by Abbie Walker
May is here, and it’s not too late to get a start on spring cleaning! The task can be pretty daunting, but I’ve got some great books that will inspire and give you the push you need to get rid of the junk that’s cluttering up your homes and your lives for good.
For those of you who are ready to get serious about “out with the old,” pick up a copy of the acclaimed The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. You’ve heard about it. You’ve seen it. You’ve wondered if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. Well, let me tell you, this book really is life-changing if you give it a chance. Kondo’s method, also known as KonMari, is all about surrounding yourself with the things that bring you joy. In fact, that’s the key question. Kondo asks you to gather your things, take each one in your hand, and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” It may sound ridiculous, but it actually works.
Having done the KonMari method myself, I found that collecting all my belongings from each category (clothes, then books, etc.) made me realize how much I actually owned (and it was shocking). Kondo’s take on letting go of the items that make us feel weighed down, guilty, or simply don’t inspire us is definitely eye-opening.
I’m not going to lie—you have to take this book with a grain of salt. It’s pretty Japanese, so any mention of “waking up” or “being kind” to your belongings needs to be considered light-heartedly (although Kondo is dead serious about verbally thanking your stuff). I didn’t follow her method exactly, rather altered it to fit my lifestyle and personal preferences. But it has definitely changed the way I view my possessions and what I really need in my life. “You will never use spare buttons” is something I didn’t know I needed to hear until I read this book. It takes time and work, but trust me when I say that this method is totally freeing. My new space definitely attests to that. Crazy as it sounds, Kondo was right that tidying can actually be fun.
Another recent read that really helped transform my perspective on material things is The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify by Francine Jay. This book not only goes over how to de-clutter, organize, and maintain each room of the house, it also focuses on mindset. I really appreciated Jay’s discussion about our consumeristic culture and why we feel the need to purchase so much. After reading Kondo’s book, I was happy to see a more American take on materialism and why we as a society have come to equate stuff with success. She also encourages people to be responsible and educated consumers who are contributing less to the problems with waste and unfair labor conditions in our world. This is definitely a great read for those who are looking to not only to decrease the amount of things in their home, but who also want to decrease their ecological footprint. Jay’s down-to-earth style and relatable examples make this an enjoyable and motivating read.
Lastly, for those hardcore minimalists out there, take a look at Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending up with More by Erin Boyle. This book is all about getting down to those bare essentials and understanding that more stuff doesn’t necessarily mean more happiness. Filled with advice about how to downsize your things, as well as personal stories and projects, Boyle challenges readers to embrace a simpler life. The images of clean, crisp rooms are gorgeous and inspiring. However, I’ll give you a heads up and say that when Boyle means simple, she really means simple. Don’t be surprised to find photos of bare walls and surfaces, or entire rooms empty except for a bed and maybe a single flower in a vase. Whether this fits your lifestyle or not, Boyle definitely makes you consider what is really necessary in a home and how you can save money and time that is usually poured into your home and use it for more enriching experiences.
Happy spring cleaning!
Comments are closed.