As a homeschooling mom running a small business, I totally get the chaos of a busy schedule. Between kids’ activities, work, and keeping the household in order, it’s a constant juggling act. Often, house cleaning is the first thing to slip through the cracks.
You might have heard about “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” a popular book and show. Nearly every mom I know has a copy, and it’s been a game-changer for me. Still, applying its methods in a bustling household can feel impractical—almost laughable. Teaching kids to fold laundry perfectly or decide which toys to give away? It’s tough when you can’t even find a matching pair of socks!
Thankfully, you can adapt the KonMari method for your family without following it strictly. Created by Japanese organizer Marie Kondo, this method focuses on keeping only items that bring you joy, which naturally reduces clutter. It’s not about finding storage solutions; it’s about changing your mindset to prevent clutter from building up in the first place.
Kondo suggests tidying by category instead of location, which means gathering all clothes from the entire house to sort them at once. This approach helps reduce confusion when items are scattered. Kondo also recommends doing everything in a specific order, starting with clothes, and a specific order within each category.
The idea is to declutter an entire category in one go, which helps solidify a clutter-free mindset. Start with simple items to get momentum. It’s about focusing on what you want to keep rather than what you need to discard. You should evaluate each item to see if it sparks joy, and if not, let it go. Kondo advises tidying out of sight from your family and not discarding others’ belongings without permission. She believes that decluttering your things might inspire your family to do the same.
For family life, you might need to bend the rules. Focus on what aspects work for you and don’t sweat the rest. With kids, finding time for a massive declutter session is tricky. Tackle small, manageable sections instead, and maintain a list so you know what you’ve kept or discarded.
Some items, like diapers or kids’ clothes, can’t be tossed if they don’t spark joy. Think instead about their purpose and functionality. If the folding method works for you, great—instead, just stick to what works best for your family. Folding doesn’t always happen perfectly, and that’s okay!
While connecting with your possessions can boost gratitude, talking to them isn’t necessary if it feels odd. Respect your kids’ things but set limits. If a toy hasn’t been missed after some time in storage, it might be time to let it go.
Even if Kondo claims you’ll only need to declutter once, it’s different with kids. As they grow, they accumulate more stuff. Don’t be too hard on yourself about this—it’s an ongoing process.
Marie Kondo’s methods can help busy moms get organized and potentially feel less stressed, but some adjustments are needed. With these tweaks, the KonMari method can still bring lasting changes in a hectic home. If you haven’t explored “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” it’s worth a look, and the show is quite inspiring. Maybe Marie’s next stop could be our place! How has the book worked for you?
