It may surprise you, but when I did the really big declutter in our home more than 5 years ago, I didn’t know Marie Kondo or her KonMari method, Karen Kingston, or any books about minimalism. Decluttering had been my hobby since I was young — regularly creating order in my things and getting rid of what I didn’t need. I always loved that feeling of lightness that comes when you let something go.
I was also always fascinated by using old things — those we already have or those with a bit of history. My grandmother Božena lived on a farm, was one of six siblings, and had a natural frugality that amazed me from childhood. She would sew cleaning cloths from old clothes, give things a second life through creative reuse — and that fascinated me. She was a seamstress, and I still haven’t fully learned to sew. But the ability to creatively use what I already have, or second‑hand items, stayed with me. These days it might be painting furniture with chalk paint, buying second‑hand clothes, or finding treasures at SWAP events.
“I don’t want to live like this anymore — I want to change the state of our things.”
Back to decluttering and optimizing the number of things. My need for change came from determination — and a decision. The decision was clear: “I don’t want to live like this anymore, I want to change the state of our things.” The strength of determination and decision is the most important part.
And how did I proceed? No, I didn’t follow categories or entire rooms. I chose parts of the house that pulled me in and felt manageable. Sometimes it was a cabinet in the living room, my clothes, the utility room, or clutter around the garden. My goal was clear. The need was deep, so I was unstoppable. The only thing I needed was help with childcare.
My pace didn’t work well with a toddler who had just started walking. If you have small children, I recommend arranging childcare. I decluttered very intensively — in bursts of 3–4 hours. Plan your decluttering ahead and set aside time for it. From experience, decluttering on Friday, continuing Saturday, and resting Sunday works well. If you don’t have a typical workweek, choose two days for decluttering and one day off before returning to work.
I should add that for me it wasn’t only about changing our home — I needed to clear my inner space. To understand what I wanted to do next in life. I knew I wanted to work with people, but I was undecided. There were several options — nutrition counseling, yoga teaching… The only thing I was sure of was that after years on maternity leave, I didn’t want to return to my IT job and commute to an office.
And how did I let go of things? With incredible energy. I simply picked up each item, and anything that wasn’t useful or needed was uncompromisingly sent away. I’ve always had the advantage of not being overly attached to things. When I had driven away several fully loaded carloads of items (going back and forth between charity, swaps, and the recycling yard), a very clear answer appeared about what direction to take:
“This whole process fascinates me so much — I want to help others be able to do it too!”
At that time, the week‑long SWAP Prague was happening in Prague, and there I discovered the name KonMari in the program and began reading Marie Kondo’s books. I highly recommend such events — you can bring various types of items and lighten your home efficiently in one go. And what happened next? When I found out there was a certification option and further education in this field, I decided to go for it and become a consultant. Only later did I start applying the Japanese KonMari method in our home. Then I went to London for a seminar with Marie Kondo and gradually became one of the first certified consultants in the Czech Republic.
From initial fascination and slight theoretical dogmatism, I gradually stopped being strict in applying this Japanese method — both at home and with clients. At this point, it’s simply one of the approaches I work with.
If you also feel you’d like to start but don’t know where, we can do it together. Even if you’re on the other side of the world or the Czech Republic, there are also online consultations.
You fill out materials and send photos. Before the first consultation, I tune into everything and start creating a plan. After our session, I give you instructions tailored to your home. I accompany you personally at your home — or remotely, and you work without needing me physically present. If you’re interested in a consultation, click the button and fill out the form so we can begin as soon as possible.
