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La vida moderna often asks too much of us. Work, family, pending messages, social commitments, household chores, and that feeling that we never manage to do it all. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, even when “everything is fine”.
That’s where Marie Kondo comes in, the well-known Japanese organizer who became famous for her KonMari method. Her approach is not just about tidying drawers. At its core, it invites you to ask something very simple and very profound: does this bring me joy?
KonMari focuses on identifying the objects that awaken joy, gratitude or real usefulness, and letting go of what no longer has a place in your life. The idea is to free up physical space, but also mental space. Because a cluttered home often reflects a tired mind.
Now, Marie Kondo offers a broader perspective with the Kurashi method. In Japanese, kurashi can be understood as “way of living” or “everyday life.” And that’s the key: it is not limited to home organization, but instead invites you to design a life that feels more aligned with who you are.
Kurashi does not aim for you to have a perfect, minimalist home worthy of a magazine. Nor does it ask you to throw everything away. Its focus is something more human: creating a daily life that feels good to you.
This includes your objects, yes, but also your schedules, your habits, your meals, your rest, your relationships and the way you use your energy. Are you surrounded by things that support you or by things that weigh you down? Does your routine bring you closer to calm or leave you constantly owing yourself more?
The Kurashi method invites you to look at your whole life as a space that also needs order, intention and care. Sometimes, you do not need more willpower. You need less noise, less pressure and more clarity 🌿.
One of Kurashi’s foundations is simplicity. It’s not about living with almost nothing, but about choosing better. Fewer unnecessary things. Fewer tasks you do out of obligation. Fewer commitments you accept out of guilt.
The question is not “what can I eliminate to have less?”, but “what do I want to keep because it truly adds to my life?” That difference changes everything.
You can apply it in everyday gestures: a kitchen with what you actually use, a schedule with real breaks, a bedroom that invites rest, a morning without checking your phone as soon as you wake up. Small changes, sustained over time, can help you a great deal. If you feel that your system is overloaded, it may also help to read about 12 simple changes to reset your overly stimulated nervous system.
Start with a small area. A drawer, your nightstand, your bag, your desk. Ask yourself what you use, what you like, what makes life easier and what is only taking up space. You do not have to solve your whole home in one weekend.
Then look at your routine. Which moment of the day drains you the most? Morning? Night? Mealtime? Choose one concrete change. For example, laying out tomorrow’s clothes, reducing notifications or creating a quiet corner to read, meditate or have tea.
You can also review your emotional habits. Sometimes we accumulate objects, but we also accumulate pending matters, avoided conversations, old guilt and impossible demands. If you want to support this process with broader changes, this article about 7 simple rules to transform your life, live better and be happier can give you practical ideas.
The most beautiful thing about this method is that it invites you to come back to yourself. To ask yourself how you truly want to live. Not from comparison, but from honesty.
Maybe your Kurashi is a home full of plants, a simple kitchen, a schedule with time to walk, a well-made bed, a shared table or a Sunday with no plans. There is no single formula.
The goal is for your everyday life to stop feeling like an endless list of obligations and start feeling more like your own space. Lighter. Kinder. More yours.
That’s where Marie Kondo comes in, the well-known Japanese organizer who became famous for her KonMari method. Her approach is not just about tidying drawers. At its core, it invites you to ask something very simple and very profound: does this bring me joy?
KonMari focuses on identifying the objects that awaken joy, gratitude or real usefulness, and letting go of what no longer has a place in your life. The idea is to free up physical space, but also mental space. Because a cluttered home often reflects a tired mind.
Now, Marie Kondo offers a broader perspective with the Kurashi method. In Japanese, kurashi can be understood as “way of living” or “everyday life.” And that’s the key: it is not limited to home organization, but instead invites you to design a life that feels more aligned with who you are.
What Is the Kurashi Method and Why Can It Help You
Kurashi does not aim for you to have a perfect, minimalist home worthy of a magazine. Nor does it ask you to throw everything away. Its focus is something more human: creating a daily life that feels good to you.
This includes your objects, yes, but also your schedules, your habits, your meals, your rest, your relationships and the way you use your energy. Are you surrounded by things that support you or by things that weigh you down? Does your routine bring you closer to calm or leave you constantly owing yourself more?
The Kurashi method invites you to look at your whole life as a space that also needs order, intention and care. Sometimes, you do not need more willpower. You need less noise, less pressure and more clarity 🌿.
Simplicity as a Path to a Happier Life
One of Kurashi’s foundations is simplicity. It’s not about living with almost nothing, but about choosing better. Fewer unnecessary things. Fewer tasks you do out of obligation. Fewer commitments you accept out of guilt.
The question is not “what can I eliminate to have less?”, but “what do I want to keep because it truly adds to my life?” That difference changes everything.
You can apply it in everyday gestures: a kitchen with what you actually use, a schedule with real breaks, a bedroom that invites rest, a morning without checking your phone as soon as you wake up. Small changes, sustained over time, can help you a great deal. If you feel that your system is overloaded, it may also help to read about 12 simple changes to reset your overly stimulated nervous system.
The 5 Keys of Marie Kondo's Kurashi Method
- 1. Set priorities: Kurashi begins when you recognize what is important to you. Not to your family, not to social media, not to what you “should” do. To you. It may be resting better, eating more calmly, having a lighter home or spending more time with the people you love. When you define your priorities, your energy stops scattering.
- 2. Organize your time: Tidying up objects is not enough if your schedule is still a mess. Organizing time means reviewing which activities bring you closer to the life you want and which ones only take up space. You can start with something simple: choose three important tasks per day and leave room for the unexpected. You do not need to control everything. You need a structure that takes care of you.
- 3. Choose simplicity: The Kurashi method values the simple. A cleaning routine that is easy to maintain. A wardrobe with clothes you actually wear. A work space without constant distractions. Simplicity reduces mental load and allows you to enjoy more of what you already have.
- 4. Commit to yourself: Discipline does not have to be harsh or cold. It can be a form of self-love. Committing to yourself means keeping small promises: going to bed at a reasonable hour, saying no when you are exhausted, tidying for five minutes before sleep, or preparing something nourishing instead of eating anything standing up.
- 5. Learn from mistakes: Kurashi does not demand perfection. If a routine does not work, you adjust it. If you start accumulating things again, you observe what happened. If your schedule fills up once more, you breathe and choose again. Wellbeing is also learned through trial and error.
How to Apply Kurashi in Your Home and Daily Routine
Start with a small area. A drawer, your nightstand, your bag, your desk. Ask yourself what you use, what you like, what makes life easier and what is only taking up space. You do not have to solve your whole home in one weekend.
Then look at your routine. Which moment of the day drains you the most? Morning? Night? Mealtime? Choose one concrete change. For example, laying out tomorrow’s clothes, reducing notifications or creating a quiet corner to read, meditate or have tea.
You can also review your emotional habits. Sometimes we accumulate objects, but we also accumulate pending matters, avoided conversations, old guilt and impossible demands. If you want to support this process with broader changes, this article about 7 simple rules to transform your life, live better and be happier can give you practical ideas.
Kurashi Is Not Perfection: It Is Living with More Intention
The most beautiful thing about this method is that it invites you to come back to yourself. To ask yourself how you truly want to live. Not from comparison, but from honesty.
Maybe your Kurashi is a home full of plants, a simple kitchen, a schedule with time to walk, a well-made bed, a shared table or a Sunday with no plans. There is no single formula.
The goal is for your everyday life to stop feeling like an endless list of obligations and start feeling more like your own space. Lighter. Kinder. More yours.
