Book Review || The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Hey Friends,

As today is wednesday I would usually have a #midweekmotivation for you guys but today I thought I would do something different. Today I thought I would share with you guys a book that has been extremely motivating for me in the past few months. That book is - The Life- Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.

This book has gained extreme popularity in the past year or so & for good reason. I decided to check this book out for myself in the new year on audible. I have to say I was kind of skeptical in the beginning but as I made my way through the book everything she was saying was starting to make a lot of sense!

I mentioned in my post about beginning my minimalism journey (If you missed it you can check it out here - Slaying it 2017 || Beginning my Minimalism Journey!) I spoke about how after moving back to my family home last november I felt like my life was just over-flowing with stuff!. I hadn't given anything away or thrown anything out, possibly ever!! (I mean obviously apart from rubbish or something that was actually broken) Over the years I had just been consuming, consuming, consuming yet somehow my life and home felt empty. I mean obviously not physically as I could bearly move for things but it was time to change.

It was around this time that I downloaded The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up by Marie Kondo. I had heard/read so many reviews & thought it just might be what I needed! I was indeed correct. Like I mentioned above, in the the beginning I was quite skeptical but as I listened on I really came to see what Marie Kondo was talking about.

This book talks alot about having a sense of pride & feeling of joy for your possessions, the things you keep in your life & surround yourself with. I realised this was one thing I was lacking in my life. Although I thought I keep my things in good condition I realised that it was impossible to truely take care of everything I owned when in all honesty I had forgotten about some of the things I owned.

I also had 3 wardrobes bursting full of clothes! Who needs this amount of clothes!? I decided to go through them all & in Kon Marie fashion discard any item that didn't bring me joy! I wouldn't say I have a small wardrobe now by any means & to be honest maybe I could go through it again.. I do suffer with a small little hoarder voice in my head. However I am making headway & thats the main thing.

She also talks about clutter impacting your life, how we use (I am included in this) tidying as a way of avoiding other issues in our life. She says that through the process of tidying we also have to, whether consciously or not, examine our lives, where we are & where we are headed. This was one of the things that in the beginning of the book I didn't truly understand or believe but its true. As we go through everything we own we see that everything is either a reflection of us & our personality or a reflection who we were & where we were in our lives at specific moment in time. I found this part fascinating if I'm honest. I always find psychology fascinating. If you think about it, if you are going through all your earthly possessions then you are going through your life through things. It's forcing you to remember & evaluate things & believe me that can be scary in itself but really it's no wonder that people truly find their passion after they clean up and go through everything they own, as Marie Kondo talks about in the book!!

So many things in this book stuck with me. I honestly felt like finally tidying was being explained to me in a way that was actually clicking with me!! I mean why keep things in your life that don't truely make you happy!? With a smaller collection of things that truely bring you joy, it means your life will bring you more joy & you will be able to (& want to) take better care of your things. Also your house will feel more light, airy, spacious & finally more personal. Your home will be your kingdom!

In this book Marie Kondo gives many case studies & also answers many questions or addresses many thoughts you or I would have during a tidy session. I found this not only helpful but interesting too!!

Would I recommend this book?

100% I found this book both interesting & helpful. I think even if you don't feel like all the information is for you, you would definitely get something out of it!! At the very least I think it would give you the motivation to get up & get your home in order!!

I am currently reading here second book Spark Joy at the moment (You will already know this if you follow me on Twitter, Links Below) I will have a review coming soon!! Stay tuned!!)

Have you read this book!? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!!

Chat soon x

Thank You For Reading

xox

Previous Posts-
Monthly Highlights 2017 ~ February ~
Slaying it 2017 || Beginning my Minimalism Journey
Slaying it 2017 || Here come the girls 

Have you checked out my Beauty Blog!? - BeautyLaLinda ~ MUA
Previous Posts-
Ride or Die Makeup ~ February 2017 ~
Haul Time!! (Includes New Products From Essence)
Currently Loving ~ February 2017 ~


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Book Review - Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Hello Everyone,

Today I have a very interesting book I want to tell you all about. Its called Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. I am sure you have probably heard about it already as it was named a Sunday Times Bestseller and since picking it up I have heard a little bit of hype about it.

As you already may know if you follow me on Instagram (If not you can click on this link Beauty La Linda Instagram to add me, or you can just add me in the side bar & we can become Instafriends) a few weeks ago I decided to take a few days a travel to kerry to visit one of my friends. As I knew it was going to be a long trip I decided to pick up a new book for myself. There was no way I really needed to go out & buy one as I still have many on my bookshelf that I have yet to ready but nonetheless I decided to have a little look anyway. 

I spotted this book and was intrigued by it. I had not heard anything about it before but something just made me want to give it ago. In the past I have spoken a few times on my blog about my battle with anxiety. Its not something I talk about that often even in real life but it is something that has been with me for a few years now. Each year I grow a little more.. learn a little more and feel better a little more but thats life. Panic attacks are now few & far between thank god and majority of the time I feel like your average 25 year old with all the regular ups & downs. If you have ever suffered with anxiety you will know that is amazing in itself! 

Anyway back to the book. I have to say when I bought it my one worry would be that it would overly depressing, whiny or incredibly cheesey but I can now tell you that this has to be one of the best books I have ever read on the subject. Its a very raw book with a passionate account of this mans life and his struggle with anxiety & depression. At times I felt like someone was actually telling my story! I was thinking, Yes! finally someone gets it. I am not on my own! Someone else has been through this too. Not that Id wish it on my worst enemy!,  but somehow reading about someone else experiencing something that you have, something that seems so alien & out of the norm.. even to yourself & has survived and managed to create a wonderful life. Well thats just point blank inspiring!             

This book not only gives us an account of his experience, It is also witty, informative & just clever in general really. I found that with this book, one minute I was reading something that I truly empathised with and the next I was learning something new and very interesting on the subject. In the book he quotes a Tweet from the Poet Melissa Broder " What idiot called it "depression" and not "there are bats living in my chest and they take up alot of room, ps. I see a shadow"?" I remember reading this & this was one of the moments where I was like Omi God! Exactly!  The writing is very informal, to the point where you feel like he is talking directly to you, sharing his life experiences with you. I know it sounds corny but almost like its an honor to be told such a private thing (well if you have been through it yourself, you will know what I mean) Like its a privilege. You feel like he is telling you, he knows where you are, hes been there & Its all going to be ok.  I found it very hard to put down. 

Its hard to find books that are that personal but yet carry alot of merit behind what information they give you on such an important topic. Most books you'll find about anxiety or depression, while yes they will have done their research & be very informative when you read it, It will be like listening to a doctor or Councillor, not a friend who has been in you shoes. 

I 100% recommend this book to anyone who has been struggling with anxiety or depression. This book can truly make you see it all in a new light, make you think about things differently, make you more aware of whats going & most importantly the bigger picture. 

I will 100% be not only recommending it to anyone I think that could do with reading it (which is most people) Not only sharing it with all my friends on social media I will also be giving my copy directly to people close to me while saying "Here you have to read this I am giving you no choice.... Thank me later!" haha. I will definitely have to get it back though as this will be a book that I will be be reading again!  

I dont think I could give it a more glowing reference if I tried!! Please leave me a comment if you pick this book up & let me know your thoughts on it!!

If you have already been lucky enough it to read it what did you think??

Chat soon my friends x 

Previous Posts ~

Valentines Day ~ The King of Hallmark Holidays

Midweek Motivation - 40 days & 40 nights

Monthly Highlights 2016 ~ January 

Have you checked out my Beauty Blog - Beauty La Linda - MUA

Previous Posts ~

Review - P.S. Love.. Eyebrow Kit

Review - Loreal Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oil

Thank You for Reading

xox