Meta desc: Applying Marie Kondo’s tidy vacation principle can make journeys feel easier by focusing on arranging belongings, savoring small moments, and staying more aware of the surroundings.
Holidays are meant to be a break from routine, yet trips can also bring a lot of clutter to our minds. Keeping a vacation tidy and calm offers a straightforward way to make travel more pleasant without striving for perfection. Marie Kondo, the Tokyo‑based author famous for her decluttering method, also uses a similar approach when she travels.
For her, traveling isn’t solely about packing light; it’s about selecting items that are truly necessary and that enhance the travel experience. According to a BBC report, here are seven habits Marie Kondo follows to keep vacations orderly, serene, and enjoyable.
1. Arrive at the Hotel and Straighten Your Belongings Immediately
 Organizing luggage upon hotel arrival, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Magnific.com/Lifestylememory |
Marie Kondo’s first move upon reaching her hotel is to establish a calmer space right away. She does this by stowing away visually cluttered items such as brochures, flyers, or a remote control. This simple step cuts down on visual noise, making the room feel more spacious.
She then avoids leaving her suitcase open on the floor until the last day. Instead, she unpacks immediately, placing clothes in drawers or hanging them in the closet. This keeps items easy to locate and gives the room a more personal touch.
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<h2 class="fw-bold fs-5">2. Pack Small Pleasures to Enjoy at the Airport</h2>
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<p>Enjoying wait times at the airport, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Magnific.com/yanalya</p>
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<p>Airports and airplanes can be exhausting parts of a journey. Long queues, delays, and extended waiting periods can drag down one’s mood. Marie Kondo advises not to see this time solely as something to rush through.</p>
Instead, she prepares small things to enjoy, such as a book she’s wanted to read for a while. This habit can shift how one experiences travel. Rather than constantly checking the time or feeling annoyed while waiting, one can use the period to read, savor a pleasant scent, or simply observe the surroundings.
3. Perform a Quick Reset Ritual After Disembarking from the Plane
 Resetting body and mind after a flight, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Magnific.com/jcomp |
During travel, Marie always performs a reset after getting off a plane before fully starting her activities in the new location. The method is straightforward: take a deep breath, stretch stiff muscles from prolonged sitting, and then turn attention to the surrounding environment.
It doesn’t need to be long or complicated; the key is to give the body and mind a chance to transition from travel mode to the new experience.
4. Organize Your Suitcase by Category
Organizing luggage by category, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Magnific.com/magnific
This is the part that mirrors Marie Kondo’s home‑organizing philosophy. When packing, she applies the same principles used for tidying a house: clothes are folded vertically so they’re visible at a glance when the suitcase is opened, and items are grouped into categories and placed in separate small bags.
These categories can be tailored to individual needs. Formal wear might be kept apart from casual clothing, while makeup, skincare, supplements, and electronic devices with their cables each have dedicated spots. This approach ensures every item has its own place, eliminating the need to empty the entire suitcase to locate a single object.
5. Carry Only What Is Truly Necessary
 The Marie Kondo principle for a tidy vacation isn’t just about organization; it also involves reducing luggage by selecting items that are genuinely essential and provide comfort. |
The packing challenge usually stems not from a too‑small suitcase but from the excess of items one wants to bring: extra clothing for emergencies, gear that may or may not be used, and objects that rarely see action during the trip.
Marie Kondo opts for a simpler approach: bring fewer items and choose those that genuinely offer comfort. The crucial element is understanding one’s own needs.
If an item will be used and enhances travel comfort, it’s worth taking; however, if it’s only packed out of a ‘just in case’ mindset, it should be reconsidered.
6. Pay Attention to Seasonal Small Details
Enjoying seasonal atmosphere at the destination, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Pexels.com/donghuangmingde
Traditional Japanese calendars divide seasons into smaller periods, allowing for a more detailed observation of natural changes. Marie Kondo finds this concept appealing for travel: instead of merely ticking off tourist spots, she tries to notice what is happening in the destination at that moment.
For instance, travelers can observe blooming flowers, local market offerings, or shifts in air quality over time. This approach creates a deeper connection with the place being visited.
7. Respect the Place You Visit
 Traveling with respect for the environment and culture, a secret to a tidy Marie Kondo‑style vacation/Foto: Pexels.com/d c phu |
Marie Kondo offers an interesting travel principle: arriving somewhere means entering the local culture, environment, and daily life. Therefore, visitors should treat the destination with care, beginning with simple actions such as protecting the environment, handling items gently, and showing respect for local customs.
This principle gives vacations a broader significance: the more aware one is of the surroundings and the people around, the less likely the trip is to cause disruption to the destination.
From hotel rooms to suitcases, there are many small details that can be organized to make a journey feel calmer. However, the core of Marie Kondo’s approach isn’t just about making everything look tidy; it’s also about paying attention to the experience at hand and enjoying the travel without rushing.
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