The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Table Of Contents

Introduction  

Why can’t I keep my house in order?  
You can’t tidy if you’ve never learned how 
A tidying marathon doesn’t cause rebound 
Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever 
Why you should aim for perfection 
The moment you start you reset your life 
Storage experts are hoarders 
Sort by category, not by location 
Don’t change the method to suit your personality 
Make tidying a special event, not a daily chore 
Finish discarding first  
Start by discarding, all at once, intensely
and completely 
Before you start, visualize your destination 
Selection criterion: does it spark joy? 
One category at a time 
Starting with mementos spells certain failure 
Don’t let your family see 
If you’re mad at your family, your room may be the cause 
What you don’t need, your family doesn’t either 
Tidying is a dialogue with one’s self 
What to do when you can’t throw something away 
Tidying by category works like magic  
Tidying order: follow the correct order of categories 
Clothing: place every item of clothing in the house on the floor 
Loungewear: downgrading to “loungewear” is taboo 
Clothing storage: fold it right and solve your storage problems 
How to fold: the best way to fold for
perfect appearance 
Arranging clothes: the secret to energizing your closet 
Storing socks: treat your socks and stockings
with respect 
Seasonal clothes: eliminate the need to store off-season clothes 
Storing books: put all your books on the floor 
Unread books: “sometime” means “never” 
Books to keep: those that belong in the hall of fame 
Sorting papers: rule of thumb—discard everything 
All about papers: how to organize troublesome papers 
Komono (miscellaneous items): keep things because you love them—not “just because” 
Common types of komono: disposables 
Small change: make “into my wallet” your motto 
Sentimental items: your parents’ home is not a haven for mementos   
Photos: cherish who you are now 
Astounding stockpiles I have seen 
Reduce until you reach the point where
something clicks 
Follow your intuition and all will be well 
Storing your things to make your life shine  
Designate a place for each thing 
Discard first, store later 
Storage: pursue ultimate simplicity 
Don’t scatter storage spaces 
Forget about “flow planning” and “frequency of use” 
Never pile things: vertical storage is the key 
No need for commercial storage items 
The best way to store bags is in another bag 
Empty your bag every day 
Items that usurp floor space belong in the closet 
Keep things out of the bath and the kitchen sink 
Make the top shelf of the bookcase your personal shrine 
Decorate your closet with your secret delights 
Unpack and de-tag new clothes immediately 
Don’t underestimate the “noise” of written information 
Appreciate your possessions and gain strong allies 
The magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life 
Put your house in order and discover what you really want to do 
The magic effect of tidying 
Gaining confidence in life through the magic of tidying 
An attachment to the past or anxiety about the future 
Learning that you can do without 
Do you greet your house? 
Your possessions want to help you 
Your living space affects your body 
Is it true that tidying increases good fortune? 
How to identify what is truly precious 
Being surrounded by things that spark joy makes
you happy 
Your real life begins after putting your house in order 


Afterword     
About the author  
Index