The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, written by Marie Kondō is a different read from any other book I’ve read. I would recommend it to most. The book is an international best seller for a reason and shares a methodology of clearing clutter and the magic of a tidying up your home. The book is a shift in thinking about our possessions and the philosophy of owning things. The fundamental concept is that if an item doesn’t spark joy in your life, say bye-bye to it. There are a few obsessive points that Marie makes that you may need to overlook, such as emptying your purse each night to allow the contents to breath. But if you can get over these oddities, there are some real magic tips to be found. These are my favourite 3:
- Tidy by category, not room – this was a new concept for me as I’d normally tackle de-cluttering by room. Starting with the clothes category, Marie states that you must collect all your clothes before you begin (including the coat closet, and the laundry room), gather them in one spot and then begin the process of discovering which one’s make you happy, or as Marie puts it, ‘spark joy’. Items that don’t are gonners. After clothes, move onto books (this is a challenging one for me as I always think I’ll re-read my favourites, but truthfully, new books are released daily that I want to read, so there really isn’t time to go back and re-read old favourites. To Goodwill they go! Later in the book, she tackles photographs (I haven’t tackled these yet as the emotional involvement will be high. But it is on my to-do list.
- Fold, don’t hang – My favourite for sure is looking at how to fold clothes. Marie believes that everything takes less space (and makes the clothes happier) when folded versus hung. And this is where my favourite tip is: Fold/roll your clothes so that they stand up vertically, like cylinders. I was amazed with this tip, it really does make a difference. I can see all my shirts, not just the one’s on top.
- Stay away from storage – this is an interesting one. Marie suggests that you shouldn’t need storage containers. Containers mean you still have too much crap. I’ve mostly bought into this concept although I haven’t fully put into practice. I’ll always have storage containers for off season shoes for the family or holiday decorations.
If you’re striving to be happier with fewer things, and can get over some of the slightly crazy ideas (in my opinion, maybe they’ll totally work for you), this book is for you.
I think this is the first review I’ve ever done for a book. And while I absolutely enjoyed the book while I read it, and was totally motivated once complete. It’s been a while and I think it might be time for a re-read. And since I donated the book at Marie Kondō’s recommendation, this time, I’ll get it from the library!
ADRIANA …LOVE YOUR E MAIL BULLETINS…TRULY LIFE CHANGING ONE DAY AT A TIME ..AND YES , I LOVE MARIE KONDOS BOOK..ITS ALMOST MAGICAL HOW SHE CHANGES THE WAY YOU LOOK AT YOUR POSSESSIONS, YOUR SPACE AND INDEED HOW YOU END UP MANAGING THE CHAOS OF LIFE…A PEACEFUL AND PROFOUNDLY EFFECTIVE READ. THANKS FOR SHARING AND KEEP YOUR OWN LIFE CHANGING ADVICE COMING. …MAUEEN