Organisation guru Marie Kondo might be best known for clearing out clutter and creating a spotless home.
But, in news that is likely to shock many of her fans, the 34-year-old has confessed that she is starting to let go of striving for perfection.
In an interview with Better Homes & Gardens, Kondo admitted that her approach to tidying has changed since she has had to juggle managing a growing business and running a home with her husband, Takumi Kawahara, and their two young daughters.
“To be honest, my situation has changed since I was single,” Kondo explained.
“I’ve let go of needing to maintain a perfect home all the time.”
While Kondo’s brand is all about having a spic-and-span home, the entrepreneur states that she just doesn’t have the same amount of time that she used to to dedicate to de-cluttering.
“Being pressed for time is common for all of us,” Kondo said.
“You just have to accept the fact that you don’t have a lot of time and that it’s OK.”
The news may come as a surprise to the millions of people who read read the entrepreneur’s debut book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, or binge-watched her Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo when it hit the streaming service in January 2019.
Both the book and show aim to teach people Kondo’s organisational method, known as KonMari, which involves only keeping items that “spark joy” and respectfully saying goodbye to those that you no longer require.
Kondo’s method became so popular that charity shops across the country reported donations of clothes had doubled since the show aired.
Organisations, including Scope and Salvation Army, said they were able to identify which items had been donated by fans of the show as they were packed according to Kondo’s “signature fold”, which sees items stowed upright to help reduce creasing.
While the star admitted she has become more lenient with regards to tidying, Kondo still believes that people can use her practice to help clear their minds.
“Tidying itself is not the be-all and end-all goal,” she added.
“It’s much more introspective. It’s about checking in with yourself and choosing joy in your daily life. I just show how you get there through tidying.”
