Marie Kondo’s book about decluttering caught my attention the minute I heard the title. However, books on decluttering are, in fact, contributing to the continuing problem of clutter in my house.

In the past, I’ve tried throwing out ten things a day (and liked it very much but keeping it up was difficult), I’ve tried getting rid of something every time I buy something new (but the backlog was too big), I’ve even tried filling a trash bag once a week from various closets and cupboards.

This book is more of a zen experience as well as a practical guide. Somehow, Kondo makes decluttering and even folding clothes fun. She treats it like a meditation where making decisions on what to keep and what to discard is “magically” much easier than it ever has been in the past (for me anyway). It’s also quick. She is a fan of clearing out extraneous items straight away so you can get on with living your best life.

She recommends folding things and storing them on their ends, which allows you to see everything in that drawer all at once. I never thought I’d be someone with drawers and shelves so perfectly organized, but once I followed her advice, dumped everything onto the floor, let go of what didn’t give me a ‘spark of joy,’ and allowed time to quietly re-fold my t-shirts, sweaters, and scarves, my whole bedroom was suddenly beautifully organized.

I’ve been making trips to my local Goodwill every couple of days and the feeling in my house is becoming lighter and fresher.

I’m hardly the first person to discover Ms Kondo’s magic. A Japanese clutter expert, she has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People this year. She has sold more than 2 million copies of her book worldwide and her techniques really are changing lives. For me it’s the reminder to be more mindful as I move about my house and keep it running smoothly. That is the biggest gift. I am rushing around less and, believe it not not, looking forward to folding clothes and decluttering!

Buy it here.