Member-only story
Dreading Chores? Try The 3 Minute Rule
As a wife and mother for twenty years, I still struggle with getting everything done that needs doing. You know what I mean. You do the dishes, and the next time you turn around, the sink is full of dishes again. There’s laundry to be done, floors to sweep… the list is endless.
When it comes to getting chores done, there’s not much to get excited about. I don’t know many people who jump for joy at the thought of cleaning.
But, I’ve learned a trick that worked with my kids, and also works for me.
As my boys became teenagers, their rooms looked as though tornadoes ripped through them. Every day I would harp on them to clean it up, and every day it was a battle.
I think part of the issue was that it was a bit overwhelming for them. They’d stand there and look around and probably not know where to even start so they just wouldn’t.
But, then I found a trick.
Any time they asked for something, whether it was a snack, or to run to the store, or have a friend over, I’d say:
“Spend 3 minutes cleaning your room and then you can…”
At first, they’d look at me and ask what they needed to clean and I would simply shrug my shoulders and say that I didn’t care what they cleaned. As long as they spent three minutes…