One of the most frequent challenges encountered in cleaning and organizing tasks is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the magnitude and scope of the endeavor. This often results in postponing projects indefinitely or abandoning them midway. Numerous strategies exist for cleaning and organizing your living space, including well-known methods like the KonMari technique, which focuses on discarding items that no longer bring joy. However, some methods are more procedural than philosophical, providing a structured approach to efficiently navigating your space. For example, the ski-slope method involves dividing the room into small triangular sections and moving side to side. This pragmatic approach might be the key to effectively cleaning and organizing your area.
This method for achieving a cleaner, more organized home was introduced by therapist and organizer Anita Yokota in her book “Home Therapy.” It draws inspiration from the renowned winter sport, imitating the skier’s motion as they zigzag down the mountain. When applied to cleaning or organizing, it involves segmenting the room into small areas and then methodically working outwards from a starting corner until the entire room has been addressed.
How to use the ski-slope method
Start with one corner of the room, visualizing a triangle-shaped area. Tackle this corner thoroughly, tidying, organizing, and disposing of items as necessary. Collect any items that do not belong in that space and place them in a box to be relocated after completing that section. The ski-slope method enables you to work quickly and thoroughly without becoming overwhelmed by the task of addressing the entire room or getting sidetracked. Once one corner is complete, move in a zigzag pattern to the next section of the room. The visible progress often motivates you to continue, and before long, the entire room will be decluttered.
You can implement the ski-slope method on your own, using a single box to gather items to be relocated as you clean and organize, or you can use the four-basket method for larger decluttering projects. Label the boxes as “keep,” “trash,” “sell,” and “donate,” sorting items accordingly. Alternatively, employ the popular doom box method to assist in decluttering while using the ski-slope method if you are uncertain about what to keep or discard.
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