“To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful.”

Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever.

We amass material things for the same reason that we eat—to satisfy a craving. Buying on impulse and eating and drinking to excess are attempts to alleviate stress.

All you need to do is take the time to sit down and examine each item you own, decide whether you want to keep or discard it, and then choose where to put what you keep.

Don’t forget that the god of tidying up is always on your side as long as you are committed to getting it done.

The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.

When deciding how to spend your time, remember: Don’t trade an activity you’d love to pursue for a reward you don’t value.

I have yet to see a house that lacked sufficient storage. The real problem is that we have far more than we need or want.

A joy-filled home is like your own personal art museum

There is no need to buy dividers or any other gadget. You can solve your storage problems with things you already have in the house. The most common item I use is an empty shoebox.

If you live with your family, first clearly define separate storage spaces for each family member.

The real tragedy is to live your entire life without anything that brings you joy and never even realize it.

Letting go is even more important than adding.

Believe what your heart tells you when you ask, Does this spark joy?

Tidying your physical space allows you to tend to your psychological space.

Although we can get to know ourselves better by sitting down and analyzing our characteristics or by listening to others’ perspectives on us, I believe that tidying is the best way.

A person’s awareness and perspective on his or her own lifestyle are far more important than any skill at sorting, storing, or whatever.