Flylady for single people?

Jei70

I live on my own and my place used to be a tip.

Then I found FlyLady, and my place is still a bit of a tip - but now I can get it spic and span in less than an hour or so if I'm expecting company!

I signed up for emails, in the digest format, but I don't read them. When I get a mail I scan the titles, chuckle to myself, and delete the whole thing.

I am doing daily things like making my bed, swishing the loo and swiping the basin, and occasionaly even shining my sink. At the end of almost every day I clear my hot spot (my coffee table, which becomes full of mags, coffee cups, choc wrappers, pens etc), and I sometimes do a 27-item boogie (decluttering a small amount of stuff).

However, the two most important things that I have picked up from the website are:

1. Crisis Cleaning - a crash clearing/cleaning session that gets the house ready for company (on the Flying Lessons page)

2. You can do ANYTHING in 15 minutes - don't feel like cleaning? Just do 15 minutes of hoovering (only middle of rooms, don't obsess with corners/under furniture) and picking up of stuff from, for example, kitchen table. In 15 minutes the place will look much better, you'll feel proud of your achievement, and maybe even inspired to clean the kitchen worktops too.

I really hate housework, and Flylady has inspired me to do things more efficiently and quickly. I don't bother with lace up shoes in the house - however, I do put make up on (because I like to feel pretty!) and make sure I'm wearing a bra (I used not to wear one at home, which was subconsciously encouraging me to lounge around instead of do things. Bras are my shoes!!!).

So, my advice is to read up the website, starting with Flying Lessons, read your emails, create a control journal, give up, then after a few weeks actually try doing a couple of suggested things!

It works for me! (Well, I do the actual work, but you get my drift...)

moggins

Stuff the website! Buy the book. I found it much more inspirational and less irritating.

But the 27 fling boogies are a godsend, if only I could train the kids to throw their rubbish in the bin instead of leaving it by the computer I wouldn't have to do so many of them.

Toxic_Lemon

The book isn't in stock on Amazon so I've ordered the one Flylady was inspired by 'SHE' - Sidetracked House Executive, or something.

It's no good people saying to me to 'do my paperwork'. If it was that easy, I'd have done it months ago instead of growing my own personal paper-made Mount Versuvius! To me, it's completely over-whelming.

I need to be able to 'get' something to be able to keep doing it. I 'get' shining sinks. I 'get' getting dressed and wearing shoes (although mine are staying slippers).

I definitely 'get' wearing a bra (brilliant suggestion, BTW) and will start doing that in the house.

Oh, and single people can't load the WM every day!

ocemeer

hmm keep trying to dip my toe into flylady but scares the hell out of me.
Single, currently renovating a cottage which brings its own clutter and mess to the fold and work quite long hours. How do you all juggle it? Especially with families or OH to clear up after too?

loracan1

pavlovs_dog wrote:

ive found the secret to my success is to read through the various sections of the website, and then borrow the ideas and philosophies you *know* will work for you. then you cherry pick from the remaining, less suitable ideas, tailoring them to your requirements.

I tried this. I copied/pasted/edited then printed out various lists of things to do in particular rooms; the decluttering guide, crisis cleaning and tips for not getting sidetracked and what I now have is a beautifully kept well-presented folder of household management and the house is still a tip.:o

[Deleted User]

I like wearing slippers indoors and I like my 'clutter' I live alone and I had a look at the FLYlady site and found that after reading the 'blurb' I was so exhausted so had to go and have a lie down with a chocolate biscuit and a cup of tea I don't think I could ever be that organised .I live in my own 'disorganised' way and know where everything is . Well done to those that can do it though ,but me no I guess I am just past redemption.

emg

I live alone but try to fly. I dont always wear shoes but if something needs to go outside (to the car or to the bin) then I do it immediately rather than use the excuse of having no shoes on. I also get dressed (unless I am allowing myself a lounging day with no housework).

I started because on the rare occasions that people called round unannounced I was ashamed of the mess and clutter in my home or answering the door to them in my pyjamas. Also, I feel happier and can relax more easily when the house is tidy. I agree the website and emails are confusing. I bought the book, much easier to follow. I got it from amazon.com (the american website).

My two mottos are 'you can do anything for 15 minutes' and 'it doesnt have to be perfect'.

bluemoon_3

emg wrote:

I live alone but try to fly. I dont always wear shoes but if something needs to go outside (to the car or to the bin) then I do it immediately rather than use the excuse of having no shoes on. I also get dressed (unless I am allowing myself a lounging day with no housework).

I started because on the rare occasions that people called round unannounced I was ashamed of the mess and clutter in my home or answering the door to them in my pyjamas. Also, I feel happier and can relax more easily when the house is tidy. I agree the website and emails are confusing. I bought the book, much easier to follow. I got it from amazon.com (the american website).

My two mottos are 'you can do anything for 15 minutes' and 'it doesnt have to be perfect'.

Definitely understand where you're coming from.

I think the biggest thing I got/get from flylady is the mental adjustment (what she calls 'flywashing'). It's so simple. No Whining. No Being A Martyr. Don't Overthink It - just set your timer and go. Whenever my mind starts but-but-butting, I just see flylady's little cartoon fairy thing grinning at me and saying "shush your lips and just do it." :rotfl:

If you go to the Ask Flylady archives, you'll find lots of emails from people insisting that the system won't work for them because of this or because of that. The system isn't a perfect fit for my life, but it isn't really a perfect fit for anybody elses either. You just take what you can. Start small (shine your sink) and then add things when you're ready. I've been a member for about two years now and still haven't added all the aspects of the system.

annie-c

Hi Toxic

I'm single and live in a tip and have tried the flylady at various times... I guess if you don't 'get it' then you maybe either need to take from it the bits you like and make it your own or you need to find something different that works for you. I quite like Kim and Aggies 'How clean is your house' which has loads of tips and suggests schedules. I've also done Dawna Franks 'How to de-junk your life' and loads more... I just pick and choose and try to get a little bit better with every new thing I learn.

What I take from the flylady are the general principles behind the ideas... OK, I may not need to wear make-up, but my equivalent to that is having a shower and putting on proper clothes and brushing my hair - other people might not have to look at me, but I do and I feel better when I see myself looking decent in the mirror. I don't wear lace up shoes as a general rule, but I keep flipflops by the front and back door so I have no excuses not to take rubbish out when needed. I love the sink-shining one - it's just a tiny thing that is easily done and gives me a bizarre sense of accomplishment!

miggy

Toxic_Lemon wrote:

But - I've signed upto the emails and the first arrived today and it was as bad (meant in a nice way!) as the Flylady challenge on here!!! A HUMUNGOUS list of things to do. All I've got is a shiny sink!!!

I need hand holding - quick before I go off the whole idea.

Don't do them all - at least not at first. Have a look at the email you were sent when you signed up. A lot of people, it seems, skip this, which isn't a good idea as it tells you where to start.
Flylady uses Yahoo groups, which means there's isn't an option for sending newbies fewer emails than others. You can deal with it by setting up a filter on your emails to trash those you aren't focusing on. (Just remember to review it from time to time!) I have mine set to receive Testimonials but not reminders.
You can get reminders in UK time at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FLYingInUnitedKingdom/?yguid=136893118
That group also has links to Flybabychat and local groups - if you don't want to join but want the details, PM me and I'll send links.
Remember baby steps; you are not behind, just jump in where you are; your home did not get this way overnight and it won't get straight overnight either, and other Flylady phrases - especially don't overdo it or you crash and burn!
Have fun with it - Flybabies are lovely supportive people and we're all in the same boat. It's just some have had more practice than others.