Last night I read “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo. I heard about this book a couple months ago, but after stumbling across several YouTube vlogs focused on the book and it’s method, I realized it was something I had to read this very moment. Luckily at 126 pages, it’s a quick read. If you are not already familiar with the book and/or the KonMari method, I’ll give you a brief synopsis. Marie Kondo is a professional declutterer and organizer in Japan. Gaining great success from the method she developed, her waitlist was so long, she decided to put the details of the KonMari method into a book.

With over 2 million copies sold internationally, Marie has gained acclaim for what her many clients/readers/followers claim is truly life-changing. After pouring through this book in an evening, I can see how her methods help her clients to de-clutter once and for all without following back into the mess and clutter we all usually feel is inevitable. I stopped so many times for a moment thinking “Marie is my spirit animal” as she recalled childhood memories of organizing everything and her obsession with the latest organizing accessories (think: The Container Store). I was also proud to find I was already practicing some of her advice such as arranging items sloping upwards and by color and storing clothing in drawers vertically so that everything is visible

But I was already guilty of some common mistakes like stacking magazines and the mess that is the guest room closet.

Suffice it to say, I am EXTREMELY excited to begin one final de-cluttering attempt as I’ve spent basically every day before and after the move trying to declutter and organize. I have always thoroughly enjoyed cleaning and organizing, and I have recently embraced minimalism, but I hadn’t quite found the right way to merge all these passions together to better my life. To help myself stay focused during this process, I have summarized the tips that are the most beneficial.

I HIGHLY encourage you to read this book because the feeling of motivation Marie invokes is hard to duplicate or summarize. I purchased the digital version from Barnes & Noble for $7.95 (price + tax) and read it about 3 hours.

One topic that Marie did not go into detail about was making the switch to and organizing digital media (music, movies, books, photos). I’ve had the nook e-reader for about 6 years, and it is still going like a champ. If you don’t have an e-reader, you can download the Barnes & Noble nook app on any smartphone, tablet, or computer for free! Switching to digital versions solely for books, magazines, and movies is life-changing in itself, whether you are an avid novel reader, light magazine reader, or frequent film watcher. Digital versions can (sometimes) cost more, but the mental clarity that comes with an organized entertainment center and bookshelf are priceless.

I’m going to start tidying immediately so follow my process on Instagram with #konmariwithetc