New Year, Fresh Start with Flylady

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Are you looking to finally getting into a new routine with housework? Something simple to start that can be easy to add to over time? Flylady may be the answer for you!

This is a long running thread, but we are a friendly bunch and all are welcome to join in.

Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - it's an excessive amount sent every day.

There are Baby Steps for starting out, add one thing at a time to start good habits and routines.

There are 5 zones that we will rotate through, don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

Daily missions: each day of the week has a different mission.

• Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh)
• Tuesday: plan & play
• Wednesday: anti-procrastination
• Thursday: errand day
• Friday: clean car & purse out. It's also date night (with your significant other, or friends, or yourself!)
• Saturday: family fun day
• Sunday: renew your spirit

Common acronyms we use:

• LOL: load of laundry (washing is certainly NOT funny!)
• DW: dishwasher, we are not rotating wives by any means, although an extra pair of hands could come in handy sometimes 😆
• LMS: lose/lost my shit
• DNLMS: did not lose my shit

There are more, feel free to ask us to explain something. I'll try to update links every day, although if you can, it's worth downloading the app, you can even have it send you notifications (although I only have it for when the zones change). You can also modify the tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle.

Links are below 👇 if I happen to not add links in time, they do update at midnight for you. I am in the US, 7 hours behind the UK, so I'll do my best.

Launch Pad: https://www.flylady.net/d/new-links/
Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/
Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

@Hatty65 i really want to get back in the habit of clearing my draining board before bed each night. I’m on top of the dishes and wiping round the surfaces and the sink itself but it makes such a difference coming down to a clear draining board each morning. Now I’ve said it I have to start doing it again!

@HazelNotHungryLC please share the tea! I need all the help I can get sleepwise

Seren that's quite a to do list, having DC help is definitely a great idea! I also agree that self care is part of flylady.

Hatty no need to be perfect! Just add a little at a time, it does get easier. For right now I would just focus on the daily mission (set your timer for 15 minutes, then stop) and 15 minutes decluttering in the zone we are in (master bedroom this week). I would work on keeping your sink clear and shiny as well and call that good! Eventually those will all be second nature and then you can add something else! We will make it back to the master bedroom next month, so no need to stress about not getting things done. Making it better is the goal, not perfection!

character I'm so sorry you're going through that with your dad 💐 that is really hard to see. I went through that in 2018 with my dad and it's really hard to see them change.

Thanks @HazelNotHungryLC I did dither about in the master bedroom this afternoon, but only found 3 things to de-clutter! I'm quite good at having my bedroom calm and tidy. I've not felt very well this week, but I'm still trying.

I did make cake today! 🍰

Character here is the tea. I got it locally, and if course I'm in the US, so don't know if it's available over there. I did find it on Amazon though, so maybe 🤷‍♀️

Hatty I'm the same way, our bedroom is pretty well clear usually. I find it is peaceful and calming. I do want to spend a few minutes sorting through my closet though, I need to be more ruthless!

Ta Das so far today (just after noon):
💇‍♀️ haircut done, more highlights added
💇‍♀️ annual dog licenses bought
💇‍♀️ Jeep washed (even though it's raining, it was really muddy!)
💇‍♀️ annual checkup scheduled
💇‍♀️ mattress & pillow protectors in washer
💇‍♀️ ceiling fan in master bedroom wiped
💇‍♀️ bedside tables wiped
💇‍♀️ smudges on walls wiped away (in master only)
💇‍♀️ window cleaned on the inside in master bedroom only
💇‍♀️ windowsill and curtain rod also wiped (we still had dust from restoration work that was done months ago 😳)

Cleaned the whole house and attended my first ever governors meeting so feel like a proper grown up.

Just dipping in, it has been a busy and stressful month but getting there. DH has had a prostate cancer diagnosis but it is very early and low grade so they are proposing to monitor him closely and only treat if it gets worse, which it may or may not do. What with that and tax returns, birthdays and a few other things going on I haven't made the time to post, going to read back through.

@cosypompoms well done on becoming a governor! I started as one about 6 months ago and still feel a bit "imposter syndrome" as some of them are very high flying business people but I am really enjoying it and finding my niche as part of the team.

Well done to both of you pompoms & ED for being governers!

ED I'm so so sorry to hear about DHs diagnosis. It's great they caught it early though still scary nonetheless 💐

More ta das:
😇 windows cleaned in spare bedroom & closet/ workout room
😇 window sills cleaned in both rooms also
😇 dresser treated with wood oil in closet room
😇 moved a few decorations / lamp to spare bedroom from closet room
😇 picked DS up from school, didn't murder any other parents (I swear, they are so ignorant when picking up their child)
😇 currently walking through making garlic butter rolls with DS, I'm helping him cook dinner tonight. Spaghetti, served with noodles and spaghetti squash with garlic rolls for DH & DS

I'm planning a workout once the rolls are rising, then take a shower, scrub, shave etc so I can apply self tanner. I feel really pale and need some colour!

@EffortlessDelegation that must be a lot to take in with the diagnosis. How are you all managing?

Ta Das:
😴 completed a workout
😴 shower, scrubbed, shaved
😴 applied self tanner
😴 finished helping DS cook dinner
😴 rotated DW
😴 handwash dishes
😴 wiped countertops & sink
😴 got clothes out for tomorrow
😴 got lunch ready for tomorrow
😴 LOLs x4 total today

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.
Wednesday's mission is to clear off the bedside tables. Wipe them down, put something pretty on there (candle, picture etc.).

Baby step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-24/
Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Wow @HazelNotHungryLC you've been very busy! Thank you for the tea recommendation, I did find it on Amazon but it was very expensive on there but I managed to find it on another site for a more reasonable price. I used to drink yogi teas years ago but can’t remember where I bought them and I may have been living in a different country at the time which wouldn’t help even if I could remember 🤣Also thanks for the kind thoughts about my dad and so sorry you have been through it too.

ED sorry to hear of your DH’s diagnosis, must be a worrying time for you.

Todays tadas
☕️Morning routine
☕️order Hazel’s magic sleep tea
☕️school run
☕️shop for mum again
☕️call in on parents
☕️hang up lol
☕️fold and put away lol
☕️dust hall/stairs/landings (also give banister a good scrub as it’s a bit sticky)
☕️clean bathroom mirror as it’s looking smeary
☕️vacuum through
☕️mop hard floors
☕️make chilli
☕️get dc tennis stuff together for after school

Thought I’d done more than that…

I'm a winner today! There is nothing on my bedside tables but a lamp. 😀

Ta da's
💚Hoovered downstairs
💚Made soup for lunch
💚Made bed
💚Took 5 bags of de-cluttering to a charity shop
💚Did a grocery shop
💚Rang DWP with a query (1 HOUR on hold on the phone)
💚Have put a roast chicken and vegetables in for dinner
💚Dealt with emails

@EffortlessDelegation I'm so sorry to hear of your DH's diagnosis. Hope things go well.

Sorry to hear about your dad Character, must be awful not to be recognised

Sorry about your DH too ED it's good they've caught it early at least, fingers crossed he's got the shrinking/disappearing kind

Not much going on here, have felt a bit ill.

Yesterday ta-da's:

🎊Morning routine
🎊Food shop
🎊Sewing
🎊Tidied living room
🎊Evening routine

Ta-da's:

🎉Morning routine
🎉Got an extra LOL done
🎉Been to the park
🎉Exercise
🎉Decluttered

Anti procrastinated some tough to remove jam jar labels. Normally if a label doesn't come off easily in the sink it goes in the recycling but these are good looking jars so worth the effort. 🥴

✅Five minute took rescues required in all rooms today which is quite unbelievable after cleaning the whole house yesterday.

character I hope you get on with that tea, like me 🤞That did look like a busy day for you!

Hatty 🏆 well done on keeping your bedside table clear! I do have a couple things on mine - lamp, wireless charging stand for my phone, a small bouquet of flowers from my wedding and a picture frame with us on our wedding day. It sounds like a lot, but really isn't. DHs on the other hand.. 😆
An HOUR on hold sounds tortuous! I hope they were able to help you after that wait.

Ditzy I hope you feel better soon 💐 I am impressed you excercised while not feeling 100%

pompoms isn't it frustrating when rooms don't stay clean & tidy? Even Dobby makes a huge mess (he likes to de-stuff his lamb chop toys, they're his favourite!).

Ta Das:
😴 work most of the day
😴 left work a little early for a concert (DS was playing his trombone)
😴 did a short workout
😴 reheated leftovers for dinner
😴 for my lunch ready for tomorrow
😴 had DS rotate DW
😴 took a shower
😴 got my clothes out for tomorrow
😴 finished loading DW
😴 made myself my sleepy tea (which I'm currently sipping on)

Thursday is errand day.
Thursday's mission is to clear your dressers. Any cosmetics, put in a pretty bag or box, maybe put them in a drawer instead of on top.
For perfumes or cologne, toss the ones you no longer like, set your favourites on a pretty tray, mirror or plate. Try to keep your flat surfaces clear of clutter.

Baby step #25: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-25/
Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Thank you for adding the links @HazelNotHungryLC I have got out of the habit of doing the daily missions, though I have been following Flylady for years. I do have a dresser top to spruce up a bit so I'm going to go and do it now!

@Hatty65 I am also very impressed by your clear bedside table. I try to keep mine clear but even so it has a lamp, plant, 2 candles, clock, phone charger and water carafe on top. Then the shelf has books, kindle, tissues, eye mask, headphones. And the drawer is full of all sorts; pens, spare charger cables, vitamins, a notebook, my label maker 🫣. It’s organised and all there for a reason but it’s still a lot of stuff 😳

I’ve tidied my dresser but there’s still some stuff on the top. Only a few things and stuff I use every day. As I continue working my way through all my back up products I should create room in the cupboard beneath so it fits inside instead…

@cosypompoms I honestly feel like I’m just tidying the same stuff and spaces on a constant loop. It is amazing how much you can get done in a few minutes though and those room rescues make a huge difference. Although I watched a video on Instagram which was a whole house reset and the amount she got done in 30 minutes was crazy! I tried to copy it and only managed about half!!

Tadas
🥓morning routine
🥓school run
🥓hang up lol
🥓fold and put away lol
🥓clean loos and sinks x 3
🥓mop dp gym mats
🥓mop bathrooms
🥓tidy living room
🥓tidy dd bedroom
🥓dust living rooms x2
🥓dust dining room
🥓vacuum downstairs
🥓tidy dressing table
🥓 make lunch (I had 🥓)

I now need to prepare dinner before picking the kids up and taking them to swimming lessons. Hopefully that won’t take me 2 hours 🤣

I'm so glad I started the bedroom last week. No way could I have faced clearing the dresser today with the amount I had on it! I also thought to myself "oh the bedside tables are clear so no worries there"... three glasses, random notepads, pens, batteries, finished books, kindle, charger and a partridge in a pear tree later..!

Today's wins:

• Cleared the bedside tables!
• Cleared the dresser
• Cleared work desk
• LOL done (v. unusual for me, but we have a new machine and it has some snazzy new settings I've been wanting to try!!)
• Five minutes spent in the kitchen putting things back in cupboards
• Put the Christmas stuff in the attic (major win)
• Five minute tidy in the lounge

@ProfessorplumBilliardroomCandlestick isn’t it amazing how stuff builds up and you don’t even realise it. Sounds like you’ve been successful today