While all of us are safe at home trying to flatten the curve, the temperature outside is slowly peaking. With the changing seasons and nothing else to keep busy with, Megha Joshi is reshuffling her wardrobe. The winter coats and sweaters are going in and summer dresses and shirts are making their way out. “I have two different sections in my wardrobe⁠—one for winter clothes and the other for summer⁠—that way it is easier to find what I am looking for. Last year I read a book by Marie Kondo and it changed the way I organised my clothes,” she says. The book that Megha is talking about is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, and like she says, it does provide the readers with an innovative organisation method that involves examining your personal connection with your items to decide what stays and what needs to be thrown in a bin bag pronto.

If you haven’t read the book, don’t worry, you don’t have to. KonMari method of getting tidy is just a click away on Netflix. It has a show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, based on the book itself. In the show, Marie gives tips on her process of going through personal items and how to get your house to the point where you are surrounded only by things that are useful or that bring joy. The takeaway tip? You always start with clothes. Saruk Tamrakar is doing so too. This model-turned-actor was introduced to Marie’s decluttering method through the show itself. “Even though it is not practical all the time, KonMari method has been quite useful,” he says. “With her tips, my wardrobe is breathing fresh as it has become more functional and efficient.”

Actress Benisha Hamal is a firm believer in minimalism so it is quite evident that she follows the KonMari method too. “It is a little time consuming but it does spark joy once you’re done organising,” Benisha says. “Due to the lockdown, I have a lot of free time to pass so I’m following her method to sort out my wardrobe.” She’s also planning to give away the clothing items that she no longer needs.

So what is it about the KonMari method that hundreds of thousands of people swear by? According to Marie, belongings should be acknowledged for their service and thanked before being sent on their merry way. People are drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and optimistic. So, to keep your mind off the daily news of COVID-19 toll, the following is a step-by-step process to ‘Kondo’ your wardrobe into shape!

Step 1: Take everything out of your wardrobe and organise into categories. Work through your clothing systematically—start with all of your tops, then sort your pants, then dresses, et cetera.

Step 2: You need to decide what you want to keep, and what you want to discard. To do this, take each item in your hands, feel if it still brings you joy, or if it has come to the end of its useful life with you. Say thank you, and place those items in the ‘discard’ pile. If you are struggling to make a decision it means that item isn’t bringing you enough joy, so say goodbye to this too!

Step 3: While you are carrying out this process, be reflective and present. Learn from what you are keeping or not keeping as this can help you make more informed purchasing decisions in the future. Perhaps you don’t like jumpsuits as much as you once did, or noticed you have far too many white t-shirts.

Step 4: Once you have finalised your keep pile for all categories, the key now is to put these away in a magically organised manner. Roll items and store them vertically so you can see them all in your drawer.

Step 5: Wondering what to do with everything in the discard pile? One option is to bag up your discarded clothes and drop them at your nearest thrift store—keeping in mind that this option isn’t without its downsides. You can also put aside your high-quality clothes to give away to the people who need them once the lockdown is lifted. If you have items that are too worn or damaged (ask yourself, would you give this item to a close friend?) they may be able to find a new life as industrial rags. From upcycling to clothes-swapping, there are so many ways you can ensure your discards don’t end up in a landfill.

Voila! Be proud of yourself, enjoy your new zen wardrobe and most importantly, remember the lessons you learned to make more informed and mindful purchases in the future.