The ‘Just One Song’ Organizing Method Made Tidying in January Fun – It Left My Chosen Zone Effortlessly Clear

Organizing is something we usually want to get done as fast as possible in January, especially after the arduous social and practical heavy lifting we did over the holidays.

That's why the 'Just One Song' organizing method, which takes just minutes to do, adds a much-needed spark of joy to the task and limits clutter in one swoop. I tried it myself and appreciated it for its fun, ease, and simplicity.

This home organizing idea should be used over the course of just one song, hence the name, with the positive impact on your chosen space quickly becoming apparent. The spike in dopamine from the music, as well as the physical movement, is a potent mix for lifting your spirits, especially if the long nights and cold weather are making you feel a little blue.

What Is the 'Just One Song' Method, and Why Does It Work?

As Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, explains, the biggest benefit to micro-reset methods, just like this one, is that it removes the pressure a longer session can bring, helping you to tackle tidying, even when overwhelmed.

'You’re not committing to organizing the whole house, you’re just committing to one song,' Di explains. 'That instantly lowers mental resistance, which is huge when your motivation is low. Short bursts of organizing also create quick wins – you see progress fast, your brain gets that little dopamine boost, and suddenly the task doesn’t feel so bad anymore.

'It’s also perfect for fighting seasonal blues because movement plus music plus accomplishment is a powerful combo. Even if the room isn’t perfect, it’s always better than when you started.'

Similar to using a cleaning playlist, Barbara Brock, NYC-based professional organizer, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock, adds that music helps to distract from the time.

'Music lifts you and gives you energy,' she says. 'Accomplishing a project while music blasts away in the background helps to focus your mind on the task.'

Music can also help counter or stop the nervous system stress response when decluttering or organizing your home. This stress can be activated and become obstructive to completing the job at hand, otherwise.

The ultra-portable JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker available at Amazon is the perfect accompaniment to any tidying sessions this January. It's compact and portable, so it's easy and convenient to carry anywhere around the home when you're trying the Just One Song method.

And, as Julie Clifford and Monica Robert, professional organizers at Spruced Up, share, 'Another benefit is the built-in stopping point; when the song ends, you're done! That small contained win builds momentum that may carry you through multiple songs without you even knowing it.'

Having a set endpoint is also another way to stop household chores from stressing you out.

Which Tasks Does the 'Just One Song' Organizing Method Work Best For?

Unsurprisingly, this quick method works best for visible, contained tasks, such as keeping kitchen counters clear and keeping bathroom countertops clear with organizers, such as the Joseph Joseph EasyStore Bathroom Storage Caddy available at Amazon.

'Making the bed, clearing a desk surface, unloading and loading the dishwasher, sorting a pile of mail, and mini resets are all ideal,' recommend the experts at Spruced Up. 'The key is setting realistic expectations: You're not organizing the entire kitchen, you're resetting one counter while this song plays.'

More generally, focus on things that clearly improve a space in a short amount of time, adds Di.

'I also love it for laundry resets like folding one basket or putting away clean clothes,' she says. 'The key is choosing tasks with a clear start and stop so you don't get overwhelmed or pulled into a bigger project.'

If you find it hard to focus when organizing, you can also try the Sunday Butterfly method, which taps into the desire to flit from one task to another, rather than working against it.

Who Does the 'Just One Song' Method Work Particularly Well For?

'This method is amazing for people with ADHD, busy parents, anyone who gets overwhelmed easily, or anyone who struggles with procrastination,' advises Di. 'It’s also great for people who are exhausted and just don’t have the mental energy to organize their home.

'Because the Just One Song method is time-limited, your brain knows there’s an endpoint, which makes it much easier to start. It’s also a great way to involve kids – one song, everyone picks up, and you’re done before it turns into a battle.'

Therefore, the same applies if you are hoping to encourage your family to declutter or want to turn decluttering into a family bonding activity, too.

I Tried the Just One Song Method at Home

I used the 'Just One Song' method to tidy up my work-from-home desk, and was pleasantly surprised to see how much I could get done in just four minutes.

I was able to tidy all loose papers that had ended up strewn over it, a sure sign of my neglect to organize my desk often enough, away and into my paper organizer, available at Amazon, sort out my trash, put my pens back in their pen pot, and tidy up my computer equipment.

Even in such a small amount of time, the effort was definitely noticeable, and I'll be using this quick method going forward to tidy up in a pinch. The addition of listening to one of my favorite songs, Just Two Girls by Wolf Alice, made it much more palatable, too, as I found myself singing along rather than concentrating on how long I had left to tidy.

Sure, you're not going to get loads done, but it is a good method for a quick fix.

VERDICT: Overall, I'd give this tip 8/10 because it's simple, easy, and effective, but it isn't suitable for every task or area of the home, especially larger ones that will not be completed within the three or four minutes a song usually takes.

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Meet the Experts

Di Ter Avest

Di launched her professional organizing business back in 2013, and has spent over a decade helping clients transform their lives and living spaces. She's also the creator of the Organize Yourself Healthy method.

Julie Clifford and Monica Robert

Julie’s experience in organization began in operational leadership and management roles for renowned retail brands, where she developed methods that blend visual appeal with real-world function. Through this work, Julie discovered how deeply organization impacts mental health and overall quality of life – a foundation she brings to every client space. Monica has a background in space optimization and brings over a decade of experience from The Container Store, where she designed custom organizational solutions for a wide range of homes and lifestyles. Known for her intuitive ability to assess a space and immediately see its ideal layout, Monica specializes in systems that save time, reduce stress, and create a calm, focused environment.

There are also plenty more ways to calm your nervous system while decluttering, aside from boosting your dopamine with water.