22 // Marie Kondo Didn’t “Give Up” on Tidying. Here’s What She Gave Up On - and 3 Ways You Can Do the Same

On January 26th, 2023, a Washington Post article about Marie Kondo, the patron saint of decluttering and tidying, was anything anyone could talk about on my Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Was it true? Had Marie Kondo, whose career exploded because of her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, truly “given up” on the very thing she said was life-changing now that she was a mom of three?

Reading the clickbait titles of online articles like these, it seemed to be true:

“Marie Kondo’s House is Messy. Should You Give Up on Being Tidy, Too?”

“Marie Kondo has Finally Realized What it Costs to Be Tidy - and Like Me, Has Decided to Chill the Hell Out”

But in reading the Washington Post article itself, and looking at Kondo’s exact words, I’m not planning to let go of the decluttering and tidying systems in my home that help support my physical, emotional, and mental health. Kondo isn’t giving up on tidying in the sense that her house is going to be in the next episode of Hoarders. On the contrary, she has given up on something far more important. She has given up on unrealistic expectations, and issue that plagues me and pretty much every mom I’ve ever met. 

So in today’s episode, we’re going to see Marie Kondo’s words for what they are and learn about the three things she can teach us about letting go of unrealistic expectations to live a life that truly sparks joy.

Resources Mentioned:

Washington Post Article about Marie Kondo

Episodes Mentioned: 

Episode 17: Decluttering Our Self-Talk with Julia Ubbenga from Rich in What Matters

Episode 8: Is Clutter Stealing from You? 4 Things You Can Reclaim Now Even as a Busy Mom

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I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

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