15 Minute Rule

The 15 Minute Rule by Jean Marie Linhart

The 15 minute rule is designed to get you moving at something you struggle to get started with, or to make progress toward accomplishing a goal that is big enough to be overwhelming.

The basic idea is to set a timer and work on it for 15 minutes. You can stand almost anything for 15 minutes. Even vacuuming.

Instead of putting everything off to the last minute and struggling with it for hours, use the 15 minute rule to get started promptly.

Applying the 15 minute rule to Math Homework

First get your book and notes and homework out, some paper and a couple of pencils; everything you need to do the homework. This is not part of your 15 minutes, but this part should be easy, right?

Now set a timer for 15 minutes, and get to work on your homework problems.

If you get stuck, refer to your notes or the book. Find the section on that type of problem. This should only take a minute or two, since you should have your book and notes out. Hopefully this will get you unstuck.

If you are still stuck, spend 2 or 3 minutes brainstorming ideas you can think of that might help you with the problem. If this gets you unstuck, finish the problem. If not, move on. You should at most 5 minutes on any one problem.

So at the end of 15 minutes, you will have attempted at least 3 problems. Hopefully you have finished 3 or more problems. Even if not, you now have questions prepared to talk over with someone later today or tomorrow.

Pat yourself on the back. You got started! That is the hardest part.

Where do I use the 15 minute rule?

My biggest personal application of the 15 minute rule is to housework. I have a hard time getting started with housework.

When I'm smart, I try to set my timer and do 15 minutes of housework a day. This way, it doesn't stack up.

I also use the rule with writing projects. Though sometimes I need to use an even more basic rule for that, the 5 minute rule.

Where does the 15 minute rule come from?

I learned it from the Flylady . She is brilliant!

Where does the 5 minute rule come from?

Kathi Appelt author of The Underneath talked about that one at a Brazoswriters meeting. It stuck with me. It works just like the 15 minute rule, but it is shorter. :)