My kitchen used to look like I was always in the middle of cleaning but never actually finished. There’d be a glass from that morning’s latte, a spoon I forgot to rinse, and some junk mail that somehow migrated from the entryway. I wasn’t messy on purpose — I just kept telling myself I’ll take care of it later, which I rarely did.
Then I heard about author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin’s “1-Minute Rule.” And I know it sounds dramatic, but it seriously changed everything.
What Is the “1-Minute Rule”?
The rule is simple: If something can be done in under a minute, just do it now. That’s it! Not later, not after dinner, not tomorrow morning — now. I didn’t think it would matter much, but wow. It’s wild what shifts when you stop putting off the small things.
Now, instead of letting a pot or pan “soak” for hours (we’ve all done it), I wash it immediately. If I see a crumb trail, I wipe it up right then. When I get home, the receipts go in the recycling before I even take off my shoes. And slowly, my kitchen counters stopped looking like a dumping ground.
This isn’t to say the method is effortless. Honestly, half the battle is just mentally committing to deal with things in the moment. Some days I have to give myself a pep talk — just do it now, it’ll take 10 seconds. But the more I follow through, the easier it gets. It’s like training your brain to trust that current you is more capable and motivated than future you — and future you will thank you.
And the payoff is totally worth it. Everything feels lighter, and I’m not constantly side-eyeing the mess while trying to cook or make coffee. The space looks calmer, and I feel calmer. If your kitchen always feels one step away from chaos, give this a try. One tiny task at a time really does add up.
What do you think about the “1-Minute Rule”? Let us know in the comments below!