The KonMari Method -- Clothes (Round 2)

[@Steph722NY]

You have been my favorite YT minimalist because you're so honest! You've inspired me to finish decluttering.

[@ivyheathermcdonald3502]

So here’s the truth. Not much of my clothes spark joy . I am overweight , so the clothes just simply fit me. In fact, I only have 2 pairs of pants- one casual, one dressy. I have 3 pairs of shoes, none that I really like . I have 1 bathing suit and only 2 purses! However, after watching one of your videos from this year 2019, I bought new underwear today and I am throwing out some ratty ones tomorrow! Thanks!

[@StarspangledHeart]

It's so nice to see someone doing this method again. About a year a go, we moved from a one bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom condo (in a very different climate!) and in six months or so we're going to be moving back to a one bedroom apt so when I went through this method knowing I'd want to do it again before we moved since we are going to be downsizing. I think there are several reasons why we might need to do this method more than once. Our decision making skills grow a lot during this process and we probably kept things that didn't spark joy the first go around. Mari talks in her book about prompting her clients to reconsider items they wanted to keep that she could see didn't spark joy. Most of us are doing this by ourselves and don't have a Mari to help us make those hard decisions! And I think living with less makes us want to live with even less so we'll want to get rid of more after living in our decluttered homes after a while. Can't wait to get caught up with your first round of Konmari!

[@HowToGYST]

+Stephanie Lynn Thanks, Stephanie! I agree with everything you've said, especially that "living with less makes us want to live with even less." That has definitely been the case for me. Sometimes I find myself actively looking for things that don't spark joy anymore. At this stage, I've removed about 70% of my clothes just by doing the KonMari Method. I don't feel the loss even a little bit. So I'm curious to know how much more I could live without, before I start noticing any (negative) difference. It's been a very interesting "experiment" for me.

[@StarspangledHeart]

How to Get Your Shit Together Yeah, I'd gotten rid of 3 huge garbage bags of clothes before starting Konmari and I can't believe how much I still found to let go!

[@HowToGYST]

Same! I used to do a big clear-out after Xmas every year, so when I started the Method in April of last year, I thought I'd have hardly anything to get rid of. How wrong I was!

[@deborahpolich6158]

I agree with you, I have started doing a second go through of my stuff. I like your comment on getting rid of an item after wearing it. I have done this several times. I just felt like giving an item one more chance .

[@HowToGYST]

+Deborah Polich It's amazing how differently we feel about things when we're actually wearing/using them. That's often the true test of whether or not they bring us joy.

[@Marissathered]

I agree with literally EVERYTHING you said in this video. Love your explanation of knowing if something sparks joy.

[@HowToGYST]

+Marissa Mandeville I think it's hard to feel it the first time around because a lot of us still have that "but I might need it" or some other excuse mentality, but it becomes much easier as time goes on. A lot of honing involved. ;)

[@nicolescholet691]

So neat to see someone share a perspective of going through the process again...must feel great to see the progress you continue to make! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@HowToGYST]

+Nicole Scholet It really does! This time I got rid of almost a third of the clothing category, and last time it was almost half. So I shudder at the thought of all the clothes, bags, shoes, etc. I had before that! It's shown me that I can really live with less, without any negative side-effects.

[@tinak.p.258]

You have many bags for not being a bag's person! I have now reduced it to 2 handbags (both nice enough to be taken to a night out yet large enough to actually carry something in them), one big messenger bag and one over night duffle bag/backpack (that I also take for "big shopping" or as a carry on bag when I fly). By the way... I have another category for clothes and other textiles like towels/blankets etc. That's the "will not be replaced when used up/ too worn" -category (especially for items that are already too worn to go in a donation bag), that was especially useful before I moved to Ireland and didn't want to bring too much with me - and I also knew that my things would be in storage for at least 2 weeks. When I packed my clothes in boxes, I didn't pack those that were already fairly worn and only kept one really nice ensemble off the box for the goodbye party. All the rest I just "used up" bit by bit, wearing everything "one last time" before I binned it. This gave a nice sense of closure and reduced the amount of last minute washing immensely - especially since we had to paint the walls before moving out, and I didn't need to worry about the clothes at all in the process.

[@HowToGYST]

+Tina-Karen Pusse I need all the bags to go with all my clothes. ;) Everything I have left now is stuff I genuinely love, but I've no idea where to even begin with packing! We've so much stuff that we can't really be without for too long (like the car seat), so we can't ship it but neither can we bring it all on the plane. Argh!

[@tinak.p.258]

If you have to pay yourself for the move (i.e. if it's not part of a relocation package) then don't ship things that are more expensive to ship than to buy. One of you should fly over first and just buy a second hand car seat (and other bulky essentials) there, so that that's in place when the other follows with your daughter.

[@HowToGYST]

+Tina-Karen Pusse Is it silly of me to want us all to go together as a family? We've never moved together before.

[@tinak.p.258]

No, not silly, just a little less practical ;-) - a lot depends on the circumstances, for example: will you already have a place to live over there (furnished or unfurnished?), do you have friends there or not who could sort some things out for you (for example allowing you to have some online shoppings sent to their address). Will you sell your car and rent one there for the first days (if so you can usually rent a car seat with it). The more you can organise beforehand, and/or the bigger your budget, the easier it is to travel together as a family.

[@HowToGYST]

+Tina-Karen Pusse It's just that there's so much to organise and I don't even know where to start, not having done it before. But I'll get there! =)

[@NonaMaryGrace1952]

Hello, I have been watching you for awhile. You are so darn cute. You are humerus. I find myself chuckling every now and again. Thank you for sharing this and many other videos. Today's chuckle was about starting KZbin you had no clue people would be interested in seeing you fold clothes. 😊💕. NonnaGrace

[@NorthWoodMouse]

My husband and I are moving in a few months to AZ (back from TX we'd moved to a year ago) and will be doing KonMari as we pack!!

[@HowToGYST]

Great idea! Nothing like a move to focus the mind!

[@mimakate]

I love rewatching your videos! 😊

[@stephaniealex1852]

It really feels so freeing to have just essential stuff

[@HowToGYST]

+Stephanie Alexander It does! Though my definition of "essential" keeps changing. ;)

[@judithsullivan5536]

Good luck with the move, maybe this will help your husband declutter some of his things. I allow myself 1 copy paper box of "when I lose 10 lbs clothes" that spark great joy. It's on the top shelf of my closet so it's not in the way, although God knows I've got loads of room in the closet & drawers since I KonMaried! Love your videos & your attitude.

[@HowToGYST]

+Judith Sullivan I think he'll actually find it easier to just shove everything into a moving box than actually go through it, to be honest. We'll see! But I'm going to be MUCH more strict in the new home. (Assuming we are actually moving -- immigration are still undecided on our visas.) Thanks so much for watching and commenting, Judith. :D Have you completed the KonMari Method, or how far along are you?

[@judithsullivan5536]

+How to Get Your Shit Together I am done with everything but photos. When we were moving to Florida 20 yrs ago I gave my kids a lot of my pictures & had what I kept nicely sorted. So I am quite amazed at how many lovely photo boxes full of unmarked photos I have!!!! I hardly ever print any now so I shouldn't have to go through this again. I am much better about keeping my picture folders on the computer organized. I did not closely follow her method for my closet because I have a large walk-in with loads of hanging space and since I'm in Florida I want to hang heavy things in the back of the closet since they don't get much use. I can see her method making much more sense in Japan. It sparks joy in me when I open a drawer and see all my folded clothes - sounds ridiculous, but it's true!!! Good luck with immigration.

[@HowToGYST]

+Judith Sullivan Sounds like you've done an amazing job, Judith! My in-laws are moving to Orlando soon so I'll be soaking up the Floridian sunshine sometime soon, even if we don't get our visas. =)

[@wendyw-b6456]

OMG off to the USA!!! Why not Canada? We need more wonderful people like you here : ( What a wonderful way to minimalise (a trip across the pond)!! Where are you going to live? This is so wonderful to watch!! You have been, and continue to be, such a wonderful motivation for me. Your Q&A was perfect!! I am still in the KM-ing process and your overall presentation here is exactly what I needed - you're a "straightshooter." Thanks!! MWA

[@HowToGYST]

+Xochi Love We'll be moving to Ohio, assuming our visas are approved. That's where my husband's company is based, so we didn't really have a choice in terms of location. ;) "Straightshooter" is a nice way of putting it. ;) Ha ha. Thank you!

[@lifelovejourney]

Xochi Love I live in Columbus, Ohio

[@HowToGYST]

We'll be in Cincinnati. =)

[@SheriNewton]

Love this, and how you mentioned to start small, like socks... I did just that - and made a video on here about it... lol

[@HowToGYST]

Great! I'll go check it out. 🙂

[@mhrobe]

Really inspiring episode. Uplifting.

[@barbaramudge]

Cinncey isn't far from me! I'm in Michigan just north of Detroit. Ohio is our "rival" but I will admit here that it's a beautiful place with lots to do. :)

[@HowToGYST]

+Barbara Mudge I won't tell anyone. ;) One of my favourite bloggers (Andrea Dekker) is from Michigan too. =)

[@deborahpolich6158]

I love your earrings!!

[@HowToGYST]

+Deborah Polich Thanks. :D They were a gift.

[@viper1106]

Great declutter! But know that any shoes you get rid of, especially ones completely worn out or broken, can be recycled instead of thrown away! Never throw shoes away!

[@HowToGYST]

All my shoes are donated. =)

[@blaireshoe8738]

viper, reading this reminded me of a particular pair of shoes that were sat in a barn for a few years and then relocated to a basement for a few more without being checked on in between. To this day I have no idea what was really in them, but it can only be described as a bright orange flakey **growth** that crumbled apart on inspection. Thinking about it still makes me gag. Honestly, I was worried that it would just become airborne and start a zombie apocalypse if we tried burning them to purge the evil within, and I now wish I had double-bagged them before dumpstering them in case they somehow contaminated otherwise lovely trash. Nobody wants scary orange growth. Except maybe biologists, of which I knew none at the time. Certainly not recycling centers or charity shops, though. Luckily, that was the only item beyond saving. The other poor mistreated items who shared the same lifestyle can be bleached before purging via charity shops, donations, recycling, etc. They do not have scary orange growths.

[@ruthcharlton7843]

I can't believe I'm asking this, but If you could a video on how to fold shirts that would be great. If you need ideas on how to store stuff like hats, hit Pinterest. I went on a massive organisation binge after my youngest was born and we emerged out of the first sleep deprived months surrounded by mounds of clutter. Literally, there were mounds on the floor! I got sooo many ideas off Pinterest. Stuff that I never would have thought of. All my necklaces and bracelets now have individual hooks they hang on, on the inside of one of my wardrobe doors. I only used those cheap plastic, no-nails-needed ones, so it was a really quick job. The same thing with bigger hooks could work for hats and scarves. Just ignore any tips you see for storing belts using a coat hanger and shower hooks mind, because I've tried that one and it's a load of bollocks.

[@HowToGYST]

+Ruth Charlton Do you mean men's shirts? Or women's? I hang both. ;) But I used to fold mine and can demonstrate that if you like. =)

[@ruthcharlton7843]

Let's go with womens, I have a load of work shirts I prefer not to see unless I absolutely have to!

[@jamesbriggs5740]

One thing I learned from KonMari is roll up your tights and pantyhose. Saves a lot of space. Kathy B.

[@annapotter8711]

I did mine two months ago Nd have just redone and got off over a half of my wardrobe again haha and then my jewellery and shoes and boots x

[@HowToGYST]

+Anna Drayton Isn't it amazing how much you can get rid of, even the second time around! I'd almost be afraid to do it a third time 'cause I'd be left with nothing. Ha ha.

[@annapotter8711]

I agree I redid my kitchen cupboards and have a empty cupboard haha

[@HowToGYST]

+Anna Drayton I'd be happy with half of one. ;) Well done!

[@nordicpapermouse7750]

Would you still recommend this method to declutter or something else now when you have had a bit longer more minimalistic mindset?

[@HowToGYST]

I'd still recommend it! 😁

[@EvieVermont]

Great ideas

[@safepethaven]

YAAAAYY!! As much as I despise where I live here in the US, I'm excited for you and your family to experience what we do have here in the US that's positive. Do you have any idea what part of the country you'll be relocating to? I'm so excited for you but acknowledge that it's going to be a HUGE adventure! ps, I hope you end up close enough for us to visit each other! I moved soooo many times in my younger life and understand completely how difficult it can be to try to put down new roots. And still maintain connections with all those from previous 'homes' and dear friends made at each place.

[@HowToGYST]

+SafePet Haven Cincinnati, Ohio. I've never been, so it'll definitely be tough. I'm very much a home bird!

[@safepethaven]

A friend from childhood [Illinois] is now in Cincinnati with her own family, and she says she likes it there.

[@safepethaven]

Here's a link to Cincinnati specifically but it's a rather clinical/statistical site. There is another link that is more like a forum-discussion board where folks chat about the pros and cons of different places and who has lived there and share their views to those considering a relocation to there. Start here and then do a Google search on the specific town, city or suburb [or even the county] where you'll be moving to get a head start on what's available there. www.city-data.com/city/Cincinnati-Ohio.html

[@safepethaven]

The childhood friend Ginny lives in a suburb og Cin'cy called Fairfield, OH but there seem to be many outlying areas in and around Cincinnati. As for driving/day-trips, It is near several states near the Ohio River; I have relatives in & around Lexington, Kentucky and they all LOVE it there! If you get closer to moving and know where you'll be, I'll see if I can find some known contacts there or nearby who would be good folks to know during transition periods [good, kind people but not intrusive; the kind you want to call if/when you don't have anyone close by that you know well.] When some of my tutoring students left for college on their own far away I sent them off with some names/phone numbers of trusted friends who lived near there to call if they got into overwhelm.

[@HowToGYST]

+SafePet Haven That's very sweet of you. =) My husband is familiar with the area (his company is based there) so we should be OK because he already knows a few people. We've also got our eye on a particular location so hopefully we can head over soon and do some proper house-hunting. =)

[@ldsfanclub]

You'll be about an hour from us!!! If you need anything just give me a shout! Seriously, I can't believe you'll be so close.

[@HowToGYST]

+ldsfanclub If our visas are ever approved!

[@leesanders3910]

Continued from previous posts...Shoes, hats, scarves to sort into the sort. Whittling fiddly bits.

[@leesanders3910]

Gap pullover. My Spring uniform solution. I have one.

[@a91170]

Love the earrings on you

[@HowToGYST]

+Anat Katz They were a gift. And they survived the KonMari process... twice. ;)

[@a91170]

+How to Get Your Shit Together rightfully so. you look classic. good luck moving...

[@HowToGYST]

+Anat Katz Thank you. :D

[@ellajones6812]

Flannel pajamas

[@HowToGYST]

So comfy!

[@ellajones6812]

How to Get Your Shit Together Do you know how to fold them they are so soft and floppy won't stand up in drawer.

[@HowToGYST]

I fold mine the same way as trousers and they stand up just fine for me. Perhaps you need to fold them one extra time, to bulk them out a little?

[@hallie100770]

Orlando???

[@HowToGYST]

+hallie100770 Cincinnati. But my in-laws are moving to Orlando so I'll be down that way at some point. =)

[@freebk01]

need more pics....

[@HowToGYST]

You'll find them all here: howtogyst.com/konmari-method-clothes-2/