Many people assume that tidying should come naturally, but few are ever taught how to do it properly. Neither at home nor at school do people learn how to tidy. Even people who have been tidying for years can struggle with clutter because they have never been trained in effective methods.

One common misconception is that tidying should be done gradually. The thing is that tidying all at once can lead to better, long-lasting results. This method, called the KonMari Method, involves discarding unnecessary items in one go. Through her own experiences, Mari Kondo, the author, discovered that tidying can have a powerful impact. When she first read a book about decluttering in junior high school, she went home and filled eight garbage bags with unnecessary things from her room. The change in her room made her realize how tidying could also clear her mind.

Before tidying up, you need to imagine your ideal world. Just dream about it now. Take the time to identify why you want to tidy and what you hope to achieve. A vague goal like "living clutter-free" isn’t enough. Be specific. For instance, one of the author's clients, a young woman, desired a "feminine lifestyle." Her room was chaotic, with clothes spilling out of drawers, and she shuffled things around daily just to make space. However, her vision of femininity was a room as tidy as a hotel suite, with soft lighting, aromatherapy, and calm music before bed. Visualizing this lifestyle helped her achieve it.

After understanding what you want from life, you can calmly put things in order and turn your dreams into reality. When it comes to discarding, the standard advice often focuses on getting rid of things you don’t use, such as broken items or out-of-fashion clothes. However, following strict rules like "discard anything unused for a year" might not lead to true tidiness. Instead of focusing solely on what to throw away, focus on what you truly love and want to keep. You could try out the author’s method. Hold each item and ask, "Does this spark joy?" This approach ensures that what remains in your space brings happiness