Ok all you Anthea types. I need a schedule!

[Skribble]

So you can help,

I want a schedule/ timetable/ checklist to help me keep on top of the house. I am a long way from having a nice tidy orgainised house but I need to know what to aim for to keep it ticking over. Figure if I start a schedule and do extra bits as I go I will get it all sorted out eventually.

Trouble is I work part-time iregular hours, sometimes days at a time then other times I don't work for days. Routine needs to be flexible so I can catch up after I have been away.

So who can tell we what they do, how long they spend doing things and how often they do certain tasks. TIA .

So I take it you work on a room a week so the clearing can be spread over the week. I need it to be flexible, some days I am up a 6am dressed and out of the house before kids are even up, after work tea at grannies with the kids and by the time we get home its too late to start anything, other times I am away for a couple of days. Also have stints of no work so loads of time at home.

you spend a week in a room, i do 15mins at a time. but always shine my sink before bed and make sure kitchen is clean. before last week (kitchen zone) it was clean but cluttered. not its lovely and clutter free. i love it in there now.

mmmhhh we will see.

Does he baby steps thing go on a permanant rotation or is there a set of intructions laid out for each individual that you work through yourself?

Sorky, just checking the web before I carry on with the newly in place routine. Have been up since baby's first feed and while he has napped (something I would usually join in with) I have opened windows, done two loads of washing and made sure the kitchen and bottles are prepared for the day. When the post came I treated myself to a cuppa and now little lad is waking for his next feed - feel energised and very proud of myself - even have the bed airing! I wouldn't have done any of this without reading your routine and if you ever want to move in with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm new to mn and fly lady as of last night. The problem I can see with it is I'm spending so much time reading about cleaning etc that I haven't even cleared the breakfast dishes yet.

I find this chatting addictive and to be honest my routine failed when I got to the computer!!!!!!!!!!

Fly lady is fantastic!
She helped me get my routine sorted out and now my house is generally clean and tidy.

I use this as my basic routine;
Fly lady's Example Routine
I just don't know how people can live in mess when its actually fairly easy and so lovely to live in a tidy house.
(I know because I was there!)

Oh, and don't switch on the pc til its done!

Emstomot - so glad it's not just me!! think I'll have to keep the computer off till I've got chores done . fgs, how mumsy does that sound!

I have actually decided the day would be a lot easier if I did things as I go along. Example - just fed little one who is now dozing off to his lullabies, after being sick on his clothes, decided to top and tail him in the middle of the feed, left him having a kick on the change mat (he is not rolling yet obviously) whilst I put dirty clothes in the wash, cleared away the top and tail bowl and cotton wool balls and changed his cot - once the clean nappy was on, tried him with more milk, which he refused and now he comfy in his cot (with a tea towel under his head incase any more milk comes back!) - Feel empowered, which is slightly sad really when you think about it - also, my floor is clear, which is a first really in eleven weeks!

Well I had a look at Fly Lady again and decided it wasn't going to work unless I signed up for the dreaded e.mails.

So I have, signed up that is. In doing that I saw Yahoo does quite a good calender. So I have set that up with reminders to bing bong and give me time to get things looked out for kids clubs and to remind me to actually take them.

My memory is one of my major downfalls. I have my PC on most of the time and it is in the living room so FlyLady and my Yahoo messenger will be bing bonging away in the corner to keep me right.

This time I am using a seperate e.mail for Flybloodylady linked with my calender.

Well done Ems, see it feels good and isn't that hard once you get started.

It can seem a bit overwhelming to look at the mess and think how do I manage to do it all.
I found that starting in the morning and doing my routine as best I could set me up for the day.

Once you've done the basics in the morning, you can then have a good look and start sorting etc, knowing that underneath it isn't that bad!

Thanks Sorky, have managed to polish living room aswell although things are going to slow down now because my baby is awake and at his most active! Time to play which is the best part of being a mommy!
Only thing I have forgotten to do is eat....

Sorky your routine is great... and very straight forward. I have been following it for last few days and life seems easier. I HAVE to get in the habit of puttong the ironing away because I have a nasty habit of leaving the pile of ironing/folded washing on the bedroom floor and then just taking clothes from it when needeed, then it all ends up creased again. I do do all the basic household jobs but in an ares about face sort of way.. eg switching washer on when I get back from school run instead of before I go out, sme with dish washer.
Here's hoping it makes life easier