July Flylady Thread: Would July-k to join us?

[CabbageBearGoat]

Welcome to the July FlyLady thread! Need guidance with routines and keeping up with housework? This is the thread for you! FlyLady is a reliable and flexible system for keeping on top of housework, one thing at a time.

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

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

There are Baby Steps for starting out, which add one thing at a time to start off good habits and routines. If you're new to FlyLady, start with these. If you are not ready to start these at the beginning of the month you can set your own Day 1 as today and keep track by following the Baby Steps linked below.

After Baby Steps you can graduate to Zones. There are 5 Zones that we rotate through in the same order every month, week by week. Don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism! The system is designed to compensate for those days which don't go to plan, as it all repeats. As FlyLady says herself, "You are never behind. Jump in where you are".

Daily missions: (each week is the same).
Monday: Home Blessing (or as we call it, home bleugh - a quick whizz over basic cleaning)
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 (something to recharge your batteries)

Common acronyms/phrases we use:
LOL: load of laundry (washing is certainly NOT funny!)
DW: dishwasher (we are not rotating wives!)
LMS: lose/lost my shit
DNLMS: did not lose my shit
BRC: box/basket of random crap
Mount Washmore: self explanatory

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 (useful for when the zones change). You can also modify the app's tick lists to suit your home & lifestyle. FlyLady is flexible.

Links are below 👇 if I happen to not add links in time, they do update at midnight for you.

Launch Pad (Quick links): www.flylady.net/d/new-links/

Flight Plan (Today at a glance): flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

Weekly Zones (With this month's dates): https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/

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

Teehee sole mates!

I anti procrastinated paperwork today

Thursday! Errand day, getting out the house and getting those things done.

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-25/
Routines! Today's recommendation is to use a different bathroom every time you go so that you Swish and Swipe each bathroom in the house... and she wants you to read her testimonial of how she started out.

FlyBabies: 15min declutter of Zone 4.

FlyExperts: Surfaces day! Thursday on Bedroom week is firmly embedded in my mind as "clear the bedside tables and any remaining time on the chest of drawers". FlyLady recommends putting up something pretty that is new so that you like to see it.

Daily mission: Get out the house to do the thing you need to get done this week. Do you have an appointment today? Do you need to grab things ready for the weekend? Return something from last weekend? Today is your day.

I'm on track for the errands and going to put up some pictures in the hallway later. My bedside tables are quite tidy already.

A very productive day today. Today's wins so far:
Morning routine + S&S
Morning yoga session
LOL done and put away
Folded clothes on airer
Put away airer
Moved wheelie bins back
Emptied office recycling
Tidied office desk
Cleared landing of stuff (mostly recycling)
Brushed landing carpet
Roomba'd landing carpet
Cleared and wiped down util countertop
Tested / ditched old batteries
10min trash hunt in lounge
Wiped lounge windowsills
Wiped telly screen
30min declutter in garage
Created "lightbulb trug" in garage
Reorganised garage shelf
10min declutter in conservatory
Swept conservatory
eBay / freegle admin
Put away baby clothes
Wiped down bedside tables
Put up door wedges
Installed shower hair sieve thingy in ensuite
Ordered car window shades
Ordered patio umbrella (finally!)
Paid two car related fines 😮
Household admin
Emptied bathroom bins

Hopeful to dos today:
Vacuum lounge
Put up 2x pictures
Affix TV safety thing to wall
Additional 10min declutters in lounge

Wow that's a fab list Cabbage.

We are full on school hols here so out and about a lot, not getting so much done.

Emptied out the bottom of the wardrobe as I thought there was some stuff that could go. Actually some of the stuff in one of the boxes has gone mouldy so everything in that box needs to go. We had a lot of mould issues last year with the cold wet summer and I must not have spotted this one.

Would you look at that, it's Friday.

Baby step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-26/
Today we're adding "eat lunch and drink water" to your afternoon routine. FlyLady talks about not giving in to perfectionism - if you miss out something, don't try to "catch up" just trust that the system will bring you right back to it soon enough that it's not a big deal. The point of the FlyLady system is that it builds in buffer time. It's about being kind to yourself!

FlyBabies: Your final 15mins decluttering in the main bedroom.

FlyExperts: Today is dresser day - anything that needs to be put away or tidied so you can give it a wipe down. Bonus points to anyone who has a mirror with enough dust on you can leave a smiley face. Fix that.

Daily mission: Refreshing the car or daily bag, and getting ready for date night. It's also the Olympic opening ceremony tonight so get your snacks in, your bingo cards ready and have a lovely night in. Or, escape the lot and head out.

Thanks @DillyDeclutter! It's continually surprising to me how much can get done in a day if you have the energy for it. My sympathies for the surprise mouldy boxes - been there!

@ItsieDitzyBitsOfOnionInTheSoup did the pictures go up in the hallway? Sounds like you're ahead of the game this week

Went into the storage area under the garage roof yesterday for the first time in at least two years. Some evidence of woodworm. Fortunately, I was looking for plastic toys to donate and I had stored them in bin bags, so they’re still in good condition.

Did more in the front garden. Got another bit done to the back garden path and have about two feet more to clear to make it safe for walking and carrying tools and ladders, etc.

Listened to audiobooks. I have a week to myself, and I’m torn between Olympics and cleaning and decluttering.

Oh nice work, @Scourgify. There's always one random bit of storage isn't there. Maybe you could half and half? Declutter and clean whenever there's a break between sports but otherwise take it easy

Yes Cabbage hallway looks lovely now. Didn't get anything done today, too busy sunbathing 🌞

Work is finished for the summer ! I absolutely love my job but me and the kids are so ready for a break! I'm taking ds holiday shopping this afternoon whilst dd2 is at gymnastics , I'm hoping to get a few things done before we go . My 2 focus areas are the kitchen and clothes .

I had a phonecall to make an appointment to see the doctors about my blood test results after being prescribed folic acid , the receptionist just said I'm borderline but wasn't able to tell me what with . Booked the appointment and looked at my records on the nhs app. Triglycerides are sky high (I think that's cholesterol?) my calcium, magnesium, liver, thyroid and kidneys are all borderline. I'm wondering whether I'm heading into perimenopause or something more sinister is going on . It will be good to find answers and hopefully have some support to start feeling myself again .

Tada
Morning coffee

Started one anti-procrastination task this morning with a short email. Can only manage one step at a time. I think they understand that.

Feel ready to press on with all of this. I’ll just watch the olympics on catchup. This is more important.

I am lucky that i am predominately working in the lounge this coming week which means i can multi task with sorting stuff with watching olympics.

I did too much yesterday which means that the planned furniture moving for today is going to have to be bumped to tomo. Kitchen day today. No the building work has not been completed. But something else came up and things are going to have to be put back so that they can be moved out again later to finish the building work. Because the annoyance of that is going to be less than the annoyance of the other thing that came up that needs dealing with sooner if it does not get dealt with. Of course this other thing can't be done if the stuff doesnt go back.I hate this tetris puzzle of drama.

Saturday family fun day! Sorry for the delay this morning everyone. We did our first ever ParkRun just now which really threw my morning timings out the window. We may have been dead last walking it, but we had our family fun at least 🎉

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-27/
Today is about meal planning, and deciding the night before what to have for dinner. Alternatively, (this is one from me, for those of us who detest meal planning) use the end of each day to check your grocery list of anything you used up, and thing you noticed you need more of. If you're a weekend shopper, use today to get on top of everything you need so there are fewer "woops" moments.

Flybabies and FlyExperts: You are no longer limited to the 15min tidying. Feel free to bask in this glorious moment.

Daily mission: Family fun day. Get out and do something together! Go to the park, the cinema, or just eat your sarnies on the picnic blanket today. Something where you all look at each others faces.

Congratulations @CabbageBearGoat for your park run - an amazing achievement!

Tada
🎉 morning routine
🎉 45 mins in the kitchen (still a little way to go on the sides before a good clean can happen )
🎉 dd2 to gymnastics and ds holiday shopping
🎉picked up McDonald's for tea
🎉 a friend came for coffee was only going to be an hour but didn't leave until 9ish 😂😂
🎉 ds & dd2 bedtime routine

I'm now procrastinating going to bed because my time alone feels like absolute bliss but I will go up soon, complete my self care routine and read my book ( I have just started the Seven Sisters series )

Oh well done @CabbageBearGoat . I started Parkrun at Easter and have found it addictive, DS started going at uni and it had been on my bucket list for years so we both go now. Today DD came along for her first time too. I was marshalling today as I have injured my foot, that's enjoyable too.

I detest meal planning too, I've got a fussy family who all go out a lot on the spur of the moment, it makes it really hard.

Sunday is spirit day in FlyWorld.

Baby Step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-28/
Today's task is to spend 15 minutes on yourself! Set a timer, do what recharges your batteries. For fifteen minutes, just focus on you and what you need.

FlyBabies and FlyExperts: You're still off the hook from 15 minute tidying until tomorrow.

Daily mission: Renew your spirit. Whatever you need to do to be ready to start it all again tomorrow. Or, if you're the kind of person whose week mentally starts on a Sunday, today is about starting how you mean to
go on.

Yesterday I had a slower day. I want to say I felt empowered by sending that email, despite it being about getting help and advice. Not sure if I’ve expressed that properly. I’ve got the next task lined up for this week.

Today I’m meal planning for the Teens. I’m looking to have their shopping in a separate delivery from mine.

Also I want to corral all the DVDs in one place. Right now, they’re all over the house. I need to find scart sockets and cables and all sorts.

Morning ☕️

Yesterday I spent more time in the kitchen:
🎉all sides cleared
🎉sides cleaned and sanitised
🎉cupboard and door fronts cleaned

I also visited my MIL for a coffee which was lovely without the usual time constraints of a busy term time visit !

This morning :
🎉 coffee
🎉 cleaned cooker splash back
🎉 cleaned cooker top and oven fronts

I just have the kitchen windowsill , window and floor to do. It isn't perfect but back to a standard that I can keep on top of . My energy levels are still quite low ( I'm due aswell which always makes me lethargic) so I'm just doing short blasts and it seems to be working . I'm out for lunch today with work friend and tea tonight with friends so I won't get too much more done today . I may get a little time this afternoon but I want to be out in the garden with the kids while we have the sunshine !

Good luck for your day of organising @Scourgify !

Happy Monday, everyone. We're into the final week of FlyLady in July. One last push on the daily Swish and Swipe!

The week ahead:
For the first half of this week we're in Zone 5. Thursday will be a new month so back into Zone 1.
Monday to Wednesday:
https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/zone-5/
https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/detailed-cleaning-zone-5/

Thursday to Sunday:
https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/zone-1/
https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/detailed-cleaning-zone-1/ 

FlyBabies: This week is your final routine declutter, if you started with us at the beginning of the month. As before, set a timer for 15 minutes a day doing literally anything in these three rooms. You might not see a big difference, but resist the temptation to do more than 15 minutes.

Today's To Dos:
Baby step: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-29/
Today's FlyLady recommendation is to read Taking Care of You https://www.flylady.net/d/br/author/pamper/ and decide when you're going to pamper yourself. Maybe in yesterday's 15 minute relaxation you thought of something you'd like to be doing that would take longer than 15 minutes? Schedule that in for some time soon. Then, get your routines done.

FlyBabies: 15 minute declutter of Zone 5

FlyExperts: Today is a big sofa day for us as we're in the lounge. Vacuum every crook and nanny you have, beat up the cushions to get them into shape, maybe change the covers if you're a seasonal cushion cover rotator.

Daily Mission: This is the Home Blessing - change bed sheets, towels, bins, that sort of thing. Then get the vacuum cleaner out if somehow all of that didn't take all your 15 minutes.

Also, could we have a volunteer thread leader for July?

sunny I'm glad that my post had motivated you to get a little bit done. Every little bit helps!

We went away camping for a few days and about to go again on Thursday. I didn't have much for signal so couldn't really post anything while gone.

Cabbage unfortunately I won't be around the 1st few days of August so I don't think it's fair if I offer to run the thread. I'll have less chance of posting the place we are headed this time. Hopefully someone else is more available.

Here are some of the pictures I took while camping. The chipmunks were so cute!

I forgot I have some ta das!

Sunday:
🧘‍♀️ packed up camp & headed home
🧘‍♀️ emptied the camper (things we don't need in there right now)
🧘‍♀️ bathed dogs
🧘‍♀️ showered, scrubbed, applied self tanner
🧘‍♀️ watered outside plants & rearranged them
🧘‍♀️ yoga

Monday:
😴 worked all day
😴 dinner at county fair, next county over
😴 bleached bathrooms, while DH set up our new security cameras

I'm dozing off so best get some sleep. 🍒👋 to everyone!