🌷"Moving in May" - with Flylady🌷

[BloomingHazel]

Join us in building routines to make housework more manageable. Start out with the baby steps, add in the missions in each zone, it will eventually become second nature. Jump right in, you're never left behind!

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

May's habit of the month is daily loving movement. Whatever gets you moving, whether it's walking, dancing, cycling, gardening etc. 🚲🕺💃🏊

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 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: 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.

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

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

full disclosure: the Flylady website is going through some changes and there have been some issues with it loading/ updating, so I will do my best!

@SparrowFeet I've got 2 fuchsias, 2 mallows and one I can't remember the name of 😚
My procrastination did me a favour, I couldn't face trawling through all my laundry that I hadn't sorted to pack for my trip. I was just going to buy some new clothes when I got there, then I found at the bottom of my stairs the bag of laundry from when I was away 2 weeks ago.
Shoved it in my case, job done! 😄

Cherry that sounds like it was meant to be (re laundry)!

Friday is clean out your car & purse day. It's also date night 😍

Friday's mission is to go through at least one shelf in your pantry/insert other food storage here. Toss what is open & stale, donate what you keep pushing to one side (if it's still good to eat). Donate it to your local food pantry or church, or give it directly to another family who will use it.

Baby Step 9: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-9/
Today, learn how to declutter! You can't clean clutter! Not properly anyway.
Continue with what we've already been working on so far this month (is listed on the link)

Happy Friday everyone! 🍒👋

Hi, I haven't really caught up, I want to post that I joined the flylady Facebook page as one of the babysteps 4? About exploring websites.

I couldn't sleep last night so got up and cleaned the extractor hood of the oven. It was greasy and dusty, and white in colour so very satisfying. I also cleared the dining room table that I've been putting off. And unloaded this dishwasher which is a morning task. But....i didn't pay out my clothes, must try and do that!

Afternoon all,

I am feeling virtuous. A couple of days ago I invited friends round for coffee this morning. The house was a bit of a tip, so I had to have a blitz. So, in the last 36 hours or so:

✅ Cleaned bathroom thoroughly
✅hot-spotted hall table
✅hot spotted kitchen table (which was totally swamped with random crap, we have been mainly eating outside).
✅hot spotted kitchen breakfast bar
✅cleaned the glass on the patio table
✅robovacc’ed the ground floor
✅dusted skirting boards
✅General tidy up of kitchen including shine sink
✅emptied all bins throughout the house
✅cleaned the inside of the patio doors (windowcleaner does the outside)

I had a good sort out of the fridge at the weekend, laundry is more or less up to date (about to do a second lot of towels, will do sheets at the weekend).

2in2022 the white extractor hood does sound very satisfying! I love it when I can see the difference.

ED there's no motivation like the motivation of having guests come over! That's one hell of a ta da list!

Satisfying when clean but I'd been glaring at it for weeks. 😂 Because it really wasn't a priority as no-one and no food needs to touch it.

So last weekend i started using the flylady app and am so far doing shockingly! Like half the routine tasks at most each day and omly managed 1/12 of the zone tasks all week 🙈

That's okay THAT you did some of it and it'll get easier to add more to it. Remember, the zone will come around again and I bet each month you'll get more and more done, especially as it won't need as much attention! Be kind to yourself 💐

Yesterday DS did the home bleugh and mowed the grass. I did nothing, other than added to the DW that he rotated and started it last night before bed!
DH & I are going to be playing softball, starting Monday apparently. We were practicing throwing and catching in the mitt (or glove, I have no idea the correct terminology for the sport!), last night. We've never played, so this is going to be interesting!
So far today I've got 1 lol going in the washer (towels) and I'm working on my 2nd cup of coffee! I did get dressed, hair done & makeup on though, too.
After DH gets off work (at noon), we will be heading to the next big town and do some bulk shopping, including suitcases, ready for our trip in just over 4 weeks 😱 time is flying by!
There's also apparently a softball practise today, we don't have a time though! Then we'll be going out for dinner tonight as it's Mother's Day tomorrow here in the US.

Saturday is Family Fun Day. What are you up to today?

There are no missions on the weekend.

Baby Step 10: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-10/
Today we are learning about the power of 15 minutes. We can do anything for 15 minutes! Today, practise using the timer (and stopping when it goes off!), go around your house looking for rubbish for 15 minutes (take a bag with you), throw it all away, stop when the timer goes off. Then set it for another 15 minutes and put your feet up with a drink (tea, coffee, water.. whatever you like).
Continue with the other baby steps we have learnt so far. The list of them is on the link, if you need a reminder.

My fun was Teens went paddleboarding and I puttered while listening to “Cujo”, watched a couple of episodes of “Angel”, enjoyed more sunshine and admired the results of an ongoing paper declutter. An entirely selfish day, and it was lovely 🌞🌞

Doing similar today I hope. This glorious weather has lifted my spirits more than anything else.

I set the kids up with a water fight in the garden, it was fun until they actually got wet which they both complained about! Beach trip today.

Bought a new rug for the conservatory which looks nice bit emphasises that it's over my clutter threshold. I just can't get happy with the conservatory- it needs another look. And it's a complete spider haven up at the top of the roof! I did clear out the coats in the week so that does look much better.

hazel I'm excited for your trip! We've just had a visit from Australian relatives and its always so lovely to see them in person even though we are in touch in other ways a lot.

that i agree with Hazel, you need a few goes through before it's reasonable to keep up with the weekly zones! Especially if you're fitting around work and kids.

I'm a bit jealous of summer activities with me studying. Last full day to study is tomorrow, today I do need to spend more time with my kids. Maybe strategically plan tomorrow, rather than wander if I have ADHD. I still have a cough from my virus beginning of April, which is worse today, especially when I opened the front door so think I've got hay fever.

Anyway, I've done my morning routine, it does help!

I love that 15 minutes baby steps. I generally like setting alarms, including when it's toddlers bedroom ime

I've been doing most of the routines now for 10 days and I have to say it's really paying off. Normally today would be a big day of tidying and cleaning but am so on top of it that I'm having a rather lovely self care day.
The 15 minute thing works - I am finding that if I just 'dig in' and do something for 15 minutes I can get quite a lot done. So a few 15 minute sessions throughout the day and it gets me up and moving about too which is no bad thing. @THATbasicgirlyou're not doing shocking at all. It's more than you were doing? I definitely don't get all the routines done every day (putting my clothes out is still a problem!) but the one thing I am doing is the sink one without fail. Coming down to a clean and tidy kitchen in the morning is a revelation!

Going to deep condition my hair now and have a little sit in the garden with my book 😊

I think a big thing for me with the app is i need to edit it to match my life / house - does everyone do this?

THAT I've been meaning to update the app to match my house, but I'm a pro at procrastinating 🤣😂 it really would help, I did start to make changes but didn't get very far.

SparrowFeet I'm so glad to a that you've noticed a change! A clean kitchen first thing really does make such a big impact!
Self care was actually perfect, since Sunday was renew your spirit day.

2in2022 do you have any antihistamines that you can take for your hayfever?

Dilly this may be a bit extreme, but do you have the option to completely empty your conservatory and then only put back in what you want? Rearrange the furniture, change up what's on display? Have a sort through of everything left, donate what you can, put different decorations in different rooms.
If not, maybe more realistically, just do a little at a time, with that mindset, try to rearrange the furniture, take out what you can, only have in there what you love.
I am also very excited about our trip! We don't have a lot of plans right now, other than making sure to see family and friends, seaside a couple of times, London & Alton Towers.

Sunshine that sounds like a wonderful day!

It was Mother's Day here in the US, so MIL, SIL & me went flower/ plant shopping. Nothing like being surrounded by lovely smelling and beautiful looking flowers all day!
DH, DS, FIL & BIL met up with us for lunch as well.
DH & DS cooked dinner for me (& even went shopping for everything for it!), while I got to play around with my new flowers.

I'm sorry I didn't update for Sunday. As I mentioned above, Sunday is renew your spirit day, so go for a walk in nature, go to church, take a bath, look at flowers all day.. it looks like you all did well without me saying anything!

Baby Step 11: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-11/
Add a page to your control journal and call it your "inspirational page' write down quotes that motivate and inspire you, your own thoughts etc.

Monday is home bleugh day.
Empty bins, change sheets, quick vacuum, etc.

Baby Step 12: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-12/
Delete all your emails from flylady and continue to build your routines.

It's a new week, so it's a new zone - bathroom week.
Monday's mission is to clear the flat surfaces from your bathroom and put things away.

Yesterday turned out to be a bad THATtwat day. He was vile. Today I will be chasing up the two properties I have viewed recently and enquiring about a third which I had been told was coming to market. I need out.

@THATbasicgirl 💐

I'm so pleased that I've finally managed to complete a step on the right day, Sunday "renew your spirit".
Went with family to a river, paddled and had a picnic.
Going home today.

I do have some in the cupboard, but they aren't non drowsy and I'm studying. as I don't normally get allergies in not sure how I am with antihistamines and drowsyness. I'm not hayfevery at bedtime and it's mild. But I've got them as it gets bad. Rain is forecast today so will be a test if it is hayfevery I guess. just my DH thinks I should go back to GP as it's been ongoing since my virus the beggining of April, but it does seem worse on sunny days. I'm thinking my mucous membranes are irritated from the infection, haven't properly healed and more susceptable to hayfever this year. Weird thing it's just at the top of my lungs, not my head at all. I'm inexperienced with coughs because before this year I never coughed, cold symptoms were always head, nose and throat.

2in2022 I have to agree with your DH on this one, or might be worth going back to your GP, if nothing else to rule out a chest infection or pneumonia.

Cherry that sounds like a fantastic time at the river!

THAT I'm so sorry to hear your situation just keeps getting worse! Have you talked to Women's Aid at all? I've seen them mentioned on mn a lot for helping to leave in tricky situations.
I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you to get a house, and soon!

I went to the GP 2 weeks ago and they said no signs of active infection but come back if it's not cleared up in 1-2 weeks. I have a drs appointment on 22nd, for the results of a health check I think I only get because I'm coded wrong, just randomly got invited to it the past couple of years and I'm only in my 30s, but in not complaining on a free checkup, just don't want to waste resources.

2in2022 it might still be worth a visit. If it is an infection of some kind, you really need to get it taken care of, sooner rather than later.

My sinuses hurt tonight 😩 I'm feeling lots better, still blowing crap out, but not stuffed up like I was, although I keep getting told I sound stuffy. I'm thinking I might have congestion in my sinuses, so I'm going to try some home remedies. Dr Google said that if it's not cleared up within a week, to get checked out as it might be an infection. I want to avoid antibiotics unless I really need them, if I can help it!

We played our first softball game tonight and won! I actually hit the ball 😱 it was actually quite fun, although we had freezing, blowing, gusty wind!
No ta das from me tonight, other than getting my clothes out for the morning.

Tuesday is plan & play day. I need to plan my meals for the rest of the week and go grocery shopping.

Tuesday's mission is to shine our bathtubs and bathroom sinks.
The other room is your DCs bedrooms, set the timer for 15 minutes, sort out their shoes from in their wardrobe and get rid of what doesn't fit.

Baby Step 13: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-13/
Find a mission and just do it! Today's mission is a great place to start, if you haven't started yet.

Exams today and tomorrow, still procrastinating on Mumsnet and other sources....may give my bath and sink a shine as a bit of stress relief.