The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Genre: Non Fiction

This book is the step by step guide to organizing your home and your life. Kondo, a Japanese organizing guru, set the world ablaze with her promise to help you get your house organized and keep it that way. With suggestions like pulling all similar items in to one area and sorting them, Kondo sets out to help you organize your home by categories such as clothing, kitchen ware. Kondo is now the star of her own Netflix show.

Did I ever tell you, dear reader, that I used to have an interior design business? About ten years ago, I returned to school to study interior design and then opened a design business. As part of the business, one of the things I did was help clients with organizing. I seem to have an innate sense of how to organize stuff and really loved helping others find solutions for how to manage their belongings. So this book was a fun read. I think Kondo hits the nail on the head with a few of her principles. Namely, that when organizing, you have to organize by categories (and not spaces) like clothes, books, etc. I also like that she recommends that when you organize items you put all items in the same spot so that you can see everything (and how much) you have in front of you. I also like that she says it's important to touch every item as you sort. I think this really helps your brain stop and consider the item with more clarity. The following are three principles that I personally live by that Ms. Kondo touches upon, but, I think, bear repeating here. First, everything in your home should have a purpose. Even if the vase that you really love sits on the shelf most of the year without flowers in it, but you think it’s beautiful, that’s the purpose it serves. If, however, aunt Sharon gave you a mirror that you never use, you should get rid of it. Second, everything in your home should have a place: the scissors, the serving spoons, the paper napkins, the extra paper towels, summer blankets, clothes, shoes, toys. Everything! Assign your things a spot. Third, your house is not a store or a library. In the US items have become so inexpensive that we tend to buy more than we need. Here’s an example: it is cheaper to buy a pack of three rolls of tapes then to buy just one. Don’t be tempted. Buy what you need, use it, and go back to the store when you need more. Because otherwise, you'll begin to build a mini store in your home and the amount of time and energy it will take to manage that store is not worth the effort. I belong to several Facebook book group sites. Every so often, someone will post a picture of their home library. They proudly display shelves and shelves full of books. At some point, home libraries were special and important because books were a very expensive purchase and rare. That is no longer the case. Don’t be tempted to buy and keep all your books. I borrow 95% of the books that I read or listen to from the library. I only keep the books that are meaningful to me (I have about twenty on the shelf now). Just think of all the dusting time you are saving yourself! Lastly, and most important, appreciate the things you own. Treat your stuff with respect because you spend money and energy buying, organizing and using the items. But, here's where Kondo and I part ways. Folks, a shirt isn’t supposed to spark joy. It is a shirt. You may love the color, the cut, the length, but it’s a shirt. When the shirt is no longer useful, for whatever reason, get rid of it. Family, friends and love matters. The rest is just stuff. And you’re just trying to organize it. Keep perspective.

Back to the book. If you feel like you need help organizing, I think Kondo does a good job giving you clear guidelines on where to start and how to go through the process. You should also watch her Netflix series. I find it a little formulaic, but enjoyable enough.

Happy Organizing!