By: Bec Harris
Ever look around and feel like chores never end? Child learning specialist Natalie Nicholls, from PLECs Learning, says the fix might only take one minute.
She explains, “Do it straight away or it never gets done.” That simple mindset shift can completely change how families manage daily chaos.
How It Started
Natalie came up with the idea after noticing everyday clutter building up at home. “Towels on the floor, dishes in the sink, coffee machines left dirty,” she said. “I thought there has to be a better way.”
Instead of blaming bad habits, she wanted to understand the “why” behind them. “When we look at why something happens, instead of labelling it as bad behaviour, we can make real change.”
The Brain Science Behind It
Our brains can only handle so much information at once. “When we have too much to do, our working memory overloads,” Natalie explains. “That’s when little jobs like paying a bill or wiping the counter get parked.”
But these “parked” tasks don’t disappear. They keep looping in your brain, eating up mental space and energy. “When you finally do them,” Natalie says, “you close that loop and get a hit of dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical.” That quick win makes you feel good and reduces stress.
Why It Works
The One Minute Rule helps families stay calm and organised because it reduces cognitive clutter.
“Even though we think we’re not using energy, those unfinished tasks still drain us,” Natalie says.
By acting immediately on small tasks if it takes less than a minute you free up your mental bandwidth.
She adds, “It’s not about perfection. It’s about awareness and small, consistent action.”
Putting It Into Practice at Home
Natalie encourages families to make it a fun challenge, not a punishment. “We said, let’s all try something new we’ll hang up towels, put dishes in the dishwasher, wipe the coffee machine straight away!”
Her advice:
- Start small. Focus on one area like laundry or dishes.
- Get everyone involved. Make it a family effort.
- Celebrate small wins. Say “great job” when someone follows through.
“When we all do it together,” she says, “it becomes a team habit instead of nagging.”
Natalie noticed a huge difference in her home. “It’s less to think about, less to nag about and the house feels calmer,” she says. Doing things right away removes background noise from your brain. “You’re retraining yourself to see something, do it, and move on.”
The Takeaway
The one minute rule for families is more than a cleaning tip it’s a mindset. As Natalie puts it, “There’s always a solution to every problem. It might not be the one you want, but there’s always a way.”
So next time you see that small task do it straight away. It might only take a minute, but it could change your whole day.
Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.
Feature image: Canva
