“Be sure to completely finish the first task before starting the next.”

Storage, after all, is the sacred act of choosing a home for my belongings.

Start with clothes, then move on to books, papers, komono (miscellany), and finally things with sentimental value.

One reason so many of us never succeed at tidying is because we have too much stuff.

Never, ever tie up your stockings. Never, ever ball up your socks. ―Marie Kondo

I recommend you dispose of anything that does not fall into one of three categories: currently in use, needed for a limited period of time, or must be kept indefinitely.

Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong.

Your past will become a weight that holds you back and keeps you from living in the here and now. To put things in order means to put your past in order, too.

Caring for your possessions is the best way to motivate them to support you, their owner.

The lives of those who tidy thoroughly and completely, in a single shot, are without exception dramatically altered.

Everyone needs a sanctuary.

Clutter has only two possible causes: too much effort is required to put things away or it is unclear where things belong.

I believe that tidying is a celebration, a special send-off for those things that will be departing from the house, and therefore I dress accordingly.

Human beings can only truly cherish a limited number of things at one time. As I am both lazy and forgetful, I can’t take proper care of too many things.

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

You could say that tidying orders the mind while cleaning purifies it.

We live in this moment. Who you are now is more important than memories of your past. Be good to yourself.