Coronavirus: Marie Kondo shares tips on how to survive lockdown

Marie Kondo says we should hold onto items that ‘spark joy’

(Getty Images for Time)

Japanese tidying expert Marie Kondo insists that the key to surviving the Covid-19 lockdown is to de-clutter and stay organised.

Ms Kondo, 35, says people should hold onto items that “spark joy” while discarding others in order to achieve a sense of peace.

The Netflix sensation also reminded people about the importance of planning how they spent their time, particularly during lockdown.

“The first step is to really visualise what your ideal lifestyle [looks like]. How do you want to spend your time at home?” she told CNN.

“Thinking about your goal for tidying is a very important step. In the KonMari method, there’s a very specific order to follow.

“It begins with clothes, then you move onto books, documents, “komono” (miscellaneous items) and sentimental items. But we always begin with clothes.”

Ms Kondo’s method of organising is known as the KonMari method, which consists of gathering together all of your belongs, category by category, and keeping only the things that bring you joy.

Ms Kondo says she recognises it may be difficult for people to get rid of some items in this difficult period.

She recommends that people who are struggling to part ways with some garments should start the de-cluttering process slowly.

“If you find that process difficult, I recommend simply learning to fold your clothes in a proper manner, or arranging your closet by colour, to make a big difference,” she adds.

Kondo also says it’s more important than ever to strike the right work/life balance with many of us working at home.

“Now that we are all working from home, I think it’s very important [to] be able to consciously shift from your personal time to your work mode,” she adds.

“It doesn’t need to be anything too involved. Simply closing your eyes and telling yourself that you’re entering your work mode is enough, or even just writing out the tasks you want to accomplish for the day, and prioritizing your time, can help as well.”

Kondo, also known as Konmari, shot to fame in the US and UK following her hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.

Her books, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, Spark Joy and Life-changing Magic, have sold millions of copies around the world and have been translated into several languages.