“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

Have you ever had to run around frantically looking for your keys when you were already late for an appointment? Have you ever had to search for matching socks in the clean laundry that you had left in the dryer for a week? Have you ever had to search for that infamous junk drawer to find a pair of scissors, a screwdriver, or maybe a rubber band? Well, if you have, I want to introduce you to Marie Kondo. One night while I was surfing the streaming apps in search of something to binge watch, my niece introduced me to the Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” Marie Kondo is a sweet spirited Japanese organization expert who has coined her method of organization The KonMari Method. The KonMari Method is a five-step process which includes:

1. Discard by category.
2. Break a category into subcategories as necessary.
3. Keep only those things that spark joy.
4. After you’ve finished discarding, organize your space thoroughly and completely.
5. Do it all in one go.

After watching the eight-episode series, I was hooked on this organization technique. I went into an organizing frenzy. Although my home is orderly, my pantry, dresser drawers, linen closets, and that junk drawer could use some work. I went to Lowe’s and the Dollar Tree to purchase small storage bins and began my organization venture. I additionally purchased the stackable shoe organizer (from Amazon) for my shoes. In the episodes, Marie demonstrates how to fold clothing articles properly to save space. Doing as she instructed, I can now find my socks, gym clothes, and my favorite undergarments in seconds. I watched other YouTube videos to learn how to properly fold the difficult fitted sheet as I organized my linen closet. I further decluttered by eliminating another three trash bags of things that as Marie would say, did not “spark joy.”

In a January 2021 article titled, “Why Being Organized is Vital: The 10 Key Benefits of Being Organized,” the author offers the following benefits of staying organized:

1. Being organized reduces stress. There is frustration and stress associated with constantly having to search for lost items.
2. Being organized boosts your self-confidence. When you are organized and can find the things you are looking for, you are better able to meet deadlines, accomplish tasks, and show up on time.
3. Being organized makes you more productive. Being organized enables you to do more in less time.
4. Being organized = more money. By being organized, you no longer purchase duplicate items because you can’t find them.  By setting up a meal plan, you can eat out less and it is easier to prepare food in a decluttered kitchen.
5. Being organized enhances creativity. When you declutter, get organized, and simplify your surroundings, you gain clarity and experience a surge of physical and mental energy that opens up opportunities for your creative spark to ignite.
6. Being organized enables you to adapt. When you are organized, you are much better equipped to adapt to unforeseen circumstances when your day-to-day life is not completely chaotic.
7. Being organized improves your health. Once you are more productive, you will have more available time to focus on healthy eating and exercising rather than spending an hour searching for your keys.
8. Being organized helps us to be good role models. Our role as parents is to prepare our kids to become successful adults; organizing is a crucial life skill to teach our children.
9. Being organized allows us to help others. By decluttering our homes, we have opportunities to bless others by donating items we no longer need.
10. Being organized improves our relationships.  When we are less stressed, healthier, and productive, it puts us in a better position to be the best spouse, parent, friend, sibling that we can be. We will have more time to spend with the people we love and doing the things that matter most to us.

Oftentimes, our lives are as chaotic and disheveled as my sock and junk drawer was; however, when we begin to declutter, organize, and let go of things we no longer need or those that do not “spark joy,” we can also find ourselves letting go of bad habits, past hurts, and even toxic relationships replacing them with clarity, good vibes, serenity, and creativity. With all of these benefits, I would say, “Let’s get organized!!!”

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