Whilst we continue to spend time in isolation, the more we notice around us. You pick up on messy things you may not have noticed, until you spend every working day sat in front that hideous, overcrowded bookcase (the one you throw all your clutter onto). With spring creeping towards and more time on our hands, there’s no better time than now to release your inner Marie Kondo and cleanse every inch of your life.

Now, if you don’t know who Marie Kondo is; first of all, how!? But second, a small introduction for the number one tidying expert. Marie Kondo began her tidying consulting business at the age of 19 while studying at university in Tokyo, and since then her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’ has become a number one best seller, teaching you how to organise your home once and for all. And she herself has been named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

She invented the KonMari method, which teaches you how to organise by category (think clothing, books, and kitchen utensils), rather than by room as when most of us tidy we would do a room at a time and become distracted by all the forgotten items that we find. This trademarked KonMari method helps you to eliminate items that only speak to you and your heart, whilst discarding items that no longer bring you joy. 

But that is not to say those items that do not bring you joy should be discarded from the world, as there are other homes where it will bring joy and purpose and go on to lead another happy life.

This method of tidying has become one of the most popular all around the world due to the philosophy Marie Kondo has set out, as well as how mindful and introspective it can be. And by transforming your space, you will transform your life and feel the stress melt away as soon as you enter it.

You may also think, like many of Marie Kondo’s clients ‘do I need lessons in how to tidy up my own house?’ – but the book is exactly what it says on the cover: life-changing magic.

There are only six rules to follow when following in Marie Kondo’s footsteps and here are six reasons you should take the plunge:

1. To help the planet: As we know there is no Planet B, so think of your three Rs when you’ve finished ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ – try to ensure that not everything ends up in the landfill site and send it off to a better home

2. Take Control: Being able to control something, such as how many items are lying around your home can bring a bit of calm to your soul as you are aware it is something you are able to affect.

3. Organise Chaos: This will help the chaos in your head as well as your home, as you know you’ll be coming home to an organised space.

4. Digital Detox: Spending time utilising the KonMari method, reduces the amount of time you spend looking at your phone, laptop and television, which can do wonders for your mental health.

5. Can’t Find My…: Having an organised space, reduces the amount of time spent looking for items, reducing stress and lateness.

6. Second Life: Marie teaches to be grateful for the items that we do keep, meaning that anything we don’t get joy from or feel grateful for can be moved on to somewhere it will be appreciated.

Granted at first, you may be thinking ‘this is crazy’ and ‘there’s going to be nothing left’, by the time you’ve finished and removed the 10+ bags of rubbish and items for rehoming (to somebody you don’t know so you don’t have the urge to ask for it back), you’ll really understand how it feels to live with items that bring you joy.

Once completed, this philosophy will follow you wherever you go – by only bringing items that bring you joy into your life, you should in turn always lead a happy life. But, if you find you’re still struggling with certain items, follow Leandra Cohen’s (@manrepeller on Instagram) questions to ‘Pop Before You Shop’:

Sure these questions relate to shopping for clothing, but that isn’t to say it can’t be put in place for any item you want to purchase in the future. The article linked with these questions is all about sustainable shopping, and as we know the fashion industry the worst industry for polluting our planet, so hopefully we can all be a bit more thoughtful in our future buying process.

No doubt, since spending more time at home, you’ve noticed more clutter. You’ve got more time on your hands, s why not organise? There is no better time than now to use the KonMari method, and really make space for your most loved items.

Plus, when you have cleansed your house the Marie Kondo way, your stress-free self can then clean is the Mrs Hinch way and Hinch Yourself Happy.