I Tried the 1% Rule, and It’s Become My Favorite Tiny Habit
As much as I try to embrace the chaos and clutter of a lived-in home, being in a messy space can also feel overwhelming — especially to a highly sensitive person like me. Cleared-off counters, an organized closet, and fresh flowers on an always-wiped-down kitchen table not only make my space feel peaceful, but it also helps calm the noise in my head so that I can focus on what matters most: the people in my home.
So when I came across the 1% rule, I immediately embraced it as an effective strategy for keeping the home reasonably in order even when life is too busy to keep up with all the housework.
What Is the 1% Rule?
Shared by Holly Blakey of the @breathing.room.home, the 1% rule involves doing just one small thing to make your home better. The habit definitely leads to a more tidy home, but, more importantly, it also creates a more peaceful emotional state.
There’s the satisfaction of getting something, even if it’s small, accomplished, as well as the sense of calm that comes even from incremental improvements to the condition of your home. I love the way Blakey puts it: “Simplifying into small victories creates a big internal shift.”
How to Use the 1% Rule
I spent time straightening pillows on the couch and emptying the dish drying rack, and these instantly made my home (and me) feel better.
Here are some other actions you can take on in just a few minutes that’ll have an outsized impact on your home.
Deal with the dirty dishes in the sink.
Empty the dishwasher.
Straighten the hand towels hanging in the kitchen.
Wipe down the counters.
Take out the ingredients you need to make dinner.
Remove expired leftovers from the fridge.
Clean out your purse.
Put dirty clothes that are on your bedroom and bathroom floor in the hamper.
Put away the folded laundry.
Go through the “orphan” socks bin and fold pairs.
Take the bag of donations to the car.
Process that Amazon return.
Empty the trash.
Toss unneeded items that have been collecting in the junk drawer.
Go through kids’ papers and recycle what you don’t need.
Pluck brown or yellow leaves from your plants.
Use the laundry basket method to clear surfaces.
Put shoes back on the shoe rack.
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
