The 10/30 Rule For a Healthy Home

How does the 10/30 rule work? It's simple: go 10 steps further and take 30 seconds more time than you normally would. 

After all, it's better to do a task right the first time rather than halfway doing multiple tasks. Plus, to finish things thoroughly, it usually does not take more than a minimum of effort. Ten steps or thirty seconds are enough! 

When you walk into someone else's home and feel that brief “wow” factor, pay attention next time. You can tell when a room is cared for by its owner, who happily sacrifices a few extra seconds every day.

10/30 rule examples in the household:

 

1. It feels harder than ever to know what to do with important paper copies of things like report cards or medical records. So, do not place your documents and letters just anywhere. Rather, be sure to organize them right away in a specific place. Taking those 30 extra seconds will save you time and frustration in the long run.

 

2. Redecorating and organizing are often recurring tasks, especially with situations constantly evolving. This is just part of life and keeping up with the changing seasons. To do it right, as the 10/30 rule reminds us, you need to do it all the way. This means finishing the last bit of the project. With a new piece of decoration or furniture, think for 30 seconds longer where you want to put it and take 10 steps back to get a more cohesive view.

 

3. You probably know the adage about a place for everything and everything in its place, but putting each thing away in its place can feel like such a drag. The problem is that all these undone tasks and misplaced items add up. Taking ten extra steps when you collect the dishes from the rooms and put them in the dishwasher right away keeps your physical and psychological space uncluttered. The same applies to clothes. Rather than randomly throwing them on a chair at the end of your day, hang them straight back on the hanger or throw them in the laundry hamper. 

 

A positive side effect: your home will not only be more neat, but you will also be more at ease in your living space!

 

Bottom Line 

The secret behind the 10/30 rule is that it can be used in many aspects of life. If you give yourself just a little more time and space for all things in the household, the result will thank you. This can look like tidying the laundry, tending to plants, or even asking yourself where it is best to hang a new painting. 

Nowadays, everything seems to happen quickly and immediately. But, home is a place where we should definitely let go of this fast pace of life and look at the full space.