The One Minute Rule Changed My Cleaning Routine
The one minute rule completely revamped the way I go about my daily life and how I teach my kids to take care of our home. It’s amazing how one small change made such a huge impact.
This little mindset change reminded me again that the small things make a big difference, especially when it comes to taking care of a home with four kids, who at the time of this article were ages 8, 6, 3 and 1.
Let’s talk about what the one minute rule is and some ideas of how to implement it in your home too. I think you’ll start to see the power to change your cleaning routine pretty quickly (might I even say, in 60 seconds?)
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The One Minute Rule’s Power to Change Your Cleaning Routine
I heard about the One Minute Rule from Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project, and I decided to give it a go. Although I consider myself a happy person in general, this book was entertaining as well as insightful as she analyzed, researched, and explored the different ways to be “happier.” One of those ways was keeping a tidier home.
This leads us to ask the question, what is the definition of the one minute rule? And how can it help?
The Definition of the One Minute Rule
“If it takes less than one minute, do the task now.”
Yup, the one minute rule really is that simple! Isn’t it awesome?
Basically, if it can be done quickly, you’re better off doing it now rather than later. All those laters add up way too quickly, especially when you multiply the laters by everyone in your home!
But, what does this actually look like in real life?
How does the one minute rule work?
Seriously, have you ever wondered HOW your house got so messy? Like, you walk in and then immediately want to hide from your own mess in your house, messy?
The mess most likely did not apparate out of thin air, but rather appeared after many small tasks were put off til later. I can’t tell you how much of a procrasinator I am by nature, but I’ve learned that I think I’ve finally learned it just does not pay off in the long run.
Putting away that jacket, rinsing a bowl in the sink, or walking to the bedroom to put away a pair of shoes could have taken anywhere from 20 seconds to 45 seconds by themselves, but will now take me 30 minutes of organizing, figuring out, and decluttering.
The one minute rule keeps the clutter down and the tidiness up. It stops procrastination in its tracks. It is super easy to remember and super easy to actually do. Once the habit is in place, you’ll actually be asking yourself why you never functioned like this before?
The Power of Small Habits
I’ve learned so much about the power of habits through two books: The Power of Habit and Atomic Habits that it’s hard to regurgitate it all here.
But the gist of the matter is, you can teach yourself new habits. And once they become automatic, once you stack them, build on them, and make them a part of your daily routine, you will start to see a compounding effect in your life.
Much as putting off tasks creates more work in the long-run, doing the work now, creates more time in the long-run. Often our efforts are invisible at first, but eventually putting this simple system in place will help you reach some of your house management goals. But more importantly, putting into place this small habit will reinforce in you the idea that your actions can reflect the identity of a tidy and neat person.
Who is the one minute rule for?
The OMR is for anyone and everyone who desire less clutter, less time cleaning and more time for things that fill you up!
I would not call myself a clean person by any means. My desk has always been in organized chaos mode. No one can find anything except me.
So, believe me, if I can find benefits to the one minute rule as a messy person – then you can too!
If you are a naturally clean person then I’m assuming you’re reading this because you LOVE getting better at cleaning. I mean, I know people like that, but that’s not me.
The point is, the one minute rule might could be a helpful tool to teach your spouse or kids how to be a little bit more OCD without the OCD… know what I mean? Okay, let’s talk a little bit more about the other benefits of the OMR as well as some ideas!
Benefits of the One Minute Rule
I’ve found that the one minute rule really helps me keep down the clutter. It’s so easy to integrate into my tasks to better maintain my home. Also, when I teach my kids these tasks, it cutws down on tidying by 4 more people!
It makes the 15 minute cleaning tasks way easier to accomplish because there’s less to tidy before hand!
My home management has become way easier so now I can actually focus more on having fun with my kids like going for a walk after dinner, riding bikes, or playing lacrosse in the backyard instead of worrying about trying to clean the house before I go to bed.
29 One Minute Tasks To Just Do Immediately
- Put away your shoes when you come in the door.
- Hang up your jacket.
- Hang up your purse/backpack on a hook as you walk in the door.
- Put your keys/wallet on the drop zone.
- Put your bowl and glass in the dishwasher.
- Close the kitchen cabinet every time.
- Make your bed when you wake-up.
- Wipe down the bathroom counter after you brush your teeth.
- Throw away the junk mail immediately.
- Toss trash from your coat pockets.
- Empty your car when you get home.
- Push the chairs in at the kitchen table.
- Put your socks in the hamper, not on the floor.
- Hang up the leash after a walk.
- Wipe down a glass shower with a rag after every shower.
- Put away the mayo (insert condiment of choice) after you use it.
- Put the coffee back in the pantry.
- Wash off make-up before you go to bed (seriously, it takes less than a minute!)
- Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake-up.
- Take out your contacts.
- Clean off the coffee table.
- Wipe off the kitchen counter.
- Pick up the toy as you walk.
- Do not put your clothes in the hamper inside out.
- Put away your tools after a project.
- Put the book back on the shelf.
- Wind up the hose.
- Pray as soon as you wake up.
- Pray on the way to school.
- Give your husband a kiss when you walk in the door.
The Last Thing You Should Know about the One Minute Rule
The great thing about this rule is that sometime’s all you need is a little start.
When the thought of cleaning the whole house is too much and causes you to freeze, thinking of the smaller one minute tasks might just get you on the path you desire to a cleaner and more organized home. You will notice a compounding effect as soon as you try it!