Too Hot to Declutter? Start From the Couch

Is anyone else struggling with this heat?

I do not do well in hot weather. Add humidity, and my motivation completely disappears. Walking outside feels like stepping into a wall of soup, and even thinking about tackling a decluttering project sounds exhausting. (Or any project, really.)

Personally, I'd be perfectly happy if temperatures never got above 75 degrees.

But unfortunately I don't control the weather. So I've learned that on really hot days, I need to adjust my expectations.

This is not the week to clean out the garage.

This is not the week to reorganize the basement (it is cooler down there, but I'd rather not move if I don't have to 😄).

This is the week to sit in the air conditioning and make progress in small ways.

Because decluttering doesn't have to involve hauling boxes, sweating, or making multiple trips up and down the stairs. Sometimes, all it takes is a comfortable seat and a little bit of time.

Here are a few things you can declutter without moving much at all.

Start With a Digital Declutter

Your phone and computer are probably filled with things you no longer need.

While you're enjoying the air conditioning, try deleting:

• Old emails

• Unneeded photos and screenshots

• Apps you never use

• Browser bookmarks

• Outdated contacts

• Downloaded podcasts you'll never listen to

• Files on your computer

• Shows on your streaming watch list that you're realistically never going to watch

Digital clutter may not take up physical space, but it can still feel overwhelming.

Look Around the Room You're In

Without getting up, what can you see that no longer needs to be there?

Maybe it's:

• A stack of magazines

• Books you've already read and won't read again

• Charging cords for devices you no longer own

• Reusable shopping bags

• Remote controls that belong to electronics that are long gone

• Papers piling up on the coffee table

Challenge yourself to find five things you can recycle, donate, or relocate without leaving the room.

Tackle One Small Space

If you have a little more energy, choose one drawer or container. Just one.

Some easy options:

• Your nightstand drawer

• The junk drawer

• A basket of random cords

• Your purse or bag

• The pen cup in your kitchen

• The stack of mail you've been meaning to sort

Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, you're done.

Remember: Small Wins Still Count

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is thinking that decluttering only "counts" if they finish an entire room. And that's simply not true.

A drawer counts.

Deleting emails counts.

Recycling a stack of old magazines counts.

Decluttering 10 items while sitting on the couch absolutely counts.

When it's hot and humid and your energy is low, give yourself permission to do less. A little progress is still progress. And when the weather finally drops below 70 degrees? Then we can talk about the garage.