Why Everyone is Still Talking About the KonMari Method

Boston Globe

What brings you joy? For Marie Kondo, it's not an existential question. In The Life Changing Magic of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever, joy is a principle that enables you to refine and create a life that's filled with the things you love.

While tidying up does take work (okay, a lot), it's rewarding and encourages you to question the things surrounding you. Since its release, the book has sold millions of copies and sparked entire internet communities on YouTube and the blogosphere to document their journey through the book's decluttering stage.

It's no secret that Americans like to shop and the popularity of the KonMari method and minimalism, a lifestyle practice that advocates for living with less, provides an alternative to impulsive shopping and consumerism. Many practitioners of KonMari and minimalism attest that simplifying their possessions has dramatically affected their happiness and productivity.

Because KonMari requires you to physically touch your belongings and ask if they spark joy, it's hard to make excuses for keeping the items you don't really need or love. One of the most liberating parts of KonMari is that empowers you to toss (or donate) that hideous sweater someone gifted you years ago. With Kondo, there's no reason to hold onto something you don't love. Through saying goodbye to items we don't love we help them find their way to someone that will.

If the things we own are an expression of how we live and the things we buy are an expression of how want to live, there is no better question to ask of ourselves than "Does this bring me joy?" No, we can't get rid of every responsibility (dishes, we're looking at you), but we can decide where we invest our time, money, and energy. The bare necessity doesn't have to mean the bare minimum, and the KonMari method inspires readers to pursue a life filled with the things and feelings that are irreplaceable.

PayPath
Follow Us on

Artificial Intelligence

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

Looking for a job? In addition to encountering those annoying never-ending job interviews you may find yourself face-to-face with an artificial intelligence bot.

Companies worldwide increasingly use artificial intelligence tools and analytics in employment decision-making – from parsing through resumes and screening candidates to automated assessments and digital interviews. But recent studies claim that AI does more harm than good.

Keep readingShow less

Jobs don't have to be miserable!

Photo by Helena Lopes (Unsplash)

Though the wave of tech layoffs and the threat of a recession has overshadowed yesteryear's news of the great recession, everywhere you look, employees are asking for more — and getting it. Although this time of uncertainty could have given employers back the power, it's still in the hands of the workforce.

From Gen-Z's boundary setting and penchant for quiet quitting when they're being under-recognized, to labor unions and even the WGA writer's strike, we're in an era where workers can make demands about how they work — and where they work. And for many people, they want to work from home.

Keep readingShow less

Southwest Companion Pass

There’s all this talk about solo travel. And for good reason — no wasting precious time waiting for others to get their act together, take the plans out of the group chat and actually buy the tickets. Going solo, you can be spontaneous. You can plan your trips according to your precise tastes. You can hop on any flight and fly awayyyyyy.

Keep readingShow less