Spring into action: Flying into April, a flylady April thread

[Positivepositron]

Welcome to the April thread. This is my first time starting a flylady thread. And I've been doing flylady about a month but very are many on the thread who are years in.

I'm cutting and pasting Hazel's great intro which explains everything:

Whether you're starting to build a new routine, stuck in a rut, or been around for years, join us on the Flylady thread. I'll try to keep us on track for the month, with baby steps, daily missions and weekly zones.

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.
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:
🩷Entryway, porch and dining room
🩷Bathroom & one other room
🩷Kitchen
🩷Master bedroom & master bathroom
🩷Living room

Don't worry about finishing it all this month, it'll come around again next month! Flylady is NOT about perfectionism!

Daily focus: each day of the week has a different focus.

• 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 😆
• S&S: Swish & Swipe (wipe the bathroom sink & toilet)
• 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, if I can get them to work, she's updated the website! Although if you can, it's worth downloading the newly updated 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 👇
Daily missions (for the zone we are in): https://beta.flylady.net/daily-mission
Baby steps (on a different website, since the link isn't working on the new site yet): https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, some of us have been doing Flylady for a very long time, as well as others just starting out. We may have other things to add that we have found works for us that could help you too!

Thank you for the motivation with the study. We just have so much stuff in there, it's full of books, outgrown toys, games, paperwork. Most of it would be good for someone else so it's taking time to gradually get things to charity or give away/ sell on facebook. The books we'd keep if we could but it's just too many and we want to be able to use the room to keep things we use a lot of like weights/ yoga matts etc and store things in an organised manner.

Sounds like everyone has made good progress this week and lots of decluttering going on across the board. I liked the flylady article on clutter earlier in the week.

Today's mission is clean the fridge:
Zone 2: Mission #3 Wednesday

Dear Friends: It is Anti-Procrastination day we are diving into the refrigerator! Grab your trash can and take it over to the refrigerator.
First toss out any leftovers that have gotten pushed to the back and have now started to turn into a science project.
Second, check the fruit/vegetable drawers and toss what no longer is appealing to eat.
Third, check the meat and cheese drawer, check the expiration dates on your items in there and toss what needs to go.

Fourth, check out the doors of the fridge, toss the empty condiment jars and bottles that always seem to magically go back into the fridge when empty. Last, grab a damp rag and wipe down the shelves.
Do not take every single thing out of your refrigerator and then take the shelves out to clean them. Just wipe them down. How many times have we decided to tear the fridge apart and three hours later we would rather move out than ever do it again.
Don't let yourself get sidetracked, Have fun and enjoy your sparkling refrigerator!

I am joyfully sharing coffee with you ☕️
We had a powercut last night but just back on now, we thought we'd have to go without which would have been a bad start to the day.

A little late to the party as I’ve only just found this thread and not heard of Flylady before but very keen to join along!
Like others have mentioned ruined on here my disaster area is dining room as things get plonked on the table, never to be moved again (unless they are being slid along to make room for other things to be dumped!)

Morning all!
Hello @Bunnybunnybunnybunny2026 I do the home bleugh over a week too, though when I had more time I'd do it all at once. The trick is to set the timer for 10 mins for each job and literally do what you can in that time. In my house emptying the bins takes moments, and I dust with a feather duster so that takes five mins for a small three bedroom house. Vacuuming - same, it's just a run round with the hoover so the main areas are done. Every now and again there is a mission to thoughly vacuum one room.

The idea is not to go mad, but in developing steady habits over time, the changes stick. And the decluttering really helps. I know it's really difficult if you are of the all or nothing variety, but I promise that if you are patient and stick to the basics it really works 🦋

@Positivepositron i worded it wrong, sorry extra mission is nothing to get excited about. I'll share a photo of my app but it's extra jobs to do in whatever zone you are in ( she always used to say once you've got a handle on basic routines and the clutter is minimal but I find them useful inspiration now)

@Searchingforsparkle one trigger is lack of sleep, but I've had three really good nights so no idea what triggered yesterday's. I have vestibular migraines, so can have them without head pain, but it affects my balance and makes me feel out of sorts.

On my last middle of the night insomnia I ordered one of those magnesium drinks, had the first one last night, fell asleep but woke up in the early hours. Don't know if it's the drink or just my usual insomnia.
Sometimes a magnesium supplement is used to calm horses, but if they're not deficient it can make them more jittery. Maybe it's the same for humans!
@Positivepositron my fridge definitely needs an intervention! I moan about the prices in the co-op over the road but it would probably save me money in the long run compared to the food that ends up in the bin from cheaper supermarkets.

Welcome to the thread!
Flylady really does work.
Yesterday DH told me I'd started a hotspot on our recently clear kitchen table. So he's fully flylady now. But it prompted us to clear it before it returned to its old ways.
You do each zone one layer at a time in a way so it's really effective.

Ah OK this is the different app situation. Not sure why there's two versions of the app. My app has current zone as kitchen only.

Looking forward to it! I’ve just put some laundry on the go. I think my procrastination thing I need to tackle today is putting away the other batch of clean laundry!

also need to get the bins out and will do a fridge clear out as part of that seeing as the food waste is being taken today

Tada
🥳 cleared another part of the kitchen side (took about a minute - why do I ignore these easy tasks until I’m in the kitchen zone?)
🥳 decluttered and cleaned cereal / bread / snack cupboard, creating space for dd2 easter egg storage that were sat on the side
🥳 cleared out of date things out of the fridge
🥳 had some breakfast

I’m going to concentrate on getting ready to go out now and the daily routines, everyone is still in bed so may wait until 9 before going in the shower. I want to try get at least 15 mins decluttering in the playroom today, feels achievable with how much I completed in 30 mins in the kitchen 🙂

I think I paid for it. £35 for a year. Do you have the free version? 60p a week for an extra long list of to-dos. Doesn't seem fair does it 😅

Bins and fridge are done, and I’ve put away one ikea bag of clean clothes. One more to put away and will do that in my lunch break as I’m working from home today

Lol
Yes I have the free version.

Afternoon all. Slow start today as had a late night wine session with a friend last night. However, still got my washing on and the dishwasher emptied. Bed is made and I spent a few minutes cleaning the dirty fingerprints off the woodwork in the kitchen, and decluttered the paper on the fridge door.

Well done to everyone who has done something today. I haven't done any housework at all.
I have planted some seeds and been out to do my hobby and see friends but nothing in the house.

Tomorrow is Errand Day.

And flylady babystep 9:

FlyLady BabyStep 9 is the 5-Minute Room Rescue, designed to declutter your most chaotic room without stressing. Set a timer for five minutes and work quickly to remove rubbish, put away items, and clear surfaces in that space. This builds focus, reduces stress, and proves you can improve your home in small increments.

Remember The Goal: Do not aim for perfection. The goal is to make quick decisions for 5 minutes and then stop.

Not got any Flying done today. Spent hours on the phone switching from BT to Sky, ended up with yet another migraine 😭
Hopefully get something done tomorrow.

So sorry you’re still suffering @CherryogDog💐

tada
🥳 all routines completed
🥳 5 mins in the playroom , I wanted 15 but 5 is all I had the energy for
🥳 a lovely afternoon and evening with dc

My leg is swollen and uncomfortable today , I suffer on and off with this , may need to pick up some more vitamins tomorrow (this is more prevalent usually when folic acid is low ) I’m off to bed soon to read ( currently reading Powerless for the readers in the group, I’m enjoying it so far) fingers crossed for a better sleep 🤞

Thanks @Searchingforsparkle , and sorry you're suffering with your leg.
I've been awake since 2am, coughing with my reflux.
I feel I'm stuck in a cycle of needing to improve my health/state of mind/diet to sort my sleep problems, but I'm not sleeping enough to have the energy to improve things.
I'm already stressed because have to phone BT again today, and I'm supposed to be at band practice tonight.

Anyway enough moaning, DP is going to sort the horses out for me this morning so I'm going to muck my fridge out and make same soup.
Then have a nice walk with the dogs, it was too hot for a long walk yesterday.
Hope everyone has a good day, whatever you're doing!

Hi, I've not been doing much flying. I'm pregnant, and napping most days, particularly since Easter when I could as I. Had some time off work. I have small bursts of energy but mostly feel irritated in them. I'm working the next 3 days. 🥱 We did house blessing of sorts as a family. My 7 year old likes using a timer for cleaning. I need to add apply suncream to the morning routine with this sunshine. That room rescue babystep may be good as I need to sort out the attic, our dump room, as my parents will be staying there next weekend.

@CherryogDog I feel for your migraine/sleep issues. I had that when I was pregnant with my eldest....in the end I was prescribed an anticycotic which really helped break the cycle.

Today's mission is to clean the kitchen surfaces.

Babystep for tomorrow:
Day 10: Gather Up rubbish (15 Minutes)
Set your timer for 15 minutes, grab a bin bag, and run through the house gathering rubbish. Do not stop to look at items or look for treasure; just get the crap out.

good morning ☕️ sending a coffee to those who would like one .

tada
🥳 breakfast and a coffee
🥳 15 mins on the playroom - I can actually see some of the floor ! (Yes, it really is in that much of a mess 😩 but not for much longer!)

Well done @Searchingforsparkle they are the hardest rooms to do!
Our house needs some rejigging and organising as we go to get homes for the stuff we need which will help going forward. Toys are so difficult for me as they outgrow them but they are still good and then I need to try and find a home for them rather than throw them away so then we keep them for too long making less room for stuff we need.

Thank you @Positivepositron, the kids stuff has always been an area that I struggle with, I think it’s probably because I have never assigned things a home , just assigned it all to a room 😂 I’ve mentioned before that I won’t be living in the toy chaos for much longer so I’m just going to try to organise the area as best as I can .

Look after yourself @Alwaysgrowing, pregnancy is tiring !

tada
🎉 30 mins kitchen, all sides are clean and appliances pulled out and wiped over .

My action plan to finish of in the kitchen before moving zones is wiping down all the cupboard fronts , cooker hob and splash back clean and the windowsill . I think it’ll be about 60-90 minutes worth so I’m going to ask DH to help with some of the tasks as I’m at work this evening and I’m taking the kids to the cinema to watch super Mario galaxy soon 🙂

Tada
🥳 showered & dressed
🥳 walk to the shops with dd2
🥳 sorted through a bag of donated items
🥳 3 bags dropped to charity (carrier size)
🥳 15 mins on the playroom
🥳 LOL washed and hung to dry (ds school bag)

Im going to have a break until 3 , I’m dreading going back into the playroom so a break then another 15 mins , if I’m still feeling anxious around it rather than productive, I’ll move away from it for today . Something is better than nothing 🙂

Absolutely @Searchingforsparklesomething is better than nothing. That's how I'm trying to go with it. You'll get the room sorted in the end.

Tada
🎉 Morning routine completed
🎉 Took kids to the dentist
🎉Took kids to Primark as they have been bloody growing again
🎉 Wiped some of the inside of the fridge and discarded out of date items
🎉Finished weekly bleurgh items that were on my list.

Do the rest of you hoover the whole house each week? I can't see how the weekly list would only take one hour! I've decided for now just do do the downstairs. The bedrooms can get done when it's their week and the kids are old enough to do their own room so hopefully I can get them in the habit.