8 benefits of decluttering and a 7-step guide to getting started today [A comfortable life for a couple even in a 48m2 apartment complex]

Hello, this is Miko!

March and April are the seasons for graduations, enrollments, and moving. As it is also the time of seasonal change, many people do the "danshari" (decluttering) while changing their clothes. I myself did an inventory of my house in March. Even if you think you have pretty much sorted it out, after a year has passed, there will be things that come out.

This time, I sorted out unnecessary items, mainly those that I had not used since returning to Japan, and got rid of them in various ways, such as taking out the trash, giving them away to others, and selling them on flea market apps.

Today I would like to talk about the effects of the KonMari method that I practice on a regular basis, and the seven steps to follow if you want to get started.

Well then, let's get started! 🚀

What is Danshari? The reality of a society with too much stuff

The word "Danshari" is actually popular in Taiwan, and minimalism has become popular among young people in recent years. By the way, the word "Danshari" was invented by a Japanese person, Hideko Yamashita, and is a registered trademark. By the way, I also have a registered trademark for the word "Nihonjinfufu". 😊 I can't use anything, but 💦

I was more influenced by a book I read over 20 years ago called "The Art of Throwing Away" by Nagisa Tatsumi than by Yamashita. This book probably brought a lot of attention to tidying up, and led to a tidying up boom, with works like Marie Kondo's "The Magic of Excitement" and Yamashita's "Danshari" (Danshari) method.

Either way, I think it's a life design that keeps only what you need, in moderation, and like , and thoroughly reduces the loss of time, money, and energy . In fact, a UCLA survey showed that families with more possessions have chronically higher levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) .

Why my husband and I discovered the art of decluttering

First, when I moved to Taipei, I threw away all of my large furniture and home appliances. This is because overseas apartments usually come with a set of furniture and home appliances. Also, since my apartment was small, about 60 square meters, I was forced to get rid of a lot of things. I was quite anxious about whether it was okay to throw away all of my belongings, but I crossed the ocean with my beloved cat Mako, who was over 10 years old. I didn't actively throw things away at this time, but rather had no choice but to throw them away.

The last apartment we lived in in Taipei was about 150 square meters , more than enough for a couple and a cat. The living/dining room was very spacious, with plenty of storage space. It was a 2LDK with a mountain of books, a walk-in closet, and two bathrooms and toilets. On the surface, it looked neat and tidy, but in reality, it was just "invisible" and we had stuffed everything we didn't use into the storage and left it there. We lived in our last house for seven years, but we had accumulated a considerable amount of stuff inside the house.

And when I decided to return to Japan from Taiwan after Mako's death,

How much will it cost to move if I take all of this stuff with me?
How much would it cost to rent a room the same size as this one?
First of all, is this amount really necessary?

I began to think that...

So I decided to search for an old but comfortable house , and the option of a housing complex came up. After searching the internet for various properties, I found the housing complex I'm currently living in , which was 48 square meters and had rent in the 50,000 yen range.

In fact, when sales plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, high fixed costs, such as store rent, employee salaries, and the high rent for the 150 square meters of company housing, became a burden.

"If I can keep my monthly fixed costs as low as possible, then surely I won't have to do a job I don't like?" With this in mind, I decided to review what I already own and bring back to Japan only the things I really needed.

The apartment I chose was one-third the size of my previous home in Taiwan, and the rent was about one-sixth of the original . What's more, the building was more than 50 years old and had no elevator . I applied for it from Taiwan without even viewing the property, but looking back, I think it was a bold decision.

Living in a small space, something I had never experienced before, gave me the opportunity to reduce the amount of stuff I own all at once, and having fewer possessions made me feel lighter.

"It feels so good to have it all figured out!"

"As long as you don't have all the unnecessary stuff, you can live comfortably in 48 square meters!"

"Compact size makes cleaning easy!"

I'm totally addicted to this pleasure now.

The 8 benefits of decluttering

① You will gain a clearer understanding of your preferences and life priorities.

Currently, my husband and I live in a limited space of 48 square meters, and we not only eat and sleep, but also work in the same place.

The apartment is only one-third the size of the one I had when I lived in Taiwan before, so the storage space is small and I can't afford to keep unnecessary things.

For example, I've now drastically reduced the number of pairs of shoes I own to eight, but I don't feel any inconvenience. In fact, I feel very comfortable knowing that I have everything I own. I now have a clearer understanding of my preferences and priorities, and I'm able to live a more relaxed life.

By the way, there was no shoe rack in the entrance, so I made a shelf myself.

Since shoes absorb sweat and become damp easily when worn, they should be left out in an area exposed to air for at least a day to dry.

Having everything visible on a shelf like this makes you want to wash or get rid of dirty shoes, and has a psychological effect of making you want to keep things clean. On the other hand, if there's a door like a shoe cupboard, the shoes will be left closed and you won't be able to clean them.

② A more comfortable living space increases productivity

When you organize your living space through decluttering, the amount of information you see is limited, making you less likely to feel stressed.

In today's consumer society, it's easy to find your home filled with the same things. For example, do you buy things you use often by the box and leave them in the cardboard box they arrive in? I'm sure there are many people who have their storage packed with stock items.

Because you don't know how much stuff you own, you may end up buying the same thing when it's on sale even though you still have it in stock, or you may have forgotten that there is a shelf or two at the back that is stuffed with expired food.

At times like these, it's important not to turn a blind eye, but to get all out and organize. (I'll explain this in more detail later in the decluttering steps.) By getting rid of unnecessary items, you can free up space and significantly reduce the time it takes to find things and clean.

This is where the groceries are stored.

This is a place where we open rice, beer, seasonings, etc. many times every day. We have a rule not to let our inventory pile up so much that it can't fit in here, and we keep all of our inventory in our heads. Because of my job, I have to sample a lot of things, so I can't deny that I have more than other people. 😂

Also, wrapping paper, string for taking out cardboard boxes, duct tape, etc. are stored on top. It's a good idea to decide how much you can store in this location without letting it pile up.

Deep inside, I keep boxes of water for emergencies. I don't think it's necessary to store food separately for emergencies. If I have brown rice , honey , pickled plums , seaweed , dried foods , salt , miso , soy sauce , etc. properly stocked, I think I'll be able to live without any problems even in the event of a disaster.

3) Develop judgment skills

By continually practicing decluttering, you will develop the ability to make your own decisions.

You will be trained to make quick decisions in your daily life, asking yourself, "Is this necessary?", which will equip you with the ability to respond immediately when important opportunities arise.

On the other hand, people who are not good at organizing tend to put off problems, delay important decisions, and are more likely to miss opportunities. In other words, a tidy environment is the basis for achieving success . I can say with certainty that 100% of successful people will not come from a messy room.

4. Deepening self-understanding leads to increased self-esteem

Decluttering can also be an opportunity to reflect on your mistakes.

We've all had the experience of buying clothes or shoes on impulse, but now regret not being able to throw them away. However, if you keep these past mistakes in front of you, you will continue to feel self-loathing every time you see them. Therefore, by facing your mistakes head-on instead of running away from them, you will be able to clearly understand your values and preferences.

When you clearly understand what you really need and what you don't, you will not be swayed by other people's opinions and advice. Deepening your self-understanding will also increase your self-esteem and life satisfaction.

⑤ Feel a reduction in stress

As for the psychological effects, many people feel a reduction in mental stress and a sense of lightness in their heart after decluttering.

An environment with too much stuff can make you unconsciously stressed, but an organized environment can help you feel calmer and more relaxed.

I'm not a minimalist, so I don't have a lot of stuff. My value is to "live my whole life surrounded by only the things I love," so if there's something I like, I'll buy it even if I have to spend a lot of money. lol But most of those things are things I want to have forever , so in that sense, I feel very stressed when things I don't like take up space.

Also, if you live with your family, if you have an environment where you can properly secure each other's personal space, it will lead to peace of mind and it will be an opportunity to respect each other and realize that you are important to each other. It is not necessarily the case that all family members like the same things. Therefore, since there are probably each person who does not want others to touch this place, it is recommended to properly separate each person's storage area. And do not touch each other's space! lol

This is a cupboard made by stacking apple boxes. It is very useful in a small apartment complex. My husband and I love the beautiful tableware made by artists. 😂 We made our own shelves together and are cultivating it as a common space.

⑥ It can reduce health risks

Having too much stuff in your home can attract allergens such as dust, mold, and insects, increasing your health risks.

A clean, tidy space can reduce these risks, and reduced psychological stress can also improve sleep quality and boost your immune system.

Living in Taiwan was really a battle against pests. (Anyone who has lived there will understand.) But Japan is really amazing! I've been living in a housing complex that's over 50 years old for about two years now, and I'm amazed that there aren't any cockroaches or even insects at all. (The fact that I can be happy about something like this shows the high resilience of people who have lived in Taiwan! lol)

And the most drastic lifestyle change I've made since moving into the apartment complex is that I've decided to sleep on a futon instead of a bed.

In fact, dust tends to accumulate under the bed and takes up space in the room.

The bedroom in my house is only about 5 tatami mats in size, but we can fit two semi-double mattresses neatly, and when we fold it up and put it away, it doesn't collect dust and is easy to clean.

If you think of lifting and lowering your futon as exercise, it's not a problem. Living in a tiny apartment complex, I feel like living on a futon is a must.

Another thing I've noticed since living on a futon is that there's no creaking noise that often occurs with cheap beds when you turn over, and the tatami mat supports my lower back firmly and softly, so my husband, who suffers from back pain, says that it's helped him feel better. Of course, we did get a slightly more expensive Nishikawa mattress. (I've strayed a bit from the topic of decluttering and turned to a story about living in a housing complex. lol)

⑦ Achieving a sustainable lifestyle

From a social perspective, decluttering also contributes to reducing the environmental impact.

In today's society, where mass consumption and mass waste are problems, a lifestyle in which we possess only what we need without increasing the amount of unnecessary things is also a process towards protecting the environment and realizing a sustainable society.

Especially in my case, our home is small and we have limited space to store things, so when we acquire something, we have to think about where we can put it. This reduces our desire for material things and we don't accumulate more things, which is good for our wallets.

This is the living room.

8. It will be an opportunity to promote your current self-development.

Finally, decluttering can be an opportunity to promote self-growth by taking a good look at what you are interested in and what you are not.

By saying goodbye to things you used to like but are no longer interested in, and things you used to collect but no longer need, and taking control of your current lifestyle, you will feel a sense of control over yourself, which will increase your satisfaction and happiness in life.

We live in an age where we are bombarded with so much information through social media, YouTube, and the like. Because it is so easy to peek into other people's lives, if you don't have a strong sense of your own values, you can easily be swayed.

Is it something you really need? Check your home now and realize a life that enriches your soul!

7 steps to decluttering that you can start doing today

So let me walk you through how I do it in 7 steps.

❶ “Verbalize” your purpose

Instead of trying to do everything at once, decide on a purpose and visualize your goal, such as "today I'll tidy up the kitchen to cut my housework time in half," "I'll have a neat and tidy living room so I can relax whenever I want," "I'll tidy up the children's room," "I'll create space for my husband's study," or "I'll create a space where my wife can do yoga freely."

❷ "All-out" for each category

Once you have decided on your goal, start by throwing away the obvious trash in the room. This is just a warm-up, so it should be easy.

First, we clean up the floor and make an empty space by clearing away half-eaten plates on the table, clothes left lying around, boxes with nothing inside, wrapping paper, etc. Once we have an empty space, we start the process of taking everything out, one category at a time.

❸ The standard for keeping something is not "still usable"

Clarify your criteria for what you want to keep. If you think, "I can still use it," or "I might need it someday," you won't be able to make any progress with decluttering.

Retention criteria

• Frequency of use: At least once a year
• Lifespan: Is it worn out? Does it make you feel uncomfortable when using it?
• Attachment: Does the story make you feel happy?

❹ When sorting, pick up the items and follow the "3-second rule"

When you pick it up Within 3 seconds The trick is to minimize the time you spend worrying about it.

If you can't decide whether to keep or let go of something , put it in a holding box for now, set a deadline (such as two months) and place it in an easily accessible place in your room. If you take it out and use it, put it back on the shelf. If you don't use it, just let it go without worrying.

❺ Make inventory visible

Put the remaining items back into storage by category, and make sure to put them back in the same place after using them. Make a list of consumables and keep track of the quantities. Using a spreadsheet or inventory management app can be useful.

6. The "80% rule" for storage capacity

Always keep your storage space to 80% full and leave at least 20% free . Having free space creates circulation and allows new items to fit in effortlessly.

❼ “2out – 1in” is just right

If you buy one item and throw one away (1 in - 1 out), the amount of stuff you have will stay the same. If you let go of two items and have more space, it's best to put in one of your favorite items (2 out - 1 in) .

In this day and age, there are many options for sharing and subscribing in addition to ownership, so there is no problem. You can rent clothes for weddings and funerals, read e-books, and share cars. We live in a good time. lol

Start by having an inventory day once a month, and once you get used to it, set aside an inventory day once a year!

Our household also does an inventory (review after decluttering) once a year.

What stood out during this inventory was the large number of things that were used frequently in Taiwan but never used in Japan.

For example, a sleeveless down vest, a microwave cooker, a rice polisher, and a Costco membership card. There are reasons for each of them, but I won't go into detail here.

I realized that when your life changes drastically, the things you need change so much. If you keep things you used to have thinking, "Maybe I'll still use them," then of course your possessions will continue to grow. That's why it's important to ask yourself, "Do I need them now?" at least once a year.

I realized that always being light on your feet is a sustainable lifestyle.

Q&A

Q: What is your favorite memento?
→ Take a photo and save it to the cloud. Physically store only the things that make your heart flutter when you hold them in your hands.
Q: My family isn't cooperating...
→ Show them successful examples of shared spaces and get them involved.
Q. Will the weight come back after I clean up?
→ Start by taking inventory once a month, then once a year is fine once you get used to it!
Think of it as more like 2out → 1in rather than the 1in → 1out rule.

Summary & Action List

• First, take out everything from one category to understand the total amount of items
• Complete the 7 steps in one month
• The saved money and time can be shifted to health investments and self-development

Notice <br />If you're looking for some "genuine Japanese-made items that you can really use for a long time" after decluttering, check out the official Kokaiko Shoten store !

You don't need a big house to live comfortably. Instead, find out how much space and possessions you can manage and move to a place that fits your current lifestyle.

My recommendation is to move to a place with an easier commute, even if it means a smaller space, to save on commuting time, get rid of your car that you only use on weekends, reduce your fixed costs, and become more flexible in both money and time.

Fewer possessions will inevitably make cleaning and managing them easier, and lowering your monthly fixed costs such as mortgages, rent, and car maintenance will allow you to put your resources (money, thoughts, and effort) into more important areas. This may improve the efficiency of your daily life and even increase your productivity!

I hope this article will inspire you to update your lifestyle.

Well then, have a great day today too~✨