The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo

Publisher:
  Ten Speed Press
Release Date:
  October 14, 2014
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Non-Fiction; Self-Help; Organization;
Length:
–213 pages
My Rating:
   1.5/5

 

 About This Book (from Goodreads)

This New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing.

Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

I learned about this book on several blog sites.  Everyone is so excited about it.  And I love all things organization.  So I was geeked out to get a copy from the library and dive into it.

CRITIQUE

Oh, to be so disappointed.  I’m really in a funk after reading this book.  I wanted, expected, longed for it to be so much.  And it just wasn’t.

I don’t know if it was the whole your belongings and your home and other inanimate objects have feelings and thoughts and expressions that put me off.  Or if I’m really a hoarder because I love storage and organization solutions.  Or if I just didn’t find much of practical use for my life.  And while I think the idea of keeping only those things that “spark joy” in you has merit, there are a lot of things I own (like anything to do with cooking or cleaning) that don’t spark joy in me at all but are fairly necessary. 

I’m still confused by one huge thing.  Marie Kondo says tidying (the decluttering part at least) should happen quickly and all at once.  However, in another part of the book, she says it should take 6 months.  Big difference there.  Although all at once (as in one – or even two – days) is probably fairly impractical for most people.

That being said, I did have some take-aways I plan to put into practice. 

I was pretty convicted by the “sometimes means never” for unread books.  We probably shouldn’t get into the many books on my shelves waiting to be read (or if I will get rid of them).  Yikes. 

While confused about what quickly and all at once decluttering means, exactly, in terms of time, I do agree with that as well.  After all, I’ve been “working” on my 40 Bags in 40 Days decluttering list for more like 40 weeks.  Okay, not quite that long.  But almost (hangs head in shame).  So to get on a roll and keep sorting through and continue getting rid of things makes sense to have the momentum to carry you through a whole house full of stuff.

I also will be implementing some of her clothes folding techniques.

All in all, it was a short book.  So I’m not horribly aggrieved by the amount of time I spent reading it.  I do sort of wonder what I’m missing since everyone who recommended it on their blogs raved about it and said it was life changing. 

Organized Simplicity - Tsh Oxenreider

Synopsis from Borders.com: Simplicity isn’t about what you give up. It’s about what you gain. When you remove the things that don’t matter to you, you are free to focus on only the things that are meaningful to you. Imagine your home, your time, your finances, and your belongings all filling you with positive energy and helping you achieve your dreams. It can happen, and Organized Simplicity can show you how.


I read about this book on a friend’s blog months ago. There was a wait for it at the library. Absolutely worth the wait, and I will be purchasing a copy of my own.

I consider myself to be a fairly organized, clutter-free (other than books – that’s my weakness) person. However, I also believe there’s always room for improvement. And, hello, a book that offers me a plan to completely spring clean my house in just 10 days – count me in! I’ve been working on spring cleaning all summer and have finally decided my plan is just too complicated. The one Tsh Oxenreider offers seems much more…achievable.

She also takes the time to address the mindset of simplicity. And to approach life and decisions and purchases intentionally. What do you want your home to be and do for you? What is your family’s mission statement and goals for each room? Are you accomplishing that? She helps you to look at the bigger picture and the “why” behind organizing and removing clutter.

Of course, as with all organization books, there are things you can’t/won’t use. I will not be making my own shampoo out of baking soda and water; I have enough hair issues as it is. But I added far more things to my “tool box” than I left behind.

A great reference to have.

Sink Reflections - Marla Cilley

I (sort of) have been following the Fly Lady system for a few years now. And it works when I follow it. My house is more in order, and I don’t have to do marathon cleaning sessions. It even works when I only sort of follow it because I do think I might be one of those “born organized” people…at least a little bit.


This book is kind of a compilation of her Fly Lady system and emails all in one book. It was kind of interesting reading them all at once and getting reminders about things I could do to make things a little smoother around here. And a huge reminder that I can’t change those I live with and if I want to live in order instead of CHAOS, it’s up to me.

You can read the book…or you can just sign up for the email system. It’s free. I recommend it. And if you’re starting from a really low place, the email group might be less overwhelming. Baby steps.