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/

I have two just almost exactly two years apart too @cometohather but they are 20 and 22 now. So they make a different kind of mess!

No need for the website or app, they both seem to be pretty broken at the moment. The ideais definitely to make it work for you, but the regular reminders on here help you build them into routines that work. I have done errands today but usually do them on Friday, which is also planning and anti-procrastination day because it’s my day off work.

So, today, I also had a day off (flexi) and went to exercise class this morning, home for shower and change, then into town for errands and I stopped for a bite of lunch to do my planning with phone and diary. Got a busy next couple of months coming up.

Home and spent about two hours on mainly parent-related admin, then decided to crack on with decluttering, the bathroom has been driving me mad so I have emptied cupboards and shelves onto the vanity and had a good throw out. I am terrible for buying too many cleaning things and there were quite a lot of nearly empty containers, also shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Also started on the kitchen cupboard where we keep all the tea and coffee making stuff as that was overflowing too.

My bedroom storage badly needs decluttering too, I have been chipping away at it, that’s going on the list for tomorrow.

@HazelNotHungryLC we had that with the dishwasher before we had the kitchen done and I remember how annoying it was, the cupboard used to get scuffed by the DW door if there was too much stuff in it and it wasn’t completely shut. Our new layout means the DW is in the middle of a longer run of units but because the kitchen is fairly narrow it is in the way if you leave it down, I caught an ankle on it the other day and it hurt.

Sympathy @Alwaysploddingon I struggle with unstructured days and not getting anything done too, I have to make lists and preferably schedule some tasks that get me out of the house at specific times to build the day around.

Morning! Friday is clean out your car and handbag day. Both badly need doing here - car in particular is suffering from a recent trip to the beach.

It's our last day in the bedroom, today's mission is to strip off your bed, turn the mattress, and fully remke it all - with nice cushions, sprays etc if thats your thing (it's not mine! Cant deal with Things around the bed!)

Today's baby step is to introduce an afternoon routine- basically smoothing the path between getting in from work/school and eating your tea.

cometohather I actually quite like the new app. I cant make head nor tail of the new website!

For the baby steps I've been using https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/ as they aren't on the app at all.

I also work, 4 days, and i tend to stick with the days in the Flylady system. I've been talking about getting the shopping delivered for years but never got round to it (I actually quite like going)

I like going shopping as well @DillyDeclutter I suspect there is a connection with my house being cluttered 🤦‍♀️

@HazelNotHungryLC your kitchen looks great!
I'm going to have a turnout of mine and get it better organised.
Fingers crossed, touchwood, I'm on the mend from my virus, being strict with myself to take things easy until I'm fully fit.

My car is disgusting. I keep cutting it off my to do list as other things take priority... but the weather has been so wet, there could be mould growing now so that needs sorting....as does my bag as I found a bottle of expired milk in there from Macdonald's a few weeks ago (fortunately unopened). DS said he wanted milk then cried he didn't have juice. But im working today, we have a busy weekend planned, and next Monday in out for the day too. Maybe I should just get it done today, but I don't like clearing the car out in the dark.

My car has deteriorated since DS passed his test last year and started borrowing it 🙄. But Friday used to be a good day to clear it as it's my day off, but I usually let him take it to work now and it's dark (and usually wet) when he gets back. Will try and do it over the weekend. My bag is Ok because it's one of those small Uniqlo ones so can't fit much rubbish in.

I also have a disgusting car, dog hairs all over it, smells of dog farts too, mud from my boots, various bits of horse gear, rubbish in the footwell, random receipts, huge stack of CDs.
I rarely use a bag now so that's one task off the list.

Saturday is family fun day. No missions at the weekend!

Baby step 24 is to add a daily loo clean - Flylady calls it a swish and swipe - quick squirt of cleaner and a quick wipe round.

Car hoovered just now, DS loves to help. Cherry that sounds like my mums car. I always insist it'll be easier if I drive 😁

It's cold and wet here so I'm having a batch cooking session.

Yay I have done my car! I had half an hour to spare, the sun was shining even though it was bitterly cold so I grabbed the cordless vac, a binbag and long handled duster, job done. There wasn’t too much clutter in there, but DS works outdoors quite a lot of the time and parks in muddy gravelly car parks, and I do parkrun which is similar so there is always a lot of grit and dried mud everywhere. It wasn’t a very thorough clean but a lot better. I take it to be valeted once a year or so to get it properly clean.

I have not done my car, had a busy family day. I have done swish and swipe and the kitchen sink. Does anyone remember a while back me saying how I feel I need an afternoon nap when I get the chance, takes priority over housework. Someone suggested protein, didn't make a massive difference. Well I've felt exhausted at different levels since my youngest was born 3 years ago. DH has recently told me how much I snore and stop breathing for a few seconds, that I could have sleep apnea. I've just read a BBC article about it, and yes, I think it's possbly the reason for my exhaustion. Might need to see a GP about that.

I just read that article too @Alwaysploddingon does sound like getting checked out by the GP would be a good idea

💐 for everyone struggling to sleep.
I struggle badly too.
Falling asleep is easy, it's the staying asleep that's a problem.
Not much flying happening at Cherry Towers.

Thank you for the advice!. I think I will have to change the days around to fit our family at bit better, I will keep them all the same but have Saturday as family fun day and grocery day and then have Thursday as a general errand day!. I also like going to do our weekly shop rather than having it delivered, we go to the town over from us and are able to buy from butchers, greengrocers etc so supporting our local businesses, which I struggle to do online!.

@Alwaysploddingon definitely get that checked, a family member has sleep apnea and since being diagnosed they’ve been so much better. It’s terrible if you can’t sleep, I really sympathise.

We had a lovely family fun day today, we went out with my childhood best friend and her DC. It’s very surreal every time we meet up to be adults with our own DC, we grew up together and so did our DM’s (my DM was at BF’s birth!). We also got our shopping for the week done, and went to Church so a busy day but it was lovely.

Gave the car a clean yesterday, it wasn’t too bad actually but it’s brand new so I’ve been trying to keep it tidy, we’ll see how long it lasts😂

💐 to everyone battling sleep issues

We lost our good local greengrocer in Covid and dont eat meat so sadly ³other than the occasional trip to the very expensive farm shop and the refill shop that sells tea and rice, it's the supermarket for us.

Sunday is renew your spirit day, no missions at the weekend. We have two playdates happening at our house (bad planning!) So expecting I'll be exhausted rather than renewed by the end of the day!

This week we are in zone 5, the living room. It's relatively unusual to get a full week in here. Mine isn't too bad as we had to rearrange to get the Christmas tree in and then we had to rearrange it back . . .

Today's baby step is to keep going with your routines and remember Flylady is about progress, not perfection. Does it look better than it did? Then you're doing fab!

Yesterday we fixed the dryer vent (the dryer hose keeps coming off where it goes outside, has done since we moved in, we usually have to put it back up every few months). DH decided to screw it up in place, this is a permanent fix! It'll be a pain to take it down to clean etc though.

We also worked on the vehicles. DS needed a new door lock installed, he also got new speakers installed at the same time. I needed my seat warmer hooked up to the battery, so DH was busy yesterday. I now need to remember to turn the seat warmer off when I shut off the engine, or my battery will die!
My Jeep is still needing to be cleaned though!

Today's plan:
☕️ meal planning
☕️ grocery shopping
☕️ laundry
☕️ reorganise a cupboard or two, if I have what I need
☕️ start making some of my treats for valentines day

hather that's the good thing about flylady, it's all about making it work for our families, as everyone is different. I end up doing home bleugh on Tuesdays generally, as I don't work that day. It also ends up being my errand day too, as I work long days and can't get much done, even on my lunch break.

Always definitely get your sleep checked out, being tired in the afternoon is a sign!

The bins in Boots do disappear when they are full, they are popular for the following reason. If you are organised, you get £5 points if you spend £10 for recycling 5+ items. There's an app for it. We get lots of toothpaste tubes so it's not too difficult to get to 5 items regularly.

Morning!

I have a lifetime supply of toiletries already so I daren't start on the £5 offer.

Monday is home bleugh day. Sheets, hoover, bathrooms, etc. Just one hour at it though.

Today's mission is to spend 10 minutes putting out hotspots in your living room.

Today's baby step is to reflect on your progress with Flylady so far. How does it feel? What is better and what are your pressure points? Remember there's no catching up in Flylady. Just start from where you are now.

Morning, I like today's babystep, I don't think I've got that far. Past few days I've been doing swish and swipe which worked well. My car still needs cleaning out. I had a day out with DS and wish I could be napping now, but doing the school run. I did get up before 6 and have changed she kids bedding and done a lol before heading out this morning

Morning!

Tuesday is plan and play day. Meal plan day for me!

Today's mission is to do a detailed hoover in the sitting room. Skirting boards, under the furniture etc. I know I have something gruesome lurking under the bookcase so it's probably the day for me to tackle that!

Today's baby step is to think now about what you might have for your dinner (tea here!) tonight and do anything you need to prepare for this e.g. take stuff out of the freezer.

Dilly meal prep is what I'll be doing today, so perfect! We're having a potluck this week at work, for a baby shower, and I'll be making something for that today.
I'm also going to be cooking chicken tikka masala for dinner tonight and it takes a few steps and time.

Today's to dos:
☕️ laundry - mainly sheets & towels
☕️ meal prep for tonight
☕️ meal prep for potluck
☕️ vacuum
☕️ mop
☕️ clean bathrooms
☕️ repaint my nails
☕️ clear hotspots/general tidy

There's more I want to do as well, but not sure I'll get to it all.

I’m getting ahead for tomorrow night with some marinated lamb in a low oven, tonight we have all just sorted ourselves out as all in and out at different times. I have always struggled with menu planning because of fussy family / hectic evening schedule but when I do manage it it definitely helps.

Ta das:
🫧 vacuumed
🫧 cleaned bathrooms
🫧 cleaned mirrors
🫧 LOLs x 5
🫧 most of the clean laundry put away
🫧 remade bed
🫧 cut up & marinated chicken
🫧 got chicken tikka masala into the slow cooker
🫧 wiped everything down in the kitchen (chicken splattered really bad)
🫧 mopped floors
🫧 cooked eggs for potluck
🫧 handwashed dishes
🫧 rotated DW
🫧 worked on dinner some more
🫧 put away most of my lights (just a couple strands out now)
🫧 cleared hotspots in main living area

To do:
🤤 finish cooking dinner
🤤 rotate DW again once it's done
🤤 get my clothes out for tomorrow
🤤 paint my nails

I feel like I've been able to get lots done today, and the house feels clean 😍 I just love that feeling

Wow Hazel that's quite a list!

Wednesday is anti procrastination day. This has become such a good habit for me, I actually try to anti-procrastinate daily and put it in my journal each evening.

Today's mission is to spend 15 minutes tackling the hidden clutter in the living room- the things that have been there so long they're now invisible

Today's baby step is to set your timer for 15 minutes and do something for you. Read, relax, paint your nails. Don't forget your routines!