This post was originally published on here
Ahh, winter … The days grow shorter, the temperatures drop, and we spend more time cocooned like hibernating bears inside our homes. And while the season can feel slower, winter presents an opportunity many of us overlook: decluttering.
According to organizers and mental health experts, the winter months create the ideal environment (psychologically, emotionally, and practically) to finally tackle your messy hallway closet or overloaded drawers that you’ve been ignoring since summertime.
Below, we consulted with three experts who share why this season is primetime for simplifying your home.
You Spend More Time Indoors, So Clutter Feels Bigger
With winter ushering in frigid weather in many areas, people understandably want to spend more time in the toasty heat. “Winter forces many of us indoors, creating natural momentum to prep or transform our spaces—so we can embrace this time of year rather than wish it away,” says registered psychologist Lisa Thomson. “When you’re face-to-face with your belongings for hours every day, you might find you can’t ignore what’s not serving you anymore.”
This additional time indoors can stir up anxiety about the clutter we otherwise avoid during warmer months. As professional organizer Cathy Orr explains, “When we are in the home with our belongings during the winter months, we become more irritated by them, less patient with the items in our home, and much more sensitive to visual stimulation and clutter.”
That extra awareness can be an uncomfortable yet powerful motivator.
Your Brain Craves Order During Low-Light, Low-Energy Months
When 5 p.m. hits during the winter, the pitch-black sky makes it feel like it’s midnight. And since these early sunsets often arrive before many of us have even finished work, our energy and motivation can take a steep nosedive.
“During winter, the shorter days with less sunlight often decrease serotonin levels,” Orr explains. “This can lead to low motivation, make us feel sluggish, and cause difficulty starting tasks.” But those feelings are exactly why decluttering can be so powerful during this time.
When external factors feel beyond our control, creating order at home becomes grounding for many. Completing a small task (like organizing a cabinet or clearing clutter on a countertop) delivers immediate results, which is something our brains crave when energy dips.
Don’t know where to start? Choose something small. Consider tackling a drawer, a single shelf, or sorting through a stack of clothing you haven’t worn in a year. Donate anything in good condition so they can be useful to someone else, and let go of broken or unused pieces that are only adding to your stress.
More Time With Your Belongings Clarifies Their Value
“When you’re home more, you notice what you actually use and what just sits there,” explains Olivia Parks, owner of Professionals Organizer Baton Rouge.
Thomson agrees and encourages a mindset shift: “Try to change your approach to that sweater you never wear or the tech gadget collecting dust. It doesn’t matter what you paid for it. If it doesn’t serve a positive purpose, it’s just taking up space and feeding the clutter.”
Thomson’s approach of honest evaluation is at the heart of winter decluttering. Ask yourself these questions when evaluating something: Is this item helpful, beautiful, or sentimental? Or is it simply taking up space in my home?
Don’t Miss
Post-Holiday Burnout Makes a Reset Appealing
After weeks of parties, travel, and plenty of cooking, many people hit a wall come January. Thomson says people are (rightfully) “tapped out” after a long holiday season. “The holidays are full of decision-making,” Orr adds. “Afterward, our decision-making skills and ability may feel spent.”
Surprisingly, this can make decluttering more appealing: “Decluttering requires un-deciding and letting go instead of acquiring more,” explains Thomson. It’s a welcome shift after a season that thrives on “stuff.” “For some, that’s exactly the reset they crave.”
Parks sees the same trend with her clients, saying that people feel worn out post-holiday rush but that the burnout serves as the ideal decluttering motivation, introducing order after the frenzy.
Slower Schedules Provide More Bandwidth
For many households, January and February bring far fewer obligations than November and December. And when travel and social activities slow down, you might finally have the breathing room to focus on getting clutter under control. “For those who experience a natural slowdown in winter, they might finally feel permission or have the time to tackle what they’ve been avoiding,” says Thomson.
Without constant interruptions, you’re more likely to start and finish projects and maintain consistency. “Because you’re not being pulled in as many directions, you’re typically less stressed, which makes it easier to stay consistent and actually finish what you start,” adds Parks.
