The Life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo
Marie Kondo vows that tidying up is more than it seems. Putting your house in order means discovering yourself, facing your issues, and making space for your happy soul to emerge.
For the doubters, she offers hope: even those who are lazy, extremely busy, "messy by nature," or "descended from generations of slobs" can learn to be tidy -- if they follow her rules. It makes sense, even if her rigid storage methods are a bit extreme. Some might balk at her criticism of sock folding, or her insistence on hanging clothing by category in the closet to "rise to the right." However, this does not detract from the main message.
The order of cleaning up is important too, explains Kondo. Easy sorting tasks are done first: clothing, then books, papers, miscellany, and finally, things with sentimental value.
For me, the gem from this book is the idea of identifying possessions "that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell." During this rite of passage to a new life, says Kondo, we use our "intuitive sense of attraction" to handle our possessions one by one, and let go of things that no longer give us joy.