The year is 2014, and amongst the humdrum of chaotic teen life, I wake up to find myself surrounded by clothes, plates, and an assortment of ill-placed rubbish. Naturally, my mother is displeased, and the usual evocations of “pigsty” and “this is not a hotel” are shouted to back her argument.
Hungover and, frankly, disinterested, I proceeded to tidy my bedroom, and some three hours later, it was done. Looking back now, as I sit at my cluttered desk, I must admit that there is some truth to “tidy home, tidy mind.”
Completely reorganising your life is a task in itself, one that you may not be ready to tackle if everyday tasks are a push already. Whether you are wildly busy or suffering from fatigue or any form of anxiety, doing the most minor of things may seem to take millenium. Instead, start with the smallest and most attainable task, folding your clothes.
Videos by Marie Condo are arguably the most popular; she is a ‘tidying expert’, though, so is my mum if you ask her. Condo has her own Netflix show, has published numerous books, and has appeared on talk shows worldwide. Her YouTube channel, which has 610k followers, is organisation heaven packaged in muted browns and pastel greens. Though her channel focuses on many aspects of organisation, her “Basic Folding Method” video has over 12m views and counting.
Konmari, the Japanese art of tidying up, is intrinsically vital to Marie Condo’s work worldwide. It works under a straightforward principle, joy, and if your items don’t bring you joy, they don’t have the necessary meaning in your life. Especially in the western world, we indulge in extreme consumerism, but there is no logical reason why you need six plain white T-shirts. It is more work to wash and tidy, so strip back the clutter. This will mean less mess on the floor, and therefore, a less messy mind.
The hectic nature of human life means we search for any degree of control in a bid to feel powerful. Folding clothes can do just that; it gives you the power to be in charge of at least one aspect. When your emotions and life seem to be unbearable, control over the simplest things can be an immense weight off your chest. You don’t have to do a vast amount of washing, nor do you have to fold everything in your house. Instead, start with the necessities, which during the pandemic, of course, means baggy jumpers and jogging bottoms.
Even during lockdown, you deserve to feel good about yourself when you look in the mirror, and one part of that is wearing clothes that are crisp and neat. When your clothes are crease-free, clean and smell good, you are bound to feel more confident, sexy even, and one way to ensure this is to fold your clothes the correct way. Online retailers sell nifty trays to help you fold, and with a few swift motions, everything from jeans to T-shirts are in compact bundles. This is a quick and easy way to get the task done. The trays can even be made from cardboard if you are looking for a sustainable option that you can create at home. Those of you attracted to the “art of folding” should then take a trip to YouTube and get lost in organisational bliss. As previously mentioned, Marie Condo is an obvious choice, but there are also thousands of other guided videos at the click of a button.
I am not suggesting that folding clothes will suddenly solve all of your problems, but what it can do is enthuse you with motivation. It’s an easy win, a victory you can revel in to propel yourself forwards. From here, you can find the energy to do other small tasks, building on each little success until you feel confident enough to tackle more pressing missions.