The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up | Summary

Are you looking for a way to declutter your life, reduce stress, and create balance in 2020? It is alarming that the average American has $16,000 of credit card debt and over 300,000 items cluttering their home.

In “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” Marie Kondo discusses her unique method and the key ideas of tidying to help you organize and start tidying your home today. In the process, you will change your perspective on your lifestyle and work.

This book summary post provides simple guidelines that can help anyone take control of their environment and organize what’s important from non-essential items in just one weekend. Keep reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” summary to learn about how this revolutionary approach to tidying up has changed people’s lives!

Introduction: The KonMari Method

Previously, we discussed the 5Ss of Organization for creating order in your workspace. In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kondo provides her signature three-step method for the physical act of tidying, which is known as the “Konmari Method:”

1. Discard: Remove anything that you do not need.
2. Store: Organize the remaining items by category.
3. Maintain: Put your stuff back in its designated place after using it.

This Japanese art of the Konmari method will help you change your approach to tidying up such you will never revert to clutter again. When you put your living space or workspace in order, you accept the past and put your affairs in order too.

It will help you understand the essential things in life, exercise self-control, and surround yourself with the things you love. Your success will depend on your mindset by acquiring the right technique and taking on the ownership pattern of doing the tidying.

Download the PDF Book Summary for The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Part 1: Why can’t I keep my house in order?

In the first part of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo explains why you may not be a tidy person and struggle to keep your living space in order.

1. You never properly learned how to tidy. Most people have to figure out how to organize on their own and develop poor habits. Tidying is a skill that you can develop and learn.
2. You take small steps and do not fully commit. You will either rebound to perpetual messiness or will be tidying forever. If you do not undergo an extensive cleaning, your place will not remain tidy.
3. You are used to the mess. Many people clean their living spaces to reduce stress and anxiety from their studies or work. Thus, eliminating clutter will help you address issues and reset your life.
4. You have gotten great at storage. Your clutter is being hidden an organized hoarder. Thus, you should store your things after you have removed what you do not need.
5. You organize your stuff by location. People tend to store duplicates of the same thing in different places. Instead, you should store by category to gain awareness of how much you have.

Tidying Marathon – the special event tidying your house or workplace in order right away

Once you have completed the “Tidying Marathon,” you will have undergone the effort needed to put everything to its final destination. After this special event, you should store things back in the same place where they belong.

Part 2: Finish discarding first

In the second part of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo helps you start experiencing tangible results immediately by throwing things away.

In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kondo tells us to get rid of unnecessary things “all at once, intensely and complete:”

1. Identify why you started tidying in the first place. Visualize the life you want and what a clutter-free space would look like. In the process, you will realize that tiding will make you happier.
2. Work on one category at a time. You should gather the same type of objects, like clothing or books. In one area, you can better decide which inanimate objects are worth keeping or discarding. 
3. Discard the items that do not spark joy. You may discard things that are not functional or outdated. However, the best selection criterion is to ask yourself if that specific object adds value. Objects can add one of four types of value:
   1. Functional: If it’s just a tool or household equipment, it will help you get something done.
   2. Informational: These materials provide knowledge and get you in the right mindset.
   3. Emotional: These keepsakes teach you things and arouse feelings within you.
   4. Rare: These items will be impossible to replace.

Avoid The Following:

• Starting with sentimental items, as the rarity of these objects can make it tough to resist storing and parting with them.
• Showing your family members or roommates your efforts, as can make them anxious to see discarding many things.
• Falling into the fatal mistake of getting rid of your family’s or roommates’ stuff to “help them declutter” without their permission.
• Giving your discarded items to your family and friends that they do not need or are not suitable for them.
• Cleaning with distracting music and sounds

When You Are Having Trouble Getting Rid Of Something, Ask Yourself:

• Why do you have the specific object in the first place?
• When did you get it?
• What meaning did it have for you, then?
• What role does it have for you now?

Part 3: Tidying by category works like magic

In the third part of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo shows you the essential actions to do effective tidying by category.

If you follow the right order, tidying will be efficient and fun. Use your intuition to reduce your things down to a level that makes sense for you. In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kondo says to start with things that are more comfortable and then move on to more difficult things:

1. Clothes
2. Books
3. Papers
4. Komono (Miscellaneous Items)
5. Mementos (Sentimental Items)

Clothes

Gather all your clothes in your place in one overwhelming pile. Go through each item, and ask yourself if it sparks joy. Remove the articles that do not provide emotional value.

Clothing Subcategories

Organize your clothes in the following order of categories to be efficient:

1. Tops: sweaters, t-shirts, tank tops
2. Bottoms: pants, shorts, skirts 
3. Hung Clothing: coats, suits, jackets
4. Socks and Underwear
5. Bags: handbags, purses, backpacks
6. Accessories: hats, scarves, jewelry
7. Event-specific Clothing: gowns, swimsuits, work uniforms
8. Shoes: sneakers, dress shoes, boots

Clothing Decluttering Rules Of Thumb

• Start decluttering with off-season clothing, and ask yourself if you will wear it when the season comes. Eliminate the need to store off-season clothes, as you are less likely to use them.
• Don’t downgrade clothes to loungewear, as you will probably never wear them. You are more likely to relax in actual loungewear.
• Fold your clothes instead of hanging them as the primary method of storage. Folding your clothes can help solve your storage problem.
• Hang clothes in the closet that would be “happier” hung up. Also, arrange such that the clothes rise to the right to energize your wardrobe.
• Roll up your socks like a sushi roll instead of balling or tying them up. Place them roll-side up so that you can see all of them at a glance.

Books

Remove all books from your shelves into one big pile on the floor. Again, pick up each book and ask yourself if it sparks joy. Get rid of the books that do not spark joy.

Books Subcategories

Separate your books into the following groups:

1. Books read for pleasure
2. Reference books
3. Visual books 
4. Magazines

Book Decluttering Rules Of Thumb

• Do not start reading the book, as the book cover should elicit joy and the memory of rereading it.
• Unread books are difficult to part with as we will read them someday, but someday never comes.
• Fewer books increase the impact of reading, as you are 10X more likely to read a book at the moment you get that book. Kondo keeps 30 books at any given time. 
• Take notes or create photocopies of book sections that you like but don’t love.

Papers

Gather all your papers, which include letters, newspapers, records, etc. When sorting your papers, you should get rid of most of your documents.

Papers Subcategories

For the papers you decide to keep, sort them into these three categories:

1. In-Use: Papers that are currently in use as an application form.
2. Temporary: Items needed for a particular period, like a receipt for a return.
3. Permanent: Documents kept indefinitely, like a car title.

Deal with the in-use papers as soon as possible, as this is unfinished business.

Paper Decluttering Rules Of Thumb

• Lecture Materials: Apply the knowledge and discard all the papers. These include handouts, notes, and resources.
• Financial Statements: Check if they are correct and then declutter. These include statements from credit cards, utilities, banks, and payslips.
• Warranty Information: You are very unlikely to use them, so keep them in one place or digitize them.
• User Manuals: You are rarely going to use them or check online for a solution, so get rid of them or put them in one space.
• Greeting Cards: Keep only those that provide sentimental value, or scan them into your computer.

Komono Decluttering Rules Of Thumb

Many komono items just take up sacred space and can be disposed of by asking yourself if these household supplies spark joy:

• Gifts: Thoughtful gifts that don’t suit you should be given away. Don’t feel guilty if it does not bring you the most joy.
• Cosmetic Samples: These seem great for trips, but many of us never use them for travel.
• Electronic Packaging: The bulky appliance boxes take up scatter storage space and have no purpose.
• Unidentified Cords: Mysterious cords accumulate and typically don’t get used.
• Broken Appliances: Broken items usually never get fixed, so these items should be discarded.
• Spare Bedding: Most of us keep extra bedding without having frequent guests over.
• Free Novelty Items: Free is better; however, these items are cheap, rarely used, and should be thrown out.
• Spare Change: When you find loose change, put it into your wallet and cash it at the bank.
• Stockpiles: Don’t hoard items, as many people will have way more things than they need. If you run out, just buy more.

Sentimental Items

The memory of the items is within us and should provide sentimental value. These are typically the toughest things to get rid of. Dispose of all sentimental items that do not spark joy:

• Photos: Remove all of them from boxes/albums and decide to save photos by examining them one by one.
• Keepsakes: Go through each token from your childhood and your children.

Download the PDF Book Summary for The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Part 4: Storing your things to make your life shine

In the fourth part of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo helps you find storage solutions, so you can have a tidy home.

Before finding a place where things belong, discard everything that does not inspire joy.

Storage Rules Of Thumb

Then, you can organize your items in storage with these rules from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up:

• Designate a specific location for each category and object to make retrieving your stuff accessible and efficient.
• Keep your storage method simple and organized by category to help you put things back.
• If you live with others like roommates or family, assign storage locations for each person.
• Use vertical storage methods to make retrieval easy and prevent stuff from accumulating.
• Store your smaller bags within larger travel bags or luggage to save space. Empty all your bags after being used.
• Transform the top of your bookshelf or your closet into a sacred space by decorating it with special items that spark joy. 
• Treat your items with respect and be grateful for everything you have.

Avoid The Following:

• Designing your storage to follow your place’s flow plan, as the flow is based on your old storage habits. 
• Piling your items in areas as this will cause you to revert to clutter.
• Buying fancy storage containers as you can repurpose old boxes and drawers.
• Storing items on the floor, bathtub, bathroom sink, or kitchen sink to make it easier to clean.
• Storing items at your parent’s home as this takes up their space and shows that you are holding onto the past.
• Keeping tags or labels on new clothes or objects. These things are excess information that does not spark joy.

Part 5: The magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life

In the fifth part of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo emphasizes how the Konmari method helps you pursue ultimate simplicity and live comfortably in your ideal life.

In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kondo tells us that tidying can help us feel lighter, improve well-being, and change our lives, as it has several benefits:

• Helps you figure out your core values and what is important to you.
• Connects you with your past to help you discover only what you are passionate about, enjoy reading, and enjoy doing.
• Builds confidence in yourself and your ability to make decisions, especially when it comes to letting go of things.
• Improves your happiness and health as you surround yourself with the stuff you love and remove the toxins.
• Shows you what you can live without if you need something, you can be resourceful and leverage your friends and family.
• Gives you a newfound appreciation for your home, things, and their usefulness to you.

Be thankful for what you have, and when tidying with the Konmari method, do this simple ritual before discarding an item. Touch it and ask yourself: “Does the item spark joy?”

Download the PDF Book Summary for The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Next Steps

In The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo presents a thoughtful and inspiring approach to tidying your life. The KonMari Method of tidying not only simplifies your physical life but also has lasting psychological benefits.

With her logical and practical approach, she invites us all to reconsider how we interact with our possessions and, ultimately, how we want to spend our time. There’s no doubt that embracing the KonMari Method in one of the best self-help books can be a keystone habit that shapes many other aspects of life.

It takes dedication and practice, but the rewards are immense; you will find yourself living in a space full of joy, energy, and serenity that expresses who you truly are. For how to get organized at work, check out this blog post. If you are looking for a to-do list tool for getting organized, check out our review of ClickUp or Todoist!

If this book summary resonates with you in any way, go read the remarkable book by Marie Kondo – because when you transform your space with the items that inspire joy, your real life begins, and you will be happier!