How Tidying Helps with Time Management
Do you ever think about the verbiage we use with time? Spending time or wasting time, running out of time...Two of the questions that we (Kim Shiu and Steffi Ward) as KonMari Consultants ask our clients are: "How do you spend your time? How do you WANT to be spending your time?" We might also ask about your ideal morning and evening routines.
Today we wanted to dive into how the act of tidying our homes can help with time management.
One of the things that Steffi found since doing her own Tidying Festival is observing how much people get stressed looking for their things and how much time is wasted looking for things. It creates a lot of extra unnecessary ‘noise’ in one’s day to day when things don’t have their designated place or space. Our physical items demand our attention, and thus our time. Things that you have been putting off, such as unfinished projects, take up brainpower, and they're constant reminders of "oh, I haven't done that yet."
What category below is "costing" you the most attention and time?
Clothing - Does it take you too long to get dressed in the morning because there are clothes or shoes that don't spark joy? Or perhaps you can't find an item that you were hoping to wear that day?
Books - Are there books on your shelves that you keep saying that you're going to read someday?
Paperwork - Is your mail piling up? Did you put off paying your taxes because you couldnt’ find the proper forms? Are there work receipts that you need to get reimbursed or bills you need to pay?
Komono (Miscellaneous) - Are there makeup or toiletries you're never going to use in your bathroom? Tools or equipment in your garage that is just piling up? Kitchenware that is collecting dust? Electrical cords that are jumbled and never used? Do you find yourself praying to St. Anthony a lot because you've lost yet another item in your daily life? Do you buy replacement items because you simply can't find what you're looking for? Are your kids always asking where things are?
Sentimental - Are there items that you're keeping out of guilt or deep emotion? These can really weigh on our minds and cost us our peace of mind (and our time).
Steffi shares:
"Before I did my own Tidying Festival back then, that was a different story. I was pretending I was working but I was actually not being very effective in my work and my research on my computer was all over the place, a diversion tactic for keeping me from confronting the other issues bubbling and finishing the PhD. My home looked very confused and I hadn’t unpacked my moving in boxes, which was strange for me.
What helped was after doing my Tidying Festival I realised it was time to confront that desktop which was creating a lot of extra ‘noise’. Once clarified, I knew where to find documents relating to each quote or statement and was able to back things up more efficiently. That led to completing my research work. All this was seeping into my private life and into my time management. Now this is sorted."
As we can see from Steffi’s personal experience, after we finish the tidying process, there are so many benefits with regards to our time such as:
Our homes are easier to clean and maintain.
It's easier to plan and schedule our calendars once we've let go of obligations that don't bring us joy.
Our households operate more smoothly. Our partners and kids know exactly where items should be, or where they need to go back.
We're no longer looking for (or replacing!) lost items.
Our choices are simplified - from our wardrobes to our pantries.
We can focus on what truly matters. We see that our time becomes more aligned with what truly matters to us, and we are more present.
About Your Blog Authors and KonMari Consultants:
Kim Shiu is a professional organizer and Kansas’s only Certified KonMari™ Consultant. Through her business, Tidy for Good, LLC, she helps busy people in the Kansas City area transition from overwhelmed to organized. Trained directly in the world-renowned methods of Marie Kondo, Kim provides the expert structure needed to create a home that truly "sparks joy." You can work with Kim by getting in touch here.
Stephanie Ward has a deep understanding of the connection between people and their spaces they inhabit. She is passionate about helping others feel aligned with their environments, using the KonMari Philosophy. Drawing on her background in Interior Design, Colour Research, and Weaving, she integrates these innate creative skills into her work, your environment. Stephanie focuses on delivering Tidying Festivals, to inspire lasting change and shifting one’s perspectives on life and surroundings. Stephanie works out of Scottish Borders to Edinburgh. Work with Stephanie by getting in touch here or here.