Best-selling author and well-known organizational expert Marie Kondo has admitted she’s “kind of given up” on tidying up.
The 38-year-old became a household name following the massive success of her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” which became a New York Times bestseller with more than four million copies sold. She also had a Netflix series based on her method of achieving minimalism.
Kondo, who lives in Japan, popularized the idea of decluttering by asking if each individual item “sparked joy.” But now that she’s added a third kid to her household in 2021, the expert organizer admitted it’s not so easy to keep a perfectly tidy home.
“Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” she said while promoting her new book, per the Washington Post. “I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”
“My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” Kondo explained.
The publication noted that Kondo still prioritizes quality over quantity and strives to find joy in all the items surrounding her, but that she’s also less concerned about keeping a spotless home now that she has three young children.
The organizational expert also explained how she’s been trying to clear her schedule for more free time, too. As Kondo wrote in her book, “sometimes I pack my schedule so tightly I feel frazzled or am overcome with anxiety.”
The author previously addressed parents specifically about how to follow tidying rules while raising young kids.
“I try to show my older daughter the things I do daily. I try to do some of the washing and folding in front of her, deliberately. Sometimes my daughter starts folding hats or tries to fold placemats on the dining table,” Kondo told Time in 2019.
She also said parents should be leading by example. Kondo contributed to a Quora conversation, saying the “most important thing is for parents to learn to tidy their own things first. If parents can keep their own belongings tidy, their kids will notice and learn by example; they’ll realize how tidying is comforting and enjoyable.”