Marie Kon-Don’t #4: Don’t (Necessarily) Get Rid of Books

While the KonMari Method recommends eliminating anything that doesn’t “spark joy” in one’s life, it doesn’t necessarily advocate getting rid of all one’s books, IndieWire says. Marie Kondo limits herself to 30, but tells would-be declutterers to discover what they value in their lives — and if it’s lots of books, so be it. “If the image of having only a few books makes you angry, that should tell you how passionate you are about books,” she says. “That, in itself, is a very important benefit of this process.” On the other hand, “if you’re retaining so many that you’re not reading, you might have to let go of some.”

Marie Kon-Don’t #3: Don’t Store Without Decluttering

One the biggest “don’ts” in Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method is to attempt to tidy up one’s home by storing everything without getting rid of anything. “When things are put away, a home will look neat, but if the storage units are filled with unnecessary items, it will be impossible to keep them organized, and this will inevitably lead to a relapse,” she told The Telegraph in 2016. “Consider any storage solutions made during the discarding process as temporary and focus all your attention on sorting the next category.” For help getting that excess stuff out of the way fast, contact ClothingDonations.org for a donation pickup.

Marie Kon-Don’t #2: Don’t Tell the Family

Marie Kondo, the star of Netflix’ hit show Tidying up With Marie Kondo, says that if you want to be successful in getting rid of excess stuff, don’t tell or show your family members what you’re getting rid of. “You’ve worked so hard to figure out which things are right for YOU to keep and what should be discarded,” says Apartment Therapy. “When your mom sees the huge bags of clothing and home goods you’re ready to kick to the curb, she’ll get nostalgic about certain pieces or worried that you won’t have enough left, so she’ll try to convince you to hang on to more than you should.”

Marie Kon-Don’t #1: Don’t Keep Things That Don’t Spark Joy

The central “don’t” of the KonMari Method for organization is don’t keep anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” Taking inventory of her clothing as Marie Kondo suggests, Happier blogger Nataly Kogan discovered that this is a simple and powerful concept to use in making decluttering decisions. What drives us to hang on to most things is the emotions we attach to them, she finds — everything from fond memories of the past to the thrill of the shopping “hunt” to feelings of guilt about the money spent. Ultimately, she says, “fewer things you love is better than many things you kinda like.”

How to Beat Cabin Fever

In the wake of last weekend’s winter storm, temperatures dropped across the country, leaving many people confined to their homes or at least reluctant to go out. Homes today have numerous entertainments, of course, but cabin fever — that restless feeling that comes with being stuck at home — is a real challenge in wintertime.

Children get especially squirrely when daily activities are limited by deep drifts and icy temperatures. Keep them busy by having them help bake cookies, make homemade Play-doh or build an indoor fort, The Budget Diet suggests, or try to help them embrace the weather by going on a nature walk or sledding trip.

Avoid binging on television and food if you want to beat cabin fever, WikiHow says — such overindulgences can actually make you feel more listless and hopeless. Instead, get plenty of vitamin D through sunlight and healthy foods, engage your mind with a good book or puzzle, and clean your home to make it more comfortable.

Host a dinner, cocktail party or game night if you want to socialize without traveling far, LifeHacker suggests. “Make people trudge through the snow to you. Put on a pot of stew, bake some bread, and break out the whiskey. How do you think people in cold climates stay social?”

You can also take advantage of the downtime to plan for the parts of the year you won’t be stuck inside, WiseBread says. Check out destinations for your summer road trip online or plan your summer garden. Better still, volunteer some of your extra time to help people facing worse problems than boredom.

One of the best things to do to keep cabin fever at bay while making that “cabin” a better place to live is #declutter, says MakeSpace.com. A cluttered home is a cramped home, “so spend the next big snow day cleaning and organizing,” the site says. It will make your space more livable and enjoyable, even while you’re stuck there due to the weather.

When you’re done decluttering, pack up any still-useful clothing and household items and contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup. You won’t have to lift a finger — we’ll come to you, navigating the slushy streets to get your donations before reselling them to local thrift stores and using the proceeds to fund veterans programs.

That act of charity alone should make you feel somewhat better about being stuck indoors. Stay warm!