Creating compassionate organizing strategies for when your energy is low and the days are dark.
If you’re reading this while feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in your home and simultaneously exhausted by the thought of doing anything about it, I want you to know something important: You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. And your struggle with organization right now is valid.
As we transition into fall and then winter (and an upcoming time change), the days grow shorter and many people experience more than just a preference for cozy blankets and early bedtimes. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by changes in seasons, with symptoms typically appearing in late fall or early winter. And when you’re experiencing seasonal depression, tasks that once felt manageable – like organizing a closet or tackling the mail pile – can feel insurmountable.
During my years in the professional organizing world, I’ve learned that the traditional “pull everything out and sort it all” approach doesn’t work for everyone, especially during times when your mental health is struggling. This post is about meeting yourself exactly where you are – with compassion, realistic expectations, and strategies that honor both your need for an organized space and your current capacity.
Understanding the Connection: Why Organizing Feels Harder with SAD
Before we talk about strategies, let’s acknowledge what’s actually happening in your brain and body.
Reduced sunlight during fall and winter disrupts your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) and can lead to lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood. Common symptoms of SAD include persistent sad or anxious mood, extreme fatigue and lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, and changes in sleep patterns.
What this means for organization:
Decision fatigue is amplified when your brain is already struggling
Physical tasks feel more exhausting than usual
Motivation to start projects feels non-existent
The mental load of “stuff” feels heavier
You might feel guilty or ashamed about your space, adding emotional weight
Here’s the truth: Disorganization doesn’t cause your depression, and organizing your space won’t cure it. However, small, gentle adjustments to your environment can reduce daily friction and create pockets of calm during a difficult season.
The Compassionate Organizing Mindset: Permission Slips You Need
Before we discuss any strategies, you need these permissions:
Permission to lower your standards. “Good enough” is not only acceptable right now – it’s wise. Perfect organization is not the goal. Functional is the goal.
Permission to do less. You don’t need to organize your entire home. You don’t even need to organize an entire room. One drawer counts. One surface counts.
Permission to ask for help. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or professional organizer, needing support doesn’t make you weak.
Permission to rest. If organizing feels impossible today, that’s okay. Your worth isn’t tied to your productivity or the state of your home.
Permission to acknowledge this is temporary. SAD symptoms often improve with the sunnier days of spring and summer. This season will pass.
Micro-Organizing: Strategies for Low-Energy Days
When traditional organizing advice feels overwhelming, try these gentle, achievable approaches:
The 5-Minute Reset
Set a timer for 5 minutes and focus on one small area. When the timer goes off, you’re done. No guilt, no pressure to continue.
5-minute zones to try:
Kitchen counter (just one section)
Bathroom sink area
Bedside table
Car front seat
One shelf in the fridge
The key: This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating one small area that feels manageable.
The One-Thing Rule
Choose ONE category to manage each day. Not multiple projects – just one single thing.
Examples:
Monday: Put away shoes (just shoes, nothing else)
Tuesday: Sort mail (that’s it)
Wednesday: Gather water bottles from around the house
Thursday: Rest (yes, rest is on the list)
Friday: Put dirty clothes in hamper
The Path of Least Resistance
Instead of fighting against your current habits, work with them.
If you always drop your coat on the chair: Put a hook right by that chair
If mail piles up in one spot: Put a basket in that exact spot
If you can’t put clothes away: Create an open basket system instead of requiring drawers
If dishes pile up: Paper plates are okay for now
This isn’t giving up – it’s being realistic about your current capacity and removing barriers.
The Sunlight Strategy
Getting as much natural sunlight as possible is recommended for managing SAD symptoms. Combine this with organizing by tackling tasks near windows during daylight hours.
Sunlight-organizing combinations:
Sort mail by a sunny window
Fold laundry near natural light
Organize a kitchen drawer in the morning light
Put away items while standing in a bright spot
Even if you only manage 10 minutes, you’re getting both light exposure and a small organizing win.
Room-by-Room: Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact
These aren’t complete organizational overhauls – they’re the bare minimum to help spaces feel more functional when you’re struggling.
Kitchen: The Survival Mode Approach
Priority: Clear one surface for meal prep
Move everything off one counter
Items get three choices: use immediately, put away, or box for later
That’s it. One clear surface changes everything.
Lower the bar: Paper plates and disposable utensils are valid choices when doing dishes feels impossible.
Bedroom: Creating Sanctuary
Priority: Make your bed walkable and your nightstand functional
Clear a path from door to bed
Nightstand holds: lamp, water, phone charger, current book/meds
Everything else can wait
Gentle tip: SAD often causes changes in sleep patterns and oversleeping. A clearer sleep space, even if the rest of the room is cluttered, can help improve sleep quality.
Bathroom: The Morning Routine
Priority: Clear the sink area
Keep out only what you use daily
Everything else goes in a drawer or basket
One clear surface makes morning routines less overwhelming
Living Areas: The Visual Calm Approach
Priority: Clear sightlines
Can you see your couch? Your coffee table surface? Your floor?
Focus on clearing these main visuals first
Side piles can exist – they’re not in your immediate view
What to Do When Decision-Making Feels Impossible
Difficulty concentrating is a common symptom of seasonal depression, which makes sorting and decision-making particularly challenging.
The Box Method
When you can’t decide what to keep or toss:
Put uncertain items in a labeled box
Mark it with today’s date
Put it somewhere out of sight
Set a calendar reminder for 3 months
If you haven’t needed anything from it, donate the whole box without opening it
Why this works: It removes the decision burden without the permanence of immediate disposal.
The Helper System
If you have a trusted friend or family member:
Ask them to sit with you (even virtually)
They don’t make decisions for you, but their presence creates accountability
Sometimes just having someone there makes the task feel less heavy
The “Maybe” Container
Create a designated space for items you can’t decide about right now:
Label it clearly: “Decisions for Later”
Give yourself permission to revisit when you have more energy
This isn’t avoidance – it’s strategic postponement
Maintaining vs. Improving: Know the Difference
During seasons of depression, distinguish between:
Maintenance: Keeping current systems functioning
Putting dishes in dishwasher (even if not running it immediately)
Placing mail in designated spot (even if not sorting it)
Hanging up coat (even if closet is messy)
Improvement: Creating new systems or tackling projects
Reorganizing an entire closet
Implementing a new filing system
Decluttering multiple areas
The compassionate truth: Maintenance is enough right now. Improvement projects can wait for a season when you have more capacity.
When Clutter Compounds Depression
Sometimes our environment does affect our mental state. If you’re feeling trapped by your space:
Ask these gentle questions:
Is there one small change that would make me feel safer or calmer?
What’s the smallest action I could take right now?
Who could I ask for help without judgment?
Consider: If your living space has become unsafe or unlivable, this might be beyond DIY organizing. Professional organizers who specialize in challenging situations, as well as mental health professionals, can provide non-judgmental support.
Professional Support: When and How to Ask for Help
If you feel down for days at a time, can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, or if sleep patterns and appetite have changed, it’s important to see a healthcare provider.
You might need professional organizing help if:
The clutter feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start
You need someone to work alongside you without judgment
You’ve tried organizing repeatedly without lasting results
Your environment is affecting your safety or health
You might need mental health support if:
Your symptoms are interfering significantly with daily life
You’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide
You’ve felt this way for several weeks
Nothing brings you joy anymore
Important: These aren’t either/or situations. You can work with both a professional organizer and a mental health provider. In fact, a team approach often works best.
Self-Compassion Practices for Organizing Challenges
The internal dialogue matters just as much as the external environment.
Replace this: “I’m so lazy, I can’t even keep my house clean.”
With this: “I’m experiencing depression, which makes these tasks genuinely harder right now. I’m doing my best.”
Replace this: “Everyone else can manage their homes, what’s wrong with me?”
With this: “My brain chemistry is different right now. This is temporary, and I deserve compassion.”
Replace this: “I should be able to handle this.”
With this: “My capacity is limited right now, and that’s okay.”
Creating Light and Hope: Small Environmental Changes
Beyond organization, small environmental adjustments can support your wellbeing:
Making your environment sunnier and brighter is recommended – open blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight, or add skylights if possible.
Easy environmental boosts:
Open curtains first thing in the morning (even if you go back to bed)
Position your favorite chair near a window
Use bright light bulbs in areas where you spend the most time
Keep one lamp always accessible for dark evenings
The Reality of Seasonal Cycles
Symptoms of SAD typically last about 4-5 months out of the year, with episodes occurring during specific seasons for at least 2 consecutive years.
If this isn’t your first year experiencing this pattern, you might benefit from:
Preparing organization systems in early fall (during higher-energy months)
Building in extra support during your difficult months
Accepting that winter looks different for you, and that’s okay
Your Organizing Goals Can Wait (And That’s Okay)
Here’s something most organizing advice won’t tell you: It’s okay if your home isn’t organized right now.
Your worth isn’t determined by the state of your closets. Your value as a person doesn’t decrease because there are dishes in the sink. And surviving a depressive episode matters more than having a Pinterest-perfect home.
Moving Forward: Tiny Steps, Big Compassion
If you take only one thing from this post, let it be this: Start smaller than you think necessary, and be kinder to yourself than seems reasonable.