Optimization algorithms are crucial for energy-efficient routing in Internet of Things (IoT)-based Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) because they help minimize energy consumption, reduce communication overhead, and improve overall network performance. By optimizing the routing paths and scheduling data transmission, these algorithms can prolong network lifetime by efficiently managing the limited energy resources of sensor nodes, ensuring reliable data delivery while conserving energy. In this work, we present Greylag Goose-based Optimized Clustering (GGOC), which aids in selecting the Cluster Head (CH) using the proposed critical fitness parameters. These parameters include residual energy, sensor sensing range, distance of a candidate node from the sink, number of neighboring nodes, and energy consumption rate. Simulation analysis shows that the proposed approach improves various performance metrics, namely network lifetime, stability period, throughput, the network’s remaining energy, and the number of clusters formed.