Under the Influence with Bernard O'Shea: I've found Marie Kondo, under a pile of old clothes

I thought it was our three small children that were constantly cluttering up our home. But after reading Marie Kondo and a getting dressing down from my wife I realised that I was the biggest and messiest toddler in the house

Bernard O'Shea: As singletons, we didn’t have to do tidying up. Now it's a constant fight. Us versus them. I've noticed like thousands of other families with small kids we discovered our own Kondo thesis: The T.S.A Method.Throws, Stairs and Attic. Photograph Moya Nolan

I know I’m several years late to the Marie Kondo party. Her 2014 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has not just “sparked joy” for her thousands of devoted followers but also a media empire. Most notably a Netflix series that has racked up millions of views and several best-selling follow-on publications.

Her main thesis is The Konmari Method. Firstly, break down your possessions into categories clothes, books and paper. Then into sub-categories (e.g socks, old Laois jerseys etc).