Marie Kondo's shocking secret revealed—are your tidying efforts futile? Here’s what she said!
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Cleaning our homes is not only useful, but it can also promote contentment and a sense of accomplishment – that’s a fact that Marie Kondo has been spreading over the past few years.
The Japanese businesswoman has capitalised on her philosophy of tidying up homes, releasing books and a successful Netflix series called 'Tidying Up with Marie Kondo' that has inspired many to turn their homes into organised havens.
However, it has now been revealed that she is no longer as focused on keeping her own home organised and mess-free, which had people questioning if tidying up is really worth the effort.
She said she ‘loves’ messes, but now she’s done cleaning it all up.
Marie Kondo, who rose to international fame through the art of tidying up homes and teaching others to do the same. She approached cleaning with a minimalistic style, often saying that if something ‘does not spark joy’, then it’s not worth keeping.
That’s pretty solid advice, isn’t it?
But now, the ‘professional tidier’ and mum-of-three said that there’s more to life than keeping a house perfectly clean.
‘I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times. I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realise what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home,’ Ms Kondo said during a webinar.
For Psychotherapist and Personal Development Life Coach Anna Marcolin, cleaning can serve as a way to feel like we’re ‘in control’.
But for new mums or people with too many obligations and errands to do in a day, cleaning isn’t always possible every day.
‘It no longer works, because you can't put the time into taking care of your children, being present with them, giving to them and at the same time having a house that's always tidy,’ the life coach shared.
She added that this sets up an idea or ‘expectation’ that might be unrealistic.
Ms Marcolin said: ‘When people are coming over, nobody really cares how your house looks.’ So, the focus should be on balance over perfection when it comes to cleaning. A little clutter won’t hurt, right?
Generally, the advice the life coach was trying to give is to not be hard on ourselves when we can’t do everything. This is what Marie Kondo did when she decided to dedicate more of her time to her kids, and not think too much about the mess in her home.
Of course, Marie Kondo’s advice impacted many people – especially during the height of the pandemic restrictions. In an instant, the mum became a ‘pillar’ in terms of home organisation and tidying techniques.
So, it comes as no surprise that the announcement she made felt like a massive blow to her fans all over the world.
‘If Marie Kondo gives up, then so do I,’ one even stated on social media.
But it’s also possible that people took Ms Kondo’s suggestions too far, to begin with.
One stated on the popular social media site Twitter that Marie Kondo’s message was never to ‘keep your house spotless and throw everything out’, but rather ‘keep things you really like and don’t feel guilty for letting go of the things you don’t’.
Someone agreed and said: ‘I think that (a) focusing on the things that spark joy in your life is in fact the essence of Marie Kondo and (b) I seriously doubt Marie’s house is a mess.’
Here are five simple but life-changing things we’ve learned from Marie Kondo that can be applied to life in general, not just decluttering your home.
I personally think it’s also okay to let go of hobbies or activities that don’t bring me happiness anymore, even if I do feel a bit guilty for giving them up. What about you, members? What sparks joy for you? Share them with us! We’d love to hear them.
The Japanese businesswoman has capitalised on her philosophy of tidying up homes, releasing books and a successful Netflix series called 'Tidying Up with Marie Kondo' that has inspired many to turn their homes into organised havens.
However, it has now been revealed that she is no longer as focused on keeping her own home organised and mess-free, which had people questioning if tidying up is really worth the effort.
She said she ‘loves’ messes, but now she’s done cleaning it all up.
Marie Kondo, who rose to international fame through the art of tidying up homes and teaching others to do the same. She approached cleaning with a minimalistic style, often saying that if something ‘does not spark joy’, then it’s not worth keeping.
That’s pretty solid advice, isn’t it?
But now, the ‘professional tidier’ and mum-of-three said that there’s more to life than keeping a house perfectly clean.
Cleaning used to spark joy for Marie Kondo. Credit: Sarah Chai/Pexels
‘I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times. I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realise what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home,’ Ms Kondo said during a webinar.
For Psychotherapist and Personal Development Life Coach Anna Marcolin, cleaning can serve as a way to feel like we’re ‘in control’.
But for new mums or people with too many obligations and errands to do in a day, cleaning isn’t always possible every day.
‘It no longer works, because you can't put the time into taking care of your children, being present with them, giving to them and at the same time having a house that's always tidy,’ the life coach shared.
She added that this sets up an idea or ‘expectation’ that might be unrealistic.
Ms Kondo’s fans felt disappointed by the news. Credit: mariekondo/Instagram
Ms Marcolin said: ‘When people are coming over, nobody really cares how your house looks.’ So, the focus should be on balance over perfection when it comes to cleaning. A little clutter won’t hurt, right?
Generally, the advice the life coach was trying to give is to not be hard on ourselves when we can’t do everything. This is what Marie Kondo did when she decided to dedicate more of her time to her kids, and not think too much about the mess in her home.
Of course, Marie Kondo’s advice impacted many people – especially during the height of the pandemic restrictions. In an instant, the mum became a ‘pillar’ in terms of home organisation and tidying techniques.
So, it comes as no surprise that the announcement she made felt like a massive blow to her fans all over the world.
‘If Marie Kondo gives up, then so do I,’ one even stated on social media.
But it’s also possible that people took Ms Kondo’s suggestions too far, to begin with.
One stated on the popular social media site Twitter that Marie Kondo’s message was never to ‘keep your house spotless and throw everything out’, but rather ‘keep things you really like and don’t feel guilty for letting go of the things you don’t’.
Someone agreed and said: ‘I think that (a) focusing on the things that spark joy in your life is in fact the essence of Marie Kondo and (b) I seriously doubt Marie’s house is a mess.’
Here are five simple but life-changing things we’ve learned from Marie Kondo that can be applied to life in general, not just decluttering your home.
1. Joy is simple yet powerful.
2. There are different ways to bring joy. If something doesn’t bring you happiness anymore, as long as it has served its purpose at some point, it’s okay to let it go.
3. We don’t hang on to things; we hang on to emotions attached to those things.
4. Fewer things you love are better than many things you ‘kind of’ like.
5. It’s not about what others think. Other people’s happiness is not a substitute for your own.
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