Fledglings bolt into Spring! Fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh sheets – No fledgling left behind…

[BeanAnTae]

Thread starts on 1 February, but you are welcome to land and say hello until then
Thank you to Hills who has given us a tour-de-force thread for the deepest, darkest days of January when we were all flagging. We all know you are really busy and appreciate the time you took to go in depth with the baby steps.
Welcome to Flylady if you are a newbie or a regular fledgling– it is a zone based cleaning system, spread out over 4-6 weeks (depending on how the month falls.) The zones cover different areas of the home so we concentrate on a particular zone in a given week. But there is also a weekly hour of cleaning (can be split into 10 min segments) to make sure the bins are emptied, main areas hoovered, sheets changed – you get the drift…
And each day of the week has a focus – Thursday is errand day for example.

So , today is Tuesday 1 February – the first day of Spring if you are joining us in the North Hemisphere or Happy Autumn to those in the South. This thread brings you right up to Pancake Tuesday which is 1 March 2022.
Flylady site
This week we are in 2 Zones:
Zone 5: The Living Room
Zone 1: The Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
February Habit: Decluttering for 15 Minutes a Day

Monday – Weekly Home Blessing
Tuesday – Plan and Play
Wednesday – Anti-Procrastination Day
Thursday – Errand Day
Friday – Clean-out your Purse and Car Day
Saturday – Family Fun Day
Sunday – Renew your Spirit Day

It is plan and play day on Tuesdays – I usually plan menus and things to do on Tuesdays but the system is customisable to what works for you and your life.
Feel free to jump onto the thread and post your To Do list of household and family stuff achieved and, if you like, post your Ta Da list when you’ve got stuff done. We all encourage each other along and we all have different lives, pressures etc and we are not at all precious about the system – it can be used as you see fit. For example I don’t clean my dining room in zone 1 as it’s part of my living area so I do it in zone 5.
There is a general mantra of ‘No fledgling left behind’ which basically means you can’t fall behind in the system – you just start up again. So there’s no need for a massive Spring Clean – you just jump in.
Some jargon has evolved over the years, for example – cherry waves was an autocorrect of cheery waves, the pointy stick ---> is sometimes requested if you are having particular problems with procrastination and the naughty corner which is where we collapse to take a break.
As well as ‘To Do’, I’m going to try ‘To Be’ because I’m a Human Being not just a Human Doing. So my aim is to be more present (on the thread and in my head!) and more positive. I live far north in the UK so it is pretty dark here at the moment and I am SO looking forward to more daylight. And a shiny sink!

[Exit stage left pursued by a child]

po3.3
❗️Eat lunch
❗️Make sure DS puts his laundry away and DD1 moves hers along
❗️Discuss plan/priorities for the rest of the day with DH

The day isn’t a write off Sing, stop being hard on yourself! You’ve done a morning’s work and you’ve got a uni tutorial. Plus I assume everyone’s fed and no one is dead?

I’ve managed to put the laundry in and sorted the HMRC stuff (awaking myself a for this as I hate making phone calls like that with a passion and half expected to procrastinate over it for at least another couple of weeks). The clean clothes are half put away (ie distributed to the correct area). I have only done one s&s. The hob isn’t clean yet as I remembered DH is making ragu tonight and it would be wise to leave it until after that, both for my sanity and DH’s wellbeing.

Gold star deserved Up

Three hour meeting is enough to fry anyone's brain Sing. You've achieved a lot, even if DD1 and Cagletini haven't.

There's something about Sunday in this house that makes it insanely busy.
YesTaDa:
❤️ Walked WassailHound
🧡 Got back up ladder to sand around window in the little room, do another layer of filler and put stain-stop on the ceiling
💛 Went into town to meet friend for coffee
💚 Made puddings ahead of roast dinner (pumpkin cheesecake and apple crumble)
💙 Sealed round little room window
💜 3*LOL
❤️ DH "cooked dinner" i e. Put chicken in oven and prepped swede and carrots when I said it was time. I did roasties, other veg, DW rotation, table laying, carving wine consumption and muttering
🧡 Embroidery for friend while I watched the Olympic round up
💛 Actual reading instead of doomscrolling on my phone. Turns out I sleep really well if I do that!

I naturally use gentle parenting style so reward charts aren't too favourable but just wondering if anyone has any ideas how to get children age ranges from reception to early secondary school to help out? Do reward charts work? I've never used any sort of bribes etc so no idea where to start but want to try to get some pride and responsibility going with helping out with housework. Basically I'm struggling to do much when I have no childcare because of the constant demands and attention seeking 🙈 so thinking if they (especially youngest) is helping then they can't be wreaking havoc in my wake

Thought I posted tada earlier.whoops.
Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Harpic lav
Kitchen
Clean windows inside
Wipe tiling,splashbacks and sills
Wash up
Wipe surfaces
Wipe cupboard fronts sweep floor
Check dd2 awake to take meds
Lft everyone
Cook cinnamon and raisin bread as hot raisins from toaster burns lil zoo fingers
Chivvy tired D's to make cereal
Fix his lunch
Check what time need collect lil zoo(part time lessons on Mondays for her)
Wash in drier
More on

Bathroom
Clean windows inside once wiped of condensation
Clean mirror
Wipe sill
Wipe radiator
Clean bath skirt
Wipe all tiling around bath/shower
S+s
Poo pick littertray
Sweep and wash floor

DS room-
Wipe windows,realise mould problem there(need work out how going to fix that when permanent cat on that sill peering out)
Wipe surfaces
Wind up wires from ps controls do don't snap neck
Sort laundry piles into bags and place on landing
Poo pick littertray behind his door
Wash floor on hands and knees

Fold dry wash and put away
More in drier
More in machine

Living room
Clean windows
Remind D's feed the birds before school
Wave girls off
Wave D's off
Clean TV unit/put away stray dvds
Wipe mantlepiece
Wipe fireplace
Clean fire surround
Sweep main drag of the floor

Girls room
Wipe dd2 desk
Wipe her shelves
Sort laundry into piles then into bags
Spray big ted with fabric refresher(6ft ted that in dd2 bed and not possible wash him)
Clean mirrors
Wipe lil zoo desk
Sweep floor
Empty bins
Wash floor on hands and knees

Wash fold and put away
More in drier
More in wash

Sort box on landing that hold girls food as realise D's haphazard scooping means kibble in bottom box and as on landing moisture from shower equals green clumps in bottom of box.yuk!wipe out Dettol wipe and reload with cat kibble bags and wet meat sachets..

Head off to collect lil zoo
Realise forgot mask as need pop shop.
Come back for it,get almost to school and go to check phone see if she out yet.ive left that at home FFS!
Pop co op(I need to stop taking D's words for it he's got "plenty" of milk means enough for next drink/breakfast today) and clothes/ towels aren't low until there's none left)
Fold dry washing
More in drier
More in wash
Make lunch

After catch up with call the midwife with lil zoo she headed upstairs to work online and I head empty drier again.found an unravelling leg warmer in amongst stuff..glad wasn't past repair!
Repaired leg warmer
Told lil zoo if see loops TELL ME so I can fix it!!
Put wash away
More in drier

More wash on once D's in
Dd2 wants pop Waitrose for a couscous salad pot(her money) so we trail down there
Have snack,remind her take meds after
Empty t.drier drawer
Fold dry wash and put away

Plus multiple texts/snaps from DD that needs reassurance,plus a call in middle panic attack and couple texts D's in a tizz

Add to this dad was due yesterday,didn't come as client at work test+.did lft and fine but felt uneasy visiting with D's asthmatic and not up to speed with vaccines(due to incompetent school roll out)texts me 4am a pic + test
DS got school and they rang + teacher and student usually in his taxi(who don't wear mask as exempt)normally allowed collect him and keep home a few days but with dad having plague and dd1 in Scotland no one else can get him.keeping everything X he don't drop

Laundry is ongoing

Wish I'd had a nap

Never mind,hope sleep better tonight!

😱 zoo that's some list!!!

Full-on flying there zoo . Sending my negative vibes your DS's way (though not the cold, which has taken up residence in my nose and the small of my back).

Spent the weekend pandering to my don't wanna. Did spend a while making soup but I didn't check how much barley you should use for two people so we ended up with a kind of savoury porridge. It wasn't unpleasant - indeed, H finished up the leftovers for breakfast this morning - but it felt like a bit of a waste of chicken and leek, which is normally rather nice.

Did something weird with today's curry as well - maybe too much ginger - so not feeling too pleased about food right now. There is a box of tablet in the cupboard, and I've already bowed out of tonight's karate class...

Posting here to keep me going. I've reached that stage in the evening where it's gone dark outside and my brain says it's time to go to sleep, which isn't helpful when it's only early evening. Going to put some music on to try to wake me up again.

Today I did the self care day. Not something I usually do. I switched with the cleaning day because that's yesterday and it suits me to keep it that way. I've got no demands on my time today so can do whatever I need to in peace.

🌼 Started with a lie in,
🌼 then breakfast,
🌼 then a soak in the bath reading my novel.

And I did feel more relaxed after. I usually start the day in a round of "must do" and rushing.

🌼 Sorted out the post so that doesn't join my To-Do list.
🌼 Emptied the bins.
🌼 Put two LOLs away from yesterday.
🌼 Painted my nails.
🌼 Created a weekly planner (bullet journal?) thingy which I'm hoping will help me become more organised.

Why do I feel like today has been "wasted" just because I wasn't rushing round like a blue-arsed fly? Think I need a mindset shift. It's not as if taking time for myself is wrong and I did do some practical/useful things. I shouldn't be feeling guilty!

🌻 Time to make the tea.
🌻 Spending the rest of the evening reading my novel
🌻 and catching up on the threads I'm following (including this one).

Hope you've all had a lovely day, I'll be back to chat later.

wild I need to start self care over mess.i go way too long before wash hairs/sort legs etc because my to do dictates that's more important.i need to reach myself I matter to(not managed it yet but I keep trying)

Hell, I have made a mess of today. I have been concentrating very hard this last week on my routines. On Sunday I did the end of the monthly one - bullet journal set up, business planning, birthdays reviewed and cards ordered - and the weekly one - diaries updated and aligned, kitchen planner updated, my weekly planner filled in, meds reviewed and ordered.

Today I did:
❤️ Morning routine
🧡 Weekly planning routine (menu, shopping lists for various emporia, Tesco order, review of coffee/ tea, bathroom supplies)
💛 Weekly desk stuff (business finances up to date, filing done and away, bills paid, emails sent, phone calls made)
💚 Writing
💙 Some embroidery
💜 Clearing DD's stuff out of the garage to clear out boxes so we can sort FIL's papers
❤️ Collected DD
🧡 Had stupid walk in stupid nature for my stupid mental and physical health. Actually, it was very nice
💛 Walked WassailHound as DD had work to do
💚 Cooked for everyone
💙 Post-dinner routine while DH got onto his late call
💜 More embroidery and watching Olympic stuff
❤️ Evening routine including remaking bed I stripped this morning, getting DS3 to wash, handing out 3 clean loads of laundry, making lunches, writing BIL's birthday card, putting DBro's birthday present somewhere safe where I'll remember it.

Suddenly I am so tired I have no idea who I am or what to do, and tomorrow is very clearly going to have to be spent on the sofa.

I think I must be spelling CONVALESCENCE wrong!

ta da
sort access to roof/window
find source of leak
find the hard drives and check 3 - return one to owner
Spend way way way too long try to sort some level or order and remove duplication from the hard drive
Sort out stuff for financial planning / management
Sort out stuff for health planning / tracking
Hand washing up
be tech support
Give some things a home
delegate tea making for the people
catch up with some of my documentary list of to watch
re-arrange some shelves (much taking off, moving shelves)
Discuss the impending white good failures - dw no longer heats, tumble dryer on/off switch is dying
Apply a deep conditioner to hair
Check out professional requires for going qualified
Hunt down the CPD info
Consider best format for storage and completing the necessary records of CPD cycles completed
remove some things that have died in fridge
Reorganise some book/file storage
Consider the plan for tomo seeing as I completely ignored the plan for today

Wassailing - yes you are
Zoo we are all a work in progress as long as you make 1% improvement each day you are making significant progress. It adds up. And If all you are doing is treading water and not drowning - sometimes that is the most important thing. But you are worth taking the time to do those things. Honestly. You are.
Wild the mindset shift is hard - totally worth it, but a hard shift
frankie no idea, but do be aware it might be more work in the beginning as there is a learning/adapting process. Good luck.
Sing the meeting would fry my brain also. I hope you managed a sensible and realistic plan

Right i am going to head for a snack and see about sleep.

Sorry have not be able to catch up today. Links are as follows for baby step 8 www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-8/ which centres on putting a morning routine and evening routine in control journal.

Tomorrow is plan and play day so any events or menu planning could be done http://www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

You must be tired wassail - that is an epic ta da list.

Well done on that looooong meeting sing

Hills my husband has fillings without an inject because he finds injections more unpleasant 😬 go figure.

Frankie my mil used to say she'd start a chore with a child and then let them finish it whilst then moving on to the next kid showing them what to do. Soon everyone was doing something.

That is an epic ta da list zoo - surely you must have an faerie army to help out?

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php 😁

Wassail your "stupid walk" made me laugh. I sometimes find it hard to do the things that I know are good for me too.

Zoo I find the FlyLady thing of getting dressed properly helps, I've always done it before I even heard of FlyLady. I get up early enough to have the first bit of the morning to myself so I can get dressed, it's the only way I feel ready to start the day. If my hair needs washing I do it then. I get so miserable if I put everything that's to do with me being me last. I have a 5min makeup routine that helps me feel polished too. I hope you can figure out a way to incorporate self care into your day a little bit. It's so hard when you've a million things to do.

Hills I want a campervan too. It's the first thing I'm going to buy if I ever win the lottery.

So it's 10.30pm already and I don't know where the time has gone. A friend popped in for a cuppa earlier and I watched a bit of TV tonight. It's been nice having a whole day focused on doing what I want. It does make sense to try to keep it as part of my weekly routine. So I guess I should thank the FlyLady, whoever she is! Sending love through the internet to her.

Evening/morning all.

Did my usual morning stuff at home then was at work for the day. Came home and ended up sleeping for most of the evening so wide awake now. My sleep is a mess - most of last week I had 4 hours ish per night so this weekend and now today too has included long naps. Would be lovely to just get 7 hrs sleep a night.

Might sort a lol and put it on now to hang out in the morning and take the dog out for a late walk as we can go without lead safe in the knowledge we shouldn't bump into anyone for him to have ridiculous chi fits at. No work tomorrow - just have to be up to get ds up and to school on time and then have an assignment to do for my course before the seminar on Wednesday. Oh and grocery delivery in the morning too.

Really need to sort sleep pattern out. Feels like I'm starting my day but it's 1.15am

flytotally hear you on the sleep.ive had two bloody hours AGAIN
I've try to avoid even my infamous 20 minute nap in hope of precious extra at night nope.this brings sleep quota for last 4 days up to a total of 8 chuffing hours.wouldnt be so bad if I didn't feel tired
Wild with my history of depression I guess getting up and going straight at it mentality has been the only way to actually stop me getting nothing done,plus as I live alone with the zoolets the habit of getting going early kept us afloat as when they were little play was way more important than tidying up!
I stayed up late with dd2( til midnight) and sleep sec I lay down but been lay here quietly since 2am,I suspect by 430/5 I will give up and get up aware of I know no sleeps coming might as well do something useful!

Still that sounds so tough. I got up to feed DD at about 3.20 and I now can't sleep. Thinking I should go and do something rather than risk falling asleep just before DS wakes up.

pretty I have officially given up now.cats are fed and about start my to do list....

DD woke up again, finally settled about 6 so I got time for a shower/quick bathroom clean but I suspect today's going to be a pain. fly I'm with you, 7 hours would be amazing.

Wild love the sound of that self care day. It's rubbish that there's that voice saying its a waste though. And I'd love to take some time in the morning, but I could do with DD predictably sleeping through first!

Yesterday was my first day back at work, so many emails to delete! I'm glad to be back into it, but I tend to let everything expand to fill more and more time (housework, DC stuff, MN) and I have the sort of job where there's always more i could do.

Fly, zoo, pretty - so sorry to hear about the lack of sleep. I know someone who forces himself out of bed at 5am and who likes to keep busy and does it as a virtue but really we sometimes need to just get a decent night.

I have had left over lasagne for breakfast. Need to get showered but have done some cursory tidying. I think the windows need to be opened to let fresh air in . And I have no idea what's for dinner.

I am going into work to socialise at 12 - met someone from another dept by chance on the street and she'd love to meet for coffee as she's not made new friends in two years and she's more or less just started at work. How nice to socialise with someone not from my very small circle!

My home cleaning hour is still not done - did not change sheets on one bed last week so that's the priority. I am taking time to centre myself and not spiral out. I need to catch up on a little work on my day off but I am not going to get stressed...