KonMari IS All About Folding

I love a good folding video. I find them therapeutic to watch, and making these videos gives me just as much joy as watching them. But the “KonMari Method is so much more than folding.” I’ve been caught saying these exact words. Recently I started to examine this thought and I spent some time to dig deeper into this idea.

When I break down the philosophy of the KonMari method, I see three distinct foundational pillars. All three pillars are found in the act of folding. Let’s explore gratitude, assessment of joy, and habit formation.

Gratitude
Folding is an expression of gratitude. Each and every time we fold our clothing items we are choosing to care for the item. Smoothing out any wrinkles and neatly folding so that the item stands upright is appreciation for our possessions in an intimate manner. The energy and care we place in folding our clothes express our appreciation for how the item supports us in our lives.

Assessment of Joy
When we fold, we also assess our items. This evaluation is practicing the concept of “spark joy”. Each and every time we fold our clothes, an assessment of joy is being made. Touching our items connects us and we are more in tune with how we feel about the item. Yes, folding can be seen as a chore and another to-do item on your list, but it can also be seen as a mindfulness practice of meditation. Folding is an opportunity to connect inwardly to ourselves and our thoughts and feelings. The folding practice heightens our sensitivity to joy teaching us what truly sparks joy in our lives.

Habit Formation
The routine nature of folding is the foundation of habit formation. Each repetitive action to fold is building a habit. Habit formation is essential to the KonMari Method because we are practicing simple actions and behaviors that allow us to maintain a life that is tidy. Once you have designated a spot for your items, you must put the item back. This is simple, but not easy. Developing the habit of folding, or any habit, allows us to build the habit-forming muscle that is needed to maintain the KonMari philosophy in our homes.

The act of folding is a practice of these three foundational pillars of the KonMari Method. And from that perspective, yes, the method IS all about folding. If you are new to the KonMari Method and want to deepen your understanding of the philosophy, start with small actions of tidying such as applying file folding into your day.  The three foundational pillars explained above may be the mindful activity that shifts your relationship to your possessions.

Tidy on and tidy strong, my friends!