Latest news with #MarieKondo
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
I help busy people organize their digital clutter. Here are 5 features you should start using on your phone and laptop immediately.
I was trained by Marie Kondo to help people declutter their homes. The results with my clients were dramatic, but there was always an elephant in the room: their digital clutter. So two years ago, I pivoted my business to focus exclusively on digital clutter. Now, high-achieving women reach out because they share a dirty little secret: their digital lives are in chaos. Their email inboxes are out of control. They grimace when I see their desktop. They're resetting passwords daily. And don't even get them started on their photo library. As a tech and productivity coach, I work with them to clear out digital chaos and turn everyday tech into personal assistants. Here are five game-changing hidden features I teach them: Gmail's Priority Inbox feature can help you organize your emails Gmail has a powerful, little-known feature called Priority Inbox, which divides your email into four clear sections: Important and Unread, Starred, Action Needed, and Everything Else. Use Gmail's important flags to train it on what's important and what isn't. Now, your most important emails will always rise to the top, while promotional emails sink to the bottom, making it much easier to unsubscribe and delete. My clients' favorite part? Adding colors and emojis to their newly organized inbox. Checking email begins to feel, dare I say … joyful? Your bookmarks bar can help you organize your tabs Gone are the days when we need to keep 67 tabs open because we're afraid of losing something. With a drag-and-drop, your active projects and most frequently visited sites can be at your fingertips. The trick: bookmark folders. Create folders on your browser's bookmark bar for things like: Italy Trip, Budget Proposal, Summer Camp, and put all of the relevant sites into that folder. Pro tip: Maximize precious bookmark bar real estate by deleting the text in the name of the bookmark and leaving just the logo. Siri and ChatGPT can be effective personal assistants I boss Siri around all day like she's my personal assistant, because she is. "Siri, remind me to take the chicken out to defrost when I get home. Siri, what's the weather going to be today? Siri, text Dad that I'm on my way." My other assistant? ChatGPT. Ask it things like "Help me plan a weekend in the Lower East Side with two toddlers. I'd like a hotel with a pool and free breakfast that's near a playground. Please provide recommendations for family-friendly restaurants." You will be amazed. Use Apple's Groceries list feature and share it with others Apple's little-known Groceries list feature takes the mental load out of grocery shopping. Go to the Reminders app and create a list. For List Type, choose Groceries. Now, when you say "Siri, add apples to the Grocery List," it will magically put apples on the list and auto-categorize them! Share the list with everyone who does the shopping, and be surprised and elated when they come home with something you took five seconds to add to the list a week ago. Try an app to declutter your photos Your phone has a few built-in tools for decluttering photos, but they're lackluster at best. To supercharge your photo organizing, try the CleanerKit app. It will scan your photo library and then suggest what to clear out, including blurry photos, landscapes, and even similar photos. Plus, the Cleaner Kit allows you to declutter month by month, eliminating the overwhelm that keeps most of us stuck staring down 18,000 photos at once. It's time to take advantage of all that our tech has to offer, and these five tips are the perfect place to start.
Emirates Woman
21-06-2025
- Business
- Emirates Woman
How to declutter your home with this Dubai-based professional organiser
Salam Shaban, professional Dubai-based organizer and founder of Tidymess, discusses how you can reset your space for a successful 2023. What inspired you to enter the organisational space? I always loved organising, so it was something I was eager to learn more about. After seeing the amazing work of Marie Kondo I felt inspired to pursue it more seriously. Once I created a system that worked so well for myself and my family, I felt it was important to share it with others. You launched Tidymess a few years back. What was the initial response to the concept? At the time, it was a very new concept. I found myself having to explain it to most people I knew. Once people started to see my work they thought it was a great idea and encouraged me to pursue it. How have things evolved since you launched? I've been so lucky to have received such a phenomenal response from my clients and social media. This has really helped me grow my business. Every day people hire me and my team to help organize their spaces. We immerse ourselves in their homes and move through their spaces tailoring a highly-functional system. In the beginning, it was difficult to take on large projects, but as my team grew, we are now capable of really helping our clients organise as many spaces in their homes as they need. For those who are having a refresh for a new year, what are your top tips to start organising your space and life? Before buying anything new, take a minute or two to think about where it is going to live in your home and life. Think about how long you will need this item and what will happen to it in the future when you no longer do it. If it is something that you feel will add no real value to your space, then you most probably don't need it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tidymess (@tidymess_dxb) A particular place where clutter can build is your wardrobe. What is the best way to approach decluttering this space? Ask yourselves questions such as: When was the last time you wore it?; Is it in good condition?; Does it have sentimental value?; Have you worn it in the past year?; Does it fit you properly? Your answers will help you decide whether you want to keep, donate or store away your item. Over the years, what have been the hurdles you've experienced when building the Tidymess concept? Starting any business from scratch is a challenge. In my case, I was starting a business from scratch about a new concept that few people had heard of. I would say bringing my vision to life was a great challenge because it took a while for people to realize the necessity of adopting a new lifestyle for their homes as opposed to seeing my work as simply 'cleaning up' the house. What have been the key milestones? I would say my first milestone was when I was able to bring in a team to help me serve my clients better. Building a team gave me a sense of accomplishment that something I had started on my own was now growing into something more. My second milestone was after having my third child and realizing that I did not need to stop working. It took a lot of mental and emotional energy to see that it was okay for me to keep doing what I loved. Once I started taking on new projects again, I was so proud of myself and happy that I had not just let it go because of my new responsibilities and busy life. What does the future hold for Tidymess? Continue to grow and reach more people. Everyone can be a part of this concept. Whether they want to hire our services, buy our favourite products online or simply gain a few ideas from our social media page. I hope my team and I can help more people organize their spaces and love their homes. What will you be doing to reset your mindset and body for 2023? Keep finding that balance. As a mum of three and founder of a female-owned business, I find myself wearing many hats at once and that can quickly become overwhelming. I just need to keep finding that balance between my home life, work life and also those moments that are just for me. January's – The Reset Issue – Download Now – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Unsplash @hutomo-abrianto
Times
20-06-2025
- General
- Times
Marie Kondo was wrong — decluttering sparks no joy
I have really tried very hard to master the art of decluttering. The process of downsizing my possessions has been going on in a serious fashion for two years. I have been to the tip at least 50 times. Thousands of pounds worth of stuff has gone to charity including three sofas and (largest item) a super king bed. I have read many guides, including Marie Kondo and the less twee manual Nobody Wants Your Sh*t, to the point where I now need to declutter the books on decluttering. I have held up countless items, often looking worse for being seen in actual sunlight, and asked: 'Does this spark joy?' Almost none did. Instead, they sparked regrets (I'm no Piaf) and, at times, guilt.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: Thank You ‘Fewer Toys' Trump, You're a Bigger Grinch than Me
Trump made headlines this week for going all Marie Kondo on the American economy—and I am here for it. During an interview with Meet the Press's Kristen Welker, Trump answered a question about rising prices due to his tariffs on China by declaring his aversion to the excesses of American-style capitalism: 'I don't think that a beautiful baby girl—that's 11 years old—needs to have 30 dolls,' said the President, before continuing later in the interview, 'They can have three.' In that same interview, he also stated that the nation's rates of pencil ownership have gotten out of control: 'They don't need to have 250 pencils,' he decreed of the sick stationery addicts among us. 'They can have five.' Exactly right! Families across the nation going broke trying to keep up with the latest pencil innovations. Our strategic graphite reserves at an all-time low. Finally, an American president has the courage to stand up to those b----rds at Dixon-Ticonderoga. Is it surprising that the President of the United States is now dictating how many dolls, crayons, vaccines or eggs children need? Sure, a little bit. But why should it be? Many of the world's great leaders have advocated for a centrally planned command economy—Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung come to mind. And funnily enough, I've been making the argument that we waste too much money on cheap plastic cr-p from China to my wife for years, especially at Christmas when the kids were young. 'A Grinch,' she used to call me, a charge I have never denied. So I'm delighted to discover that the First Family hates Christmas as much as I do, although maybe I should have guessed as much during the first Trump administration when Melania apparently took her seasonal decorating theme from The Shining. Speaking of which, I was also heartened to see Trump's intention to impose 100% tariffs on foreign films. Why do we need to shoot films abroad when we've already got the entire world built to scale in Las Vegas? And why stop there either? I'd also like to see a 100% tariff on subtitles and on elevator music that sounds a little too 'ethnic.' Economists are warning that the significant impacts of Trump's economic policies should hit our shores this week, as the first Chinese ships to leave port following the imposition of the tariffs begin arriving in the U.S. Speaking with CNN, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said that 'cargo coming into Los Angeles will be down 35% compared for a year ago.' Fewer shipping containers means less work for dockworkers, fewer hauls for truckers, fewer products for sale. Will shortages follow? Some economists think so, with consumers likely to experience scarcity and/or price hikes in toys, footwear, glassware, cutlery, furniture, bedding and clothing—as are U.S. companies that rely on China for plastic, iron, steel and electronic components. One has to wonder whether Trump's message of austerity will fly among his own base. Republican orthodoxy has always been 'buy, buy, buy!' Following 9/11, for example, George W. Bush's message to the nation was, in effect, 'Go shopping.' After any one of our nation's frequent mass shootings, Republicans respond to calls for gun control by saying it isn't a matter of needing to own more guns, but of having the right to own as many as we, the people choose. How many guns do Americans get, Mr. President? Is it more or less than the number of pencils? We are told that any pain caused by these tariffs is likely to be short-lived. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reassured investors at the Milken Institute this week, claiming that, 'the result of the president's economic plan will be more. More jobs, more homes, more growth, more factories, more critical manufacturing plants, more semiconductors, more energy, more opportunity, more defense, more economic security, more innovation.' That may end up being the case, although it's hard to see where all the new jobs are coming from, or the wood to build all those new homes. It's difficult to envision factories springing up across the heartland paying American wages to American workers. It's difficult to see how cutting ourselves from the world will lead to more opportunity. But while it's tough to see how destroying our trade relationships creates more economic security (or national security) rather than less, I do agree with the Treasury Secretary that we are likely to see more innovation. After all, nothing inspires creativity like empty shelves.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Mint
Swiggy off, Netflix paused: How to have the best weekend without spending a dime?
Picture this: It's Friday evening. Your friends are pinging you with dinner plans, your Insta feed is full of people checking into hill stations or cafes, and there's that little whisper in your mind saying,'Just one small Swiggy and Zomato order won't hurt.' But your wallet (and your financial goals) are screaming: no spending this weekend. The surprise is that you may have an absolutely amazing, unforgettable weekend without spending a dime! Maybe it is even better than your usual pattern of spending ₹ 2000 and feeling guilty afterwards. For the modern Indian that really wants to live an awesome life while spending less money, the zero spend weekend is the ultimate desi lifestyle experiment. This is important because mindset matters just as much as money. Moreover, spending a weekend with Zero Spending rewires your brain to exist in a society that teaches us that having fun is synonymous to spending money. This is why you need a zero-spend weekend: This can help you break the cycle of dopamine, spend and do-over. You can tap into the jugaadu genius that lies within yourself. This can help you slow you down and think about what makes you happy. And let's be honest, you did not buy fancy peri-peri fries instead of your mutual fund SIP. No spending money: Obvious, but important. Not on Swiggy, not on petrol, not even on that cute ₹ 99 thing on Meesho. Use what you already have: That includes your pantry, your books, your streaming subscriptions, your friends. Pre-plan: A little structure goes a long way. You don't want to sit around saying, 'Ab kya karein?' Involve others: Make it a group challenge with your flatmates, spouse, or even your Instagram followers. Start with silence: Wake up without alarms. Journal. Meditate. Do yoga. If that's too much, just sip your chai on the balcony while watching the city wake up. Get moving, desi-style: No gym? No problem. Try old-school skipping, dancing to 90s Bollywood music, or even doing a YouTube Garba workout. Declutter like a boss: Channel your inner Marie Kondo, Indian edition. Clean your cupboard. Organise your kitchen. Donate those jeans that don't fit but make you sad every Sunday. Read something that doesn't glow: Pick up a real book. No Kindle. No scrolling. Bonus points for reading something by Rujuta Diwekar, Devdutt Pattanaik, or Premchand. DIY lunch challenge: Open your fridge and pretend you're on MasterChef India: Broke Edition. Make a dish using only what you already have. Maggi with a twist? Left over pulao paratha? Go wild. Explore your gullies: Put on your chappals and take a walk. Discover that old banyan tree, the uncle who feeds the birds, or that corner kirana shop mural. Fall in love with your own city again. Movie night, Indian classic style: No Netflix binge. Instead, revisit a golden oldie —Guide, Anand, Pather Panchali, or Dil Chahta Hai. Light a diya. Make popcorn. Soak in the nostalgia. Phone detox + family call: No Instagram, just call your dadi and ask her about her childhood. The stories you'll hear? Priceless. Create something: Write poetry. Make a rangoli. Start your blog. Write a song. Recycle an old speaker. Get your jugaad on. Clean in a different room: Clear out your inbox. Eliminate old screenshots. Remove the fifty emails you never read. Emotional health equals mental clarity. Free fun with friends: Host a zero-spend potluck. Organise a board game night. Have a terrace antakshari session. Your friends might whine at first, but they'll thank you later. You don't need Goa to feel alive or a shopping haul to feel happy. The good life isn't something you swipe your card for, it's something youdesign intentionally. A zero-spend weekend is your reminder that in a world obsessed with buying happiness, you already own most of it. So this weekend, put away the wallet. Open your heart. And discover that the richest experiences often cost nothing at all.
