Decluttering

Marie Kondo has been all the rage recently.

Perhaps it's after her show on Netflix. Perhaps it's a start-of-year thing. It's something that's been on my mind at the end of the year - even before I knew who Marie Kondo was - as I looked at all the shopping I had amassed from the year end.

I have to pack my stuff, I thought. Clear out my closet so I can start wearing the new stuff I've bought, instead of constantly wearing the same things that may not fit that well anymore, but I still wear and keep because they ain't broken.

I'm a hoarder. I admit.

I keep stuff - from those with sentimental value, to random freebies and souvenirs I get from conferences. But I also keep the stuff that I buy. I stash them, and the irony is that I often buy all these nice new expensive, good quality stuff (e.g. skincare, makeup, ...handbags) and I can't bear to use them and ruin them. And in the case of makeup, I end up using the cheap stuff freely, instead of using the stuff I spent a shitton of money on, and by the time I get around to realising I ought to use it, it's almost gone bad.

I have a whole stash of new makeup, skincare, clothes waiting to be used. Why? I'm forcing myself to face the harsh truths here:

1. I probably love shopping and good deals (fine. I think I'm a shopaholic.)
2. I hoard, keep, and can't bear to use stuff
3. I find it hard to throw stuff out. If it ain't broken, and still works, why do you need to replace it?
   And yet..I'm always buying new stuff that ends up not getting used

It's a vicious, toxic cycle.

I don't just need to pack. I need to declutter. Myself, my mind, from my usual way of life and habits.

The exterior is often a reflection of what's within.

Taking a step back, I'm busy all the time. Running from place to place, task to task. I'm naturally curious, inquisitive, always filled with so many ideas in my head. I hardly take time to reflect, think, and clear my mind.

My behaviour with my physical spaces and worldly possessions is, to some extent, a reflection of my mind. I haven't read Marie Kondo's book yet, but I'm adding it to my list. Because I'm confident that the exercise of KonMari-ing my physical spaces is simply a symbolic, practical way of tackling the bigger elephant in the room and decluttering what really needs to be decluttered - my mind.

Let's break it down and draw parallels:

KonMari Method:

1. Gather all your belongings, one category at a time
2. Keep only the things that spark joy
3. Find a place for everything from then on

Your life, your mind:

1. Think of your priorities. Your life. All the things you do
2. Which of these are actually important to you? What matters most?
3. Reflect, reorganise, reprioritise. Always keep the big picture in mind

Over time, things start to pile up in our physical spaces, our wardrobes, our rooms. And we've got go through the exercise again.

The same for our minds. Life goes on, things happen, we get busy. Unlike the physical clutter that sits before us, sometimes we don't realise our minds are, too, getting cluttered. 

It's alright that the clutter develops. What's more important is that we recognise it, and take time to declutter. To reflect, to think. Take a break if you need to, recharge, and emerge rejuvenated and continue doing the great things you were built for.

If there's anything I've learnt in the past few years, is that sometimes we just get busy being busy and time passes us by before know it. And it takes a major shake-up or a viral sensation like Marie Kondo, or just a simple timely conversation to make us take a step back and look at the big picture.

We might need to make decluttering our minds regular and systematic - perhaps in the form of a weekly/monthly journal, meditation or reflection. Or perhaps in the form of timely reminders, conversations and check-ins. Create me-time for yourself. It's something I'm admittedly terrible at, but recognising the problem is often the first step to the solution and making change.

And me being here is a step in that direction. :)

And so, I'll Marie Kondo my life - soon. And also finally finish writing about red rice wine.