Marie Kondo reveals how to tidy your digital life

Start by keeping only the best pictures you take

The KonMari de-cluttering method isn’t just for the home, as cleaning guru Marie Kondo says her tidying techniques can be employed in other areas of life too.

Kondo, who has become a household name due to her Netflix Series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, recently spoke to Esquire about the ability to tidy up our digital lives as well – and it turns out it is quite easy.

According to Kondo, who is publishing a book on the subject called Joy at Work, tidying our digital spaces is just as important, if not more, than keeping our homes clean and free of unnecessary clutter – and pictures are the first place to start.

While having the ability to take and keep unlimited digital pictures is incredible, it also means digital backlog, according to Kondo, who explained that she likes to “reflect on my photos and see which one is the best one,” at the end of each day, before deleting the others.

Tidying and prioritising applies to laptops and miscellaneous cords as well – with Kondo reiterating the importance of “spark joy,” or the importance of only keeping things that bring you joy.

If you can’t find joy on your work laptop, consider all the things it does do – such as “contribute to your work life” and doing work more smoothly, according to Kondo.

And when it comes to cords and chargers, she suggests gathering all of your cords in one spot – after eliminating any mystery cords – and then prioritising electronic products by the ones “you like best to least.”

“When you go through your things and organise them in order of preference, this process itself strangely will allow you to see that some products have already served its purpose and you’re ready to let go,” she said.

If you are still feeling overwhelmed by the past year, or the year ahead, even after de-cluttering your digital space, Kondo suggests tidying your home.