Stop Making To-Do Lists — Try the 30-3 Trick to Get So Much More Done Instead

It’s always a tough shift from the school year to summertime, where I have to reshuffle my plan for taking care of household responsibilities because the kids are home all day every day. I wish I was one of those people who can let go and stay content because there are more important things to do than keeping the kitchen floor spotless, but unfortunately, I am not. For me, in order to be present and enjoy the summertime with my kids, I need our surroundings to be picked-up and peaceful.

So I needed a workable solution to get everything done, and fast, before “Overwhelmed Mom” showed up to spoil our carefree summer days. Then, I came across the 30-3 rule on social media, and I knew it could be the answer I was looking for. 

Shared in a video by creator Rylie Jasmine, the 30-3 rule entails completing household tasks in three sets of 30 minutes throughout the day. The key to the method is its prescriptiveness: the 30-3 rule calls for three distinct times every day dedicated to housework. However, the amount of time spent on chores is finite. 

Thirty-minute blocks ensure both that the time pressure makes you efficient, and that you aren’t compelled to let household tasks bleed into time that should be spent on what matters most (which I feel most poignantly during fleeting summer days). 

I decided to implement the method immediately — and it went even better than expected. Within a few days, I felt like I’d been able to catch up on spaces that had been neglected, like the coat closet and garage that had become hotspots for summer clutter like sunscreen, goggles, and towels.

Additionally, I was surprised by how much I could get done in each 30-minute chunk of time. But the real beauty of the method, one which I couldn’t have anticipated until trying it out myself, was how useful it was to not be told exactly what I needed to do during my housework times. 

Normally, I would rather know what I’m supposed to do; having a routine or checklist cuts down drastically on decision fatigue, leaving plenty of energy left over for actually accomplishing the tasks. But in this case, when our days are topsy-turvy, throwing myself into whatever needs to be done in the moment is perfect. 

For instance, one day I spent a 30-minute block re-setting our garage workout space so the older kids would be more inclined to use it (and I was rewarded with a text from my teen son saying he “loved the garage.”) Another day, I watered my plants during one of my housework times and then straightened up our bedroom after a whirlwind of packing. The flexibility of the 30-3 rule works so much in my favor during this season. 

The most important discovery during this trial was realizing how much I can get done around the house in just an hour and a half every day. Not only was I able to keep up with most of my daily chores, but I was also able to address some smaller projects around the house, like decluttering the laundry room items and deep cleaning everyone’s water bottles.

Overall, the 30-3 rule has been a resounding success. It’s an approach I’m definitely going to put into practice anytime our days are unpredictable, but it’s also a solid choice as a permanent household routine.