Review: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Title: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondo

Date Completed: 5 April 2016

I held out on reading this book during all the "buzz" last year (which has turned out to be one of my reading life idiosyncrasies). I am not a super tidy person, but I have loved boxes/organizational systems my entire life and one of the few TV channels I religiously watch is HGTV. I love me some organizing and good design. So I was also a total skeptic that this little book could contain some grand method to change lifestyles.

I'll stop now and admit that the book is rather hokey and the author a bit pretentious. Partially due to cultural differences I am sure, but I won't be saying "job well done" to my bag, "thanks for making me beautiful" to my necklace, or greeting my house like a shinto temple anytime soon. That being said, the core of her method was solid and actually followed the good ol' KISS principle.

Step 1 - Visualize your ideal lifestyle

"The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live." Being the urban farming, book-loving person that I am, I'll probably own more books and animal stuff than fashionable clothes and fancy accessories. And that's totally okay.

Step 2 - Discard

Discard by category, not location. i.e. ALL clothes from every closet, drawer or other place you stash them. Put them on the floor and then sort. Discarding anything that doesn't bring you joy or speak to your heart (I personally would include utility for a few items). Don't focus on organizing or storing until you've finished discarding for the entire category.

Step 3 - Storage

After discarding everything that doesn't "spark joy" it's time to put things where they belong. Essentially give everything a home because homeless items start the clutter. No fancy storage systems required, just make sure to keep categories together. Clothes in one closet, cleaning supplies in one cupboard, etc.

A few other things that stood out to me involve our attitude and relationship with our belongings. Her perspective leaned heavily Japanese and Shinto, but the same principle can be applied within my own beliefs. Instead of focusing on the negative while decluttering, remembering to let things go with gratitude for their service and/or recognition of how it bettered your life at that time. Also after the discarding, remembering to appreciate your belongings as a reminder to be grateful for everything I've been blessed with.

I know I've been inspired to start putting my house in order and have already begun the process of going through my clothes. And I have to say, I love her method of folding. I've been going around with a photo of my underwear drawer in my phone because it just looks so nice! Maybe there is room for a little bit of magic in tidying...