Kondo is a Japanese cleaning consultant and the author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” She invented the KonMari Method of organization, a useful tool when deciding how to make the most of your space. People claim the method helped them declutter, reorganize and live a happier, more inspired life.
Here are a few tips I took from the book and interpreted into a college-friendly guide to staying tidy.
Don’t overestimate your space.
Chances are there will be more space in your new apartment when compared to the dorm, but this doesn’t mean you should bring your whole bedroom from home next year. To decide what to bring, start with the essentials. Seasonal clothing, hygiene products, bedding and kitchen utensils are priority items, so pack those first. Then, choose only a few decorative items. Picture the space you have and think of where everything will go. Kondo says we should appreciate what we have, rather than how much.
Avoid too many storage tools.
A walk down the storage aisle in Target can fill one with the sense of endless possibility for organization – drawers, book shelves, boxes – but do your best to resist. Don’t scatter storage space, which happens when items of the same category are stored in several different spots. Kondo says, “storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”
Have a spot for everything.
Decide where each item will belong, put it there, and be sure to return it there after you use it. It’s a simple process and an easy way to avoid piles of clutter. Have a designated corner or shelf in your room for your backpack and textbooks. Put your laptop on a specific place on your desk and keep it there when you’re not using it, along with any other desk-living things. Finally, make your bed each morning. This is how your bedding is meant to be used, and it creates a flatter, neater space for daytime lounging or homework.
