Flying into 2026: January Flylady Thread

[DillyDeclutter]

Welcome to all Flylady regulars and visitors, if you have been reading along on previous threads why not join us again this month? It's January and a new year! Traditionally (in my house anyway) a time to resolve to sort our lives and houses out top to bottom all at once, before forgetting it all in February . . .

This thread is our little corner of calm amongst the January gloom — a place to cheer each other on, share small wins, and occasionally moan about the state of the laundry mountain. Whether you’re shining your sink for the first time or just trying to keep the kitchen table visible for more than an hour, you’re in good company.

The Flylady system is all about baby steps — 15 minutes at a time, routines that mostly stick, and being kind to ourselves when life happens (because it always does). Pop in, post your list, or just lurk with a cuppa — everyone’s welcome.

Kettle’s on. Who’s flying today? ☕🕯️🧺

This is a long running thread, but we are a friendly bunch and all are welcome to join in. Please ask if you don’t understand anything.
Do NOT sign up for the Flylady emails - there are too many. The Flylady website is not working very well any more so I will cobble together something each morning and we will get through together.

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!

Zones:
Entryway, porch and dining room
Kitchen
Bathroom and one other room
Master bedroom
Living room

Daily missions: each day of the week has a different mission. Then there’s:
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, there is an app, but I don’t think it’s working very well either.

Given the broken-ness of the app and website I would advise you not to spend any money on Flylady apps or purchases just now (we are mostly UK and she’s US based in any case). Sorry Flylady.

Links are below 👇
You can also check out the Facebook page Zones:https://www.flylady.net/d/zones/ Baby Steps: https://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

Teens’ bedrooms and landings hoovered. Crawled under the beds to the furthest reaches where the dust bunnies lurk. They have laminate floors which made it easy to slide. Honestly I felt like just lying there for a while!

Tomorrow is sheets and pillowcases, and general tidy and put away. They’ll change their duvet covers themselves.

I have fairy lights in the living-room. They’re strung along the darkest wall which gets no direct sun, and they brighten up the room much more than I’d anticipated.

Dining area tidied and hoovered/floor cleaned.
Couple of boxes sorted with daughter - she's left me some things to throw/charity shop.
Some old toys cleaned for grand daughter to play with.
15 mins beginner workout completed.

A good day 😊

Looks like your off to a good start @JumpingPumpkin

So tomorrow I start my new job and the primary DC (x3) are all back at school. Therefore today is get everything done day.

I was up early for an item of furniture being delivered to help with storage of the stuff that came in over xmas.

I am in the process of filling a charity bag - need to go through smallest dcs clothes.

I need to locate all the pe kits etc. Iron the uniforms. Check the bags and water bottles etc

Busy day

Re the fairy lights I'm struggling with how to arrange them, like I dont want it to look weird haha

Morning, sounds like everyone is making good progress!

that you remind me I need to sort the school.bags, although mine aren't back until Tuesday.

JumpingPumpkin sounds like great progress!* *

Sunday is Renew Your Spirit day, church for us here, you could have a walk or spend some time in nature.

We are in Zone 2 this week which is the kitchen, missions will be kitchen focused. I have a few cupboards that need a sort out so if I dont get to them today I may take these as an extra mid week mission for myself!

I am really looking forward to getting the decorations down tomorrow and getting some clean, clear space back!

Ooh also good luck with the new job That!

Thanks Dilly!

I need to put most of Christmas away today because it'll be a pain to do after work

I did a meal plan yesterday, just for evening meals monday - friday and ordered the food shop around this. I did have a few weeks doing this in September and it seemed to help so 🤞I've tried to go for easier / quicker meals

Just had a nice soak and now I will get dressed and crack on

Ooh I forgot today's baby step. That's to write "shine your sink" and "get dressed to shoes" on a post it and put it somewhere you can see it.

That I have been meal planning for years, I find doing the plan a chore but better than having to think up a meal every evening.

YesTaDas:
🧼 hot tub emptied, cleaned and refilled
🧼 dinner made in advance for ILs coming over
🧼 rotated DW
🧼 handwashed dishes
🧼 dining room set up for dinner (I told DH that I felt bad for SIL & BIL sitting on the uncomfortable chairs, to which he simply replied, they put the least amount of effort in, they can sit on the crappy chairs! I mean, he's not wrong, but damn 🫣). But that's a whole other thread...
🧼 relaxed with plenty of wine!

Ta das:
🫧 LOLs x4
🫧 extra Christmas decor taken down & put away
🫧 hotspot dealt with in main living area
🫧 closet room/ workout room sorted out, everything put away that doesn't belong. I do still have a box of things to go to the charity shop though, along with 2 full bin bags from DS
🫧 all clean laundry put away
🫧 made my egg salad to cover lunches for the week (or at least a few days) - starting back on low carb after a break. I'm so ready to lose weight and feel better!
🫧 submitted application for US citizenship (I'll be dual at that point). It was a lot quicker than I thought it would be - I should have started it months ago!
🫧 shoe shopping for DS - he's starting a new job tomorrow
🫧 currently relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine, while the dogs are staring at me - they're impatiently waiting for food, but it's not quite dinner time. I starting switching both of their dry foods yesterday, and they are loving the new food. I'm gradually adding the new stuff in of course, but they wish it wasn't a gradual change.

THAT I hope your first day of your new job goes well, I didn't realise you'd made that decision. Hopefully it's a good move since it's closer to home (if I remember correctly). I also meal plan, it makes it easier.
I do need to get back to doing the online pickup order though as it saves more money that way, it's just time consuming!

@JumpingPumpkin welcome 👋 sorry I didn't comment sooner! It sounds like you've started out well.

THAT I don't think you could make it look silly with fairy lights, however you hang them.
I've done all sorts with mine: loose and draped around the room, cross crossed all over (does get pretty busy after a while), tight all around the room.
Right now mine are loosely draped. See attached pictures. Sorry for them being crooked, I didn't want to get up from the couch!

Have a good day that.
Impressive list Hazel.

Yesterday's tadas:
15 mins exercise
Washed up as cooked dinner
1 lol
Clothes and bag ready for today
Food plan and shop

I can't see the baby steps anymore, am just going to try a bit daily.

Thanks for the well wishes guys

Yes Hazel new job is nearer to home - it'll be about 6 hours less commuting per week plus reduced transport costs. Thanks for the fairy light inspo! They do look good

Morning!

Monday is home.bleugh day, one hour blitzing from top to bottom - hoover, bathroom, sheets, etc.

Today's Mission is to get an old toothbrush and scrub your kitchen taps till they shine. Mine really need this!

Baby step 5: write down your negative thoughts and replace these with positive self talk.

Back to work this morning, yuck (even though I do like my job really), back later.

Morning, happy Tuesday! Back to school here.

Tuesday is Plan and Play day - get something organised and do something fun.

Today's mission is to wipe the doors of your kitchen cabinets. As it happens, I did this yesterday- but didn't do my taps!

Today's baby step is to take two minutes to clear up a hot spot - a place that always collects junk - just two minutes and see how you get on.

I got home on Sunday evening, full of yucky cold.
Very surprised that DP had done some cleaning lol.
I've cleaned my bathroom sink, mopped the "dog" floor, and done one LOL.
I'm not going to push myself while I'm unwell.
I still have piles of clean laundry on my bedroom floor while I work out a storage system that works for me.

Wednesday is anti procrastination day, what could you do that you've been putting off?

Today's mission is to check around the oven and hob for things that shouldn't be there, then wipe your oven down.

Today's baby step is to take a minute at bedtime to plan your outfit for tomorrow.

Good work Cherry.

I am managing a load of laundry daily, prepping clothes for work and 15 mins exercise daily. Yesterday was packing away Christmas decs and today I did 5 mins tidying in 4 rooms.

I'm just wondering how long I can keep up my enthusiasm.

Jumping you're doing well! Hopefully if you can continue to do just a little bit every day you'll see more progress, which is motivating to continue. Things will get easier, they'll become more automatic, which will take up less brain space.

Dilly for once I don't think there's anything I'm putting off, at least for today anyway 😂

Cherry I hope you feel better soon! Rest helps us to feel better. Well done to your DH for actually cleaning without being asked to 😱

Tuesday's ta das:
🎄 took the Christmas tree down & decorations put away where they belong
🎄 LOLs x5, including sheets & towels
🎄 rotated DW
🎄 handwashed dishes
🎄 wiped countertops
🎄 vacuumed
🎄 mopped
🎄 bleached both bathrooms
🎄 shined the sinks (bathrooms & kitchen)
🎄 cleaned mirrors
🎄 hair appt (very much needed)
🎄 washed the Jeep (which is filthy again because of the sleet we had on my way home tonight 🙄)

Wednesday's ta das:
😂😂😂😂
I worked, so nothing got done at home.
We will have dinner shortly (DH is grilling the chicken as I type, veggies will just need to be warmed up).
After dinner to dos:
🧘‍♀️ rotate DW
🧘‍♀️ get clothes out for tomorrow
🧘‍♀️ get my lunch ready for tomorrow
🧘‍♀️ maybe repaint my nails
🧘‍♀️ a few yoga stretches at least

Morning!

Thursday is errand day, I need to do the food shop and take some charity shop bags down.

Today's mission is to clean out your fridge, mine is pretty empty so should be fairly easy.

Today's baby step is to write down your morning and evening routines, and put the papers they're on in a binder. I dont do this myself, I use the Finch app to set and mark off my routines

Jumping I do daily laundry too. Sometimes I get a bit stressed when the baskets are full (after changing all the sheets or a swimming trip) but I know I just need to trust in the system and before I know it they'll be empty again.

Today i am back. As I need to improve my evening and morning routine for my own sanity. 2nd 3rd day of school run for me and I woke up dreading it, knew I'd forget something. I also am doing the lowcarb boot camp a couple of you suggested, and feel groggy. I lay in bed and read a story ds brought through to me and didn't didn't get into the kitchen in time to do finish my morning routine there as DH came back from dog walk and he has military timings to get things ready and out. He needed to be in there to do breakfast and everyone's lunch and water. He's so loud in the kitchen in the mornings I can't be near.

So I did manage to get a coffee and rotate DW after he was out and got some breakfast, but we were short on time, and I'm forgetting something most days, today was my id badge and the vinted package I need to post.

So tonight I'm going to set up the launch pad for the morning and make sure the kitchen sink is cleaned as I didn't last night.

@DillyDeclutter I have just got the flinch app. It's okay, and better than flylady but I also have an app called rosebud that I prefer a bit, it uses ai to help set goals. Downside is rosebud shows all goals not just today like finch does, it just feels more grown up than finch. I am running both parallel before I decide which is best.

Last night - after cooking dinner did laundry, 10 mins tidying in one room, shower cleaning and exercises. Bagged up some recycling.

Morning!

Friday is clean out your car and purse day. My car is okay and too cold for the car wash! Handbag could do with a quick tidy out.

Today's baby step is a great one: set your timer for 5 minutes and sort out one room. See how quickly you can make a difference! Don't forget your routines as well.

Today's mission is to quickly sweep your kitchen floor and then mop. Mine needs a tidy before I can sweep!

Welcome back Always and well done for keeping it up JumpingPumpkin!

Morning! Saturday is family fun day, no missions at the weekend. I have already taken the children to 2 classes and it's only 11am . . .

Today's baby step is the power of 15 minutes. Set a timer for 15 minutes and clean one area for that time. Then set it for another 15 minutes and have a rest!