Wondering What To Do With Those Unwanted Gifts? Tidying Expert Marie Kondo Has a Fix for That

From House Beautiful

The holidays have come and gone, and you’re probably still dejectedly eyeballing those set of tea towels, pair of socks or some other item you were gifted from a close friend or family member. Instead of plotting on ways to get your hands on the gift receipt, author/tidying expert Marie Kondo recently offered tips on what to do with gifts that don't spark joy.

In a blog post for KonMari, the organization maven offered three specific rules for these types of gifts:

1. Open them immediately.

2. Remove the packaging.

3. Start using them now.

If the bit about "using them now" has left you a little confused, Kondo does provide some insight into this final step. According to Kondo, even if you feel terribly underwhelmed by a gift, you should always use it at least once to see if it sparks any excitement at all.

"Try out every gift at least one time – even those that don’t immediately spark joy," Marie Kondo writes in her blog post. "The ability to feel what truly excites you is only gained through experience. Be adventurous and welcome things that are different. The more experience you gain, the more you’ll refine and heighten your sensitivity to joy."

Kondo's tips on gifting come just days before the scheduled January 2021 release of her exclusive collaboration with The Container Store. The collaboration will include organizing tools to help you enter into the new year with the backing of the clutter-defeating KonMari Method.

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