If you’re someone who tends to procrastinate, odds are your house is a mess.
Typically, you can’t be bothered to take care of a spill or pick clothes off the floor as soon as you take them off.
And because of this, a mess has piled up around you – one that’s entirely too overwhelming to address.
Well, experts like therapist Mikela Hallmark, LPC told the DailyMail.com that the ‘one-minute’ rule is a great productivity hack that can change the life of your typical procrastinator.
Essentially, the rule is that if a task takes under one minute to complete – think, wiping down the counter, throwing a sweater into the laundry hamper, or making your bed – you should do it immediately.
It doesn’t take much time (one minute), and it saves you from having to do an additional 30 things at once later.
And Hallmark said it can be a game-changer for someone who struggles to get things done around their home.
‘It builds a habit that reduces clutter,’ she said.
The ‘one-minute’ rule includes quickly wiping down a spill as soon as it happens (stock image)
‘Habits can be difficult to form and difficult to break, and for those who are in the habit of simple procrastination, giving themselves a rule that has a time frame associated to it can really help them get out of the rut of procrastination.
‘There’s some sense of urgency that comes with the understanding that if it takes a minute or less, I need to do it.’
Hallmark said this can be especially helpful to people who may struggle with ADHD.
Focusing on a small task can feel less overwhelming than having to tackle multiple ones at once.
She also explained that the rule can be beneficial for people who may suffer from depression.
The quick sense of accomplishment can cause small releases of feel-good chemicals that people can build up on.
‘It also allows you to quickly knock things off of a to-do list, which leaves room for the bigger tasks,’ Hallmark said.
And these ‘bigger tasks’ can range anywhere from spending time with your kids to working on a personal project you’ve been putting off.
Therapist Mikela Hallmark said this rule can help people who have ADHD (stock image)
And although Hallmark is a fan of this hack, she warned against the potential pitfalls of the ‘one-minute’ rule.
She said it’s important to remember not to get caught up in too many ‘one minute’ tasks, especially to the point where you’re using it as a distraction from bigger, more important tasks in your life.
She explained that so long as the rule is being used to help you and not just put other things off, it can really change your life.
‘The one minute rule can be effective for people who struggle with overwhelm when there’s clutter in life, and for people who tend to struggle with focus, laziness, or simple procrastination,’ Hallmark said.
