The 10-Minute Reset: How I Keep My Home (and Head) from Spiralling
Let me paint a familiar picture: it’s 6:00 p.m. on a Friday. My kiddo is asking for a snack. There is a backpack on the floor, dishes still in the sink from the morning rush, and a pile of shoes that somehow migrated to the middle of the hallway. Again.
It’s the kind of chaos that quietly builds up during the week, and suddenly, your whole house feels like it’s closing in on you.
This used to send me into one of two spirals, either ignoring it entirely until it got worse or spending hours trying to reset the whole house at once, only to burn out halfway through.
So, I stopped trying to do it all—and started building in tiny resets instead.
What is a 10-Minute Reset?
It’s exactly what it sounds like. A short, focused window where I don’t try to do it all, I just aim to make a space feel better than before. It’s the in-between space of survival and full-on home organization project. It’s for Monday nights. Saturday mornings. The 20 minutes after the kids go down.
What Actually Happens in 10 Minutes?
Here’s how I approach it, usually with a cup of tea in one hand and music playing in the background:
I grab a laundry basket and do a quick walk-through of the space, scooping up the random items that don’t belong—headphones, a rogue sock, receipts, mystery toys.
I fold a throw blanket. Seriously, this changes the whole energy of a living room.
I put back anything with a clear home. Don’t overthink where the scissors live. If it has a spot, put it there.
I do a fast “trash sweep”—junk mail, snack wrappers, empty boxes.
I light a candle or open a window. Something that shifts the mood and says, “okay, things are a little calmer now.”
The key? I don’t try to finish. I just try to reset.
Why It Works
It’s not about a magazine-worthy home. It’s about getting the visual clutter down enough that your brain can breathe. It’s about momentum, not perfection.
It’s about having a plan for those days when the energy to do everything just doesn’t exist—but you still need somethingto help you feel better in your space.
And here’s the best part, once I got the systems right in my home, those 10-minute resets actually started working.
Because the difference between a reset that helps, and one that feels like a waste of time, is this: organization systems that make sense for your family.
As always, thanks for reading the CLCO Blog. I’m so happy you love to stay organized as much as I do.
Cheers,
Jaime Bergman - Home Organizing Specialist - Crescent Living Co.
When You’re Ready for More Than 10 Minutes…
If your 10-minute reset feels more like a 45-minute scavenger hunt every time, it might be time to bring in some support. That’s what my team and I at Crescent Living Co. are here for.
We specialize in personalized home organizing services that bring real-life function and calm back into your space—so those daily resets actually reset something.
We're currently booking fall sessions, and for first-time clients, we're offering $100 off your organizing session (services only, not applicable to products).
Curious about our services? Click here to read all about them.
