Marie Kondo Quotes & Sayings

First, fold each lengthwise side of the garment toward the center (such as the left-hand, then right-hand, sides of a shirt) and tuck the sleeves in to make a long rectangular shape. It doesn't matter how you fold the sleeves. Next, pick up one short end of the rectangle and fold it toward the other short end. Then fold again, in the same manner, in halves or in thirds. The number of folds should be adjusted so that the folded clothing when standing on edge fits the height of the drawer. This is the basic principle that will ultimately allow your clothes to be stacked on edge, side by side, so that when you pull open your drawer you can see the edge of every item inside. If you find that the end result is the right shape but too loose and floppy to stand up, it's a sign that your way of folding doesn't match the type of clothing. Every piece of clothing has its own "sweet spot" where it feels just right - a — Marie Kondo

am confident and extremely grateful to be surrounded by what I love, by things and people that are, each and every one, special, precious, and exceedingly dear to me. The things and people that bring me joy support me. They give me the confidence that I will be all right. I want to help others who feel the way I once did, who lack self-confidence and find it hard to open their hearts to others, to see how much support they receive from the space they live in and the things that surround them. — Marie Kondo

Not every person you meet in life will become a close friend or lover. Some you will find hard to get along with or impossible to like. But these people, too, teach you the precious lesson of who you do like, so that you will appreciate those special people even more. — Marie Kondo

When you stand in front of a wardrobe that has been reorganised so that the clothes rise to the right, you will feel your heart beat faster and the cells in your body buzz with energy. — Marie Kondo

By now you understand why it is crucial to discard before thinking about where to keep things. — Marie Kondo

By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process your past. If you just stow these things away in a drawer or cardboard box, before you realise it, your past will become a weight that holds you back and keeps you from living in the here and now. Pg.116-117 — Marie Kondo

If you haven't done what you intended to do yet, donate or recycle that book. Only by discarding it will you be able to test how passionate you are about that subject. If your feelings don't change after discarding it, then you're fine as is. If you want the book so badly after getting rid of it that you're willing to buy another copy, then buy one - and this time read and study it. Books — Marie Kondo

To me, this seems tragic. And this is not an isolated case. In my work, the volume discarded by younger sisters is always greater than the volume discarded by older sisters, a phenomenon surely related to the fact that younger children are often accustomed to wearing hand-me-downs. There are two reasons why younger sisters tend to collect clothes they don't really like. One is that it's hard to get rid of something received from family. The other is that they don't really know what they like, which makes it hard to decide whether they should part with it. Because they receive so much clothing from others, they don't really need to shop and therefore they have less opportunity to develop the instinct for what really inspires joy. — Marie Kondo

Changing lifestyle habits acquired over many years is often extremely difficult. — Marie Kondo

People with large book collections are almost always diligent learners. — Marie Kondo

People who lack confidence in their judgement lack confidence in themselves — Marie Kondo

It is not memories but the person we have become because of those past experiences that we should treasure. This is the lesson these keepsakes teach us when we sort them. The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not the person we were in the past. P.118 — Marie Kondo

The process of facing and selecting our possessions can be quite painful. It forces us to confront our imperfections and inadequacies and the foolish choices we made in the past. — Marie Kondo

As I am both lazy and forgetful, I can't take proper care of too many things. That's why I want to cherish properly the things I love. — Marie Kondo

After all, what is the point in tidying? If it's not so that our space and the things in it can bring us happiness, then I think there is no point at all. — Marie Kondo

Attachment to the past and fears concerning the future not only govern the way you select the things you own but also represent the criteria by which you make choices in every aspect of your life, including your relationships with people and your job. — Marie Kondo

If you've tied them up, start by undoing the knot! Lay the toes one on top of the other and fold the stocking in half lengthwise. Then fold it into thirds, making sure that the toes are inside, not outside, and that the waistband protrudes slightly at the top. Finally, roll the stocking up toward the waistband. If the waistband is on the outside when you finish, you've done it right. Fold knee-high stockings the same way. With thicker material, such as tights, it is easier to roll if you fold them in half rather than in thirds. The point is that the stocking should be firm and stable when you've finished, much like a sushi roll. When you store the stockings in your drawer, arrange them on end so that the swirl is visible. — Marie Kondo

As we've seen, there are only two tasks involved - discarding and deciding where to keep things. Just two, but discarding must come first. Be sure to completely finish the first task before starting the next. Do not even think of putting your things away until you have finished the process of discarding. Failure to follow this order is one reason many people never make permanent progress. In the middle of discarding, they start thinking about where to put things. As soon as they think, "I wonder if it will fit in this drawer," the work of discarding comes to a halt. You can think about where to put things when you've finished getting rid of everything you don't need. — Marie Kondo

The most basic rule is to hang clothes in the same category side by side, dividing your closet into a jacket section, a suit section, and so on. Clothes, like people, can relax more freely when in the company of others who are very similar in type, and therefore organizing them by category helps them feel more comfortable and secure. — Marie Kondo

Selecting and discarding one's possessions is a continuous process of making decisions based on one's own values. — Marie Kondo

The point in deciding specific places to keep things is to designate a spot for every thing. — Marie Kondo

Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle. — Marie Kondo

Being packed all the time, even when not in use, must feel something like going to bed on an empty stomach. — Marie Kondo

To quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the best way of dealing with a family that doesn't tidy. — Marie Kondo

For books, timing is everything. The moment you first encounter a particular book is the right time to read it. — Marie Kondo

It's important to understand your ownership pattern because it is an expression of the values that guide your life. The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life. — Marie Kondo

Discard anything that doesn't spark joy. — Marie Kondo

Books are essentially paper - sheets of paper printed with letters and bound together. Their true purpose is to be read, to convey the information to their readers. It's the information they contain that has meaning. There is no meaning in their just being on your shelves. You read books for the experience of reading. Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don't remember. — Marie Kondo

Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order. — Marie Kondo

Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left with only the amount that fits perfectly in the space you own. — Marie Kondo

What is the perfect amount of possessions? I think that most people don't know. If you have lived in Japan or the United States all your life, you have almost certainly been surrounded by far more than you need. This makes it hard for many people to imagine how much they need to live comfortably. As you reduce your belongings through the process of tidying, you will come to a point where you suddenly know how much is just right for you. You will feel it as clearly as if something has clicked inside your head and said, "Ah! This is just the amount I need to live comfortably. This is all I need to be happy. I don't need anything more." The satisfaction that envelops your whole being at that point is palpable. I call this the "just-right click point." Interestingly, once you have passed this point, you'll find that the amount you own never increases. And that is precisely why you will never rebound. — Marie Kondo

Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, — Marie Kondo

My head was full of tidying tips, and I had complete, albeit misguided, confidence that I could tidy any place. — Marie Kondo

When you tidy your space completely, you transform the scenery. The change is so profound that you feel as if you are living in a totally different world. — Marie Kondo

Every object has a different role to play. Not all clothes have come to you to be worn threadbare. It is the same with people. Not every person you meet in life will become a close friend or lover. — Marie Kondo

These include coats, suits, jackets, skirts, and dresses. My standard is this: hang any clothes that look like they would be happier hung up, such as those made with soft materials that flutter in the breeze or highly tailored cuts, which protest at being folded. These we should hang willingly. — Marie Kondo

When a woman who is very anxious about the future chooses a partner, for example, she is less likely to select someone purely because she likes and enjoys being with him. She might choose someone she doesn't really like simply because the relationship seems advantageous to her or because she is afraid that if she doesn't choose him, she may not find anyone else. — Marie Kondo

If you are keeping them because you can't forget a former boyfriend, it's better to discard or donate them. Hanging on to them makes it more likely that you will miss opportunities for new relationships. — Marie Kondo

Just like the gentle shake we use to wake someone up, we can stimulate our belongings by physically moving them, exposing them to fresh air and making them "conscious. — Marie Kondo

There are only two choices: keep it or chuck it. And if you're going to keep it, make sure to take care of it. — Marie Kondo

letting go is even more important than adding. — Marie Kondo

But let's consider this more carefully. Most of these gifts remain unopened or have been used only once. Admit it. They simply don't suit your taste. The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not "things" but a means for conveying someone's feelings. When viewed from this perspective, you don't need to feel guilty for parting with a gift. Just thank it for the joy it gave you when you first received it. Of course, it would be ideal if you could use it with joy. But surely the person who gave it to you doesn't want you to use it out of a sense of obligation, or to put it away without using it, only to feel guilty every time you see it. When you discard or donate it, you do so for the sake of the giver, too. — Marie Kondo

Tops (shirts, sweaters, etc.) Bottoms (pants, skirts, etc.) Clothes that should be hung (jackets, coats, suits, etc.) Socks Underwear Bags (handbags, messenger bags, etc.) Accessories — Marie Kondo

As I've already mentioned, there is just one way to escape this negative spiral - by tidying efficiently all at once, as quickly as possible, to make the perfect clutter-free environment. But how does this create the right mind-set? When you tidy your space completely, you transform the scenery. The change is so profound that you feel as if you are living in a totally different world. This deeply affects your mind and inspires a strong aversion to reverting to your previously cluttered state. The key is to make the change so sudden that you experience a complete change of heart. The same impact can never be achieved if the process is gradual. To achieve a sudden change like this, you need to use the most efficient method of tidying. Otherwise, before you know it, the day will be gone and you will have made no headway. The more time it takes, the more tired you feel, — Marie Kondo

When you come across something that's hard to discard, consider carefully why you have that specific item in the first place. When did you get it and what meaning did it have for you then? Reassess the role it plays in your life. If, for example, you have some clothes that you bought but never wear, examine them one at a time. Where did you buy that particular outfit and why? If you bought it because you thought it looked cool in the shop, it has fulfilled the function of giving you a thrill when you bought it. Then why did you never wear it? Was it because you realized that it didn't suit you when you tried it on at home? If so, and if you no longer buy clothes of the same style or color, it has fulfilled another important function - it has taught you what doesn't suit you. In fact, that particular article of clothing has already completed its role in your life, and you are free to say, "Thank you for giving me joy when I bought you," or "Thank you for teaching me what — Marie Kondo

What was it that motivated you to tidy in the first place? What do you hope to gain through tidying? Before you start getting rid of things, take the time to think this through carefully. This means visualizing the ideal lifestyle you dream of. — Marie Kondo

A person who has a strong attachment to the past, on the other hand, finds it hard to move on to a new relationship because she can't forget the boyfriend she broke up with two years ago. She also finds it hard to try out new methods even when the current method is no longer effective because it worked up to this point. — Marie Kondo

Keep things because you love them- not "just because — Marie Kondo

In my case, my size is so small that if I want it but don't buy it, I might miss the opportunity. — Marie Kondo

It's true that while instructors and schools offer courses in everything from cooking and how to wear a kimono to yoga and Zen meditation, you'll be hard-pressed to find classes on how to tidy. The general assumption, in Japan at least, is that tidying doesn't need to be taught but rather is picked up naturally. Cooking skills and recipes are passed down as family traditions from grandmother to mother to daughter, yet one never hears of anyone passing on the family secrets of tidying, even within the same household. — Marie Kondo

Because a person's awareness and perspective on his or her own lifestyle are far more important than any skill at sorting, storing, or whatever. Order is dependent on the extremely personal values of what a person wants to live with. — Marie Kondo

It's going to be labor-intensive and time-consuming, but you need to take all the books down and put them on the floor. Take them down and spread them in one area. Physically pick each book up, one by one. If the book inspires you, keep it. If not, it goes out. That's the standard by which you decide. — Marie Kondo

By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order. — Marie Kondo

Start with clothes, then move on to books, papers, komono (miscellany), and finally things with sentimental value. — Marie Kondo

People cannot change their tidying habits without first changing their way of thinking. — Marie Kondo

The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past. — Marie Kondo

No matter how messy your house may be, tidying deals with physical objects. No matter how much stuff you may own, the amount is always finite. — Marie Kondo

In Japan, we say that "words make our reality." The — Marie Kondo

It's not our memories but the person we have become because of those past experiences that we should treasure. — Marie Kondo

When it comes to storage, vertical is best. — Marie Kondo

Have gratitude for the things you're discarding. By giving gratitude, you're giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it becomes a lot easier to let go. — Marie Kondo

Your next step is to identify why you want to live like that. Look back over your notes about the kind of lifestyle you want, and think again. Why do you want to do aromatherapy before bed? Why do you want to listen to classical music while doing yoga? If the answers are "because I want to relax before bed," and "I want to do yoga to lose weight," ask yourself why you want to relax and why you want to lose weight. Maybe your answers will be "I don't want to be tired when I go to work the next day," and "I want to lose weight so that I can be more svelte." Ask yourself "Why?" again, for each answer. Repeat this process three to five times for every item. As you continue to explore the reasons behind your ideal lifestyle, you will come to a simple realization. The whole point in — Marie Kondo

people who can't stay tidy can be categorized into just three types: the "can't-throw-it-away" type, the "can't-put-it-back" type, and the "first-two-combined" type. — Marie Kondo

In fact, to go through life without knowing how to fold is a huge loss. — Marie Kondo

I have an image in my mind of what I want, whether it's a light jacket or a one-piece. I can tell if what I want is in the store right away. — Marie Kondo

Now imagine yourself living in a space that contains only things that spark joy. Isn't this the lifestyle you dream of? — Marie Kondo

In fact, I don't even own a dish rack. I put all the dishes I wash into a large bowl or colander and place this on the veranda to dry. — Marie Kondo

After all, our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life. Tidying is a way of taking stock that shows us what we really like. — Marie Kondo

Success is 90 percent dependent on our mind-set. — Marie Kondo

To summarise, the secret of success is to tidy in one shot, as quickly and completely as possible, and to start by discarding. — Marie Kondo

I did not like being dependent on others, found it hard to trust them, and was very inept at expressing my feelings. — Marie Kondo

The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment. — Marie Kondo

Because I was poor at developing bonds of trust with people, I had an unusually strong attachment to things. — Marie Kondo

not having a space you can call your own is dangerous. Everyone needs a sanctuary. — Marie Kondo

Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder. — Marie Kondo

It is the same with people. Not every person you meet in life will become a close friend or lover. Some you will find hard to get along with or impossible to like. But these people, too, teach you the precious lesson of who you do like, so that you will appreciate those. — Marie Kondo

Tidying is a way of taking stock that shows us what we really like. The — Marie Kondo

It is very natural for me to say thank you to the goods that support us. — Marie Kondo

The essence of effective storage is this: designate a spot for every last thing you own. — Marie Kondo

Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something and deciding where to put it. If you can do these two things, you can achieve perfection. Objects can be counted. All you need to do is look at each item, one at a time, and decide whether or not to keep it and where to put it. That's all you need to do to complete this job. It is not hard to tidy up perfectly and completely in one fell swoop. In fact, anyone can do it. And if you want to avoid rebound, this is the only way to do it. — Marie Kondo

It is not the number of folds but rather the amount of pressure applied that causes wrinkling. — Marie Kondo

I recommend tidying by category, not by place. For example, instead of deciding that today you'll tidy a particular room, set goals such as 'clothes today, books tomorrow.' — Marie Kondo

I am always pleased when they tell me that they bake more often since reorganizing. — Marie Kondo

Life becomes far easier once you know that things will still work out even if you are lacking something. — Marie Kondo

The best sequence is this: clothes first, then books, papers, komono (miscellany), and lastly, mementos. — Marie Kondo

By collecting things in one spot, you can also compare items that are similar in design, making it easier to decide whether you want to keep them. — Marie Kondo

By starting with the easy things first and leaving the hardest for last, you can gradually hone your decision-making skills, so that by the end, it seems simple. — Marie Kondo

Some people save the boxes for electrical appliances because they think they can get more money for the appliances if they ever sell them. This, however, is a waste. If you consider the rent or mortgage you pay, turning your space into a storage shed for empty boxes costs you more than what you could earn selling an appliance in a box. You don't need to keep them for moving either. You can worry about finding suitable boxes when the time comes. It's a shame to let a boring box take up room in your house just because you might need it someday. — Marie Kondo

The meaning of a photo lies in the excitement and joy you feel when taking it. — Marie Kondo

The socks and stockings stored in your drawer are essentially on holiday. They take a brutal beating in their daily work, trapped between your foot and your shoe, enduring pressure and friction to protect your precious feet. The time they spend in your drawer is their only chance to rest. But if they are folded over, balled up, or tied, they are always in a state of tension, their fabric stretched and their elastic pulled. They roll about and bump into each other every time the drawer is opened and closed. Any socks and stockings unfortunate enough to get pushed to the back of the drawer are often forgotten for so long that their elastic stretches beyond recovery. — Marie Kondo

My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away. My clients are stunned when I say this, bu there is nothing more annoying than papers. After all, they will never inspire joy, no matter how carefully you keep them. — Marie Kondo

In addition to the physical value of things, there are three other factors that add value to our belongings: function, information, and emotional attachment. — Marie Kondo

My filing method is extremely simple. I divide them into two categories: papers to be saved and papers that need to be dealt with. Although my policy is to get rid of all papers, these are the only categories I make for those that can't be discarded. — Marie Kondo

If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mind-set. A change so profound that it touches your emotions will irresistibly affect your way of thinking and your lifestyle habits. — Marie Kondo

The objects you decide to keep, the ones that gave you the spark of joy? Treasure them from now on. When you put things away, you can actually audibly say, 'Hey, thank you for the good work today ... ' By doing so, it becomes easier for you to put the objects away and treasure them, which prolongs the spark of joy environment. — Marie Kondo

Choose those things that spark joy when you touch them." "Hang those clothes that would be happier on hangers." "Don't worry about throwing away too much. There will come a moment when you know what is just right. — Marie Kondo

The first step is to check every closet and dresser in the house and gather all your clothes in one spot. Don't leave a single wardrobe or dresser drawer unopened. — Marie Kondo

A short time after tidying, their space is a disorganized mess. The cause is not lack of skills but rather lack of awareness and the inability to make tidying a regular habit. — Marie Kondo

If there are too many books to arrange on the floor all at one time, I ask my clients to divide them into four broad categories: General (books you read for pleasure) Practical (references, cookbooks, etc.) Visual (photograph collections, etc.) Magazines Once you have piled your books, take them in your hand one by one and decide whether you want to keep or discard each one. The criterion is, of course, whether or not it gives you a thrill of pleasure when you touch it. Remember, — Marie Kondo

The true purpose of a present is to be received. — Marie Kondo