Finish Discarding First

Today, we are moving on to the third principle of the KonMari Method. If you haven’t had a chance yet, you can read about the first one here and the second one here. Both are necessary steps to prepare you mentally for your organizing process.

The KonMari Method encourages keeping only what brings you joy and letting go of the rest with gratitude. While discarding or letting go is not the method's focus, it is a natural part of tidying.

Letting Go Before Storing

A common mistake people make is buying storage containers or deciding where to store things before they’ve thoroughly edited their belongings. It is important to first decide what you want to keep. This way, you will have a better idea of what will actually stay in your home and how much you have.

Letting Go and Learning

Another common tendency is to discard things without taking time to reflect on the role they played in your life. This is an opportunity to reflect on why you let go of certain belongings, which will influence your future decisions. 

For items you have used extensively, thank them for supporting you and enriching your life.

For items you rarely or never used, identify why they came into your home in the first place. Was it a freebie, a gift, an impulse purchase, influenced by someone else, or something else? Greater awareness can help you make more mindful decisions.

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Taking time to be honest with yourself and to reflect deeply on what you discard influences how and why you acquire new things in the future. More importantly, this intentionality will carry over into other parts of your life.