After several Netflix home organization programs such as "Get Organized with The Home Edit" and "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo", tidiness has become a very valuable skill for the western world, promoting a clutter-free life, for better mental health and a smoother daily routine.
Minimalism is a relatively new concept, common to several industries from art to home organization, its slower life view is very appealing to simple life seekers, gaining much followers in the last years. Although many people might assume Marie Kondo is a minimalist, and a few personal organizers have adopted this kind of approach, it is not her case, as she created her own organizing method.
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What is minimal living
Minimalism is a term, as clearly stated, coming from the word "minimum", meaning the "least possible". This lifestyle states that people should focus on the most important things in life, such as family and friends, reducing the amount of possessions they own in order to have a better quality of life.
A clear differentiator from other organization theories, is the fact that minimalists take the verb "to declutter" to the limit, eliminating everything they consider superfluous and keeping what they truly need. According to Joshua Becker, one of the main promoters of this philosophy, "being a minimalist means intentionally promoting the things we most value and removing everything that distracts us from it".
Becker even goes further, saying it is freedom from the passion to possess, abandoning the idea that the act of buying leads to happiness. Consumerism is rejected, and instead of pursuing glamorous fame, minimalists prefer a simple living, away from the busy city life.
Emotional state > stuff
The most important lesson minimalism can give us is where to focus on. Relying on objects in order to have happiness should not be the main goal, and this happens at a subconscious level. Envying the neighbor's items, and reacting to the impulse of buying at the presence of an ad, are not healthy ways of dealing with emotions and desires.
What is interesting about this perspective is the fact that it raises concerns about wellness, giving people the opportunity to think about what truly matters to them and sustainability, allowing everyone to embrace a more sustainable life in the long term by avoiding over buying.
Marie Kondo also has a view on the relationship between emotional state and personal objects, but it differs from minimalism. Her method does not pursue minimal living, it establishes a real relationship with objects that spark joy, by keeping and cherishing them.
KonMari method
Marie Kondo has come up with an entire tidy up concept. For her, it is a huge event that should take approximately 6 months to complete, it is possible to divide it in 3 stages: plan, declutter and organize.
As a personal organizer, she reinforces the idea of keeping things that spark joy, letting go of others that already fulfilled their purposes. For her, houses and their objects should be treated with respect, and even before disposal, they should be appreciated and thanked for their service.
KonMari's approach highlights the positives of decluttering, giving importance to the objects that bring happiness instead of the ones that should be discarded. This way, she intends to remove the weight from clients' shoulders and turn this once stressful experience into a positive one.
The best choice
Different minds come with different strategies, home organization is not an exception. After a simple analysis of each kind of tidiness perception, now it is the best time to choose the right one for you. If you are a more analytical person, intending to leave consumerism and regain your life, minimalism is for you; if you are an emotional person, caring for your belongings and what they bring to the table, KonMari's method suits you better.
Before making a decision, make sure you understand all the principles behind each approach, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Other than that, you can simply become neat and tidy, whether slowly or quickly, towards a stress-free life.
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