Can home owners (who lack organizing superpowers) realistically be expected to manage the Tidying Up process? What does decluttering really look like in reality? How is the process different if you work with a professional organizer? In this episode of The Architecture Happy Hour Podcast, Architects and hosts Laura Davis and Holly Hall review the Netflix series called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and get candid feedback and helpful tips from professional organizer, Traci Olivares of Totally Organized. See show notes at www.hpdarch.com/ahh80. This post contains links to products we love. If you chose to purchase them, it does not increase the cost to you, but we may receive a small commission in return. The Tidying Up Movement By now you've probably heard of Marie Kondo and her #1 New York Times best-selling book called, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Her second book published in 2016, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up continued her popularity in the tidying up and organization arenas. In January 2019, perfectly timed with the dawn of New Year's resolutions everywhere, Netflix released the television series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. In HGTV style, each of the 8 episodes featured different families, couples, or single home owners struggling with their own decluttering challenges. We binged watched every episode eager to glean valuable tips and methods for transforming our own homes. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/konmari-netflix/Tidying+Up+with+Marie+Kondo+_+Official+Trailer+%5BHD%5D+_+Netflix.mp4   Marie Kondo's tidying up process centers on the KonMari Method™. Followers of the method are instructed to sort through their belongings in categories rather than by location. According to Marie Kondo's website, "Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go." Clothes Books Papers Komono (Miscellaneous: Kitchen, Garage, Bathrooms, Kids’ Toys, Office) Sentimental Professional organizer, Traci Olivares of Totally Organized joined us to discuss the show. Here's what we learned: In this Episode If you have no idea where to start, follow Marie’s steps. Traci prefers to personalize the process to the home owner’s needs. If the Office, for example, is the place that is causing you the most pain, stress, and anxiety, then start there. Be honest about what you have in your home – gather all the things in one category to really see what you need to deal with. Look at the empty space in a new way. Think about where you use items. Things may not go back in the same location. Don’t make the mistake of just organizing individual drawers or cupboards without examining the location of the items in relation to where and how often the item gets used. Do the things in your home “Spark joy?” Keep only items that you love, that bring you happiness, and that you want to have with you into the future. Express gratitude to the items leaving. Rather than feeling guilty or punishing yourself for having all this “junk,” try to feel positive about giving someone else the opportunity to use these things. Before tackling your “Tidying Up” project decide what your reason is. Do you want less stress, an easier time getting ready in the morning, more independent kids, more time to entertain and have friends in your home, better relationship with your spouse? Visualize what you want the result to be. "Clutter is postponed decisions." Quote by Barbara Hemphill. Storing things takes time, energy, and space. The more resources you put towards maintaining your stuff,