lived in a two bedroom apartment of 85 square meters and a large basement cellar storage room filled with stuff. Then we moved across the country to a one bedroom apartment of 67 square meters. And then we got divorced and I moved with the cat to a studio apartment of 27 square meters (ans also a 12 sq.meter bedrom loft). With no basement storage. During this time I have decluttered and KonMaried a ton of course, or none of these moves would have been possible. But I just never reached a click-point because I always just moved to something smaller! 🙈 Reached it perhaps just before the move to a smaller space! I think your definition is actually a very helpful one, a very helpfil distinction. That it's about sparking joy in that specific setting. For that specific place. Thank you. I will actually try to spend somw of my vacation-time to declutter with that in mind!
Good on you, I agree... and realised that you must let go of thing that -spark joy-, especially if you really need clearer spaces to be more effective, efficient and calmer, sometimes it’s not easy, I am still working on it, but now I know I can. I DO NOT NEED LOTS OF THINGS TO BE JOYOUS. Well done to you, I am similar to you and your video helped me.
This is the most honest "like me" decluttering video I've seen! She exhibited the decision fatigue I go through. But unlike me, I thought she was purging, donating perfectly good things. (Will I EVER get the hang of this??)
Thank you so much you have no idea how much this helped! I was just keeping all the things that sparked joy even though it was taking up still way too much room. Being a collector made this process very difficult but now I know the difference between what my collection sparks joy and what my collection is just there because I collect it not necessarily because it sparks joy but because it’s part of the collection
That's wonderful! There can definitely be a difference. You can still love the fact that you have a complete collection without necessarily loving each individual piece in that collection. =)
Thank you for this video! I enjoyed it a lot! I‘m moving in a couple of weeks and this helps me to Declutter and finally see what I really like and want to keep.
You are so right! I am now in round 2 of the Konmari Method. 😬 My first time was about 2 years ago, and I feel this time it works better. Quicker. Got rid of useless decor despite the memories and focused on being practical, which I love.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CLUTTER PROBLEM????? I keep finding more and more and more and more help on youtube. You, for example. I never met you. Think about the space is always the key to minimal. I never knew how to do that.
Boy, did I NEED this!!! I finished my KonMari purge, thinking that I wanted to go all out minimalist next. Then I realized that minimalism wasn't precisely what I wanted, but I hadn't felt that joyful with just the KonMari method either. Now I know I only need to push it a bit farther until I get to visual simplicity and that click should happen. Diving in again!
I think you're hitting on what is the problem for me with the Konmari system as I understood it at first -- that there is such a thing as too many things, even if they all spark joy. Now I seem to use a combination of minimalism and konmari and maintenance/cleaning systems in order to find that sweet spot that is neither cluttered nor sterile. Thanks for all your inspiration and reflection.
I think this is different from the main idea of sparks joy to keep. It goes into what kind of organizer you are. Great topic! For me, I feel this click when everything has its best home.
I recently went through my office/craft room which had become a dumping ground for stuff. I'm sure Mari Kondo would say I'm still too cluttered but I'm happy with the results. The hardest part for me was getting rid of my mom's things and she's been dead 21 years. Why did I hold on to that stuff so long? I decided the joy it sparked couldn't overwhelm the frustration it brought. So as I threw away each piece I said, "I love you mom, but I'm not keeping your stuff any more."
It makes me feel better to see that others have to experiment and try things that don't always work out the first time, but persisting! Sometimes I have unrealistic expectations about how quickly I should be accomplishing tasks. I am not a fan of a lot of decor items in a home. I like to use family momentos and items from my travels. Then it's MY home, not expensive items that will soon be out of fashion.
This was great! I immediately got to work on my dresser after watching your video. I felt the same way as you did with your desk. I purged a little more and moved a few items that sparked joy but could be used more easily downstairs. Ahhh.... so much better! Thank you!
I have limited dexterity so I have to do this in small ways. I target one area and then take stuff off or out, as I do that I put them into categories so all books, pens etc are together. This helps me as I can then see my favorites. Im not looking for total minimalism. but I like to have related stuff together. Boxes help me. If it stays it has to have a home, a box I can lable so I can find it again. When I don't have the dexterity to do lots I have a rule, leave a space how I want to find it. so anything that is in the wrong room, so they get taken to the right rooms, and for removing stuff, just look at a space Im in and anything that feels loud or wrong just take ONE thing off or out. I have the love it, hate it and NOT ready. For stuff I don't like but not ready to remove, I put it in a box and then see if I miss it, let it stay in the 'to go/not ready box' for as long as needed and if I don't miss it being around, it can go, its a way around the guilt stuck page
Oh my Laura! That is wonderful! You have inspired me to let go of a bunch of my stationary. If you can do this, I can too. I started minimizing with you in 2014/2015. I agree, it is a “click” need.
Your video is the most refreshing & honest one I've seen in the longest time! Thank you for being open and sharing your secrets with us! I'm a new subscribe for sure now 🙂
If I remember correctly, Marie Kondo does talk about this click point. In the first (nope, actually second) volume of her books in a chapter titled something like "Flowers and Plants" she mentions that adding a plant or whatever you like makes the place look right. She doesn't call it click point, and neither does she explain how to get there. I'm still in the "get rid of it" phase. Three years after the first walk through of my closet, when I got rid of eight large 120 liter bags of clothes, this time round I managed to fill another four of those bags. Last summer I tackled my documents and reduced the amount of folders from ten to five. Victory! Next activity is to clear out my hobby possessions. There is a lot. Really a lot, like a small neighborhood store crammed with this and that and everything. And I already donated stuff to a senior residence, the neighborhood kindergarten, and a huge bag full to a family with kids that are not too well off. Clearing the hobby supplies scares me, mighty scares me. And I'm going to get help! I have contacted a local social service that helps people to "get their sh... together". I realized that the overwhelm will throw me over before I even start. At least I know now with which activities I need support. What does it mean for me? It is going to be tough, I'm a visual person and would like to see my beloved possessions. I've done clothes, books, documents. My plan is to finish the KonMari process by the end of this year. And, contrary to my usual attitude, I'm optimistic!
I’m pretty sure the click point IS a phrase used by Marie Kondo. Way back when her book was first published, I was in a FB group that was working through her book together and there was a lot of talk about click points. The common theme seemed to be completing a second pass after you thought you were done tidying - after going through the process and realizing they didn’t miss anything, most people realized they had been keeping at least a few things out of fear rather than true joy-sparking.
@Tee Twetherlow yes, guess why it took me so long until I was able to tackle "magic cleaning" again. It is tough, you get intimately close with your feelings, the good, the bad, and the ugly ones. BTW, I'm 60, about to become 61. How did I find a fresh start on KonMari? I struggle with depression (among a couple of other things) and was in a clinic this early spring. With the help of a nurse, who spent a lot of time with me, I got down to my basic needs, which spark motivation. It was a fight, and I wrote down what I want to do to satisfy my bottom need: order and structure. I wrote and wrote, until my wrist hurt. I spilled it all out, cried a lake of tears. Now that I know my basic needs, I find the drive to work on it every day, honestly, that means six days of the week, once a week I go grocery shopping and I'm p**ped after that. How long do I work each day? At least an hour, sometimes I'm mentally depleted, and an hour feels like a lot. Depleted or not, I just do something, even if I just look at it, touch it, then I know what I want to keep, what to donate, what to toss. In such situations I don't deal with details, it's plainly keep, donate, toss. And before you know it, the hour is over. Surprisingly for me I found stuff that I haven't seen for about ten years, but still remembered where I bought it, and in a few cases even remembered why I bought it. If the motive for buying it once still rings with me, I keep it, else it gets donated or tossed. Tee, I'm guessing that you are downsizing, you text appears to transport the feeling. That's quite another thing, and I'm sure that it is tougher. I dare not to confront myself with the idea, just yet, though I see it coming. Currently, I have the luxury to decide which of my prized possessions I want to house in my 580 sq ft apartment. Tee, I wish you will find the strength to continue and, it's hard, I know, ask for help. I hope I don't sound haughty, but I wanted to convey my experience, whilst right in the middle of it.
Also yeah I love the idea that even though I love something doesn't mean I have to "store" it, or even keep it if its not something that I can use and makes sense in the space I have!!!
I love your enthusiasm! Dealing with stuff that you have decluttered is a big one for me. I have at least one box full of such things in my space right now! Another thing is papers, sometimes flyers and information about interesting things going on or a restaurant or museum that I’d love to visit sometime etc. Things in the area… Anybody else have that and how do you deal with that? I know, some/many things are available online. But will I think of it again? Maybe if I don’t, I don’t need to… Maybe I can just trust that what I need to know comes to me when I need it ...
I so much agree with your secret source. You put it in the right words. I called it a clutter blindness I had. Step by step my shelves and table got emptier. Kind of similar what you are talking about. 🌈✌️👍👑👠
Once again, you have really given me hope when it comes to cleaning up/sorting out my possessions. I love the idea of removing everything so that you start with a blank slate. Then taking it step by step until getting to the “click point”. My biggest issue seems to me to be that I am too easily distracted. It is hard, with all of the stuff around me, to not go a totally different direction and completely forget what I am supposed to be doing. I guess I have a huge problem with focusing on one thing at a time.
Trying to declutter too. I find that since the lockdown, it is easier not to shop and use what I have to craft, I also see what is not useful. As soon as Value Village opens I will donate. To me the joy comes from not dealing with clutter anymore and see and reach easily for what I use and want. I try to use this as my compas to simplify my life.
This is my favourite video you've ever done!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍 Brilliant!!!! What a breakthrough! I kept wondering what was next for me, and I think this is it. Remove things that are just decorative and add back an uncluttered, larger decorative item if necessary! Thank youuuuuu. 💕❤💕❤
So fascinating, thank you for sharing. Your observation about introverts and visual simplicity rang true to me and I realized that it entirely explains my own approach to organizing and decorating my spaces, so now I have the language I need to help me 'sell' some of my less popular decisions to my husband, who's definitely on the 'every-book-I-ever-read-must-share-my-home-forever' pack rat spectrum. Yikes!
I love your approach to this method! I've tried to do some of it but it seemed so overwhelming to me. You give me hope! :-) I am trying a modified version right now since what part of it gets done is done by me. My husband isn't on board yet so I'm just doing my things as I can. Thank you for this lift!
This was really interesting to see your process. The thing I took away from Kon Mari was not to declutter by location, but by category. In your bookcase location you have several categories - books, paperwork, craft items (komono), decorations (komono) and sentimental items. To me, this is why you don't find the 'ting'. I'm still wrestling with clutter myself, but sticking to one category at a time is the thing that works for me and gives me so much pleasure along the way! Ting!
That's definitely how I started doing the Method several years ago, but I found it didn't give me the same sense of satisfaction as location. When I only went by category, the rest of the space was still cluttered so it was harder for me to see progress. So I adapted it to better suit my needs.
Dear Laura, congratulations for your effort, it helps me to get some courage! If you allow me a suggestion, would it be ok to put a shelve above the black table, so that you would have extra room for the books?... Cheers! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏
I have started decluttering in Oct 2020, it is now Jan 2021. It seems like it will take longer than 6 months, but I find that if I take pictures and mark down in a simple calander what I did that day, I can look at it and see that, yes i did donate 4 bags this week. It keeps me motivavted when I don't see it happening fast enough.
You just put a name to it! Visual simplicity, it makes so much sense to me now. I could never understood why and what was happening and put it into words.
Congratulations! You should feel impressed with yourself! You said you’re not a stylist but I think you did really well (and I am a stylist). You may want to move the bookcase to the middle of the wall (it will be more balanced in the room) and don’t forget the top of the bookcase - perhaps another similar sized plant right in the middle? Enjoy you “click point!”
I love when she said "this is the point of the process when I feel overwhelmed and regret everything." 🤣🤣🤣
Yes!
Every. Single. Time. 😂
Relate!! 🙄
That's when the partner/housemate walks in, or the unexpected visitor arrives.
5:47 - I paused the video to comment about this! 😂
I appreciate so much showing the difficulty and the vulnerability, it is so relatable and makes me realise that it is possible even though I feel overwhelmed!
I follow William Morris’ maxim “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” works for me
Definitely a good benchmark. 🙂
I'm an artist. Literally everything is useful. Even broken things. And even broken things can still be beautiful. I love all the visual stimuli and my space becomes a living, ever changing art piece. I've run out of room to create though. 😪
Have you seen his house 😂 moved out I think 😅
I’m a big fan of the remove everything and bring back only the things you actually use. Seems to really help
I have no space to get everything out
I probably should do that, however, I hate the huge mess it makes, and it overwhelms me.
petmom ful with that, if you order everything in boxes but remove it from the room and keep the boxes neat, it should help keep it from becoming too overwhelming. Like when you take everything out of the room, you categorise as you go using boxes etc and then find a bit of floor space to lay them all out/ stack them neatly. If that’s still too much, you could put a blanket or a sheet over the majority of the boxes and work on them one by one 😊
@@bec1.618 Yes, that is a pretty good idea. I may give that a try because I am going to do my closet next. Another problem I have is that I have a very painful neck. So I have to make things easy on myself, and lift nothing heavy. But my husband would lift anything I need him to. Thanks for the tip.
petmom ful no problem- hope it helps 😊 also with heavy things, it might help if you get your husband to put them on a table so you can see them without bending and it’s minimal effort for both of you.
It's lovely to see that somebody else feels the urge to visually arrange stuff until it feels right 'cause otherwise it just keeps bothering you. It made me smile :)
All the minimalist have "tricks of the mind" to weed out sentimental stuff. And all of them are :- do it immediately, no "maybe" piles; do it while you're in the "zone".
I've found the opposite helps, if you've got gifted or inherited items that are making you feel guilty whilst they take up space and catch dust.
If, as you declutter, you feel you *can't* throw them
away, whilst feeling you wish you *could*
Itstead of "toss immediately" have a small box, put the stuff you're doubtful about in there. Take a photo of them first.
Set a time limit-a week, a month, a year;, if you have nowhere to put the box, that can actually be a reminder of itself, and make the ultimate decision easier.
As the time limit is up, ask yourself if you've truly missed the item. If your answer is no, but Auntie Ida gave it to you, it was grandma's- who's going to know? Surely there are better ways to remember Gran, than having to look at that ugly painting.
The time limit is up, the painting's been in the box for six months, and remembering Grandma happened quite often, all without thinking of the butt ugly painting. As you decide "toss", don't look at it! If you feel you have to, look at the photo you took.
I've really found this works well. I'm not left feeling guilty or remorseful, I'm finally rid of some ugly things, and I don't feel badly about that.
TL;dr sorry for the essay. Summary is :- Have a "maybe" pile/box even though the experts say "no". Don't use it for mangled notebooks etc, use it for the stuff that's holding you back.
Well said!
This is actually the technique Kondo recommends in her book.
Omg what you said about introverts and visual simplicity...I felt that in my soul 🤣
Totally! It was as if a lightbulb went off over my head!
I have Aspergers with synaesthesia. I overwhelm myself with all the colours. Doh !😂
This was a big lesson I learned about myself a few years ago. I used to get really anxious or flustered in certain situations and couldn't figure out why. Now I know! It's helped me immensely.
It was something I hadn’t realised but it makes absolute sense.
If you're like me you'll start to notice it a lot more now! It's been helpful for me because now I know what's causing me to feel flustered and overwhelmed and I can actually do something about it.
Visual simplicity! I turned to my husband and said "Is that why I get overwhelmed when I look at a lot of things?!". I can't stand having a lot of options. I get overwhelmed and don't choose. Streaming services are hard for me.
Yup! There's been research that shows that the more options we have, the less likely we are to actually make a decision. We just freeze up. As an introvert, I find it particularly difficult because I'm very much a thinker, so more options means more mental load for me.
RIght?! When she made the introvert/visual simplicity comment I was like OMG THAT is totally it!
okay .. weird example .. but, frozen pizza! .. in some large supermarkets there must be 30ft of it .. arrrrgggg!!! My head buzzes and I end up always buying the same old thing, which we do love .. but until I could take the time to really check things out, I didn't know there is frozen stuffed crust .. veggie crust .. woohoo, lower carbs - which is very important for me, being diabetic. Being spoiled for choice isn't always a good thing ..
This is why I shop at Aldi. Less options, less anxiety, less choices. Normal super markets are too over stimulating for me
Aqua Krys more choices do not make us happier en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice
I like to keep a box or two of things that spark joy but would make a space too cluttered to have out. Then every so often I'll have a look through the box and switch things up a bit. This goes for my wardrobe and decor stuff.
Yes! I have several little "sparks joy" boxes too. =)
Curating! Or seasonal.
I have heard about that for childrens toys and do realize that's what I do with my wardrobe already
When I first moved out at 22 and a little later on in my second apartment, I would every so often change the furniture around and also decor. So I would keep a box to switch out when I felt I needed a change! I don’t know why I stopped doing that. I also had some u pleasant experiences and so let down so many times that maybe I didn’t have spark of joy in my own life that I could not protect that onto beautifying my own space! Hmm🤔
Having read Marie kinds book, I'm surprised at how many people ignore the important first few steps that she says are very important. What you have discovered is what she does first with clients. That's to ask yourself what you want /need feel and envision yourself in the space. Then she asks why. And keeps asking why until your final answer is joy.
All of this stuff survived previous decluttering sprees. They all sparked joy at some point in my life (often because they were recent purchases or gifts so still had that "newness"). Like I said though, I feel I've passed Level 1 of minimalism and am now feeling an even deeper joy. I don't think it was a case of ignoring steps, just that I've changed quite a bit as a person in the past few years. I understand more. I've also transitioned to mostly digital note-taking in recent months, which means I can now let a lot of notebooks go. Ever evolving. ;)
@@HowToGYST Thanks for sharing the 'click point' as it make sense to me! Now I know why I keep holding on to things and feeling like I'm not getting anywhere.
That is really an important point. Having that ideal image for yourself. I’d forgotten that in my constant quest to decluttering and sometimes with stress shopping. Thanks for the timely reminder. Time to go back to the beginning.
Delighted you found it helpful, hayzzel. It was an eye-opener for me!
The ideal image definitely helps. And don't be afraid to refine it as you go. 😊
I've reached some sort of click point in spaces, but not my whole home yet. to me it's a feeling of joy to simply look at that space where before it felt like a heavy burden that was anxiety-provoking. when I want to look at that space and it makes my soul smile, I've reached the click point. I'll get there, space by space.
I love that idea of it making your soul smile. Perfect!
"I regret everything." LOL I loved that. Currently going through this myself. Loved the video, very helpful, thank you!
I listened very carefully to what you said about reducing the visual clutter and I may not be getting the correct visual perspective, cameras do tend to lie, but it seems to me that there is not much furniture in your room. Noting the struggle you seemed to have over your open shelving, do you not think that perhaps what you need are a couple of pieces of furniture with doors/drawers that you can close and therefore shut everything away, out of sight. It would give you that feeling at the end of the day of everything being put away, a clear space and all is calm again. The fact that it is all on display is the visual clutter all by itself. I decided in my own home to get rid of all open shelving. Now its all in a cupboard or a drawer.
Also, in my own journey I made a comment to a friend the other day that while I have spent the best part of 2 years getting rid of stuff layer by layer, I seemed to have forgotten to stop spending and buying more. I too have a bit of an obsession with journals and notebooks, but I have had to commit to using up the one's in use before buying any more and stop going into the shops and tempting myself in the first place. I enjoy pretty things and it's hard to resist not taking them home, but I once heard someone say, "why not store it at the shop?" We think we have to grab it now in case it might not be there when we return, right? Undoubtedly when we do go out shopping again, there will be something else we like as much, if not better. It's never ending. The world we live in is designed specifically to make us spend every penny we've got so that we fill our houses with crap that we don't need.
Anyway, that's my rant, sorry! Hope it's a wee bit helpful. Mx
Thanks for a thought-provoking rant!
I thought her room felt spare too. I wonder if that was because she made space for her filming equipment while she was actually filming.
as far as i got it, she is, as me, on a more minimalistic approach. Just because there is space, doesn't mean that it needs to be filled with new stuff or furniture. I do like space myself and in my office it looks quite similar. Just the stuff i need to focus on the things i want to do there and nothing else. It just let's me breathe and be creative. Minimalism is a very personal thing and there is not just one way or one solution for everyone, some do like more space, some don't. (and for a Disclaimer: I don't want to come over as rude, english isn't my native language and i might lack words/vocabulary and my response might be very direct due to that)
I don't think she needs more cupboards- the only things she has left to store in that room seems to be a small pile of books on the standing desk. The doors on the bookshelf are holding the stuff that doesn't need to be displayed. I think the issue was trying to arrange the items she wants to keep and display in a way that looks cohesive, with a minimalist aesthetic. I don't see the point of storing books and keepsakes hidden away in cupboards or boxes. Narrow down what you really, really want to keep and put them where you can feel happy every time you walk past. Exactly as shown in the video. Love it!
She made a quick reference to Cas, who has a RUclips channel called Clutterbug. Her premise is that there are four basic clutterbug, and therefore organizational, styles. Some people cannot stand to see any clutter at all. Some people love to see their stuff. Of course there is a sliding scale and variations, etc. She clearly likes to see her stuff, but wants it to be visually pleasing. Simple to her would be way too much for someone else.
Watches Laura do another round of decluttering and admire her "after" images... Immediately starts decluttering my work desk. LOL! Thank you for sharing your ever evolving process and keeping it real!
I love and appreciate your honesty - it helps me to feel like I’m not the only one...
Thank you. =) It can be tough going. And disheartening when you see other people in their seemingly perfect spaces. So I try give an honest account.
It looks perfect 😃 you must’ve been shattered that first day. Sucks the energy right outta me. Great job!
Exhausted! And generally fed up. 😂 I thought it would take another few hours, and I honestly didn't think I'd be able to get it right. But then I came down the next morning and a few minutes later I was done!
So true, watching a 10-15 min clip of a room makeover by a professional edited down to just what they got perfectly, while entertaining and satisfying, often leaves me feeling like there must be something wrong with me that they can do in a day or two what seems to be taking me years to learn! Seeing that I'm not the only one going through this and that this is actually normal is very encouraging.
@@WhisperTraining Yes, & Don't forget about "The Work Crew" that most, if not all Professionals have at their disposal to help them clear out a fairly large volume of stuff in a very quick fashion! This action is often "Edited Out" too, so that we don't often see that part. Then, the demonstration on Video comes across exactly the way they want the work to appear, "Not so hard to do", when in reality, it's usually way more work, taking a much longer time to accomplish your goal & having to do most or all of it by yourself! Just my observation.
Very nice video. I enjoyed Marie Kondo's book but the "sparks joy" thing just made me laugh. I can find joy in an old can lable. I got rid of thousands of books and a dozen bookcases. It was painful but SO worth it!
This was really interesting because as an artist I really struggle with my studio. If I packed up all my books and art supplies I could fit the rest in about 3 boxes. But I'd need a UHaul for the art supplies alone! All art stuff sparks joy, so sifting is hard. I eventually settled on 'does it spark enough joy for me to save it in the event of a fire given I'd have a German Shepherd under the other arm?' and went from there. It still didn't click. Maybe this is what I need to do. Get rid of the definite and then remove stuff that's not sparking joy "in that place".
I spin, weave, sew and paint...I always say we could live in a tiny house except for my craft supplies--oh and I teach--so books by the hundreds...but in my 60s, having had to deal with my dad's house, I need to declutter for my children's sake. So I shall add "in this time" to "in this place"
I think you nailed it! When decluttering or organizing there is a moment when you KNOW in your knower, and that moment is as individual as each of us, thanks for sharing! LOVE it! 😊💝
Thank you! I still feel so wonderful about it. It was a magical moment.
Perfect! Always work toward less... that’s why hotel is so calming. I’m at this stage and this galvanised me to keep shedding more.
Great job! I think you need to center the bookcase, or cubes, on the wall, so it can breathe. It appears shoved up against the wall & may make it feel more cluttered to you for that reason.
What?
I've been trying this little by little over the years. My hubby tells me "you don't have to get rid of things I know you love" but I reply, "I know baby but this opens the door for better things for us to love" he smiles and goes back to whatever he's doing.
😂 😂 ok, Chrissy
I like what you said about introverts, it really clicked w me. If you're not spending most/all of your time at home it's much less likely you'll get as stressed out being constantly surrounded by clutter. I have one room in my home that's significantly worse than all the others- I mean you really can't even see the floor. Yet every time I think I've got the courage up to do it, I am Immediately completely overwhelmed & drained
I have to say Laura you’re a little spark of joy in my life. Thanks for all the helpful hints and encouragement
Thank YOU. That's truly lovely of you to say. x
Laura is fabulous, isn't she? I love hearing her talk herself things for three reasons: 1) It helps me to know how to handle similar situations, 2) Her personality is so down-to-earth and relatable, and 3) I love her accent! It's never been so fun to listen to decluttering ideas! 👍
This was so helpful. I have not reached a click point yet; however, I have taken some things and put in boxes and labeled them as fall, winter, spring, summer decorations. That way I can easily change things up. You did a great job styling the shelves! Thank you!
I've watched at least a couple thousand decluttering videos and I felt a click point. I've KonMari'd some drawers but I moved into a room where I was supposed to have storage in the basement. I don't have enough room to take ALL my clothes (or any one type of item) out and put them together in a pile! I had resented my landlord for not making good on that basement, but if she had, I'd just have more stuff. I knew it was a good thing that never made good on the stoarge promised, but this video made me truly feel grateful that I don't have the promised extra storage. I haven't yet tried taking everything away and only putting back what I need. I haven't tried taking away thing that spark joy but not in that context. This video gave me inspiration to go through a few more layers, and a sense that I can reach a click point. Thank you, Laura!
I have cats. It apparently sparks joy in them to jump up on furniture, swat things to the floor, and clear surfaces. Problem solved. Except for the floors....
You can get stuff (I think it's called museum glue, or museum putty) that you can attach to the bottom of things to "stick" them to the surface. That might help. =)
How to Get Your Shit Together Totally works. Earthquake putty is another name. It’s a mastic that requires a twisting motion to separate an object from the surface it sits upon.
In my case, I have a very large dog with a strong fluffy tale that almost seems designed for clearing coffee tables and the like. Earthquake putty eliminated the problem of having vases and lamps knocked to the floor. I’ve shared this tip with many cat lovers and it works for them as well. It’s available in most hardware stores and home centers. Amazon has versions as well. I have to ask for it in stores as it does not seem to fit into any obvious category within store organization.
A brand name for it is Quakehold. Loctite calls their version Fun-Tak.
Just don't look down!!
Right??? Congratulations, this means you've been promoted to supervisor!
Lol
You make SUCH a good point that you can find many things that "spark joy" in your surroundings but that are still too much for the context. This is VERY true, and hearing someone actually SAY that just affirms what I have been intuiting as well. I recently took a lot of things that I actually do LIKE a lot (joy sparkin) in my kitchen, but which overwhelm the space and were preventing me from being able to function in it. I know it's been said so many times, that famous Frank Lloyd Wright quote that "form follows function" - but it's a great standard, not just for Architecture. I found that I chose to not sacrifice functionality for decor in the kitchen, and I found that I function best in it when it has almost no decor. The dining area I like to see decor because it's meant to be a place to relax, like a restaurant would be, but NOT the kitchen. That's what clicked for me. Context IS very important. Thank you for saying all of this.
I need to be patient - to find that balance or click point (and to ‘click’ the camera!). Do 3/4 of the process then take a break. Going back with fresh eyes and the magic happens. Fab Laura, thank you for sharing. Wish I could go as 'fast' as you! Soothing and colourful - lovely. Balance and harmony. Take away: less is more.
That realization going across your face was priceless! It looks great!
When you mentioned introvert sensory overwhelm, I actually said, "Oh! Duh!", as a collection of ideas all came together. I live with several extroverts with ADHD, who always have music playing and many things happening at once. Their love of visual abundance suddenly makes more sense. Thank you!
The thing I appreciate most of your videos and blog posts is that you never make me feel inadequate or uncomfortable. You're just human like me and almost anyone else watching these videos, and not a perfect instagrammable life stylist. Thins are never easy, not even choosing which one of a thousand pens to keep. That's why I follow you and love so much your content. ❤️
This video is SO HELPFUL!!!!! It actually makes me excited to tackle my craft stuff now!! I've already done several passes with no-buy policy in place for about 5-7 years so the last bit I have been so scared to go through but this concept to bring about the specific space in this way makes me feel so relieved!! (That and the concept of "sparks joy" treasure troves as separate things - from your "counterintuitive" tip video and I think the comments here.) Thank you so so much for this!!!
Aw, I'm so glad you liked it! Have fun crafting. 😁
Well done! U explained exactly the point ive been at for some time. I " KonMaried" my home 1 year ago & although it was a lengthy process, it was so well worth it. I love my new always clean home. But, & i mean, but....things somehow didn't seem right recently. My clutter hating eyes didnt exactly know WHERE to look, bc i THOUGHT everything left was "sparking joy" for me. But like u said, maybe its the place or just not the correct location of certain objects ive chosen to keep. Plus , yes i do believe after decluttering once, & living more intentionally, loving a minimalist lifestyle, &/ or surroundings u do begin to "advance" & re-evaluate once again. Its progress! Loved this video, & ❤you! U r so relatable! Excellent video!!!
I am far more familiar with the feeling of being completely overwhelmed and regretting everything than with the clickpoint feeling.
As am I, which is why this was such a pleasant surprise.
Me too
Yes especially when moving which is why I’m here
I believe I have reached the click point in a few small spots in my apartment although I didn't realize it at the time. My earring box and 2 shelves in the kitchen. I don't remember when I started watching you Laura, but I have been decluttering for over six years. I started so I could make room for when my hubby moved in. We have gotten rid of all we can and now we are just trying to find homes for things. It is hard but we take one area at a time and it will come together soon enough. Our biggest challenge is that we still have lots of things and no real storage. I do love a creative challenge though! I love your bookcase and how the light and dark works. It's beautiful!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your give away stationery pile. You were ready though so well done you!
I was as surprised as you are! I've mostly switched to digital these days so that made it easier to let go of a lot of things. Like you, I'm just plugging away, tweaking and improving things as I go. Making over one little space at a time. 😊
Great point about needing to deal with stuff that *does* spark joy. I live in a small space so my place is easily overwhelmed and cluttered. I simply have to let go of my joyful possessions! I'm going to take photos of mementos.
Super duper job!!! It's DEFINITELY a process...& NOT giving up is the key. The overwhelmed feeling is real!! Pushing forward is tough. I'm going through the process, every day. Sometimes, I take a day or two off, because my mind...well, it's too much, ok? Yes. Go through the process of it all. It's hard. It's worth it!!!! Yeaaaaah!!
Wow, that 'get rid of' pile was huge! Never thought I'd see the day you got rid of so many notebooks and planners :D I appreciate the perspective shift, that not everything that sparks joy has to be there right in front of you. Perhaps even keeping things but having them on rotation so the room as a whole 'sparks joy' and doesn't feel so full and overwhelming.
I've just moved my bedroom and office around and it's a dumping ground at the moment. The rooms very small and there's way too much to put in there that's a mixture of things needed for work, craft stuff or that I just enjoy as decor. Not sure how I'm going to tackle it yet but I'll keep these tips in mind :)
I'm as surprised as you are! Ha ha. I definitely agree that it doesn't all have to be on display. It's nice to be able to see things that make you happy, but there has to be a balance. Each item individually might spark joy, but a whole pile of them all together might not. I think I finally found that happy medium. In this space, at least.
Sorry, I know this is an old comment, but I just had an "ah-ha" moment. I love the way you phrased it that the room as a whole also needs to spark joy, not just each of your possessions! That's important to keep in mind as you declutter--always remember the big picture.
I am in the same boat atm!! If you're willing to share, how've things evolved for you in that space over the last ~3yrs?
So happy to hear someone else who likes notebooks, planners, and stationary. Great video!!
Nice to see someone else who loves notebooks as much as me... heehee.
My stash right now are books and fabric....you are giving me motivation to work on this weekend! Great video.
If I can do it, anyone can. 🙂
My nemisis is books too. Esp. Because I like rereading old favorites not available in e book form. Sigh
Also (maybe) get rid of some flat surfaces - esp. bookcases and extra desks. Flat surfaces invites clutter
Yes, number one problem is flat surfaces. Stacking books looks heavy and just feels like you have up.
Ahh this is it...I am 2 years late, but I am doing what you said and am starting to feel peace from my space. I was taught by society to decorate my space and fill it with cute things but I put most of my decor in a box and the calmness started coming in...just discovered your channel and I'm loving your content!
“This is the point of the process where I feel completely overwhelmed and regret everything.” 😂For real!! I know that feeling well.
5:47
Also I love your little Nintendo plant.
Also also, I really like the idea of displaying your childhood toy that you love. How sweet. I definitely have a couple childhood toys that I still can’t part with at 39 years old.
"Introverts process a lot mentally." Brilliant!
I LOVE taking before/after pics when I'm cleaning AND decluttering or organizing. It's my #1 tip when others ask for advice on these types of tasks!
I find if I have a place for every type of item then I can firstly spot if something is out of place and an obvious place when I put things away. This is super helpful when my husband asks where something is, I know straight away where it will be, it has a spot and wouldn't be anywhere else! If you run out of space in that 'area' it is probably because you have gotten too much stuff and need to downsize the stuff in that area
Thanks. I'm on my second year trying to work through konmari method. It's nice to hear that it takes other people years also!
I like what you said about introverts and visual overload. I have gotten used to visually looking past my mess. And the over-processing I do mentally, about trying to clear my space is depressing and overwhelming! I know it will be SO much easier to clean if I declutter. It's just getting started. Lordy!
Nice work. I am in the middle of a massive declutter project and definitely at the overwhelm point.
Thank you for the share. Well done.
Love your channel. I made changes to my space in the last 7 days.Wish I had thought to take pictures, that's a great idea. I go rid of an office chair and four boxes of craft supplies today (went to an elementary teacher). Now that I'm working from home (sigh, miss people) I'm motivated to making positive changes in my space and fixing the wear and tears. Also watched Clutterbug and her Hotmess. You ladies are so inspiring, which is what this isolated gal needs, So THANK YOU : )
Oh my gosh I started Kon Marie years ago, too! And it never worked completely so here I am yet again, but this time I'm using all the minimalism ideas with it and am much more successful. I'm finding the less I have is making me feel so much more at peace.
Omg, I didn’t even realize this is what I’ve been doing. I swapped offices with my husband a week ago and have been purging again. I felt like I was striving towards something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but now I get it. I’m just on the edge of that “click” point. Now that I’ve seen your process and finished space I feel like I “know” what needs to happen next. Thank you!
Just so much stuff! It makes me wish I could be there and help y’all you through some things. One tip: for some memory items ask yourself if a photo would work. For instance I had a few stuffed animals that were my kids faves, but now they’re grown. But they’re sweet memories to me! So, I took photos of my grown kids with their snuggly and turned a sad moment into comedy AND I have the photo. Then I could let the toy go❤️
I am an extrovert and I like a simple space because I like being able to relax at home. How can I go out and have fun or get things done if I have a mess to reckon with.when I wake up in a clean space I am like today I conquer and I can just go! My husband is a messy cluttered introvert he comes home and dumps things. So he has spots for that. I can't get him on board but at least it's in his areas.
Omg same scenario for my hubb6 and I. I have to contain his dumping spots
@@colleenmccord4699 Thats my story too.
This was very helpful. I like the idea of clearing off the spot then styling it. I like that some things you love may not make the cut, but they can go somewhere else or maybe they don’t work in your space. Thank you.
Dude, I freakin needed this! Bless! 🙌 I moved to Italy in January and have actually gotten our household goods down to half of what it was before we moved, but now that we're here and living in the land of no closets, I need to declutter soooo much more and I've been overwhelmed. This is exactly what I needed to see 💚
Yes! Thank you! This is great. I think the "sparks joy" bit is so frustrating, this was a tremendous help. I have had to learn that when I'm done, if the whole space doesn't "spark joy", I'm not done yet!
Thank you for the video. I have been working the konmari method for 5 years and have been struggling with the same thing of finding the click point. Will have to put this into action this week I’m reorganizing and moving my office to a different room in my house.
The owl painting is beautiful. This is great advice. "Things that spark joy in context" wonderful.
I love watching these videos. My husband never understands why I have to keep moving things. But you hit it on the head, clutter causes me anxiety. I need the visual symmetry/colour scheme/ pattern to work. Also the empty spaces too. Classic introvert!
I started decluttering five years ago too. At the time I was married and lived in a two bedroom apartment of 85 square meters and a large basement cellar storage room filled with stuff. Then we moved across the country to a one bedroom apartment of 67 square meters. And then we got divorced and I moved with the cat to a studio apartment of 27 square meters (ans also a 12 sq.meter bedrom loft). With no basement storage. During this time I have decluttered and KonMaried a ton of course, or none of these moves would have been possible. But I just never reached a click-point because I always just moved to something smaller! 🙈 Reached it perhaps just before the move to a smaller space! I think your definition is actually a very helpful one, a very helpfil distinction. That it's about sparking joy in that specific setting. For that specific place. Thank you. I will actually try to spend somw of my vacation-time to declutter with that in mind!
Good on you, I agree... and realised that you must let go of thing that -spark joy-, especially if you really need clearer spaces to be more effective, efficient and calmer, sometimes it’s not easy, I am still working on it, but now I know I can. I DO NOT NEED LOTS OF THINGS TO BE JOYOUS. Well done to you, I am similar to you and your video helped me.
This is the most honest "like me" decluttering video I've seen! She exhibited the decision fatigue I go through. But unlike me, I thought she was purging, donating perfectly good things. (Will I EVER get the hang of this??)
They can be "perfectly good" for someone else. ;)
Thank you so much you have no idea how much this helped! I was just keeping all the things that sparked joy even though it was taking up still way too much room. Being a collector made this process very difficult but now I know the difference between what my collection sparks joy and what my collection is just there because I collect it not necessarily because it sparks joy but because it’s part of the collection
That's wonderful! There can definitely be a difference. You can still love the fact that you have a complete collection without necessarily loving each individual piece in that collection. =)
Thank you for this video! I enjoyed it a lot! I‘m moving in a couple of weeks and this helps me to Declutter and finally see what I really like and want to keep.
You are so right! I am now in round 2 of the Konmari Method. 😬 My first time was about 2 years ago, and I feel this time it works better. Quicker. Got rid of useless decor despite the memories and focused on being practical, which I love.
Your after photo of the bookcase looks so much lighter and brighter! Great job! Subtle but significant difference, Mrs Laura!!! 👍☘️❤️🐰
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CLUTTER PROBLEM????? I keep finding more and more and more and more help on youtube. You, for example. I never met you.
Think about the space is always the key to minimal. I never knew how to do that.
Boy, did I NEED this!!! I finished my KonMari purge, thinking that I wanted to go all out minimalist next. Then I realized that minimalism wasn't precisely what I wanted, but I hadn't felt that joyful with just the KonMari method either. Now I know I only need to push it a bit farther until I get to visual simplicity and that click should happen. Diving in again!
Good luck! ☺
Best of luck! It can take a while of tweaking and changing but you'll get there. =)
Very subtle and insightful application of the process. And I appreciated the humility and honesty as you went through your thinking processes,
You say you’re not good at styling, but that was artfully styled! Color blocking, lighter tones at the top...mind blown.
Thank you. I actually started declaring while listening to you ❤️
I think you're hitting on what is the problem for me with the Konmari system as I understood it at first -- that there is such a thing as too many things, even if they all spark joy. Now I seem to use a combination of minimalism and konmari and maintenance/cleaning systems in order to find that sweet spot that is neither cluttered nor sterile. Thanks for all your inspiration and reflection.
I think this is different from the main idea of sparks joy to keep. It goes into what kind of organizer you are. Great topic! For me, I feel this click when everything has its best home.
I recently went through my office/craft room which had become a dumping ground for stuff. I'm sure Mari Kondo would say I'm still too cluttered but I'm happy with the results. The hardest part for me was getting rid of my mom's things and she's been dead 21 years. Why did I hold on to that stuff so long? I decided the joy it sparked couldn't overwhelm the frustration it brought. So as I threw away each piece I said, "I love you mom, but I'm not keeping your stuff any more."
If you haven't watched videos from The Minimal mom here on you tube you should. She is so amazing has tons of great ideas and advice.
It makes me feel better to see that others have to experiment and try things that don't always work out the first time, but persisting! Sometimes I have unrealistic expectations about how quickly I should be accomplishing tasks. I am not a fan of a lot of decor items in a home. I like to use family momentos and items from my travels. Then it's MY home, not expensive items that will soon be out of fashion.
Really love how your bookcase turned out!💚
Thanks so much! Me too. :D
This was great! I immediately got to work on my dresser after watching your video. I felt the same way as you did with your desk. I purged a little more and moved a few items that sparked joy but could be used more easily downstairs. Ahhh.... so much better! Thank you!
I have limited dexterity so I have to do this in small ways. I target one area and then take stuff off or out, as I do that I put them into categories so all books, pens etc are together. This helps me as I can then see my favorites. Im not looking for total minimalism. but I like to have related stuff together. Boxes help me. If it stays it has to have a home, a box I can lable so I can find it again.
When I don't have the dexterity to do lots I have a rule, leave a space how I want to find it. so anything that is in the wrong room, so they get taken to the right rooms, and for removing stuff, just look at a space Im in and anything that feels loud or wrong just take ONE thing off or out. I have the love it, hate it and NOT ready. For stuff I don't like but not ready to remove, I put it in a box and then see if I miss it, let it stay in the 'to go/not ready box' for as long as needed and if I don't miss it being around, it can go, its a way around the guilt stuck page
Oh my Laura! That is wonderful! You have inspired me to let go of a bunch of my stationary. If you can do this, I can too. I started minimizing with you in 2014/2015. I agree, it is a “click” need.
Ah, that's brilliant! Well done you! Thanks so much for following along, Wendy, especially for all these years!
Your video is the most refreshing & honest one I've seen in the longest time! Thank you for being open and sharing your secrets with us! I'm a new subscribe for sure now 🙂
If I remember correctly, Marie Kondo does talk about this click point. In the first (nope, actually second) volume of her books in a chapter titled something like "Flowers and Plants" she mentions that adding a plant or whatever you like makes the place look right. She doesn't call it click point, and neither does she explain how to get there. I'm still in the "get rid of it" phase. Three years after the first walk through of my closet, when I got rid of eight large 120 liter bags of clothes, this time round I managed to fill another four of those bags. Last summer I tackled my documents and reduced the amount of folders from ten to five. Victory!
Next activity is to clear out my hobby possessions. There is a lot. Really a lot, like a small neighborhood store crammed with this and that and everything. And I already donated stuff to a senior residence, the neighborhood kindergarten, and a huge bag full to a family with kids that are not too well off. Clearing the hobby supplies scares me, mighty scares me. And I'm going to get help! I have contacted a local social service that helps people to "get their sh... together". I realized that the overwhelm will throw me over before I even start. At least I know now with which activities I need support.
What does it mean for me? It is going to be tough, I'm a visual person and would like to see my beloved possessions.
I've done clothes, books, documents. My plan is to finish the KonMari process by the end of this year. And, contrary to my usual attitude, I'm optimistic!
I’m pretty sure the click point IS a phrase used by Marie Kondo. Way back when her book was first published, I was in a FB group that was working through her book together and there was a lot of talk about click points. The common theme seemed to be completing a second pass after you thought you were done tidying - after going through the process and realizing they didn’t miss anything, most people realized they had been keeping at least a few things out of fear rather than true joy-sparking.
@Tee Twetherlow yes, guess why it took me so long until I was able to tackle "magic cleaning" again. It is tough, you get intimately close with your feelings, the good, the bad, and the ugly ones.
BTW, I'm 60, about to become 61. How did I find a fresh start on KonMari? I struggle with depression (among a couple of other things) and was in a clinic this early spring. With the help of a nurse, who spent a lot of time with me, I got down to my basic needs, which spark motivation. It was a fight, and I wrote down what I want to do to satisfy my bottom need: order and structure. I wrote and wrote, until my wrist hurt. I spilled it all out, cried a lake of tears.
Now that I know my basic needs, I find the drive to work on it every day, honestly, that means six days of the week, once a week I go grocery shopping and I'm p**ped after that. How long do I work each day? At least an hour, sometimes I'm mentally depleted, and an hour feels like a lot.
Depleted or not, I just do something, even if I just look at it, touch it, then I know what I want to keep, what to donate, what to toss. In such situations I don't deal with details, it's plainly keep, donate, toss. And before you know it, the hour is over.
Surprisingly for me I found stuff that I haven't seen for about ten years, but still remembered where I bought it, and in a few cases even remembered why I bought it. If the motive for buying it once still rings with me, I keep it, else it gets donated or tossed.
Tee, I'm guessing that you are downsizing, you text appears to transport the feeling. That's quite another thing, and I'm sure that it is tougher. I dare not to confront myself with the idea, just yet, though I see it coming.
Currently, I have the luxury to decide which of my prized possessions I want to house in my 580 sq ft apartment.
Tee, I wish you will find the strength to continue and, it's hard, I know, ask for help. I hope I don't sound haughty, but I wanted to convey my experience, whilst right in the middle of it.
I also feel this "click point" thing !
I think it's actually when the all space sparks joy 😃and you feel good and at peace, just looking at it.
I was thinking needs a “plant” about 20 seconds before you said “plant”. so I agree.
😂 Great minds!
Thank you so much Laura! I have never understood the “click point” and now I completely do. You are fantastic! 🤗
Love this!!! I’m so glad I found you!! You are truly a joy yourself! That’s the part my husband and I are afraid of-the mess after the declutter!!
Also yeah I love the idea that even though I love something doesn't mean I have to "store" it, or even keep it if its not something that I can use and makes sense in the space I have!!!
I love your enthusiasm! Dealing with stuff that you have decluttered is a big one for me. I have at least one box full of such things in my space right now!
Another thing is papers, sometimes flyers and information about interesting things going on or a restaurant or museum that I’d love to visit sometime etc. Things in the area… Anybody else have that and how do you deal with that? I know, some/many things are available online. But will I think of it again? Maybe if I don’t, I don’t need to… Maybe I can just trust that what I need to know comes to me when I need it ...
I so much agree with your secret source. You put it in the right words.
I called it a clutter blindness I had. Step by step my shelves and table got emptier. Kind of similar what you are talking about. 🌈✌️👍👑👠
Once again, you have really given me hope when it comes to cleaning up/sorting out my possessions. I love the idea of removing everything so that you start with a blank slate. Then taking it step by step until getting to the “click point”. My biggest issue seems to me to be that I am too easily distracted. It is hard, with all of the stuff around me, to not go a totally different direction and completely forget what I am supposed to be doing. I guess I have a huge problem with focusing on one thing at a time.
You might like Dana K White if you haven’t already found her. I totally relate to what you wrote and she has helped me so much!
Trying to declutter too. I find that since the lockdown, it is easier not to shop and use what I have to craft, I also see what is not useful. As soon as Value Village opens I will donate. To me the joy comes from not dealing with clutter anymore and see and reach easily for what I use and want. I try to use this as my compas to simplify my life.
This is my favourite video you've ever done!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍 Brilliant!!!! What a breakthrough! I kept wondering what was next for me, and I think this is it. Remove things that are just decorative and add back an uncluttered, larger decorative item if necessary! Thank youuuuuu. 💕❤💕❤
So fascinating, thank you for sharing. Your observation about introverts and visual simplicity rang true to me and I realized that it entirely explains my own approach to organizing and decorating my spaces, so now I have the language I need to help me 'sell' some of my less popular decisions to my husband, who's definitely on the 'every-book-I-ever-read-must-share-my-home-forever' pack rat spectrum. Yikes!
I love your approach to this method! I've tried to do some of it but it seemed so overwhelming to me. You give me hope! :-) I am trying a modified version right now since what part of it gets done is done by me. My husband isn't on board yet so I'm just doing my things as I can. Thank you for this lift!
This was really interesting to see your process. The thing I took away from Kon Mari was not to declutter by location, but by category. In your bookcase location you have several categories - books, paperwork, craft items (komono), decorations (komono) and sentimental items. To me, this is why you don't find the 'ting'. I'm still wrestling with clutter myself, but sticking to one category at a time is the thing that works for me and gives me so much pleasure along the way! Ting!
That's definitely how I started doing the Method several years ago, but I found it didn't give me the same sense of satisfaction as location. When I only went by category, the rest of the space was still cluttered so it was harder for me to see progress. So I adapted it to better suit my needs.
Dear Laura, congratulations for your effort, it helps me to get some courage! If you allow me a suggestion, would it be ok to put a shelve above the black table, so that you would have extra room for the books?... Cheers! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏
I have started decluttering in Oct 2020, it is now Jan 2021. It seems like it will take longer than 6 months, but I find that if I take pictures and mark down in a simple calander what I did that day, I can look at it and see that, yes i did donate 4 bags this week. It keeps me motivavted when I don't see it happening fast enough.
You just put a name to it! Visual simplicity, it makes so much sense to me now. I could never understood why and what was happening and put it into words.
Good job! I'm not good at 'styling' either... I'm appreciative of hearing how you explained your process for styling. I could totally do that, too!
Congratulations! You should feel impressed with yourself! You said you’re not a stylist but I think you did really well (and I am a stylist). You may want to move the bookcase to the middle of the wall (it will be more balanced in the room) and don’t forget the top of the bookcase - perhaps another similar sized plant right in the middle? Enjoy you “click point!”