I love to declutter.

Yes, I said it, and I promise I’m not crazy. I love taking the time and effort to go through my things and figure out ways I could declutter my life. The moment I saw the new series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo pop up on my Netflix screen, I immediately felt the need to watch it.

It’s safe to say that I’m glad I started watching it, and my mom is probably praising the lord because I cleaned my entire room binge watching it the other night.

You’re probably thinking: What’s so special about watching someone declutter?

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo focuses on the lives of those who struggle to maintain an organized and minimal lifestyle or who have the urge to move on from the past. By giving the people a new mindset on the significance of their belongings and how decluttering can change one’s lifestyle, Kondo excels at becoming the world’s most cleanest person. She not only pushes people to give up things that serve them no purpose, but allows them to appreciate everything they own and to personify every belonging to make it seem as if they really do hold something special to someone.

Kondo’s way of transforming someone’s home and even their whole lifestyle inspired me. Decluttering isn’t just a way to make things look nice, it’s removing all of the things that simply “spark no joy”. I went through all of my belongings and found things that actually left an impact on my life. Her method of throwing everything on the bed made me really think about the amount of things I own. As someone who constantly takes things out of their room, I thought I didn’t have a lot of things but seeing them all together in one spot made me realize how many unnecessary items I still have despite constantly cleaning out my room. I began to appreciate all of my belongings that I kept and donated the rest that gave me no purpose.

I’ve always been good at folding clothes, mostly because I can’t handle having messy things, but discovering her way of folding changed my life.

Literally.

I know that sounds weird, but I am now able to see everything that I own and actually wear them. I learned that we as consumers constantly buy things just to wear it to one event and have it growing dust in the back of our closet for years. But why do we feel the need to do that? Why do we constantly buy clothes that don’t make us look nice or clothes that we can only wear once or twice a year?  Aren’t we just wasting our money at that point?

Seeing Kondo greet the house gave me a new perspective. Most of us don’t think about how lucky we are to have a home. It doesn’t matter if it’s not the largest or best looking because the fact that we have a roof over our heads is a privilege many dream of having. So, why not appreciate the home you live in and give it a life as if its human? It’s a necessity that provides you with even more life necessities. A home shouldn’t be just a place you sleep in, it’s a place full of life, stories, and comfort. We create significance for our cell phones or other accessories but we don’t create a relationship with the necessities that provide us with so much more.

Cleaning up seems like a such a chore but it doesn’t have to be. This Netflix series taught me that cleaning allows you to create a special bond with the things you own. It taught me that simplicity is the way we should be living.

If you’re in need of a boost in pushing yourself to make a big change this year, I highly recommend watching this series as it will leave you with a better perspective on the idea of owning “stuff”.