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Summary and Analysis of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
By Marie Kondo OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED MEDIA
Copyright © 2016 Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5040-4312-0
CHAPTER 1
Summary
Introduction
Marie Kondo explains her background and introduces the KonMari tidying method as a concept. She shares some testimonials from former clients who are now "surrounded only by the things they love." Reorganizing your home can shift your entire lifestyle and perspective in ways that are "transforming."
Chapter One: Why can't I keep my house in order?
It's assumed that we all know how to organize possessions and physical spaces naturally. After all, shelter is one of the most basic human needs. But, as with learning how to cook, this is a skill one needs to be taught.
With the KonMari method, you will undertake a "tidying marathon" of your entire home that should be completed within six months. This mission should be treated as a special event, not a chore, because it's the first step in shifting your mindset and creating the lifestyle that you want. If you aim for perfection the first time, you won't rebound. Kondo claims that if you tidy a little each day, you'll be tidying forever. But if you go through the KonMari process, you will reset your lifestyle once and for all.
The KonMari method — essentially, discarding, then storing — works for everybody, regardless of your personality, because it empowers you to make your own decisions.
When tidying, a common mistake is to sort by room. In the KonMari method, you "sort by category, not by location." Because people often keep the same type of thing in more than one room or place in the house, tidying by location means you'll always be tidying.
Set goals for tidying one category at a time: clothes, papers, etc. Furthermore, it's important not to be distracted by fancy storage methods. There can be no proper storage method without first discarding the things that you don't need — otherwise you'll still have clutter, it will just be out of sight.
Once you've gone through this process and put everything in its place, the only thing you'll have to do on a daily basis is put things back where they belong.
Need to Know
Tidying is an important life skill that most of us don't have by nature — and many of the things that we have been taught about tidying are actually holding us back. The KonMari method of doing a big tidying overhaul, which includes first discarding, then storing properly, works for everyone and only needs to be done once.
Chapter Two: Finish discarding first
"Before you start, visualize your destination." Think about why you picked up this book, and visualize — in concrete terms — what it would be like to live in the space that you desire. Then, ask yourself why this is what you're looking for — because this will help you determine "the reasons behind your ideal lifestyle." For most, it's some variation of being happy, but each of us needs to realize this for ourselves.
The selection criterion during the discarding process is simple. "The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one's hand and ask: 'Does this spark joy?' If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it." This is perhaps the most famous tenet of the KonMari tidying philosophy, and it is absolutely necessary to the process. Marie Kondo believes that your body reacts to the things you love, that you can feel it. You instinctively know the items that you want to be surrounded by.
Tidy in this order, one category at a time: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellany), and mementos. Kondo designed this list from easiest to most difficult to discard, so that you can work your way up to the tougher decisions. Take care with each item, really considering if each sparks joy in you and has a purpose in your life. Don't worry about being wasteful. Let each item you discard go with gratitude. Discarding helps you appreciate the things that you do care about.
Tidying can be a form of meditation. Ideally, don't listen to music while you tidy so you can pay attention to your inner dialogue. Start in the early morning, with a clear mind. Don't involve your family — and don't show people what you're discarding, because they'll be tempted to burden themselves with things they don't need.
Need to Know
Tidy by category, and in this order: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellany), and mementos. Discard before you begin to store. Choose which items to keep rather than which to get rid of by touching each possession and asking yourself if it sparks joy. If it doesn't, discard it. Complete your KonMari within six months.
Chapter Three: Tidying by category works like magic
"Place every item of clothing in the house on the floor," then sort in the following order: tops, bottoms, clothes that should be hung, socks, underwear, bags, accessories, clothes for specific events, shoes. Kondo claims, "Downgrading [items] to 'loungewear' is taboo." If you aren't willing to wear something out of the house, it's probably because it doesn't spark joy in you.
Clothing storage is important, and folding things correctly, using the KonMari method, will "solve your storage problems." Folding can allow you to fit anywhere from two to four times the number of clothing items in a space compared to hanging them. Plus, if you fold things properly, they will last longer. Store things standing up, rather than flat, because it allows you to see what you have all in one glance, and it's better for your clothing.
The process varies from item to item, but you should essentially try to get everything into "a simple, smooth rectangle" that can stand on its edge. If something will be stored in a drawer, fold it to fit the drawer. Thin, soft material should be folded more tightly than thick, fluffy material. Kondo feels strongly about the proper storage of socks, because they work hard for us all day. They are resting when they're in the drawer, but they can't rest well if you ball or tie them up — fold them as you do the rest of your clothing. Additionally, shoeboxes make great drawer dividers.
While most things should be folded, some clothes look happier hung, so hang them. Keep categories together (e.g., jackets with jackets), and arrange all of the hanging items so that they rise to the right. This means heavy, dark items should be on the left, and light, bright items should be on the right. "By category, coats would be on the far left, followed by dresses, jackets, pants, skirts, and blouses." Avoid storing off-season clothing separately from in-season clothing, if possible.
Kondo acknowledges that books are often very difficult for people to let go of. Put them on the floor and, just as with the review of your clothes, touch each one to determine which spark joy — don't start reading. If there are too many books to put on the floor at once, sort using these four categories: "general (books you read for pleasure); practical (references, cookbooks, etc.); visual (photograph collections, etc.); magazines."
You aren't going to read very many of your books again, and they don't serve much purpose sitting on a shelf. Get rid of any books that don't spark joy. Also, if you haven't read a book yet, chances are you won't and you don't need it. If you really want an unread or reference book after you've gotten rid of it, buy another copy and make a point to read it. Having fewer books around can make the books you do have more impactful.
The rule of thumb with papers is to discard almost everything — except what you absolutely have to keep. There is a specific prescribed order for sorting komono as well: "Keep things because you love them — not 'just because.'" Get rid of gifts that don't suit you, as the true meaning of gifts "is to be received." Respect loose change, because coins are useful money. Keep your money in your wallet; don't use a piggybank.
Going through sentimental items allows you to process your past in order to be able to live fully in the present. You will remember your favorite moments even if you no longer have the mementos to go with them. If you send a box "home" to your parents, you'll never open it again ... so you may as well discard it. While sorting photographs, remove them from albums so you can look at them individually. Keep only those that "touch your heart."
"Only you can know what kind of environment makes you feel happy." That's why Kondo's advice is more feeling-based than numerically prescriptive. Trust yourself.
Need to Know
Folding and hanging clothes properly is key to storing them successfully. In general, you should discard a large number of your books, including those you haven't read yet, as well as the vast majority of your papers. Most of your komono (incidental items) likely do not spark joy and should be discarded. Mementos are the most difficult to sort, but doing so allows you to process your past and, therefore, to live in the present. Trust yourself and you will reach a point at which your surroundings make you happy.
Chapter Four: Storing your things to make your life shine
"Designate a place for each thing." Do this once and stick with it. Store items in the same category near each other. Go for simple storage solutions, such as drawers and boxes. Round storage solutions waste space. Ask your house and your belongings where and how they ought to be stored. Designate spaces for both storage and sanctuary for each person in the house. Empty your bag every day and store your bags in each other — let the straps dangle so you can see which bags are there. Keep things off of the floor and out of the bath and the kitchen sink; tuck them into closets or cupboards instead.
Think of your possessions as parts of your life rather than just "things." When you buy new clothes, take them out of their packages and remove the tags right away. Not only do clothes take up less space when they are out of their packaging, they also feel less like products and more like possessions when their tags are removed.
Before buying in bulk, consider the cost of storage. Always thank your stuff; we enjoy having a home, and so do our belongings.
Need to Know
Give each item its own a place near other things of a similar type, using a simple storage solution. Shoeboxes are recommended. Tuck things away when not in use and be mindful of visual clutter. Empty your bag when you get home every day; store bags in one another. Remove tags and packaging when you purchase new items so they feel like possessions rather than products. Thank your possessions and your home.
Chapter Five: The magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life
By deciding what you want to own, you're deciding the type of life you want to have. The process of consciously choosing the objects that you surround yourself with helps you become closer to knowing your true self. Many people who have followed the KonMari method have become more passionate about their professions, hobbies, and home lives.
The process of tidying can be difficult because we have to "confront our imperfections and inadequacies and the foolish choices we made in the past." But that's better than denial, by either "letting things pile up" or "dumping things indiscriminately."
Most people surround themselves with things they don't need. It's much less stressful to find things when you've pared down — and everything will be OK even if you don't have what you want.
Marie Kondo suggests that there is a relationship between how you keep your home and the well-being of your physical body. Detoxing your home can lead to a body detox. In fact, many people who follow the KonMari method lose weight. Often the part of the body affected corresponds to the area of the home that is put in order (e.g., clear mind when books and documents have been discarded).
Lastly, Kondo believes that "your real life begins after putting your house in order." Tidy quickly so that you can move on to your true purpose.
Need to Know
Tidying is a process of gaining self-knowledge, and the resulting shift in mindset can be dramatic. This is what Kondo means by "magic."
CHAPTER 2
Direct Quotes and Analysis
"The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something and deciding where to put it."
These are the two basic steps of the KonMari method — discarding and storing — and they have to be done in this order. While it sounds simple, it's tedious work because you must examine each and every single thing you own, and then give each of the things you decide to keep a home; however, once you've completed the process, you never have to do it again.
"When your room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state."
Marie Kondo argues that we clutter spaces as a form of distraction, so that we can avoid dealing with our problems. On the flip side, decluttering your physical space also declutters the mind, allowing you to process your feelings and, eventually, focus on living the life you want to live. A peaceful environment enables a peaceful mind.
"One reason so many of us never succeed at tidying is because we have too much stuff. This excess is caused by our ignorance of how much we actually own."
In high school, Kondo realized that the "tidy by location" method didn't work when she found a drawer in one room that had similar contents to a drawer in another room. It's hard to keep track of exactly what you have when the same or similar items are stored all over the house. Further, if you have items that are no longer useful to you, there is no need to hold on to them just because you can. Having fewer possessions enables us to appreciate what we do have in a different and satisfying manner.
"In addition to the physical value of things, there are three other factors that add value to our belongings: function, information, and emotional attachment."
The order in which you review your possessions is very intentional. By starting with items that are easier to make decisions about — such as clothes, which are much easier to replace than, say, photographs — you can develop your decision-making skills to the point where it will be easier to deal with your mementos and keepsakes.
"Papers are organized into only three categories: needs attention, should be saved (contractual documents), and should be saved (others)."
The rule of thumb here is to discard all papers except those that you absolutely have to keep, out of some form of obligation or duty — those that fall into the categories above. She finds papers annoying and claims that they can never inspire joy, though holding on to special ones, such as your favorite love letters or personal journals with great sentimental value, is acceptable.
"It is not our memories but the person we have become because of those past experiences that we should treasure. This is the lesson these keepsakes teach us when we sort them. The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past."
This is how Kondo justifies the discarding of mementos. She thinks that sorting through these special items and touching each one allows you to process your past, put it behind you, and then move forward into the future. Consider this sentiment an opportunity to reflect on who you are in the present.
"Clutter has only two possible causes: too much effort is required to put things away or it is unclear where things belong."
Proper storage — using Kondo's method — should solve these problems. Step one: you may ask yourself if you are simply being lazy. Step two: consider the old adage "A place for everything and everything in its place." Step three: act accordingly.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Summary and Analysis of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Copyright © 2016 Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED MEDIA.
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