⏰ The One-Minute Rule That Keeps Your Home Tidy

Keeping a tidy home when you have kids running around can feel like an impossible task.

The moment you clean one thing, another mess appears, and by the end of the day, you’re too exhausted to deal with it.

I use a simple rule that helps keep things under control without spending hours cleaning. It's called the One-Minute Rule and it's a game-changer for busy mums.

The idea is simple: if something takes less than a minute to do, do it immediately. Instead of letting small tasks pile up and turn into big messes, you tackle them as they come.

Honestly? I'm just too lazy to do bigger tidy ups, and this rule means I rarely have to.

Dropped socks on the floor? Pick them up and put them in the hamper. Empty cereal box on the counter? Toss it in the bin.Shoes kicked off at the door? Pop them back where they belong.

Wiping a quick spill, stacking dishes, fluffing a pillow—it all takes less than a minute, but these tiny actions add up to a home that feels naturally tidy. It's weird how obvious it seems to read that back, but I swear, until I made this a non negotiable in my day I would just leave that stuff for later and it piled up SO fast.

This rule isn’t just for you either. Kids can put their toys in a basket, place their plate in the sink, or hang up their school bag the moment they walk in the door. When everyone gets into the habit of handling little things right away, the house stays tidier without anyone feeling like they’re constantly cleaning.

The One-Minute Rule stops the overwhelm before it starts. Instead of looking at a messy house at the end of the day and wondering where to begin, you’ve already taken care of the small stuff. No need for perfection - you're more making tidiness effortless, one tiny action at a time.

Try it for a few days and see the difference. A tidier home, less stress, and no more feeling buried under mess just by doing the little things, right away. 

 x Marissa

P.S. Looking for more practical tips? My House & Family Binder is filled with resources to help you manage your home effortlessly.

💐 Your Simple Weekend Reset for a Fresh Start Every Week

Weekends should feel like a break, not just a chance to catch up on everything that didn’t get done during the week. But when you’re a busy mum, it can be hard to truly relax when there’s clutter everywhere, laundry piling up, and a to-do list that never seems to end.

That’s where a simple weekend reset comes in. A few small habits can set you up for a smoother, easier week ahead—without spending your whole weekend cleaning.

Start by tidying the high-traffic areas. Focus on the spaces you use the most—kitchen, living room, and entryway. A quick 10-minute tidy in each of these spots makes the whole house feel fresher without overwhelming you.

Next, tackle the laundry situation. If you can, do a load or two so Monday doesn’t start with an overflowing basket. Get the kids involved by having them help sort, fold, or put away their clothes—it doesn’t have to be perfect!

A simple meal plan for the week makes life so much easier. You don’t need to plan every single meal, but jotting down a few easy dinners and checking what’s in the fridge can help you avoid the midweek scramble of “What are we eating tonight?”. If you don't want to plan your own, ​feel free to use mine.​

Restock the essentials so you’re not running out of things midweek. A quick check of nappies, snacks, lunchbox items, and household basics like toilet paper means fewer last-minute trips to the shops.

Take a few minutes to reset your mindset too. Instead of feeling like the weekend got away from you, pause and do something just for you—whether it’s a quiet cup of tea, a quick walk, or even a few deep breaths before bed.

A simple weekend reset doesn't have to be done perfectly, you just want to give yourself a fresh start so you can head into the new week feeling lighter, calmer, and more in control. Try it out and see how much smoother your week feels!

x Marissa

P.S. For more tools to keep your home and family life organised, explore my House & Family Binder. It’s all about making life easier for busy mums like you.

☺️ The Lazy Mum’s Guide to Keeping a Clean House

If you love having a clean home but don’t love spending hours scrubbing, tidying, and folding, you’re in the right place. Keeping the house clean doesn’t have to be a never-ending chore. With a few lazy-mum-approved tricks, you can keep things looking fresh without putting in a ton of effort!

And before we go any further—let’s clear one thing up. Lazy is not a bad word. Being lazy doesn’t mean you don’t care. It doesn’t mean your home is a disaster. It means you’re choosing rest, efficiency, and balance over exhaustion and burnout.

You’re allowed to do things the easy way. You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to enjoy your life.

Now, let’s talk about how to keep your home tidy without spending every spare moment cleaning.

First, embrace the power of “good enough” cleaning. Perfection is overrated, especially when you have kids running around. Instead of deep-cleaning every corner, focus on what actually matters. Wipe down surfaces when they look dirty, do a quick vacuum of high-traffic areas, and let the rest go until you actually have time.

Next, make tidying automatic. Instead of dedicating an entire afternoon to picking up toys and clutter, do tiny clean-ups as you go. Put things away while you’re moving around the house, get the kids to do a quick pickup before meals, and make it a habit to clear surfaces at the end of the day. Little things add up and prevent big messes from building up.

One of the best lazy-mum tricks? Use the right tools. A cordless vacuum makes quick clean-ups a breeze, microfibre cloths work wonders on dusty surfaces, and multipurpose wipes handle sticky messes in seconds. Keep cleaning supplies where you use them—wipes in the bathroom, a dustpan in the kitchen—so you can clean as you go without making it a whole production.

Get your kids involved (without the battle). Make tidying fun by turning it into a game—who can pick up the most toys in one minute? Can they race the vacuum cleaner? If you can make it entertaining, they’re more likely to help without the usual complaints.

Most importantly, stop overcomplicating things. Not every dish has to be washed immediately, not every floor needs mopping daily, and the laundry can wait until you have a full load. Stick to the essentials, do the minimum required to keep things from getting overwhelming, and enjoy the extra time you’ve saved by not trying to be Supermum.

A clean house doesn’t have to mean constant effort. The key is finding shortcuts that work for you, making little habits part of your routine, and letting go of the pressure to have everything perfect all the time. Lazy mums know the secret: a little bit of effort in the right places makes a huge difference—and leaves more time for what really matters.

So go ahead, be "lazy." Rest. Have fun. Enjoy your kids. Your home will still be just fine.

x Marissa

P.S. Ready to simplify your home management even more? My House & Family Binder offers easy-to-use prints to keep everything organised without the overwhelm.

How to Get Kids to Help Without the Whining

Getting kids to help around the house can feel like pulling teeth. The sighs, the eye rolls, the dramatic flops onto the floor—it’s enough to make any mum think, “I’ll just do it myself.” But kids can help, and they should help. Not just because it makes your life easier, but because it teaches them responsibility, teamwork, and life skills they’ll need as they grow. The trick is making it easy, fun, and part of the routine, so it doesn’t feel like a battle every time.

Start by setting clear expectations.

If kids think chores are optional, they’ll always find a way to get out of them. Instead of saying, “Can you help tidy up?” try, “Before we go outside, we put the toys away.” It’s a simple shift, but it works. Pairing tasks with something they want to do makes it a natural step rather than a punishment.

Another game-changer is turning chores into a game.

Race against the clock, play their favourite song and see if they can finish before it ends, or let them “earn” points that lead to something fun like extra story time. The more playful it is, the less they resist.

For younger kids, keep tasks age-appropriate and manageable.

Instead of telling a toddler to “clean their room” (which is overwhelming), break it down: “Put the books on the shelf” or “Put all the blue toys in this basket.” Little wins build confidence, and when they feel capable, they’re more likely to help again.

Praise is powerful.

A simple “Wow, you did that so quickly!” or “That really helped me, thank you!” makes them feel good about contributing. Kids love feeling important, and when they see that their efforts matter, they’re more likely to keep it up.

Lastly, consistency is key.

Helping out shouldn’t be a one-off request when you’re overwhelmed—it should be a normal part of daily life. If tidying up is always part of the routine, kids don’t question it. They just do it, because that’s what’s always been done.

Getting kids to help without whining is about setting them up for success, making it fun, and showing them that working together makes life easier for everyone. The more natural and routine it becomes, the less resistance you’ll get—and one day, you might even find them doing it without being asked!

 x Marissa

P.S. For more strategies to streamline your household routines, take a look at my House & Family Binder. It’s designed to help you run your household smoothly and stress-free.

⏰🏡 5-Minute Daily Habits for a Tidy Home (Even With Kids Around!)

Busy mums, I see you. Between nappy changes, school drop-offs, meal prep, and the never-ending washing pile, keeping a tidy home can feel impossible. What if I told you that just five minutes a day can make a real difference?

You don’t need hours of cleaning (who has that kind of time?!). These quick, simple habits will help you stay on top of the mess without the overwhelm.

Make the Bed First Thing.

A made bed instantly makes your bedroom look put together, and it sets the tone for a productive day. It takes less than a minute but makes a world of difference!

💡 Let the kids help make their beds too. It won’t be perfect, and that's fine. Get them into while they're young and love helping mum, and they'll do it on autopilot later when they're older.

Quick Morning Tidy.

Before heading out or starting your day at home, do a 5-minute tidy:

✔ Throw the toys into a basket

✔ Stack the dishes in the dishwasher

✔ Wipe down the kitchen benches

It’s a small effort that stops the mess from snowballing!

💡 Put on a fun song and challenge yourself (and the kids) to finish before it ends.

One Load of Laundry a Day.

Instead of waiting until the weekend to tackle a mountain of clothes, start one load each morning. We line dry, so each day I wash in the morning, hang to dry, and bring in yesterday's dry load to fold and put away.

💡 Put the load on when you go to bed and hang first thing in the morning if that makes it easier.

Wipe Down Surfaces After Meals.

After breakfast, lunch, and dinner, give benches and tables a quick wipe. This keeps crumbs, sticky spills, and mystery messes under control.

💡 Keep a pack of wipes or a spray bottle handy for quick & easy cleanups.

5-Minute Evening Reset.

Before bed, do a final 5-minute reset:

✔ Pick up toys

✔ Straighten cushions

✔ Put dishes in the dishwasher and run it

✔ Toss clothes into the laundry basket

Waking up to a tidy home feels amazing and makes mornings so much easier.

You don’t need to spend hours cleaning to keep your home tidy. Little habits add up. These five-minute tasks fit into your busy life and help you stay on top of things without the stress.

Give them a go, and let me know which one makes the biggest difference for you! 💛

x Marissa

P.S. Want more tips like these? Check out my House & Family Binder—a simple set of prints to help you organise your home and life without stress and overwhelm.