After reading Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I went to Japan and met new people who gave me more inspiration on how to organize my home and my life.
Your home should be your sanctuary.
Life has various stages. When I was young, I was living with my parents for almost 2 decades. Then I left home and lived alone for more than 2 decades. Now I’ll be living with my parents again very soon, so this is my last chance to be alone when I’m still young. That’s why I visited Japan last month – I deserve a holiday. I must cherish the final freedom during my youth.
In Japan, everyone that I met knows how to claim their space. My Japanese friend Sakura is a very caring and kind person who looks after her grandmother. Because her grandmother lives with her, she has a large number of responsibilities at home. Fortunately, she knows that as a caregiver, she couldn’t offer highly effective care if she is depleted. Therefore, she needs to claim time for herself to rest. More importantly, she has to set up a specific place that she loves. Right now she only has 2 bedrooms in her apartment, so her bedroom feels like her sanctuary: tidy, calm, and orderly.
“On challenging days, I still have a private space where I could simply shut the door & retreat,” says Sakura, “My bedroom is my perfect sanctuary.”
Sakura says because she works in furniture retail, she has to clean the store every day. As a result, she doesn’t like cleaning the apartment when she is at home. Hence, she has an interesting plan: Every day she cleans one area of her apartment, so she has a clean apartment very easily! Since her grandmother can’t help her with much housework, Sakura has to work smart – in order to make her feel more motivated in this regard, she gives herself a small reward at the end of each week for keeping the apartment clean and tidy!
Invest in good interior design.
If you can afford to hire an interior designer, be sure to do that for your home because you deserve a beautiful environment that belongs to you. However, if you can’t afford an interior designer, you can still read relevant books and blog articles or watch YouTube videos about interior decoration/styling & do it by yourself!
I understand that decorating your home can feel like a luxury, but oftentimes it’s necessary. During my trip to Japan, I realized that most Japanese households have flowers because they think that’s a necessary part of a nice home.
Usually, I wear colorful clothes (especially with floral prints), which is a way to add some flowers that I need to my life. At times I would buy flowers to beautify my home as well. Of course, the most important element in a house is cleanliness which is easy and very affordable – Windex, paper towels, etc. According to Marie Kondo, when we tidy up, we should declutter the house by asking “Does this spark joy?” (Only keep things that spark joy.)
My learnings
A well-organized person is able to manage their life and their environment more efficiently and effectively. I truly think so.
I learned in Japan how crucial it is to connect our surroundings with our essence. As I explored the stunning landscapes and immersed myself in the culture, one truth became clear: creating a space that resonates with who we are is vital. From Sakura’s inspiring story of crafting her own sanctuary amidst her responsibilities, to the presence of flowers gracing Japanese homes, I realized the significance of our environment. Our homes should be our havens, nurturing us and reflecting our aspirations. As I return from this eye-opening journey, I’m reminded to invest in our spaces as an act of self-care.
Just as Marie Kondo prompts us to ask if our belongings spark joy, our living spaces should evoke the same feeling. Let’s embrace this insight and embark on a transformational journey within our own homes. And for those seeking to explore and be inspired, why not start with your own adventure? Experience the world with Simply Travel. We’d be thrilled to take you on your journey! Your story awaits. Contact us or request a quote today and see what the world has to offer on your next holiday.
