⏰ My Favorite 10-Minute Tasks That Keep Me (and My Business) Sane
Sometimes, 10 minutes is all you’ve got.
And honestly? That can be enough.
As a business owner, mom, and person juggling a lot of moving parts, I’ve found that short, focused tasks can do more than just check a box—they can bring you back to center. Whether it's clearing mental clutter, organizing your digital world, or just breathing for a second, these micro-moments of intentional effort keep everything flowing more smoothly.
Here are a few of my favorite 10-minute resets—for your mindset, your workspace, and your business systems.
🧠 Mindset Resets (No Hustle Required)
These quick actions help me reset my brain and reconnect to me—especially when everything starts to feel a little chaotic.
Gratitude Journal – Jotting down a few things I’m thankful for can shift my energy fast.
Meditation – I love using the Calm app or Peloton’s quick guided meditations. Even 5 minutes is powerful.
Sitting in the Sun – Sometimes the best medicine is stepping outside and letting the sun hit your face.
💻 Digital Decluttering (Your Future Self Will Thank You)
I usually do most of these during my Admin Day (used to be every Friday, now every other Friday), and they still pack a punch.
Inbox Archiving – I don’t delete much, but I love using the Archive feature to get things out of view while keeping them searchable.
Quick File + Organize – As things come in, I try to file them immediately—it takes 20 seconds, but prevents that digital pile-up.
Unsubscribe Purge – 10 minutes of unsubscribing = a cleaner inbox and less daily noise.
Email in Bursts – I manage email in 10-minute chunks, usually at the start and end of my day. (Bonus: I rely on Teamwork for task capture, so email stays client-focused.)
🗂️ Desk Pile Triage
Let’s be real: paperwork piles up. It just does.
Taking 10–20 minutes to sort, scan, and delegate paperwork clears physical and mental space. Ideally, I’d deal with it all as it comes in, but sometimes that’s just not reality—and that’s okay.
⚙️ Mini Systems = Major Relief
Sometimes the best use of 10 minutes is laying the groundwork for automation. Recently I’ve set up little workflows in HoneyBook, Zapier, and Teamwork—and WOW. Those quick setups now save me hours every month.
Pro tip: If a task feels repetitive, ask yourself: “Can this be automated or delegated?”
🧽 Actual Spring Cleaning
Don’t underestimate the power of wiping down your desk and clearing off clutter. I try to do a workspace refresh at least monthly (though probably should do it more often 🙃). It’s a simple reset that boosts energy and focus.
Choose a section—any section. A drawer, a bin, a shelf. Set a 10-minute timer and just GO. This is especially great when I’ve hit screen fatigue but still want to feel productive.
📝 Project + Task Management
If you’ve got sticky notes piling up (guilty), spend 10 minutes migrating them into your project manager.
Team DB5 lives in Teamwork, and we love it.
Sometimes a quick check-in with your project list brings clarity you didn’t even know you needed.
💸 QuickBooks Bookkeeping Tip: Review Your Bank Feed
Even if you’re behind on reconciling, I highly recommend checking your bank feed weekly (if not daily). Just 10 minutes of categorizing transactions helps you stay in tune with where your money is going.
Bonus tip: Create automated rules for recurring charges you fully recognize and plan to keep long-term. But if it’s variable or new? Don’t automate—review it manually. There’s power in knowing your numbers.
💡 Final Thought
Small tasks matter.
The 10-minute reset is real.
And when life feels like a lot (which, let’s be honest, is most of the time), coming back to these little habits can make a huge difference.
✨ PS: If you’re ready to clear more from your plate, don’t forget to grab my free “Not To Do List”—it’s the anti-hustle resource for busy business owners who need a breather and a little clarity.
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