Flying through summer with Flylady ☀️

[HazelNotHungryLC]

Summer is here! Or is it?? 🤔
It's time to get our homes in order for the chaos that is the summer holidays!

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 day. 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, it's a new website! 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. There is a paid version and a free version. I use the free version. The missions haven't been updating on the app (although I should admit I haven't looked at it in a couple of months.. 🫣)

Links are below 👇

Daily missions (for the zone we are in):
https://www.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!

Hi everyone I didn’t really do much cleaning today just reorganised my kitchen window shelf and threw some bits away or put them away in drawers. Emptied and filled up DW. Swept kitchen floor. Emptied bins.

Searching great ta da lists! Woohoo for your last day! 🥳
Self care is important and sometimes the little things make the biggest difference to how we feel.

Peony I'm glad it doesn't seem like you hurt yourself, a fall like that can shake you up though.

Welcome @PamelaColmansMustard 👋 the more the merrier!
You've made a great start! Flylady is all about building routines to keep on top of everything. Whatever doesn't get done this month, can get done next month when we're back in that zone. The baby steps are all about building daily routines, and it can take a while to establish all of them, but soon enough things will become automatic.

Dobby is doing so much better already! I got new food from the vet yesterday to help with the diarrhea, and it's amazing how much of a difference is made already! He's walking around a lot better, but we're still keeping an eye on him so he doesn't try any steps or stairs. Thank you for asking Searching. DS is also enjoying himself at band camp. DH made a video of Dobby walking and sent it to DS so he could see he's doing better. He was worried about him too.

Ta das:
🥵 LOLs x3 including sheets, mattress protectors & towels
🥵 took both dogs to groomer
🥵 wiped ceiling fan blades in bedroom
🥵 wiped bedside tables
🥵 wiped skirting boards in bedroom
🥵 wiped bed frame
🥵 bank & shopping
🥵 grocery shopping
🥵 cleared out fridge
🥵 meat pulled out of freezer for tomorrow

Cleaning in the bedroom hadn't happened for a while, so it felt good to do it. I timed myself and it took me 30 minutes to wipe everything down. I just used an all purpose spray and paper towels.
I wanted to get vacuuming done, but ran out of time.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day. Do today what you have been putting off. It may take you less time than you think!

Wednesday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission
I'm a little early again so it hasn't updated what Wednesday's mission is. Click on the link and it should be there. We are still in the master bedroom.

Baby Step 22: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/22/
Build your control journal. Get everything you need for it. Binder, paper, plastic sleeves etc..

Hello all.
We have a carpet cleaner. It's great and I've been thinking about it. But we've barely been able to hoover. Kids are so messy at the moment, I keep getting the hoover out, only hoovering right by the plug, maybe a line in the living room where there's no toys. The three year old can clear the floor of his toys if bribed but the 8 year old has gone backwards. Spent ages just sitting around in the mess, playing with random toys she's not seen in ages. Sometimes I think about tidying the floor every night like we have in the past, but then I think my 3 year old has been playing nicely with that toy, might be upset if I messed up his arrangement so talk myself into doing nothing.

My husband works in a school. It's his last day and I hope he's going to blitz the house clean and tidy when he's on summer. This year he has been more focused on the garden than house. Monday is the day to myself, well it was in school times. But this week 3 year old was a bit ill so I had him and didn't get so much done.

I'm now half way through this pregnancy and I've had a lot of fatigue. But I did a bit before pregnancy, eg needing an afternoon nap. First trimester I needed so much more sleep. Then I had a bit of energy, for about a week then it got too hot and I didn't move much. So I think I need to get more serous about excersice. Last night I had some insomnia, been awake since 4am. Wish I'd used that night time energy to tidy and clean a bit.

I need to get back to babysteps.

Today I will take DD to school at 8:30, have the morning with ds, hopefully have a little nap. Collect DD at 1:15 and drive to the farm park as it's the last day mine and ds termtime pass is usable until September. Leave at 5:30. I've told kids this, but now kind of regretting it as I need rest
Ta das
🎉Rotated dishwasher
🎉Made pancakes batter
🎉3 minute hotspots
🎉 Emptied bins

🔥Wash towels
🔥Clean kitchen sink
🔥 Write shopping list and shop for picnic tea or make picnic tea including flapjacks.
🔥 Hoover high traffic areas
🔥 Put out dining table hotspot
🔥 Have pancakes for lunch
🔥Pack bag
🔥Have a nap

Morning! Welcome @PamelaColmansMustard sounds as though you've made a good start. I think Sink Reflections is an excellent book, unfortunately I lent my copy to a friend whose house is even more cluttered than mine about 10 years ago and guess what, never seen it again.

Things are improving on the house front since the heatwave abated a bit at the weekend. I had a blitz of kitchen drawers, the deep ones with pans in and the cutlery drawer, as all were full of crumbs and random crap. At least laundry is easier in the dry weather because it can go out on the line any time.

Glad Dobby is improving @HazelNotHungryLC . Pleased to report that my cat got the all clear from the vet at the end of last week but is looking a bit mystified every time she cleans her tummy that all the fur is gone (shaved for ultrasound). She looks oddly thin without it as it is quite long.

@Searchingforsparkle if today is your last work day, thinking of you and glad it's nearly over.

@Alwaysgrowing hard work being pregnant in this warm weather, hope DH being off for the summer lightens the load.

Tadas
🎉Washed and hung up towels
🎉Cleaned kitchen sink
🎉 shoped for picnic tea
🎉 Have pancakes for lunch
🎉Have a nap

I have half an hour to do:
🔥 Pack bag
🔥Clear dining room table
🔥 Hoover...if time

Thank you so much for the welcome. Despite being retired I'm struggling to slot in everything I want to do, not just housework, so thinking Flylady's suggestions will be useful all round. I've split the house and garden into zones, with the intention of tackling one zone at a time - not every day, but as and when time permits. I had already got into the habit of making my morning shower into, "clean the bathroom and then me" and that's now become an ingrained habit, so I feel now's the time to tackle the rest of it. Bit by bit. Shining the sink is a brilliant idea!

Can I please join you? I’m expecting twins in August (but could pop any day now!) and I want to make sure I keep on top of my house when they arrive and the small baby steps might help me. I might not be able to do as much as the rest of you for the first few months, but I’m terrible for procrastinating and letting my house get to the point it needs a massive clean, so hopefully keeping in with you might help me stay on track!

Can I join you on the Procrastinator's bench? Congrats on your forthcoming twins😍

Welcome @Woolymommoth 👋
Twins?!! 😲😲 I'm sure the baby steps will really help you. You will definitely have your hands full! Congratulations!!

Always I hope your DH does blitz the house for you to help out. I hope you end up having a lovely time at the farm park with your DC.

ED picturing your cats face being confused while cleaning her belly makes me laugh!

Pamela I have heard that when you're retired you have less time, which honestly baffles me, but I've heard it multiple times, so must have some truth to it!

Last night I was so tired I didn't get on mn. I'm sorry I didn't add the links sooner. I'll put them on here in the minute..

Thursday is errand day.

Thursday's mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260723-zone-4-mission-4-thursday-your-master-bedroom
Clear the top of your dresser. Any cosmetics? Put them in a bag and in a drawer. Dust the top and put perfume on a nice tray (or whatever you'd like to do to make it look nice).

Baby Step 23: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/23/
Start your afternoon routine. Think about what you want to achieve and what needs to be done to make it happen. Write it in your control journal on a new page.
If you have DC, it could be to help with homework or do a craft with DC.
It might be to prep for dinner etc.
My afternoons are spent at work, so this would only work for me on my days off. Don't forget the app can be utilized for this also.

I've joined the ranks of people who don't know how they found time to work!!

I haven’t done much cleaning the last 2 days apart from LOL, DW, wiped kitchen surfaces, and cleaned 2 walls of shower after showering. I’m just going to do 2 one of which is the glass door every time doing all 4 is not good use of my time and energy. I might mop later or sort out my bedroom as per fly lady

@PamelaColmansMustard you definitely can! There’s more than enough room on the bench! And thank you😊

@HazelNotHungryLC definitely I will have my hands full, we also have a 2 year old and a 1 year old so I’m praying for my sanity😂

Wooly wow! You definitely will have your hands full! You already do! 🫨😲

Peony keeping on top of the basics really helps, even if it seems like it's not much.

I'm sorry I didn't post anything for yesterday! Thursday night I was so tired I just fell into bed early & fell asleep. Yesterday I should have got on for a few minutes while at work as we weren't busy, but I didn't think about it.

After work DS came home from band camp. We got to watch the show, which was good. I tried recording it with my phone, but it was so hot outside my phone overheated and shut down all apps. It didn't even save what it had recorded to that point! Ugh.

Friday's links, if anybody wants them:

Mission: https://www.flylady.net/daily-mission/20260724-zone-4-mission-5-friday-your-master-bedroom
Remake your bed. Take your time, put clean sheets on etc.

Baby Step 24: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/24/
Swish & Swipe in the bathroom (S&S for short).
This one is actually one that helps to keep on top of the house. I have been slacking with this one and need to get back to trying every day. I even bought disinfecting wipes to make my life easier, that I keep in both bathrooms. I should probably have a spray and cloths, but that's not practical at this point.

Saturday: no missions. It's family fun day! What are you all doing today with your families?

Baby Step 25: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/25/
Progress, not perfection. Flylady is all about making our homes better, they don't need to be perfect!
Have you noticed an improvement in your home since starting? Less chaos? Less stress getting ready in the morning?

We were out yesterday, and felt really tired when we got back; I was going to go straight to bed but something niggled at me to go and wash the few dishes in the sink - so I did, and gave it a quick wipe round after. Changed sheets this morning. It's far too early to say but I'm feeling a bit more confident that I've found a routine that suits. Fingers crossed!

Pamela well done for doing those dishes etc. It really does make a difference to spend a few minutes cleaning up, makes it less overwhelming and more inviting in the morning, I feel.

I know this sounds sad but my first thought this morning was, "glad I did the dishes" - my husband's almost always the first up so he also got the benefit :)

Pamela I know how you feel, it's the little things that make me happy and sometimes make me question my sanity 😂

I’m away for the weekend so no cleaning for me. Goodness knows what destruction is left behind by my DC, their partners and friends to clear up when I get home though.

Peony I would hope they clean up after themselves!