The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying

Since starting this book I have finally managed to part with my graffiti laden secondary school polo shirt, which I last wore in 2001, and university notes I've not looked at since writing them down in 2007.

Kondo's approach is methodical and indeed ruthless, and recommends starting with clothes. Why? - You may ask. Well to me this makes sense. She recommends starting here, as we're all prey to buying something new every season – in theory discarding something we didn't like or use so much from the previous season.

The way to figure out whether an item is worth keeping or not, is whether it “sparks joy” – these are her words, not mine. Again, this methodology makes sense. If you don't love an item, why are you keeping it? In theory if you apply this theory to every item you own, you end up with only the items you truly cherish, and you end up happier as a result.

By sorting your clothes, you then have the know-how to approach other items you may own, sorting and decluttering as a result.

The author's culture and her background do seep through in some aspects of the book, but in a way that appealed to me. Don't let this aspect of the book put you off though – take it with a pinch of salt, as the message behind it is well meant.

No amount of nagging from my mother, Feng Shui books or the approach of trying to sort out a corner of my bedroom at a time was going to get me to sort all of my stuff out – until now. So far unloved clothes have been donated, books have been given to the public library in town and I have felt “lighter” as a result.

Though I'm far from a clutter free life, I've certainly broken the camel's back with the KonMari method and if like myself, you've struggled with clutter for whatever reason, this may be the book you're looking for.

Thoroughly recommended.