The 10-Minute Rule That Saved My Sanity (Especially on Messy Days)

If you’ve ever looked around your house and thought,

"Where do I even start?"

you’re not alone.

As a homeschooling, homesteading mama of five, my brain often felt like spaghetti—one thought tangled into another, with no clear end in sight.

But one little piece of advice from a woman at church changed everything.

The 10-Minute Rule

She said: "Set a timer for 10 minutes in each room. Do what you can. Then move on.”

It sounded too simple to work—but it did.

No perfection. No pressure. Just presence.

Here’s how I use it:

1. Walk into the room that needs cleaning.

2. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

3. Stay in the room. Don’t leave to put items away—just make a pile.

4. When the timer ends, move on to the next room.

5. At the very end, take your pile and return things to their proper place.

   
   

That’s it.

Why It Works (Especially for Brains Like Ours)

• 10 minutes feels doable, even on chaotic days.

• It prevents perfectionism paralysis (you know the one).

• It helps you start—which is often the hardest part.

• And it gives your nervous system a sense of completion without overwhelm.

  
  

This morning, I had a kitchen that needed more than 10 minutes. So I set the timer again. Not for 20 or 30 minutes, but another 10.

Something about working in small, calm chunks helped my brain quiet down and gave me the clarity I needed to keep going.

A Note to the Overwhelmed Mama:

If your brain feels like spaghetti today, try the 10-minute rule. You’ll be amazed what you can do.

And if no one’s told you yet—you’re doing a great job.