When it comes to finding the best tools for productivity, I will always choose one that suggests setting aside a dedicated window of time to tackle a project. It’s why I love the 20/10 method, and I’m a huge fan of the closing shift method.
Recently, the concept of the One Hour Method caught my eye, and I was eager to try this one out.
What Is the One Hour Method?
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I’ve noticed in the past that a lot of these timed methods break things down in smaller chunks. In just fifteen or twenty minutes, influencers promise a revolutionary way to clean your home. These are great starting points, but I often find I blow through the allotted time and end up tackling a bigger project than I set out to solve.
Because of this, I really liked the idea of the One Hour Method—and yes, it’s as straightforward as it sounds. Everyday, you set aside one hour to clean a different room or zone in your home. With this approach, you don’t need to lose a full day to a deep clean. You can simply tackle it in small pieces as a part of your daily schedule.
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It’s Great for Flexible Schedules
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As a freelancer who works from home, I structure my own days pretty carefully, blocking things off on my calendar to keep myself on track. With the One Hour Method, I liked the idea of blocking off time to clean the same way I do for my work assignments.
However, I soon realized the One Hour Method a much better way for me to tackle a wide variety of other home projects… not necessarily clean a thing.
It Works for Decluttering and Organizing
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On the first day, I set aside an hour to tidy up our main floor, putting away everything that didn’t belong in our entryway, kitchen, and living room. This took less than an hour, but it didn’t leave me with enough time to bust out our cleaning supplies.
Instead, I tackled a bonus job of reorganizing our glassware cabinet to make space for new wine glasses we picked up over Christmas.
The next day, I planned to take on my office, but I remembered I’ve been dying to organize my kids’ closets. I did a quick sift through for things I knew they’d outgrown, and soon filled up a few bags to give away and donate.
By the third day, I realized what was happening. I wasn’t using this daily hour to clean anything. I was using it to organize everything. In five days, I tackled a whole host of projects I’d been putting off. I cleared out and reorganized my own closet, I gave our pantry and refrigerator a refresh, and I did a major declutter of my bathroom medicine cabinet and storage spaces.
It’s an Ideal Short-Term Approach
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In the end, I learned a few things from the One Hour Method. Often, when I set out to tackle home projects, I clean and organize things that are required for daily maintenance. I rarely set aside dedicated, regular time to declutter and organize. Instead, these are the projects that I let pile up, and I handle them when I can’t quite take it anymore.
Instead of a cleaning hack, I think the One Hour Method is a great way to tackle your to-do list over a set period of time, and make meaningful strides in clearing out and fixing up your space. It’s especially ideal for anyone who works from home or has a flexible schedule, or if you just want guaranteed time to get through some projects you’ve been putting off.
As for me, I’m filing the One Hour Method away as another viral trend I’m grateful exists. While I’m not sure it’s the daily solution of my dreams, I know I’ll be sure to use as needed—especially with spring cleaning season just around the corner.
