I’m Stealing Marie Kondo’s Shortcut Tidying Method This Year (It’ll Save Me So Much Stress!)

Hosting during the holidays brings a sense of accomplishment. I love feeling like I’m channeling my inner Martha Stewart, especially when I’ve gotten all the dishes out at the same time and nailed a TikTok-viral holiday centerpiece that my guests can’t stop oohing and ahhing over. But there’s always one part of holiday hosting that gets me in a tizzy: making sure my house is clean and decluttered enough to feel like I can welcome guests.

The stress of deep cleaning every inch of my home — paired with the general anxiety of making sure that food, drinks, and hosting responsibilities all run smoothly — is extremely overwhelming, and I’ve pulled back from many hosting duties in the past in the name of self-care and boundaries. 

With several unavoidable get-togethers coming up over the next few months, I thankfully found a recent Instagram  post from Marie Kondo — the queen of all things tidying up and sparking joy — which will help me find a more manageable way to get rid of clutter at my apartment before having people over. 

Unsurprisingly, she believes that a joyful approach should be at the center of pre-party cleaning. 

While decluttering might feel like the last thing that sparks joy, Kondo’s first, most famous, and most important Konmari tidying-up tip for the holidays is called a “joy check.” If that sounds a lot like a holiday-themed twist on the classic and iconic Kondo question you’re supposed to ask yourself when you’re decluttering — whether your stuff really “sparks joy” — you’d be right. 

To follow the “joy check” to its conclusion, you’re supposed to do as follows: From the moment you step through your front door, you’re supposed to look through each room with fresh eyes, as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Walk through your living room as if you’ve never seen it before: Are you seeing the holiday joy you want to? Is every item in the space bringing you happiness, or are you feeling anxious? If the clutter in your home feels daunting like it does in mine, this is supposed to make it easy (and feel positive) while you decide what to keep, and then thank and get rid of stuff that doesn’t bring you joy. This tip is so simple — but that’s what makes it so smart, and what makes me so certain that I’m going to use it when I host holiday meals this winter season.

Another tip that spoke to me was the importance of keeping a tidy kitchen. The kitchen can be a central part of holiday entertaining, especially if you’re enjoying drinks and appetizers around the cooking area, or live in an open concept space, and some small effort here can make a big impact.

Only keep items out on the surface that evoke joy, and you’ll also have so much more room on your counter space for cooking and entertaining. 

Hosting definitely isn’t a stress-free undertaking, but Kondo’s tips are a reminder to relax and enjoy the process as much as possible.