Springing into April - Flylady style

[BloomingHazel]

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. you have been warned! 😁
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 a week. 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: do/did not lose my shit

There are more, but I can't think of them all. 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.

Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

We are in the entryway and dining room the 1st 2 days of the week.
Monday's mission is to sweep your front porch, step and shake out your mats. This is the first thing anybody sees at your house. Wipe your front door as well to freshen it up, grime can build up quite quickly and we don't always notice it.

Monday is the day for the home blessing (or home bleugh). Change bed sheets, empty bins, quick vacuum around, all in an hour of course 🙄

Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

Day 1 baby step is to shine your sink. Empty your kitchen sink, scrub it clean, buff it up (you can use window cleaner on it if you'd like). Aim to have your kitchen sink empty and clean every night before bed. It's so nice to walk into the kitchen in the morning to a clear, shiny sink!
It doesn't have to be perfect the 1st time, if you do it every day it'll get cleaner and easier each time.

Thanks for the new thread @BloomingHazel and thanks for last months thread @TheMainCharacter 💐

Placemarking . I'll be able to post more over the next couple of weeks as I'm off work for the holidays . I've been keeping up with alot of the flying , not 100% but definitely an improvement! I've also written down daily tasks , weekly tasks and monthly tasks in a bullet journal with each square representing 15 minutes (a couple of tasks the square equals to 5 minutes on the daily page) it's made it easier when I've got a spare few minutes to look at a list and see what needs to be done rather than having to make a decision of what to tackle . It may sound strange but anything that may help with the overwhelm I'm willing to give it a try ! I am a visual learner so maybe that's why it's helped , thought I would share in case it's useful for anyone else 🙂

We're off to Leeds today to the arcade place , I'm not really fussed with gaming but the kids will enjoy it and there is a cafe there so I can sneak off for a coffee ☕️!!

I hope everyone enjoys the bank holiday Monday !!

Tada

🎉 morning coffee

Thanks for the new thread 🙂

Thank you for running the March thread main you did a great job, especially with being new to flylady yourself.

sunny that is a great idea, I know there have been previous posters who have done something similar so I'm sure that would help others too!

Enjoy your bank holiday! We don't have one over here so I'm getting ready to go to work 😔

I like my control journal for the same reason Sunny. Envious of your bullet journal. Mine is just a few pages in a plastic sleeve. Helps reduce the mental load and means I don't forget anything

Thanks for the thread last month Character, you did well

Thanks for this new thread Hazel. Sorry you have to work today. Half the UK will be working too, it's only really office workers whose companies close who get bank holidays off, a lot of places if it's your shift that day you work as normal and don't get extra pay or anything

Hope you're doing ok Cat

And all the newbies who popped up last month, if you're still lurking, hope you're finding it helpful

🙋🏻‍♀️ still here !

Thank you for last months thread @themaincharacter and thank you for taking on this months @BloomingHazel

joining last month was useful. Thank you !

hoping this month to be able to follow more of the routines. And get a bit more in place.

This afternoon I’m going through the kids clothes and pulling out any bits that are too small. And popping into their drawers / wardrobes any more spring / summer bits that I can pull out when needed ( obviously won’t be used this week ! ) Also going to replace woolly hats with sun hats, sunglasses and sun cream to move forward ! ( I’m remaining optimistic weather wise 🤣)

Thanks @BloomingHazel and thanks to Main for the previous threads, you did a great job. I'm feeling more on top of things now than earlier in the year so hope to post more this month.

Checking in! Hopeful for an active month full of 🎉🌱!

Hemax I swapped onto my summer duvet and then it turned dark and rained so I added a blanket else I think I'll freeze tonight

Cabbage I need to tackle the garden too it's very neglected

Glad you're feeling more on top of things ED

Ta-da's:

🐇 Morning routine
🐇 Home blessings
🐇 Walked through the park
🐇 Found the summer duvet and changed bedding
🐇 Started a new novel
🐇 Decluttered a few bits
🐇 Did Easter crafts (it was eggs)
🐇 Manicure
🐇 Shopping list
🐇 Shredding

To-do:

🐰 Evening routine

Thanks to @BloomingHazel and @MainCharacter

Beautiful weather yesterday, so I spent a good couple of hours in the garden. Now followed by a forecast of wind and rain for the rest of this week. Teens left for their holiday, and I aim to do as much as possible over the next fortnight to make things easier for myself during the summer term.

Dishes washed, sink and worktops are clean and tidy. Tesco delivered this morning, and fridge and freezers are reasonable.

My plan today is to tidy and hoover the hallway and part of the stairs, usually six at a time. Also clear off the pc table where TeenGirl nests, and the other table where there's a stack of outgrown clothes waiting to be donated/recycled. I don't have dining-room as such, so will stick with the kitchen bureau and clutter corner.

Social Work visited last week, not at all judgmental, and I felt that I was heard, and much less isolated now. Much easier to focus on what I can do.

It sounds like everyone has had a great start this week and enjoying time off!

Ta das:
🧚‍♀️ work
🧚‍♀️ swept steps (side & front of the house)
🧚‍♀️ wiped doors
🧚‍♀️ cleaned glass on doors
🧚‍♀️ mopped kitchen & dining room floor (DH had the robot vacuum the main floor)

I'll be doing my home bleugh tomorrow, on my day off

Hello everyone.

Thanks for taking over the thread again Hazel.

We went away for the weekend so I have a bit of catching up to do today. Luckily the dc were outside a lot over the weekend so I don’t feel too bad if we have a day in today.

3 lol to fold and put away.
3 lol to wash and hang up
hallway cleared of the bits we left there when we got back last night
home bleurgh
zone work
try to start packing for week away
try to encourage dc3&4 not to trash the entire house…

@Hemax1 @ItsieDitzyBitsOfOnionInTheSoup you’re both very optimistic! I’m still firmly in big coat and lots of blankets territory! Suppose I should pack suncream for next week though just in case.

@Scourgify I’m so pleased you feel positive after the sw visit and that it was helpful to you.

I haven't started on our garden yet @Scourgify . The back garden needs an overhaul and completely redoing but the front isn't too messy . I would love to have a beautiful garden but I have no clue what I'm doing ! I planted a few things about 2 years ago but would love a beautiful colourful garden 🪴 happy that social work went well for you 💐

I hope you manage some rest and relaxation on your day off @BloomingHazel , I'll be doing the home bleurgh with you this afternoon!

@ItsieDitzyBitsOfOnionInTheSoup I don't change my duvet until I absolutely have to, I find the weight of a winter duvet comforting . What novel are you reading 📖 I'm reading the beach house by Jane green . It's been on my bookcase for years and I want to declutter a few before the end of the year 🙂

I didn't get much done yesterday, we got back home about 830 so apart from popping the dishwasher on and dd2 bedtime routine , I sat and watched MAFS with a g&t 😂

A full day today , but should have some time this afternoon to do some house stuff . Dd2 is at gymnastics 130-830 😲 they do some fun sessions throughout the holidays so she asked to join in a couple of them. Frees a bit of time up for me and to spend time with ds .

Tada
🎉 face wash and morning coffee ☕️

Placemarking.
Weather is absolute pants today. I swear I'm like a completely different person when it's sunny 😎

Blitzed all the bathrooms yesterday, skirting boards and all.

Today will need to spruce up the hallway.

Our garden is small and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance really … but if we get a proper break in the weather I’ll get out and sort it out ( emptying buckets etc of water )

I managed to sort the littlest ones wardrobe yesterday. Pulled out lots to sort and sell and added quite a bit back into it ! Also sorted out the boxes of bigger clothes that we’ve been gifted so they’re in some kind of age order now too.

Also discovered that her feet have grown so pulled out shoes in the next size up for her. She was a happy girl !

Have started on the boys clothes. He had a pile of clothes on his chest of drawers that was a mix of next size up clothes for him and for my littlest girl, so they’ve now been stashed in boxes ready for him to grow.

Today I’m taking the little ones out to a local play cafe that has a science event on this morning. Have a load of small
run around jobs to do on my way home and then will be back working on changing the seasons clothing wise this afternoon after the normal whizz round tidying and putting out fires.

Definitely need to get onto the decluttering - especially outgrown clothes !

Hi everyone, I've been AWOL for ages, although ive been lurking, my house has totally gone to the dogs, and I now need to get back on it.
I have a plan, this month I'm going to spend 30-60 mins daily tackling a task and hopefully by May I'll be able to Fly properly.
I need to get over my mental block of not wanting to do half a job, IE my bathroom sink is in need of a scrub but the limescale has built up in my shower so what's the point of only doing half a job. Although I deep cleaned my front room a month ago, still haven't put the cushion covers back on, the Pledge is still on the window sill, the hoover's sat in the corner and the room is back to its usual chaos.
Things I do keep on top of are my laundry (sadly not to the point of putting it away), cleaning the loos, and cleaning up after the dogs.
Anyway, hope you all have good days, whatever you're up to, and thanks to the thread leaders.

I completely forgot to post the links last night, I'm sorry! 🤦‍♀️

Tuesday is plan & play day.

Tuesday's mission is to put out the fires in your hotspots in the entryway, front porch and dining room. 15 minutes in each area/ room & set a timer of you need to.

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-2/
Today's baby step is to get dressed to shoes. She suggests lace up shoes for inside the house, but you can do your own version. Basically she just wants you to be dressed & ready to leave the house at a moments notice. Hair done, basic skincare routine (if you have one), makeup (if you wear it) etc.

Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

character I find it can be pretty hard to put things away when getting home from being away for a few days. It's sad too because it means you're home again, back to reality. It's good that you've made a start already!

sunny I'm still learning what grows best and where here too. I have found most things like a sunny spot, so my back garden isn't too hard to plant things in (unless it doesn't like to be completely dried out). The front is north facing, so doesn't get any direct sunlight by my front door. I have a hard time with planting a pot for next to my front door and everything really beautiful needs at least a little bit of sun 😞

We will be doing a complete overhaul soon though, which will be hard work, but worth it in the end.

Mc sunshine definitely helps me stay motivated to get things done. Gloomy days want to make me curl up under a blanket on the couch!

Hemax enjoy the time with your little ones today. I'm sure decluttering smaller clothes never stops when you have DC!

Cherry try setting a timer for 15 minutes to put away the things that don't belong in the living room. So when the timer goes off & go back to it after a tea break. You may find you're done with it, or almost done in that time. If you don't know where to begin, start in one corner of the room (the easiest corner) and make your way around the room.

Here we go! Today's wins:
🎉 Vacuumed and dusted the porch
🎉 Sorted the stack of mail to previous occupants

DW has been keeping on top of the dishes and they're all pretty much done already, has emptied all the kitchen bins, and has made a shepherds pie which is finishing in the oven as I type. I have been avoiding the kitchen and probably will do until I'm further along so have no idea precisely when these wins took place but it feels remiss to not give credit on the thread! Maybe I need a DW emoji for the wins list 🤔

Ta das so far:
🧚‍♀️ rotated DW
🧚‍♀️ cleaned out fridge
🧚‍♀️ started DW
🧚‍♀️ emptied bins
🧚‍♀️ put clean laundry away
🧚‍♀️ sheets washed and in dryer
🧚‍♀️ 1st load of towels in washer
🧚‍♀️ sorted out storage for Jeep
🧚‍♀️ cleaned out Jeep (threw a bunch of stuff away)
🧚‍♀️ brought in package and put everything away 😇

It helps that it feels like spring outside today to get things done. Considering we had a couple inches of snow on Easter Sunday, I'm extremely happy it's a nice day today.
It'll soon be lunch time, thankfully we have leftovers from the weekend (I haven't sorted meals out for the week yet 🤦‍♀️)

cabbage out definitely helps to start on top of things!

I forgot that I also worked on the hotspot in the dining room. There's still more to do, but it's mainly plastic Easter eggs.

More ta das:
🧚‍♀️ repainted my nails
🧚‍♀️ relaxed for a couple of hours on the couch
🧚‍♀️ took the dogs out for a walk
🧚‍♀️ remade the bed with clean sheets
🧚‍♀️ 2 more LOLs
🧚‍♀️ blankets back on the couch, after being washed

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Wednesday's mission is to wipe down walls & windows in your dining room. Clean off the smudges and fingerprints. Do the same on your front door (if you haven't already).

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-3/
Keep working on shining your sink & getting ready for the day. She also wants you to check out the website, have a little poke around. I also recommend the flylady app.

Zones: https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

Good morning ☕️

I took dd2 to see Wonka yesterday, I really enjoyed it - I can't wait for it to be released on sky 😂 a busy but more relaxed day than usual .

Yesterday tada
🎉 15 mins on dining room , cleared a few surfaces
🎉 washed front door mat
🎉 caught up on downstairs tidy after the busy weekend
🎉 all clean laundry folded and put into rooms
🎉 living and dining room dusted and hoovered
🎉 relaxed with some cross stitch
🎉 dd2 to and from gymnastics
🎉 kitchen tidy (this room is ready for more time being spent on it ! )
🎉 5 minute workout (I know it isn't long but it's a start)

Todays tada
🎉 morning coffee

A more relaxed start to the morning , no alarm , everyone is still in bed , a coffee in peace . I'm torn between sitting with another coffee and doing some cross stitch or getting on with some tidying with no interruptions 🙈