Decluttering my way through winter

January is finally over! It's hard to believe that February is already half over now, too. Ah, January. A month of drab cold with little to look forward to. A month of limited sunlight and people trying to do all the unfun but important things: eating healthier, exercising more, and saving money.

It's the worst month to try to do better. No wonder so many people fail.

January and winter in general have been harder for me this year. It's been discouraging and challenging to stay inspired. Of course, there are lots of strategies to help, some more important than others.

But one that I've found helpful is working on decluttering. I'm certainly not about to become a minimalist anytime soon. I love books, notebooks, and souvenirs too much for that.

But decluttering allows you to let go of what you don't need and take stock of what you have. I've found the process freeing; it's like I'm getting rid of the dead weight that's been holding me down. It's helped to boost my mental wellbeing during this dark time of year.

According to Hackensack Meridian Health, decluttering has a number of benefits for mental health, including decreasing anxiety and improving creativity. It's helped me feel more productive over January, and perhaps it could help you as well.

How to declutter

I've been watching a lot decluttering videos on YouTube and reading some stuff, so I can't pretend to be original with what I discuss here.

But really, the basics of decluttering remain the same, regardless of what method you use. It involves sorting through items, getting rid of some, and keeping others. Typically, you'll sell, donate, or trash some stuff and keep other items in a more organized way.

I'm sure there's a system of "the best way" to declutter, but I've come to accept that doing something is better than doing nothing. One decluttering YouTuber noted that every little bit helps and that even getting rid of small things is useful.

I've found it helpful to go through things and ask, "Why am I keeping this particular item?" In a number of areas, it's easy to see that I've been holding onto stuff that no longer serves a purpose or no longer has emotional value. But just cutting down on quantity is also a valid component. I ask myself, "How many of these to do I really need?" and realize that I can still keep a fair number and get rid of the extra.

Items to declutter

Again, there are so many helpful videos and articles about this sort of thing, but so far, these are the areas I've focused on:

• Papers: I've got one box of with the stuff I need to hold onto for reference. However, it needed a little reorganizing, and I found many papers that were no longer relevant. I was also able to go through a box of more sentimental papers and consider what was really worth keeping.
• Bags: Plastic shopping bags are no longer available in New York, so it's natural to turn into a bag hoarder. While I didn't toss any plastic bags, I realized it was time to get rid of some old reusable shopping bags and a bunch of paper bags.* I also found that I had a lot extra gift bags. While it's a good idea to keep a few for potential gifting needs, I realized I was holding on to much more than I needed.
• Shoes: There is actually such a thing as too many shoes. I took stock of my shoes and decided to get rid of a few pairs while still keeping a decent number. For example, I had an older pair of flats that I now never wear because I'm always wearing the newer pair.
• Electronics: My husband and I went through all the boxes of odd cords and tech before we moved, but it was definitely time to do it again. We were able to get rid of a number of cords and evaluate what tech components went together for better organization.
• Cleaning products: Switching to cleaning tools that allow you to clean with just water has reduced the space my cleaning items take up. (Thanks, Mom.) But I also went through what I had for other products and got rid of additional items I no longer needed.
• The junk drawer: The stuff in this drawer will continue to build up no matter what. But going through it regularly can help keep things in check. I threw away actual junk and took an inventory of what items needed to remain. Let's face it: the twist ties and mini-sewing kit still need to go somewhere.

It's also a good idea to go through clothes, but I tend to do this in the fall when I get out my winter clothing and put away the summer stuff. The other natural time is when summer rolls around, and it's time to get out all the T-shirts again. This timing allows me to go evaluate the wardrobe at somewhat regular intervals.

*Sidenote: Food pantries are one spot that sometimes accept bag donations. I donated my extra paper bags here, and it was nice to know they were going to be used.

Keeping decluttering fun

I like to listen to podcasts while decluttering, such as content with a lot of humor or stuff that distracts me from my current anxieties. There are a lot of great options out there, from cultural commentary to creative storytelling. Dry Bar Comedy is also available on YouTube and has a lot of humor that stays away from raunchy jokes.

A common suggestion to keep decluttering fun is to declutter with time limits in place. I've found this helpful because I can still feel accomplished, but I'm not spending all day focusing on decluttering. There are lots of options for how to do this, but the main sentiment is "don't get weighed down by feeling that you have to do it all at once."

Another thing I've found that keeps it fun is maintaining a "What will I find?" attitude. Because really, you never know what might turn up on a decluttering adventure. That one item you've been searching for could have been in the junk drawer all along. It can rekindle excitement for reading a book you'd forgotten about or starting back in on a hobby you'd been neglecting.

Maintaining perspective

It's all just stuff. That's what I like to remember whenever I go through these decluttering phases. It has value and usefulness for a limited time. Even the most sentimental items I possess will have little value to other people, and even what I once believed was essential to keep is now something I can let go of.

When it comes to sentimental items, I've come to accept that it's okay for your sentimental attachment to an item to change. That one nick-nack from a trip might become less important, and you can realize you only want to keep one memento from the trip instead of five. Just because something was important once doesn't mean it has to stay important. You can let go without feeling bad that things have changed.

Decluttering has also helped me maintain a grateful attitude. It helps me to realize how blessed I am to have the stuff I do. I have what I need and then some! I have things that showcase my personality and interests and help me live comfortably.

So, go to that drawer or old closet. What will you discover today, and what will it teach you? Maybe you'll gain something insightful. Or maybe it will just be something to help keep you sane as you make it through the rest of winter.

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Youtubers and video that inspired this piece:

• Taryn Maria
• A to Zen Life
• Clutterbug
• Nick Lewis
• Dana Findwell
• Shea Whitney
• 10 Amazing Tips from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo