Flylady's fledglings spring clean your nests! March '16

[Greymalkin]

First of all, a big thank you to Fuzzpig for leading us through the February thread, (you can hung up your duster for a bit now!)

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chat along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with her marketing and testimonial nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
• And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

That should say remind me what else I have to do! ;)

Part of the home blessing is bin emptying and bedding changing/washing.

Hot spots are useful

But tbh i would probably just sit back and be glad I achieved the list you have done if i had a 6month old.

pie filling for batch 1 is simmering
tea is half done

Today is the day of lots of little random posts. Sorry, not sorry.

Purple welcome to the thread, a little and often approach is exactly what we are all about.

MidLife be pleased with what you have done! Do not burn out and try to do shed loads of stuff too soon. If you really are champing at the bit to do more, set the timer on your phone / kitchen timer for 15 minutes, pick a job to do and STOP when 15 minutes is up.

Have a lovely break Fuzz

< preens at being called 'esteemed thread leader' > Thanks SC (I will say that thread leading does give me an almighty kick up the arse and pushes me to get stuff done)

Einstein I love homemade Marmalade, but no my Mum and Grandad-I-L have passed no one makes it anymore

Ta Da
Took DS to park (as he stropped about for so long playgroup was practically over by the time we left the house)
Trip to post office
Glass recycling dropped off
Dishwasher unload and reload
Beds made
Weeded the window box which hasn't been done for years
Cooked a butterbean bake for dinner which we had at lunchtime - yummy!
Managed to get poorly DS to have a nap
Bathroom mission - as predicted, lots of old medicines and various packaging weeded out
Hung up a picture
Cross checked calendar and diary, updated
Took readings from the gas and electric meters
Made booking for the cattery for next month
One load of washing

It seems that the tumble dryer function on my new machine are on the blink. I don't think I programmed it incorrectly, but twice now a two hour cycle has finished in 20 minutes....

Tomorrow I have my mothers day present - a trip to a spa. Which is going to be fab - enforced relaxation

Flightplan for Tuesday 15th March

We are in Zone 3: The Bathroom and one other room. The missions for the week say to pick the room in your house which is the worst in terms of clutter.

Today’s missions are cleaning behind the toilet in the bathroom and spending 15 minutes chucking out rubbish in your chosen room of doom

Our next baby step is to add making your bed to your morning routine Apparently the FF makes her bed by doing snow angels to straighten the bottom sheet

Habit of the month is getting dressed to your shoes. A tad controversial on here, some do, some don’t… (I certainly don't)

Tuesday focus is all about planning : meals, grocery lists, social activities, plans to take over the world, that sort of thing.

I really do like this thread , you are all so lovely, the ethos 'fits' the way I prefer to work (little and often) and it gives me focus.

Brill with a 6 month old mid

Hello Celeste and Purple

Butter bean bake sounds lovely grey

Pleased with accomplishments today, given it's a working day. Well done all for all the stuff you guys have managed to get through.

Ta da
Swept and mopped floor.
Walk dogs x 2.
Chickens.
Cooked tea.
Sorted lunches for tomorrow.
Bleached toilets and wiped bowls.
Vacuumed downstairs including rugs.
Swapped air fresheners downstairs.
Scrubbed shower head in main bathroom.
Cleaner out the plugs in bathroom and en-suite and put bleach down.
Put shopping away.
Changed internet shop order.
Wiped kitchen surfaces.
Left cloths in disinfectant.
Bedding x 1.
Washing x 3.
Emptied out cosmetic/smelly type crap from en-suite and main bathroom.
Menu planned.

to do
Clear out email in box tonight, while watching TV.

DD is also gutting her room. This is amazing in itself, she is a hoarder that is changing into an organised person as she gets older.

Waves to newbies - welcome!

Happy holiday Fuzz, enjoy!

DD was off school today, I was expecting her to be a lot better today but she hasn't bounced back as fast as I was hoping so tomorrow is looking risky as well. She is desperate to get back so let's hope a good sleep tonight works.

The link to the blog. For some reason, this blog really hit the spot (for me) in getting a proper idea/focus of what a good day would look like for me. Mine wouldn't be the same as hers but the idea of knowing what it would be is a goal to aim for because you can't 'do it all' if you don't know what doing it all would look like for you.

www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/the-magical-key-to-doing-it-all?utm_content=bufferda849&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Evening all,

A bit of a manic one today. The children's storage units have finally been emptied and brought downstairs to be cleaned out and sold. I now need to do a proper reorganise upstairs, but not sure when, with an OU assignment deadline looming.

So, ta da!

Morning routine
School run
Work
School run
Texting friends about school related stuff (the issue I mentioned yesterday has not gone away but I have decided my best course of action is to watch and wait). Another problem is looming though .
Homework helping
Stripped DCs beds, washed/dried and remade
Dinner
Went to ballet class (a very welcome break from all the thinking about stuff that is crowding my brain ATM)
Home for more homework and getting stuff ready for tomorrow (swimming, keyboard lesson, and ballet/tap all for DD)
Cleaned loo and surrounding floor
Realised at 9.40 that DD had left her swimming bag at the sports centre yesterday (annoying as that's where I was for ballet an hour earlier) - so had to dash back for that.
More emails and chucking a load of junk mail away
Off to bed now

Night all, and Happy Holiday Fuzz

Good morning

Congratulations to everyone on having had such productive days yesterday Whoknows Needastrongone Grey Midlife and everyone else!

Slept extremely well last night and now feel absolutely wretched of course and when I dropped dd off at school she was complaining of "dizziness" so I'm slightly on tenterhooks as to whether she'll survive gym this morning ... . Fingers crossed!

Just popped on here to say a big 'thank you' to Fizrim for posting link to blog which has given me lots of food for thought! (I still, after all these years, have a tendency to have woefully unrealistic perfectionist tendencies which end in tears so found it particularly pertinent.) It's good to give ourselves permission to just focus on a few, do-able priorities with a few enjoyable things thrown in to the mix! Very Flylady in fact! Hope your dd was well enough to attempt school this am.

Very busy day today so need to drag myself off and start!

Have a good one fledglings!

Sorry, inadvertently left Einstein off the 'productive' list, which is not right at all given all the bathroom cleaning and batch cooking that has been going on

Oh and enjoyed your much deserved spa day today Grey! Hope it is lovely and relaxing!

Garage re-roofing today so less cleaning and more making builders' tea!

Going to tackle the bathroom cupboard though and keep the kitchen clean.

I'm starting today.
The bathroom is a good place for me to start as it needs a deep clean.

I ve put some washing in, need to finish in the kitchen then will start in the bathroom.

Slightly chaotic morning here, hope to redeem things a bit in the afternoon! Going out now but will be back later. Glad the link was useful!

Omg I cleaned all around the loo and managed to throw away 25 items from the bathroom and cabinet
Thank goodness for this thread.

Yay! That's really good going WoodenSpoon!!!

Top decluttering, spoon!

I am home, with about half an hour to make a difference before going back out. Clearly, I'm on Mumsnet now. Must.Make.Effort.

SC if I get myself together enough I'll PM you tonight. The online course I did was by Crystal Paine and she did follow Flylady herself at one time so parts of it are familiar.

Had a mahoosive sweet coffee while I was out right after I left the dentist so the caffeine should see me through now.

Back later!

Spoon Brill decluttering!

I am claiming DD's decluttering too She decided to set to work on her bedroom last night, 2 hours later a 5 bin bags of crap were on my landing.

I'll finish off today, and do my lists later.

I am still here and actually making a good fist of this flying malarkey once more. I know i am mysteriously absent at weekends...well not mysterious...I am with DP. Had a fab weekend in York as a belated Valentine's Day present, shopping, retail therapy, culture, champagne and frogs legs. Freaking awesome.

Reality bites though and I am definitely keeping on top of things here. Flying routines are coming back to me and I am feeling rather positive. It is all probably just new house syndrome but we shall see.

Ta da:-
Washing on
Morning routine
Shined sink
Work
Dw loaded

To do:-
Might check out mission
Might read through babysteps again
Dinner in process
Clear away from dinner
More washing on
Put away washing
Clothes out

Back later

I just checked out the mission...i love having moved house with virtually nothing because for the first time in my adult life...I have no freaking clutter

ta da
Working day.
Dog walks x 2.
Chickens.
Ordered dog food.
Phoned school re DS exams.
Swapped over washing x 3.
Put washing away.
Tidied upstairs.
Emptied out 2 drawers in study.
Put away supermarket delivery.
Lunches.
Dishwasher.
Cook tea.

to do
Menu plan in depth.
Watch Holby City

Hello everyone,

Needa and Wooden - great to see you flapping along with the fledgling crew!

Purple hope your garage roof situation is going well

Who - you sound rushed off your feet! Great that you are still enjoying ballet. I love watching it and listening to the music (Tchaikovsky rocks!)

Ellie - have you been to York before? I've been a few times and love it there. Hope you had a lovely time. And Yay! to no clutter

I always treat myself to something loaded with sugar after the dentist Fiz !

< waves to *Einstein Toffee Knitting Dogs Scatty Honu Mercury > and everyone else

Some Ta das
Cats fed
Dry laundry folded and put away
More washing put on
DS to nursery
Spa Day!!!
Dropped off old medicines at chemist
Dropped of sack of donations at charity shop
Birthday present bought for party at the weekend
Found some geocaches - one involved climbing up a tree....
Picked up DS

Evening!

to everyone for being so productive! And another to Needastrongone's dd !!

Yet another security alert here [sigh] streets full of soldiers and policeman (although that has been the case since before Christmas tbh) although all is serene in our local quartier.

Thank you Fiz much appreciated - no rush though - whenever you have a quiet mo

Hope you survived the roofers Purple

Love the fact you have tree climbing on your list Grey!

Waves to Ellie [and dreams of being clutter free]

And waves to everyone else!

Ta da:
animals
ironed gym kit
dd packed lunch
dog walk 1 + school run
sorted and confirmed menus (and one with friend)
sent letter to PR whizz
sent correction to ditto
hung up brown/green wash on terrace to dry
wrote shopping list
quick run to greengrocer/baker
put away veg
quick reorganisation and chuck out of fridge contents
thoroughly cleaned and bleached kitchen bin (which I forgot to do yesterday)
emptied dw
dining room table hot spots
prepped cool white wash
climbed to top of house and opened all the windows to air
found four laundry paniers and gave them a quick wipe
cleaned laundry room sink and cleared floor
triaged clean clothes in to the four paniers ready for fortnightly ironing lady tomorrow (dh, dd, me & household linen)
brought up ironing water from basement
dried red wash
dried hot white wash
re-fed wms
e-mailed cousin who has been worryingly silent
made Easter parcel list
made Easter task list
e-mailed annual gardening man
placed my bets [v modest ones I should add]
watched Cheltenham (yay it was brill!) while packing on-line shopping returns
placed order with volaillerie
school run + dog walk no. 2
hung up dark wash to dry
supper for dd and me
tested dd Latin hwk
e-mail thanking PR whizz

To do:
hang up white wash to dry overnight
clear up supper
possibly make malt loaves (but possibly not!)
last on-line shopping return parcel
clothes out for morning
quick evening dog walk no. 3

Looks like a long list but it is very detailed. Plus it is all maintenance, not decluttering [grrrrr]

G'night all!

Gosh, that's a fab amount of stuff done Slimming, it doesn't look detailed, just that you've gotten through a pile of work. I take it that you are not in the UK? The security alert sounds worrying.

Grey We live about 10 miles from York!

< faints reading SC's list >

Needsa

Flightplan for Wednesday 16th March

We are in Zone 3: The Bathroom and one other room. The missions for the week say to pick the room in your house which is the worst in terms of clutter.

Today’s mission is two fold: 1) spend 5 minutes really scrubbing your bath tub 2) gather up clutter in your room of doom that is good enough to be donated, and put directly into your car for the charity shop

Our next baby step is to read some tripe about gooey purple-puddle filled testimonials on the Flylady website The idea behind this is to see how other people FLY for ideas, motivation etc. However, we have this splendiferous thread, so Ta Da ! you have completed this baby step already.

Habit of the month is getting dressed to your shoes. A tad controversial on here, some do, some don’t… (I certainly don't)

Wednesday is Anti-procrastination day - pick a task you have been putting off, roll your sleeves up and JFDI (just f*^@ing do it!!)