Everyone can take an attempt at a New Year’s resolution, but not everyone can be committed to it. A true New Year’s resolution is intended to be a long-term goal, usually lasting the entirety of that year. It can be used to try to break a habit, make a new one, or accomplish something by the end of the year. One of the most popular resolutions is to get organized, coming in third place right after exercising and losing weight.

Marie Kondo can help you accomplish your decluttering goals! On the Netflix show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, she gives tips on how to declutter and organize your house and sort out your priorities. She also authored the books titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Spark Joy: The Illustrated Guide to the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up. Ever since she found a passion for organizing when she was nineteen, she’s been doing her best to remain neat and help others tidy their homes by starting a consulting firm in Japan. 

Declutter for the New Year by using the KonMari Method 

Step 1

The first step is to commit yourself, meaning that you have to want to put in the time and effort to tidy belongings, as well as to internalize a good attitude, which will trigger energy and motivation. 

Step 2

Think about how you want your house to look and what daily chores could feel like. In other words, imagine your ideal lifestyle and envision how you aspire your living space to appear. 

Step 3

The third step is planning to go in the right order: clothes first, then books, papers, and finally sentimental items. This order increases energy and motivation as you continue decluttering by tackling the big things first. 

Step 4

Discarding is the fourth step, in which you let go of belongings that have no use anymore. While deciding what to let go, think about what effect it will have on your life after you get rid of it, and discard it with gratitude. 

Step 5

Only after fully discarding, start tidying and organizing by category (not location). This means going to all the places in your home that house similar items–such as clothes. For instance, clothes and shoes can be found in both your bedroom dresser and downstairs in a coat closet. (Be sure to consult Marie Kondo’s folding method–the secret to a lasting organized closet!)

Repeat steps 4-5 for each category, focusing on only one at a time: clothes, then books, papers, and last, sentimental items. 

The Key to Success

The most important way to succeed with your tidying, in Marie’s opinion, is to ask yourself if each item you wish to keep sparks joy. If it does, then keep it. When you know in your heart the answer is no, you can part with it, expressing gratitude for its serving you in the meantime. “Does it spark joy?” is the final rule of the KonMari Method of tidying.

If you don’t have a New Year’s resolution yet, make decluttering your goal for the year. Using the KonMari Method is one of many ways to tidy your house. Visit www.konmari.com to find more about Marie Kondo and her guides on organizing. About 77% of New Year’s resolutions are broken within the first few weeks of January, so remember to stay motivated in order to stay committed to your goal this year!