Early this year, a wave of decluttering swept the nation, thanks to the Netflix series chronicling Marie Kondo’s cheerful approach to living with less. The essence of the KonMari method, as it is known, is about ridding yourself of anything that doesn’t “spark joy”—and it sparked a movement that rapidly overwhelmed thrift stores as Americans cast away years of accumulated goods.
Some Konverts, having enthusiastically decluttered their houses, started looking around their offices, ultimately asking whether some of their least-favorite aspects of work were worth keeping. Now, of course, it doesn’t always make sense to jettison uninspiring yet helpful implements. You may not adore a utilitarian tool like a mop, but it can still spark joy if you appreciate the result it provides.
