The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1)

by Marie Kondō

Things stored out of sight are dormant. This makes it much harder to decide whether they inspire joy or not. By exposing them to the light of day and jolting them alive, so to speak, you’ll find it’s surprisingly easy to judge whether they touch your heart.

The degree of difficulty involved in selecting what to keep and what to discard differs greatly depending on the category.

People who get stuck halfway usually do so because they start with the things that are hardest to make decisions about.

Things that bring back memories, such as photos, are not the place for beginners to start. Not only is the sheer volume of items in this category usually greater than that of any other, but it is also far hard...

there are three other factors that add value to our belongings: function, information,...

People have trouble discarding things that they could still use (functional value), that contain helpful information (informational value), and that have sentimental ties (emotional value). When these things are hard to obtain or replace (rarity), they become even harder to part with.

Photographs and letters, on the other hand, not only have a high sentimental value but also are one of a kind; therefore, they should be left until last.

The best sequence is this: clothes first, then books, papers, komono (miscellany), and lastly, mementos.

“Don’t let your family see what’s here. If at all possible, take the bags out yourself. There’s no need to let your family know the details of what you throw out or donate.”

However, it’s extremely stressful for parents to see what their children discard.

despite knowing that they should rejoice at their child’s independence and maturity, parents can find it very painful to see clothes, toys, and mementos from the past on the rubbish heap, especially if they are things they gave to their child.

To quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the best way of dealing with a family that doesn’t tidy.

Cleaning quietly on one’s own generates another interesting change—the ability to tolerate a certain level of untidiness among your family members.

The urge to point out someone else’s failure to tidy is usually a sign that you are neglecting to take care of your own space

One is that it’s hard to get rid of something received from family.

The other is that they don’t really know what they like, which makes it hard to decide whether they should part with it.

Giving things you can’t use to others who can is an excellent idea. Not only is it economical, but it can also be a source of great joy to see these things being enjoyed and treasured by someone close to you.

Basically, I was simply transferring my guilt at not being able to discard them onto her.

You can also offer to give it to them on the condition that it is something they would have been willing to pay for.

there is significant similarity between meditating under a waterfall and tidying.

there are times when I am cleaning that I can quietly commune with myself.

personally, I don’t encourage this. I feel that noise makes it harder to hear the internal dialogue between the owner and his or her belongings.

Similarly, when you finish putting your space in order, you will be overcome with the urge to do it again.

My criterion for deciding to keep an item is that we should feel a thrill of joy when we touch it.

Human judgment can be divided into two broad types: intuitive and rational.

Although intuitively we know that an object has no attraction for us, our reason raises all kinds of arguments for not discarding it, such as “I might need it later” or “It’s a waste to get rid of it.”

this is precisely why we need to consider each object with care and not be distracted by thoughts of being wasteful.

If you bought it because you thought it looked cool in the shop, it has fulfilled the function of giving you a thrill when you bought it.

If so, and if you no longer buy clothes of the same style or color, it has fulfilled another important function—it has taught you what doesn’t suit you.

In fact, that particular article of clothing has already completed its role in your life, and you are free to say, “Thank you for giving me joy when I bought you,” or “Thank you for teaching me what doesn’t suit me,” and let it go.

Not all clothes have come to you to be worn threadbare. It is the same with people. Not every person you meet in life wi...

When you come across something that you cannot part with, think carefully about its true purpose in your life.

By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order.

To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.

Can you truthfully say that you treasure something buried so deeply in a closet or drawer that you have forgotten its existence?

If things had feelings, they would certainly not be happy. Free them from the prison to which you have relegated them. Help them leave that deserted isle to which you ...

The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell, is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life.

Start with clothes, then move on to books, papers, komono (miscellany), and finally things with sentimental value.

Moreover, because you will keep only the things you truly love, your energy and joy will increase.

You may be physically tired, but it feels so good to get rid of unnecessary items that you will find it hard to stop.

What things will bring you joy if you keep them as part of your life?

Pick them as if you were identifying items you loved from a showcase in your favorite store.

Once you’ve grasped the basics, put all your clothes in one heap, take them in your hand one by one, and ask yourself quietly, “Does this spar...

The first step is to check every closet and dresser in the house and gather all your clothes in one spot.

“You can forget about any clothes you find after this. They’ll automatically go in the discard pile.”

“Do I want to see it again? Well, not necessarily.…” If that’s how you feel, throw it in the discard or donate pile.

as long as you are choosing clothes that give you pleasure, you’ll be left with the amount you need.

The most important points to remember are these: Make sure you gather every piece of clothing in the house and be sure to handle each one.

Downgrading to “loungewear” is taboo

it wasn’t long before I had developed the habit of demoting clothes like these to “loungewear” rather than discarding them. Yet nine out of ten times I never wore them.