Tidy by category, never by room
Marie Kondo breaks with the usual reflex of tidying room by room. That approach fails because items of the same family are scattered throughout the house. The KonMari method requires you to tidy by category: gather all your clothes into a single pile, then sort them in one go.
The order of the categories is precise: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), then sentimental items. You start with what is emotionally easiest and finish with what is hardest. This progression sharpens your ability to decide.
By seeing the totality of what you own, you become aware of the excess you have accumulated and can no longer lie to yourself about your possessions.
The order of the categories is precise: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), then sentimental items. You start with what is emotionally easiest and finish with what is hardest. This progression sharpens your ability to decide.
By seeing the totality of what you own, you become aware of the excess you have accumulated and can no longer lie to yourself about your possessions.
Gather each category into a single pile before sorting: it is the visible volume that triggers the realization.
