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Question #3: Difficult/Sentimental Items & Komono
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Oct 10, 2015 06:41AM
Kondo discusses dealing with the more difficult items, such as sentimental items (i.e. photos, ephemera, gifts, etc.) and "komono" (those little random bits of miscellaneous stuff). Which category is more difficult for you to declutter--sentimental items or komono? How do you deal with it? Did you find the KonMari method helpful in sorting out these categories? Is her method of asking what 'sparks joy' helpful?
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At the risk of sounding like a complete sociopath ;) I personally don't have much of an issue being sentimental with stuff. Perhaps it's because of a cross-country move and then a downsize, but just realizing how much stuff I've gotten rid of and been okay with has been really eye-opening for me and has lead to me buying a lot less (and selling a number of items that I no longer use/need but still have value). I've even gotten rid of old high school yearbooks since I never referred to them and wasn't attached to them.So, for me, I definitely find dealing with "komono" more difficult. I have lots of little bits that accumulate and never get used. They used to clutter up drawers but I gave myself one little plastic bin for the odds and ends and have realized that I never touched that bin in several months, so it's time to empty it out!
I think the other issue is buying and holding on to stuff for "just in case" situations. I've had to force myself to stop buying those items (other than an emergency kit/supplies for 3 days to a week!) and give myself permission to pick up whatever I need WHEN I actually need it.
Does anybody else have issues with the "just in case" items?
I have a 'just in case' drawer, haha. And as for yearbooks, I think I will die first before releasing them. Who knows why? Maybe because I made a late-in- life career to be a high school teacher? That's a good one for me to reflect on...hmmm...
Darrell wrote: "At the risk of sounding like a complete sociopath ;) I personally don't have much of an issue being sentimental with stuff. Perhaps it's because of a cross-country move and then a downsize, but jus..."Darrell - won't judge you because I, like you, think that discarding things I keep "just in case" will be harder to part with than sentimental things. I think I can more easily tell the things that bring me joy. So I will find the Komono items more difficult. That said, I discarded all the old shampoo / lotion samples in the bathroom vanity drawer yesterday and realized that I stay in hotels that provide shampoo / conditioner!
Having downsized twice, I found that before the moves I didn't even consider going through the sentimental items, the items just had to move with me. As for the 'komono', I got rid of a lot because I told myself there wouldn't be any room for it. But, I did keep some items for 'just in case'. That turned out to be a bad mistake because then I forgot I had 'just in case' items and ended up buying new ones when I needed them. I no longer have junk drawers. Every item must belong somewhere or it gets tossed/donated.
Good point Tanya about forgetting that you've got something 'just in case' and end up buying it again. I'm sure I've done that. Now-just to attack those 'junk ' drawers! :))
Susan wrote: "Darrell wrote: "At the risk of sounding like a complete sociopath ;) I personally don't have much of an issue being sentimental with stuff. Perhaps it's because of a cross-country move and then a d..."Thanks Susan :) Great idea about the little shampoo bottles and whatnot. It's amazing how many of these little items we collect as we travel or get samples with other purchases, etc. I need to go through my bathroom cabinet again because I really don't need that much shampoo (joy of being a guy with short hair LOL) and I'm pretty picky about my skin care, etc. so I don't use the cheaper stuff that somehow gets given to me by family when they have one of those "teen packs" on sale at Shoppers :) I like just having one shampoo/conditioner, one body wash or soap, a cleanser, and a moisturizer/eye cream and that's it (you know, other than toothpaste, floss, etc.). It's nice to have a streamlined bathroom too. No junk all over the place and an almost empty shower except for two bottles.
Tanya wrote: "Having downsized twice, I found that before the moves I didn't even consider going through the sentimental items, the items just had to move with me. As for the 'komono', I got rid of a lot because..."Yes, the dreaded junk drawer :-/ Has anybody else noticed a shift in junk drawers from random pencils, etc. to now being full of cords and adapters? That's the most annoying for me--I wish everything was interchangeable so I wouldn't need a proprietary cord for every single electronic device I own!
Darrell wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Having downsized twice, I found that before the moves I didn't even consider going through the sentimental items, the items just had to move with me. As for the 'komono', I got rid of..."So true ... cords / adapters have some strange power to fill several drawers in our house. In keeping withe the spirit of the book - does this mean that cords/adapters are truly miserable without their matching gadgets and would be happier if thanked and discarded?
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Oh, I wish that were true, Susan. I would love to thank and discard all the hundreds of cords around my house. I know it's a stereotype, but as the only female in a house with three males, I am the only one who has NO idea what they are all for!
Susan wrote: "Susan wrote: "Darrell wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Having downsized twice, I found that before the moves I didn't even consider going through the sentimental items, the items just had to move with me. As ..."I am afraid to discard any cord for fear that it may be important for a gadget that would be rendered useless without it!
Not on topic re: cords - although have plenty of those around, too, but worked on tidying up the bathroom cabinet today, so I know what I have - yay! and got a good start on papers (documents) to shred - more for tomorrow. Must thank the Oakville Public Library for selecting this Marie Kondo book. It has definitely made a difference. Neatness equals less stress all 'round. So thank you for the inspiration, Guys!
I used to have an issue with cords. With a husband and 3 kids we always had a billion cords lying around and when anyone needed one - that was the cord we could not find. Soooo frustrating. Finally got smart and now every time a new piece of electronics comes into the house I put a sticky label on the cord to identify it. Problem solved :)
Lindy wrote: "I used to have an issue with cords. With a husband and 3 kids we always had a billion cords lying around and when anyone needed one - that was the cord we could not find. Soooo frustrating. Finally..."THAT is a simple but amazing idea! Thanks, Lindy.
Lindy wrote: "I used to have an issue with cords. With a husband and 3 kids we always had a billion cords lying around and when anyone needed one - that was the cord we could not find. Soooo frustrating. Finally..."I need to do this. I have a big bin full of cords, half of which I have no idea what device they belong to. And some of them are those annoying proprietary cords that can only be used for that one device.
Sylvia wrote: "Not on topic re: cords - although have plenty of those around, too, but worked on tidying up the bathroom cabinet today, so I know what I have - yay! and got a good start on papers (documents) to s..."
Glad to hear it, Sylvia! It seems like it's a never-ending struggle for me but one of these days I will be a semi-minimalist :) The less stuff, the less stress it seems. And the less guilt about wasting money on stuff I'll sell or donate without ever touching.
