What do I love about: the life-changing magic of tidying up?
I have not read a lot of books that drives me to incorporate changes into my life almost immediately. I got to chapter 2 and I was able to make incredible improvements to my space. I found a use for my shoes boxes and their covers, I moved and folded my sock and other small clothing items. I like to think of myself as pretty organized, so I was super excited to see her recommend things that I already do in my life out of common sense and also provide me new insights. Remember there is always room to learn, all you need is a willing heart.
What do I not love about: the life-changing magic of tidying up?
This may be influenced by my book club. But it seems like Marie Kondo was overly repetitive and sometimes veered from making her point.
Who should read: the life-changing magic of tidying up?
If you are looking for ways to declutter, and organize yourself better this is highly recommended.
Who should not read: the life-changing magic of tidying up?
If you find something as domestic as tidying very boring.
Notes from the life-changing magic of tidying up
Introduction
- A dramatic reorganization of the home causes corresponding dramatic changes in lifestyle and perspective
- When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order too
- Success is 90 percent dependent on our mind-set
- Order is dependent on the extremely personal values of what a person wants to live with
- It is only when you put your house in order that your furniture and decorations comes to life
Chapter 1: Why can’t I keep my house in order
- Tidy a little a day and you will be tidying forever-People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking
- If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mind-set
- A messy room equals a messy mind
- Putting things away creates an illusion that the clutter problem has been solved
- Tidying up by location is a fatal mistake, you should tidy up by category
- When it comes to tidying, the majority of people are lazy. They are also busy. As for being picky, everyone is particular about certain things but not about others
- Your goal is clearly in sight. The moment you have put everything in its place, you have crossed the finish line
Chapter 2: Finish discarding first
- Do not think of putting your things away until you have finished the process of discarding
- The moment you start focusing on how to choose what to throw away, you have actually veered significantly off course
- We should be choosing what we want to keep not what we want to get rid of
- Take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it
- Keep only those things that speak to your heart
- It is extremely stressful for parents to see what their children discard
- To quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the best way of dealing with a family that does not tidy
- 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
- The key is to store things standing up rather than laid flats
- Arrange your clothes so they rise to the right
- Never ever tie up your stockings
- Let’s face it, in the end you are going to read very few of your books again
- The moment you first encounter a particular book is the right time to read it
- No matter what other tidying method there is out there. Only you can know what kind of environment makes you feel happy
- Every object has different role to play. Not all clothes have come to you to be worn threadbare. It is the same with people. Not every person you meet in life will become a close friend and lover. Some of you will find hard to get along with or impossible to like. But these people, too, teach you the precious lesson of who you do like, so that you will appreciate those special people even more. When you come across something that you cannot part with, think carefully about its true purpose in your life. You will be surprised at how many of the things you possess have already fulfilled their role. 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. In the end, all that will remain are the things that you really treasure
Chapter 3: Tidying by category works like magic
- The best sequence is: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellany), momentos
- So start today, break the habit of downgrading clothes that don’t trill you to lounge wear. The real waste is not discarding clothes you do not like but wearing them even though you are striving to create the ideal space for your ideal lifestyle
- As for you, pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life
- Eliminate the need to store off season clothes
- The rule of thumb for sorting papers- discard everything
- Sentimental items: It is not our memories but the person we have become because of those past experiences that we should treasure
Chapter 4: Storing your things to make your life shine
- I have only 2 rules: store all items of the same type in the same place and don’t scatter storage space
- If you live with family, first clearly define separate storage spaces for each family member
- Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out
- When it comes to storage, vertical is best. Stacking is but a great waste
Chapter 5: The magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life
- Think back to your own school and the things you enjoyed doing. Perhaps you were responsible for feeding the pets or maybe you liked drawing pictures. Whatever it was, the chances are that is related in some way to something that you are doing now, as a natural part of your life, even if you are not doing it in the same way. At their core, the things we really like do not change over time. Putting your house in order is a great way to discover what they are.
- When we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two reasons: an attachment to the past or a fear of the future
- Life becomes far easier once you know that things will work out even if you are lacking something
- We amass material things for the same reason that we eat- to satisfy a craving. Buying on impulse and eating and drinking to excess are attempts to alleviate stress
- The concepts underpinning feng shui are the dual forces of yin and yang and the five elements (metal, wood, fire, water, earth). The basic belief is that everything has its own energy and that each thing should be treated in a way that suits its characteristics
- If you can say without a doubt, “I really like this!” no matter what anyone else says, and if you like yourself for having it, then ignore what others think.