One-Issue Rule

The real-life problem

Every argument drags in five old topics.

If you’re juggling kids, school schedules, and work, this is normal — and fixable.

Do this tonight (10-15 minutes)

1. Choose one issue and park the rest.
2. Set a timer so this feels doable, not heavy.
3. Use one script exactly (no improvising under stress).
4. End with one small next step for tomorrow.

Copy/paste script

“I don’t want a giant relationship talk. I want one small win tonight. Can we try the One-Issue Rule for 10 minutes and see if it helps?”

Kid-chaos version (when you’re exhausted)

• Do it after bedtime, or in car pickup line, or during a walk.
• If interrupted, pause and resume in 5-minute chunks.
• If either of you is flooded, use pause-and-return first.

What “better” looks like in 7 days

• Fewer escalations
• Faster repair after conflict
• Higher connection score (1-10)

Rule: Keep tools that improve your score by 2+ points. Swap the rest.

Best next tool

After this, run 10-Minute Weekly Meeting to make improvements stick.