Decluttering Queen Marie Kondo Says She’s ‘Given Up’ On Being Tidy All The Time

During the early pandemic lockdowns, many turned to a rather particular “hobby” to keep themselves from being overwhelmed by the news gripping the world: tidying. 

And who better to lead the charge than organizational guru, Marie Kondo? The Netflix special Tidying Up With Marie Kondo had just been released a year prior, and everyone went on a mission to banish clutter from their homes.

In fact, the trend was so far-reaching that NPR reported local thrift stores were inundated with donations after the show aired. The program, and its follow-up, focused on eliminating clutter by only keeping what “sparks joy.” According to Gizmodo, Marie Kondo herself became such a household name that it turned into a verb in popular lexicon, with the internet abound with memes made from her catchphrases. 

Now, in the post-pandemic world of 2023, it isn’t surprising if most homes have returned to their pre-Marie Kondo state, with things resuming to normal and no time to set away the dishes and pans perfectly each day. 

There’s no need to feel guilty, however, as the maven herself recently admitted she has “kind of given up” on maintaining a superbly tidy home, even going so far as to declare that her home “is messy.” 

After welcoming her third child in 2021, Kondo told the Washington Post she’s shifted away from the days of making sure everything was organized, all of the time. Instead, she’s focusing on spending time with her children at home. 

In her new book, Kondo deviates from ultra-neat organizational tips but encourages readers to “create their own rhythm” based on their own needs, emphasizing “doable” routines that can be sustained over long periods of time. 

As her children grow up, Kondo said she realizes her way of life may change once again, and who knows? She may just go back to the ‘Kon Mari’ way of life everyone associates her with. 

[via Gizmodo and Washington Post, cover image via Starstock | Dreamstime.com]