I Thought Tidying Was Simple, Until Marie Kondo Changed My Life Perspective

Aydul.com - At first, I was just casually looking for ways to organize my room. You know, one of those moments when everything feels messy and overwhelming, but you don’t even know where to start. That’s when I first came across Marie Kondo. At first, I thought she was just someone who’s “really good at tidying up.” But the more I looked into her, the more interesting her background became. Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant who has been passionate about tidying since she was young. Apparently, even when she was still in school, she already loved reading books about organization and cleanliness. That made me think, “Is it really possible for someone to be that focused on something like this since childhood?”

Understanding Marie Kondo’s Philosophy

The more I read and watched, I realized her method is not just about cleaning. Through her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, she introduced a unique concept: only keep things that truly bring you joy, or what she calls spark joy. It sounds simple, but honestly, it hits deeper than expected. Because most of the time, we keep things not because we need them, but because we feel “it’s a waste to throw them away.”

Marie Kondo is also known for her KonMari method, which focuses on organizing by category rather than by location. So instead of cleaning room by room, you tidy up by types of items—like clothes, books, and sentimental items. At first, it might sound trivial, but the approach is actually very thoughtful. She teaches us to be fully aware of what we own.

From Objects to a Way of Living

As I kept learning, I started to realize that what she teaches isn’t just about physical items. It’s actually about a way of living. And without realizing it, I began connecting this idea to my daily life—especially when it comes to time. Because honestly, our time can feel just as “cluttered.” Too many things coming in without filtering. Too many activities done without really thinking whether they matter or not. I’ve been there myself. Days felt full, but the results didn’t. Busy, but empty.

Seeing Time in a Different Way

That’s when I started applying Marie Kondo’s mindset to how I use my time.

I began asking myself simple questions:

• Is this activity really important?
• Does this actually improve my life?
• Or is it just a repeated habit?

Slowly, I became more selective. Not everything has to be done. Not every invitation has to be accepted. And not every moment has to be filled. These small changes made a noticeable difference. My days started to feel lighter, and more importantly, more purposeful.

The Changes I Felt

Now, I no longer feel the need to always be busy. Instead, I focus more on things that truly matter. I also started limiting distractions, like mindless scrolling or activities that don’t add value. I’m not perfect at it, but at least I’m more aware now. What’s interesting is that all of this started from a simple curiosity about one person—Marie Kondo. And from that, I learned something important: life doesn’t have to be filled with many things to feel meaningful. Sometimes, by having less, we actually find what truly matters.

By the way, this piece is purely based on the writer’s own ideas and personal experience, not just theory. Everything shared here comes from what I’ve genuinely felt and gone through. Now, I see time differently. It’s no longer something I have to constantly chase, but something I need to take care of. And when I think about it, maybe all we really need is a little “tidying up”—not just our things, but also the way we live our lives