The Quickie The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Review
Here’s a fast rundown of the core advice from Marie Kondo’s popular decluttering book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which promises to help readers tidy their homes and transform their lives through a specific cleaning method.
In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo introduces a streamlined approach to decluttering that focuses on identifying and keeping only possessions that “spark joy” for their owners. Dubbed the KonMari method, it promises not just a tidy home but increased happiness, confidence, and motivation through tidying.
Kondo states that conventional advice on organizing fails because it focuses on what, how much, and where to store things. She argues that the root of clutter is emotional attachment, so she created a category-based decluttering process that involves handling each item to see if it sparks joy. If not, thank it and let it go.
The book outlines the KonMari method in detail. First, tidy by category, not location. Five main categories are covered in order: clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. Handle every single item in a category before moving to the next.
The process for deciding what to keep is: pick up an item, ask if it sparks joy, and thank discarded items for their service before letting them go. Joy should be the determining factor, not usefulness, practicality, or sentiment. Keep only beloved items that elevate your mood.
Kondo stresses the importance of doing categories in her set order. Start with clothes, as they’re easiest to assess. End with mementos, the toughest category. Komono includes several subcategories like kitchenware, electronics, hobby supplies, etc. Tackle those from top to bottom too.
Once you’ve sorted through all categories by handling each item, arrange your belongings properly. Kondo has specific folding and storage methods to create calm. For clothes, fold them vertically and store standing up in drawers. Don’t hang or stack them. Fold and file papers upright. Store items to maximize visibility, access, and peace of mind.
The book also offers advice on maintenance tidying to keep clutter from returning. Make tidying a daily habit by putting belongings back in place each night. Do occasional sweep tidying sessions to reinforce your spark joy decisions. Only keep things you love and use.
At its core, the KonMari method promises more than a tidy home. Kondo explains that tidying helps you gain self-knowledge and process emotions by literally and metaphorically sorting through your life. You confront past attachments and mistakes to make space for personal growth and future possibilities.
By surrounding yourself just with belongings that spark joy, you gain perspective on what really matters. This brings confidence, appreciation, and lightness. Letting go of clutter enables you to create the life and self you want going forward. A tidy home provides a backdrop to enhance your unique sparkle.
Critics argue the KonMari method can encourage excess minimalism and wasteful purging of still-useful items. Its rules are strict, like set order and handling every object. But adherents praise the mindfulness it fosters and ensuing personal insights. Approached flexibly, it can be beneficial decluttering.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has sparked a decluttering revolution. While the mystical joy-centric approach isn’t for everyone, the book provides an insightful model for creating space, priorities, and happiness through reflective, reverent tidying.
This speedy review summarizes Marie Kondo’s teachings. For her complete discussion of the transformative KonMari tidying method, refer to her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
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