Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

This New Year, The Fledglings are Flying a new approach

824 replies

HillsBesideTheSea · 31/12/2021 16:54

Hello and welcome to new and old.

If you are new around here. Hi, introduce yourself around the fire pit in the naughty corner where we are all sitting comfortably. The naughty corner is decked out with comfy, and snacks, and a place just to have a chat when things haven't gone to plan. We are a very long running thread but do love new blood stopping by to join us.

Welcome to those who are returning.

We had a chat on the previous thread about possibly trying a new twist on the fly lady system. We all know that the fly lady system is good for establishing routines when we follow it. But we also know that sometimes we need a quick hit of a big declutter. And that life has a habit of throwing curve balls making it very difficult to stay on track.

So this is the plan. Each evening I will post the babystep, a thought point and the flylady daily focuses. We are not giving up on the fly lady system but just bringing it into line with the individuality of our lives, and trying to resolve some of the issues that comes from being the family brain, trying to do all the things and generally having modern busy lives. The thought point is to try to get you to think differently. And may require a click on a link (video), a discussion on the thread, or just you considering things. I do not promise it will make you feel better, or magically change your house straight away. But hopefully it will help with the overall flow and approach. And may just tweak the twee out of the fly lady system to the point where it is now your system.

But before you entirely regret your choices in letting my try this craziness we are going to start with some key basics that I really do think has been incorporated well into the Flylady system.

  1. the mess, disorder and chaos did not happen over night. Give yourself the grace and time to fix it. (also known as roman weren't built in a day so don't kill yourself trying to get your house immaculate in a day)
  1. Goals vs system.
We will go into this a little more shortly but to start, the fly lady system has an end goal - a house which is tidy and clean that comes second nature. It achieves it by building habits and routines that make the steps needed to achieve that goal second nature. There is a lot of research that says goals don't work, systems do. And systems are built on the formation of habits.
  1. You are never behind.
You might not be making the progress you would like, you may have taken a break. But you are not behind. So again, give yourself a break and drop the guilt. There is probably a reason why you have taken a break - illness, other demands on time, mental health etc etc. And yes some days it is an effort to make sure that everyone is fed and ok. But that is ok, so give yourself grace that on that day that was exactly what was needed and thus you succeeded in the essential goal of the day. guilt is just going to make things harder than it needs to be. It is ok not to feel guilty if you did not do all the things.

I will be back later with links for tomo. I am posting them in the evening the night before because some of us are morning people, and some of us are night people. And this way everyone will be able to see prior to when they need to consider it.

Come park your broom in the new thread for a little while and have a natter whilst we wait to bring in the New year.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Stilllivinginazoo · 01/01/2022 08:15

Also remember we get a free pass not to do laundry todayGrin

Tiny bit more sleep happened,so naturally I feel exhausted now!!time to get up as furry overlords are just this side of rioting at late hour for breakfast🤣

ExtremelyDetermined · 01/01/2022 09:03

Morning all,
I shined my sink before I went to bed last night, start as you mean to go on. I got up an hour ago, fed the cats and got my morning cup of hot water, it was nice to come down to the empty shiny sink. There is still some dirty stuff on the side though, I back in bed but will get up again shortly.

@Stilllivinginazoo I'm going to plough on with the laundry, I don't cope well with superstitions and prefer to ignore them.

This New Year, The Fledglings are Flying a new approach
Readytostartagain · 01/01/2022 09:08

Can I join please? I went to make breakfast and thought I’d put some crackers in a tin, this ended up with having to empty out lots of stale bits from the tin, washing it out, emptying the recycling etc by which time the breakfast was burning. This is fairly typical as I can’t seem to focus on one thing at a time. I will lurk and hopefully get some tips.

THATlittleCRACKER · 01/01/2022 09:23

Good morning and a happy new year all!

Congratulations on safe arrival of baby still! Star

Ty for threads hills and ed Flowers

My challenge is definitley putting the laundry away!

Welcome new and returning fledglings!

We had a late night (230am) and i have been 'up' since 630 with baby and then toddler. I have mostly been curled up on the sofa since then although have fed and changed them both, emptied and reloaded the dw and switched on the dryer!

We had people over last night so all mucked in and had a pretty good clean / tidy yesterday which was good. Everywhere looks better and just needs a quick tidy. Need to keep on top of it

I will be washing today as there are too many of us for a day off!

THATlittleCRACKER · 01/01/2022 09:24

ed your sink looks lovely

StillFestive · 01/01/2022 09:31

Happy New Year Fledglings old and new!

Thanks for our lovely festive thread ED, you did a great job amongst the madness of December.

I’m excited by your new ideas Hills, thanks so much for taking on January. I’m not expecting to get much actual flying or decluttering done this month, but I’m hoping to start thinking about getting some new routines and plans in place and I’ll use the links to delegate to DH Grin. Aims for the new year are to survive the transition to being a family of 4 unscathed, and to get back to a healthy weight/exercise routine ( I had plenty to lose pre-pregnancy anyway). Going to give myself a good couple of months to recover first though.

Lovely to have you back Shannara and Foxes. Welcome to Marmite and Ready.

Tidy I can relate to the ignoring salad for biscuits Blush

SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 10:16

Morning everyone! It is lovely to see newbies and returners - welcome all!

I have started as I mean to go on (although I am not going to be a perfectionist about it, as that always leads to failure!) by showering before coming downstairs, and also reading a bit before getting onto MN or playing on my phone - first thing is definitely one of the screen time danger zones for me!

I’m aiming for 20 books this year after 2021’s 15, starting with the Handmaid’s Tale. I read it over ten years ago, but wanted to refresh my memory before rewatching the first series and then reading the Testaments and continuing with the TV show.

Today’s aims… not sure really. DH is going to the shops at some point for rinse aid, DD1 may be visiting a friend. Caglets have a friend over, they all slept in the living room, but they’re old enough to not need entertaining 🤣

One thing I’m certain of is I won’t do laundry today. I’m not even superstitious but it’s a nice rule 🤣

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/01/2022 10:26

singI'm not particularly but I do like an "excuse"
Ed lovely shiny sink btw, also hot water?just hot water or with lemon etc?I need to increase fluids desperately and I don't drink tea or coffee and can't face cold water when just woken up
That hope you get a decent sleep tonight!
Ready welcome.think we've a had similar scenarios at some point!

Well as u said on previous thread I wanted introduce chore charts for zoolets(any newbies that's collective if my still at home 3 DC,ages range 14-nearly 18 now(wibble) but with some extra needs involved)
So,my thoughts are-
Make beds
put stuff away
Laundry in baskets/sorted and help out on as required
Clear table after eating and wipe
Pet duties(feed wash up bowls)

DS and lil zoo need hygiene reminders.these are tech dependant rather than earning if pocket money as feel will be more effective!

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/01/2022 10:27

tidy I missed your post earlier.totally relate to that one lovely esp slowing down and joint issuesFlowers

SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 10:30

MrsT I totally relate to the churning! And the biscuit/salad replacement. One thing at a time though and I’m not thinking about being in the horrific food rut just yet, I’m not ready.

IWasWillingToGoWassailing · 01/01/2022 10:40

Morning all! Happy New Year. Welcome @Readytostartagain, that's exactly how my processes fall down too. Lovely to see so many familiar names too, great to have you back MrsTidy and SC.

I have at least begun with all my meds and a healthful breakfast involving fruit today. Stood on the scales and wished I hadn't, but I need all the info to start managing things again.

Aims for today
❄️ Find kitchen surfaces after decluttering of cupboards yesterday
🌨️ Financial stuff - annual review and forecast
❄️ Make a list of things I want to do to the house this year
🌨️ Laundry. No chance of getting away without it, new year's superstition or not!
❄️ Change water on gammon once more, then boil and roast for dinner with the last stuffing, parsnips, sprouts etc.
🌨️ Get a walk, on my own
❄️ Pick up my prescription and minor gap-filling shop from Tesco (might delegate to DH)

🍒👋 to everyone.

Zireael · 01/01/2022 10:46

Thanks for the December thread ED and looking forward to Hills' more mindful approach thread.

Hope you're well Still - definitely don't leave the naughty corner for a few weeks at least.

Zoo I now rigidly follow the no-laundy-on-New-Year's-Day rule. A year or two ago I blazenly scoffed at the superstition and did a few loads, only for the damn machine to breakdown. I had to wait over a week for the repair man to come out and Mount Washmore grew to astronomical heights!

Speaking of brooms, there was a thread some time ago on MN called something like 'what little things (products) have made a positive impact on your life?' Someone raved about their rubber-bristled broom saying how great it was at catching all the pet hair and dust. I bought one and it is brilliant - I will never use a traditional bristle brush broom again. Plus, the rubber broom is so easy to wash clean too.

My main challenge is folding and putting away laundry.

  • I get it all washed and dry, then either leave it hung up all round the house on driers/radiators, or dumped in a huge heap on the side for 'folding later'.
  • The clean stuff then gets picked through and spread about, getting mixed up with dirty stuff, getting slept on by the cats, or being trampled one.
  • Since getting my tumble drier before Christmas, I have not really used the airers at all, so house looks much tider and I have saved time by not having to stand there hanging things up piece by piece.
  • When I do fold it, it doesn't always get put away, just sits in a slightly neater heap! Which then gets picked through/knocked over making all the folding rather pointless!

Some Ta Das
Animals fed
TD emptied - laundry folded - can't put away yet as DH still sleeping and don't want to disturb him
Washed up glass decanters and champage flutes
Washed filters from hoover (So.Much.Dust)
Packed up Christmas Tree
Ordered replacement hoover attachment from Amazon

ExtremelyDetermined · 01/01/2022 10:49

Zoo - just hot water, boiling with a splash of cold. I used to add a slice of lemon but I have sensitive teeth and the dentist warned me off drinking it regularly as it etches the enamel.

SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 10:54

Very much relate to the laundry issue too zireael! TD has helped hugely here but it’s still too easy to pile up the clean laundry isn’t it!

po3.1
❗️Catch up on thread properly!
❗️Clean weekly planner board (although there is only one thing on it as we didn’t bother this week!)
❗️Start a separate phone note about main priorities this month

friedeggandsauce · 01/01/2022 10:58

Can I join?
I'm fed up of being on a cycle of everything getting a mess and then needing a huge clean and tidy that just becomes too much!

I will have a google around the fly lady system and look on here for tips!

friedeggandsauce · 01/01/2022 11:18

Have just searched her- I'm afraid I am not putting shoes on in my house to feel ready 🤣. I will however follow other things!!!

HalfHolly · 01/01/2022 11:18

zireael I am going to buy that brush!!

Friendeggs welcome. I'm just the same - big clean up then don't keep on top of things. New year clean on the way!!

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/01/2022 11:20

MrsTidy have you ever heard of a stair basket. It is shaped to specifically sit on the stairs. And it is very good at avoiding multiple trips because you can collect items in it. Bonus also being it can go over an arm so you still have hands free if needed.
A quick google with the phrase stair basket has brought up lots of styles and the fact you can get every where from argos, and asda to amazon and dulhemill. Sorry the arthritis is being an absolute pita for you.

Hey @Readytostartagain don't lurk. Come grab a seat in the naughty corner and have a natter. I totally get the lack of focus thing, i have ADHD. So i have had to finds to make it work for me. Sometimes i let myself just do the tasks that catch my attention which ends up a very squirrelly kinda day, other times i set timers and do short burst focusing. There are strategies out there, but it is going to be a bit of the case of trial and error to find which collection you need in your tool box.

Still delegating and keeping those in need in the naughty corner sounds perfect.

OK so those of you who struggle to get the laundry away, what is the barrier. For me it is the fact that my clothes draws don't work so that you can't get clothes in them. So to remove the barrier task i need to (and am actually in the middle of) sorting and reorganising my clothes storage. Apparently one of my biggest barriers to clothes away is viewing my clothes draws as a "safe place" for important paperwork. So that will be another barrier task that i will need to focus on. So what are your barrier tasks? What is stopping you?

@friedeggandsauce of course, welcome, pull up a chair.

Welcome back Foxes and a firm and sturdy "good morning and happy new year to you all."

My plan this morning was to get up with the alarm and get going straight away. What actually happened was i slept in and felt to dizzy headed to get up straight away. My new years eve was not the planned hermiting as my accountability buddy checked in and convinced me a walk was needed, having not left the house and moved in a couple of days. I was thankfully home and tucked into bed before midnight even if i didn't sleep.

As i know someone may ask accountability buddy someone who knows your goals, may help you reach your goals, but mostly stops you from ignoring your goals. My goals for January take my meds every day, and walk 5000 steps. Not difficult things and yet they are difficult for me.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 01/01/2022 11:25

FriedEgg there is a logic behind the step that makes sense. I'll explain when i post the links etc this evening. But yeah shoes in house not compulsory. Babystep 2 in principle actually helpful.
ALSO: don't sign up for the emails unless you want to be constantly declutter your email inbox, she has a history of being a little excessive with the emails.

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 11:45

Caught up with the thread. Zoo thanks so much 💐 it does feel a bit like an unfolding actually… like I’ve been all crumpled and not myself, and I’m starting to discover who I am and what I’m capable of. The right medication regime has helped hugely, but my therapist agreed I absolutely mustn’t give them all the credit - I’ve worked hard to make that regime, and a lot of other things, happen in 2021, and it’s amazing to be able to say I am proud of myself. 🥳🤩🥰

Re hot water btw - some people swear by putting a cube of ginger in?

Hills I absolutely love the idea of systems being more important and valuable than goals. That is so true. I am trying to incorporate this into a sort of routine, such as with my getting up and showered and reading. A system that builds up, not a goal of “I must do this every day”.

I’m thinking about the simple job that isn’t simple. Obviously relate to the laundry and the shiny sink issues (although I don’t even try to shine my sink TBH, probably precisely because of all the other stuff related to it!). But I’m also thinking of the supposedly simple act of going to bed at a decent time which I believe is another baby step. Other things need to happen for me to want to go to bed early. Getting Cagletini to sleep at a decent time, which also needs dinner to be at a decent time. Having moved around and got outside helps me be tired enough to sleep. Not spending too much time on screens. But mostly I think it’s “revenge bedtime procrastination” whereby I don’t go to sleep because I’ve not had any time to properly relax in the day and nighttime quiet is the only way to achieve that. Plenty of time squandered on my phone but no proper me time. But then for that there’s the guilt because so much other stuff needs doing… and so it goes on.

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 01/01/2022 11:48

Hi! I’m going to join in. Once I’ve removed the plates from the side of the sink and cleaned the bowls that are steeping in the sink that is...
I bought a rubber broom last year and it is awesome, gets so much pet hair out of the carpet.

SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 11:55

po3.2
❗️Dry hair and brush it
❗️Open some windows
❗️Get 2022 diary out of my desk drawer and start writing stuff in it, looking up start dates for clubs etc

SingToTheSky · 01/01/2022 11:55

Hi letter I love your name :o

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/01/2022 11:56

sing i relate to that bedtime/sleep thing so hard. And yes go to bed early is a baby step. It used to be babystep 17. But i have noticed that she has updated the site and there is some tweaking to the explanations and babysteps. So we will have to see what the babysteps are these days.

For those who are looking, whilst she hasn't fully updated her website it would appear the habit of the month is shine your sink however, don't set this in stone until she sorts her updating.

OP posts:
HillsBesideTheSea · 01/01/2022 11:57

Hi letter

Right i really am moving now. Really. HmmBlush

OP posts: