Are you Kondoing yet?

Everyone has been talking about our throwaway society at the very latest since Marie Kondo published her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever’ five years ago. Chiming with millions, the Konmari method is all about restoring order to our wardrobes, and with it, getting our lives back on track. Her name has even given rise to a brand new verb: in English, to kondo is synonymous with getting your house in order. The popularity of Kondo’s book stems from the fact that we are living in a society that has accumulated too many material possessions, but rather than being able to part ways with it, we just keep on buying more stuff. But is this a flash in the pan or is there more to it?

 There is beauty in simplicity

To paraphrase Plato. And it is with this thought in mind that minimalist lifestyles are striking a chord with people. It is all about consciously going without, creating space for what matters in life and establishing a clear countermovement to the materialism and rampant consumerism that is increasingly blighting our society. The less you own, the more importance you learn to attach to the few objects that you have around you. The benefits?

• More space
  This is definitely one of the main advantages. It also makes moving house, travelling and day-to-day living less complicated.
• Improved concentration
  Trying to study or work surrounded by chaos? No chance! The tidier the environment, the easier it is to concentrate.
• More money for other things
  All that shopping adds up over the course of a month. But the money can be easily saved if you just try to get by with less and put on that blouse or shirt that has been lurking in the back of your closet for as long as you can remember.
• Good for the environment
  The more often an item is used, the more sustainable it is. Ideally, products should be of such high quality that you can carry on using them almost indefinitely. Numerous manufacturers have cottoned on – baby clothing for hire is well established and various luxury brands are also getting in on the act.

Sharing is caring

Sharing is a great way to nudge people towards decluttering their lives. These days, there’s simply no need to own absolutely everything you might need as there are lots of platforms out there where you can borrow or rent items for a short time. Businesses were quick to spot the opportunity and now products to share are everywhere – from ubiquitous e-scooters, city bikes, shared gardens , local tool libraries, cars , public bookcases and even expensive handbags. According to a survey carried out by consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers, around half of all Germans use some form of sharing service and about two thirds showed an interest in sharing or lending their own products or services at some point in the future. The main reasons cited were financial and environmental – as well as the chance to give something back to society and interact with others. On top of that, it is also good to have less clutter lying around at home, while still having access to all the things you need.

Resolution for 2020

Anyone looking to adopt “less is more” as their personal mantra in 2020 can get to work clearing out junk, giving away unwanted items and sharing possessions with others.  Doing a good deed for the people around them, the environment and themselves in the process. Even the smallest of starts promises to be immensely rewarding.