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Flying into Spring - The Fledglings are no Fools

237 replies

ExtremelyDetermined · 31/03/2023 23:09

Time for the April Fledgling Flylady thread - regulars, returners and newbies are all very welcome, post as little or as often as you like, or just lurk, whatever suits you, but please feel free to ask if there is anything you don’t understand. Also feel free to chat!

Flylady is a system for running a household, it is a system which covers housework, a bit of self-care and quite a lot of just general organisation. It runs on a monthly cycle, hence a new thread at the start of each month. Links will be posted here daily, but do go and have a good browse of the website, just don’t sign up for the emails unless you want to add to the clutter in your inbox.

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

If you’re new to the system, or are wanting a refresher course, the baby steps may be a good idea. Some are more useful than others, we’ve found, and stuff like affirmations may not work for you, so pick and choose what you want to try. You don’t have to do it all! Perfectionism can be left at the door, we celebrate any achievement here no matter how small it seems (this is why you’ll see our Ta Da lists as well as To Do lists!).

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

There are parts of the house called zones, each taking a different part of the month, and missions in those zones to do little tasks we may have neglected. If you don’t feel ready for those though, a good way to start is doing 15 minutes decluttering in that zone! Remember it didn’t get messy in a day so it won’t be fixed in a day either. Slow and steady.

Then there’s the daily focus - each day of the week has a theme, although many of us switch them around to suit our own lives.

Each day I’ll provide the link to the launch pad, which is where you can see what is meant to be done that day (but again don’t feel you have to do all of it! That way lies burnout!).

A couple of principles we talk about on here are:
Future Friend - the idea of doing something today that benefits you later, such as choosing your clothes or making your lunch the night before.
Power of Three (po3) - if you’re overwhelmed, just pick three easy tasks - no matter how small - and forget about the rest until they’re done. Then reassess and decide another three.

Finally a few acronyms:
DW - dishwasher, not dear wife!
LOL - load of laundry, we aren’t finding washing hilarious
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
BRC - box of random crap

A big thanks to @icypompoms for running the previous thread Flowers. The system starts properly on Monday, but the weekend is a good time to have a look at the website and start planning.

Getting Started | FlyLady.net

http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

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Thread gallery
12
HungryHazelEyes · 01/04/2023 05:09

Thank you for the new thread ED
And thank you pompoms for running the last 2 threads!

No ta das from me, just work and cooked dinner. I work at my 2nd job tomorrow (Saturday), so not much chance of ta das then either.
Hopefully I'll get to check in soon.
🍒👋 to everyone

DomesticElf · 01/04/2023 05:25

Placemarking.
Thank you for lovely thread leading ED and Pompoms ☺️

partypompoms · 01/04/2023 05:35

Thanks for the new thread @ExtremelyDetermined

Middle poms had their birthday yesterday. Party today so I should get up and decorate the cake.

Scourgify · 01/04/2023 05:53

Thank you pompoms and ED.

I have been mostly lurking, just and no more keeping my head above water. I now have a fortnight on my own to knock this place into some kind of shape.

Starting this morning by blitzing kitchen and utility. Also no more food shop until the freezer is tackled. Nothing will go to waste. It definitely all needs to be rotated however, and a list of contents on the fridge door, to avoid pot luck/surprise dinners.

As usual, lots of podcasts and audiobooks lined up for company.

Stilllivinginazoo · 01/04/2023 06:50

Fell off the thread AGAIN😳
Sorry pompoms especially as you do a grand job leaving clear instructions<looks at ed in hope you have large pointy stick and bandy net to stop me straying off >

pinch,punch first day of the month and no returns!

April's mantra- try,try and try again🤣

Couldn't sleep-been a busy month at chez zoo with zoolet stuffs but house has paid the price for me not having enough hands or wits about me so here we go again...

Tada.
*Cats fed.
*Wash in.
*Remove items from bottom shelf of cupboard one(bread and spreads,one of which is sticky and no one of course admits was them not cleaned it up!)
*Wipe out cupboard and leave to dry.
*Wash up X2 lots😳
*Sort recycling out and put bag out
*Sort rubbish out and put bag out.
*Sweep kitchen floor.
*Clear and sweep living room floor.
*Wash to drier.
*More wash in.

The fridge is in a pickle as it's all higgeldy piggely..why can't people's put stuff back where it came from? Ditto cupboards and I cannot tell what we have/don't when it's in a scrambled state so that's next job,along scrubbing sticky/crumby work surfaces before head into front room and make a start in there.

Hope everyone's doing ok

BBL

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/04/2023 07:13

Morning.

Thanks for the new thread ED
Thanks for leading Pompoms hope the party goes smoothly and the birthdee has lots of fun.

ta da
hang up wet washing
put on new washing
consider if can put washing up away without waking the person asleep in the lounge.

ExtremelyDetermined · 01/04/2023 13:13

So, Saturday is Family Fun Day Chez Flylady

http://www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-saturday/

Also the first weekend of the month is a good time to look at the Flylady Lessons

http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/

On Monday we will be moving into Zone 1, the entrance, porch and dining room.

Daily Focus Saturday | FlyLady.net

http://www.flylady.net/d/daily-focus/daily-focus-saturday/

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DitzyDaffodils · 01/04/2023 15:43

Thanks for last month's thread Pompoms and for this one ED. Hope the party goes without hitch Pompoms, happy birthday to Middle Poms.

Scourgify I hope your plans work out and you get a tidier home soon.

Sniggering at the thought of Hills sneaking around in her own home like some kind of housework burgler trying not to wake the occupants. Sorry Hills! I bet you wish someone would come steal the housework chores away.

You're off to a good start Zoo.

waves hi to Hazel and Elf and anybody else lurking.

I've mostly been plugging away with the basic routines and attempts at decluttering.

Searchingforsunnydays · 01/04/2023 16:20

Thanks pompoms for running the last few threads and thanks ed for this months.

Placemarking , I have had a tooth out , bone graft and stitches so hardly any flying done beforehand due to nerves and none yesterday or today but hopefully I'll be back in full swing tomorrow!!

I hope everyone is doing well 💐

THATissoooFETCH · 01/04/2023 16:42

Placemarking

Also aiming to fly more this month

Half term now so working less but kids home more

moonbedazzled · 01/04/2023 16:51

Thanks for starting this thread. I've lurked for sgrs but I'm determined now to get on board.

I really am desperate. Things have been getting out of control for a long time, but I've reached peak crisis point. Its bad for both my physical and mental health. I don't understand why I don't just get on and sort stuff instead of using family issues as reasons for doing nothing.

Well, enough. April 2023 is where I'm making a stand. I'm going to use this thread to hold myself responsible. (Pepare yourselves for a barrage of excuses. 😉 )

HillsBesideTheSea · 01/04/2023 17:36

Gonna be honest moon we have probably heard and made most of them. Welcome aboard.

Seeing as ds has given his bed and room up for our guest seems a bit mean to be waking him up at the butt crack of sparrow when he doesn't need to be. People went out. Ds and I went to bed. Ds needed some help getting the blow up to hold its air so he didnt have the best of night's sleep.
In his words: blew it up so it was solid - it was uncomfortable, eventually got comfortable, woke up uncomfortable because bed had gone flat... apparently there were several cycles of this during the night. thankfully he could get a solid nap.

moonbedazzled · 01/04/2023 17:41

Gonna be honest moon we have probably heard and made most of them. Welcome aboard.

🤭🤭🤭 I guess you wouldn't be on here if you hadn't. Thanks for the welcome.
First excuse. The dog's having a dental on Monday at a vets an hour away. And I have to wait around for an early discharge because he makes such a racket when he comes out of the anaesthetic. He upsets the other clients! Then I have to pamper him. So I'll be starting Tuesday. I'm hopeless, I can't even make the first day. 😔

DitzyDaffodils · 01/04/2023 18:07

Hi Moon. I'd take a notebook and your preferred internet device to the vets, while you're waiting you could make a start on creating your Control Journal. You won't get organized overnight but if you've started putting together your routines and making sense of the FlyLady system you'll have something to aim for. Or you could swap Monday and Tuesday around and do your meal planning, shopping list and weekly calendar/planner at the vets and your main cleaning on Tuesday. Feel free to ignore me if you're in need of the downtime and would rather just read a book or something

Hills those airbeds are awful aren't they? Poor DS has my sympathies. I used to be taken camping as a child and had to sleep on these hateful things

Sounds horrific Sunny, get well soon

Hope DC don't get under your feet too much THAT

Ta-da's:

🌱 Breakfast in bed. At noon. I'm still there 😁

To-do:

🌿 Act like a proper person and do something useful

moonbedazzled · 01/04/2023 18:21

Yes, good idea, Ditzy. Use my time wisely. I was going to go shopping to the local retail park but I like you keeping me on the straight and narrow. I can sound quite light-hearted but this is what I need so don't apologise because I'm grateful. My way is definitely not working and for my mental health I have to get control back because it seriously is causing me problems.

ExtremelyDetermined · 01/04/2023 20:59

Welcome @moonbedazzled - many on here face similar challenges due to health conditions and caring responsibilities so you will always find a sympathetic ear. Do have w good browse of the Flyldady website and ask if you don't understand.

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moonbedazzled · 01/04/2023 21:11

I will ED. Thank you.

DitzyDaffodils · 02/04/2023 01:58

Ta-da's:

☁️ Read a few chapters of my novel while I was lazing around in bed
☁️ Morning and evening routines got thrown into one list and mostly completed
☁️ Felt stressed by all the clutter so managed to find a few things to donate, which made me feel better
☁️ Took a walk through silent sleepy suburbia in the dark with a friend who needed a listening ear, which helped to blow the cobwebs out of my brain. It was very quiet for a Saturday night

Off to bed now, I hope to do better tomorrow.

Scourgify · 02/04/2023 06:12

I've got a massive running list of to-dos now, adding to it throughout the day. Most of the laundry is csught up and on the pulleys. Another three loads this morning should ckear the rest.

Kitchen always takes so much longer than I anticipate. I thought I would have had the contents of the fridge-freezers tidied and listed by now. But I know exactly what I want to get done today, so I won't have to stress over making the right decisions.

Upsadiddles · 02/04/2023 08:21

Just caught up on the last thread and found you all. You did a great job last month Pompoms, and thanks for the new thread ED. I seem to be averaging only one or two posts a month, must try harder in April!

Work has been very busy recently, MiniUp has morphed into a demon toddler who cannot be left for more than a couple of seconds or she will climb something dangerous, eat something she shouldn’t, or throw an epic tantrum, and DD1 has also been rather trying recently. I’m still at work most of the first week of the school holidays but then we are off on holiday and I’m hoping plenty of relaxed family time will help.

I’m just about keeping the chaos at bay in the house, but need to do better in the zones. We have eventually finished sorting MiniUp’s teeny bedroom so it’s all organised and she actually has space to play.

Today’s plans are:

  • finish the home bleurgh I started yesterday
  • ironing of uniforms
  • make a start on packing
  • investigate whether we can fit all of the suitcases plus MiniUp’s pushchair and two extra car seats in the car (hiring a car on holiday so we need to take some, but want to have the usual ones left in the car so we can still get home if they go missing)
  • meal plan for the week with DH (we are spending far too much on shopping at the minute).

Sorry for the lack of personals, two weeks worth of posts has pickled my brain. Welcome to Haddie and Moon though.

Right, the girls have given me a lovely lie in but they are waking up and as DH is working today I better get up. Back later 🍒 👋

CurseYouPerryThePlatypus · 02/04/2023 11:59

Hi everyone. I’ve been really rubbish at keeping up lately but thank you pompoms for leading the last two threads and thank you ED for taking April on!

Welcome moon I can really relate to the chaos.

I am not feeling at all motivated lately. I spent pretty much all of yesterday in bed watching Netflix and would quite like to do the same for the entire Easter holidays tbh! But while I’m off work (we are term time only) I desperately need to focus on other stuff - the housing association need to inspect all the electrics, I am still behind on uni, and DD1 has GCSEs to revise for!

HungryHazelEyes · 02/04/2023 16:53

That stage is awful Up ☕️ sending coffee your way!
Perry you've had a lot on your plate! Can you schedule set times for uni, routines, fun activities and downtime (like Netflix)? Would that help?
Scourgify sounds like you've got a lot accomplished, hopefully your to do list isn't too insanely long?
Ditzy I would say that was a productive day, pretty balanced. You sound like a good friend, being a good listening ear, that's important!
Moon welcome! As stated upthread, feel free to ask any questions, housekeeping related or not 🤓
hills DS needs a gold star for giving up his room for guests. Have you managed to get the air mattress to stay up for him?
that you've got a busy house, we will understand if you're not able post much
sunny ouch, that sounds painful! I hope it's a quick recovery for you 🤞
ED thank you for the links and reminders. I plan on putting all my Easter decorations up today.

I have to meal plan and grocery shop as well, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get it done in time to schedule pickup, unfortunately.
🍒👋 to everyone

partypompoms · 03/04/2023 07:04

Hi everyone, I'm absolutely broken after the kids party. How can 7 kids for 3 hours exhaust me so much!?

Cake was a worry as it looked more like a playboy cake at one point but all was saved with the icing 😂.

Yesterday was all about a long nap. H did a whole lot of sorting to pit the party boxes away and we did declutter a lot of bits and pieces and just randomly did the tights and socks and got rid of some stuff.

Obviously with birthday presents we are up overall but I don't feel overwhelmed with stuff. We bought a few nice things all second hand actually this year too. But it's not a sea of stuff.

Flying into Spring - The Fledglings are no Fools
Flying into Spring - The Fledglings are no Fools
Scourgify · 03/04/2023 08:44

All I wanted to do yesterday was lie on the settee between rotating all the loads of laundry. So that's what I did. I think I've come up with a few solutions to the very awkwardly laid-out futility room, ranging from putting up a couple of shelves and pegs to knocking a doorway through a foot-thick wall. A girl can dream...

Anyway, today is finish all the clothes laundry, and try to stick to the zones. Entrance, porch, dining-room this week. If I change it for me it's the entrance, hallway, and stairs, all of which need some hardcore hoovering.

ExtremelyDetermined · 03/04/2023 09:19

Oops, late already!

http://flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

Here is today's Flight Plan - everything you need to know is on this page or linked from it.

Monday's Daily Focus is Home Blessing - a rather ambitious plan to hoover and dust the whole house, change all the beds and empty the wastepaper bins in the space of an hour. Don't worry if you find this impossible or would rather not try because you are working or whatever, it can be done over the week, or one room at a time.

Today we are in Zone 1 (for one day only), the entrance, porch and dining room. Our mission is to clear all the piles of shoes, papers, junk mail etc away.

FlyLady.net

http://flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

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