Weekly Flylady Thread 9th October 2017

Mademoiselle

Round tuit, I would agree with little by little. I only started on here a couple of weeks ago although had read for some time. Like you I need to change my lifestyle if I am to succeed. Lose weight, sort through the house and get it cleaned up, renovations etc etc. It can't all be done at once, and I only work part time. So litlle by little.

One thing I have learnt is don't be hard on yourself, I like to list on here what I have done rather than what I need or want to do, that way I am reminded that I did do something.

I started with my bedroom as it was reasonably quick to get back tidy as I had done a bit clean up a year ago (a challenge set by a friend where we sent each other pictures of our rooms every day or hour as we sorted through), I make sure my bedroom is tidy every day. Make bed, pick up clothes and put anything away. Then gradually I moved on to the living room which is now tidy (not perfect, and cupboards & drawers etc need sorting but that is another time). I make sure everything is back where it should be every day. One day last week I was able to actually see the benefit, came in late and it was lovely to be able to make a drink and sit down peacefully. Quite a wow effect.

It is going to take time, well it is for me. This week I have cleared all the junk off the surfaces in my bathroom, yes it has taken a week and somedays I only managed to move 2 things off the sides but it was still progress. No I haven't cleaned it yet but it is tidy, well only the visible bit, still need to sort through units but that's for later. In the tidy rooms I now try to do level one cleaning, sometimes I get further but not always.

Because I feel happier with the state of the house I notice that I am starting to eat a bit better. Hope to see a big improvement in this area soon as planning to tackle the kitchen next week. It is tidier than it was but lots of areas still need to be cleared..

My washing is nearly always up to date, it was terrible and I worked at getting loads through the system until is was done and now keep it up to date, I wash, dry, iron and put away one load at a time now and it is no longer a chore.

I still have a long long way to go but am trying to be positive and progress even if it is slow progress.

My house is better today than it was a week ago so that is progress! I find this group very inspirational.

Thank you all, hope one day I inspire someone too.

roundtuit

Thank you Fayolle, notebooks and lists are the way forward Thank you x-raphael-xx I'll have to walk before I can run, in every sense. Good luck in the Great West Run tomorrow.Mademoiselle , thank you. Everything you say makes sense - and gives me hope that I too can make a difference little by little.

Put 2nd WM load on line, then no line left, but I worked out I had room on the airer for 9 items so I pulled 9 similar coloured items out of Mount Washmore (which seems to have morphed into the Himalaya some time this week) and they are now washed and on the airer. So that's 3 loads done - but the pile doesn't seem to have shrunk at all. Surely that's against the laws of physics?

I've WUDUPA all the cutlery and several plates and bowls, so we are ok for tea tonight and breakfast tomorrow crockery wise, and I've recycled a number of cans and bottles, so that has created some space on the kitchen worktop.

I'm sitting with mum all day tomorrow while dad has a day out with DS, but I believe the forecast is good so I'm aiming to get up early and get some more washing done and out. Then it won't feel like a 'lost' day.

Jacket spuds and beans for tea tonight. Then Strictly and Casualty. Telly has not been turned on yet today, and I haven't eaten rubbish :T . It's a start.

Rx

atypicalblonde

Afternoon All

First things first YL honey - as soon as I read your post my immediate thought was just do it, you'll regret it if you don't. Sit them all down and explain what is going to happen, and that they absolutely have to help out not just make the right noises that they are going to do so. If your sons don't help in the fullness of time start charging them board (or increase what they already pay) and get yourself a cleaner in with the extra money. Just my two penneth worth - if I weren't on the other blimmin side of the county I would be there in a flash to help xx

Been at the paid stuff since 8am. DH has taken the kids to a party - I've come back to a ****tip of a house. Why couldn't he have had a quick tidy round before he left?! Also looks as if DS (age 3) has attempted to "help" with the loo brush. 'Nuff said.

They are on their way back now and we are supposed to have a chap come round to look at our TV which has been playing up but he's already texted to say he's running late so we'll see.

Pork belly for dinner, washed down with Rose whilst watching SCD. Heaven.

I am also going to shamelessly appeal to any Flyladies who have unused Lego lying around that I could possibly buy from you. DS is now obsessed but the prices make me go :eek:. I just thought I would mention it Justin Case :cool:

Have marvellous evenings all xx

ETA - We put our old leaf blower out on the street last night (we have a leaf vacuum now) - a lovely chap knocked on the door and asked if it was ok for him to have it. Nice feel good glow moment x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Why not cut the big, grand changes down to smaller, more important things, Roundtuit?

1. Drink two glasses of water each day. For me, that was by going to the staff room water cooler on my way back from my breaks. I could manage that, as the ladies loos were located next to there. You'll notice if you miss one, being well hydrated means you go to the loo more (which is perfectly healthy) and you'll be less likely to be as tired or feel headachey. You might find that you instinctively increase the amounts over time, but I think anyone can manage two glasses, even if they are always done whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, as it's the habit of going to a tap/cooler that you're encouraging.


2. Get daylight. It doesn't matter if it's chucking it down, dull, dank or blowing a hooley (my personal favourite). Open the curtains/blinds and keep them open until it's dark. Turn off artificial lights and use natural light at every available opportunity.

3. Get artificial light that helps rather than hinders you. For me, this is cool light colours - no 'warm' bulbs for me, it's all about the ones that most look like daylight when I have to replace bulbs (less often since I found a good offer on LEDs). Have lights that can be less bright when you need something - my bedside lamp is a touch one that is only on the dimmest setting, we use a standard lamp rather than the ceiling light in the living room - the bright lights are only used when it is necessary, but all of them, bright or subdued, are cool toned.

We've also got candles, but they're for special evenings and then there are several lit at once. I'd rather sit in the pitch black than under a flickering, buzzing, yellow toned strip light - and I have been known to wear sunglasses indoors at night when Himself needs the main light on.

3a. Get some dark. Switch lights off. You know where your bathroom is, you don't need the hall, stairs, landing and kitchen lights on to find it. If you have to get up during the night, don't switch the bathroom light on, as you also know where the toilet is. In a similar vein, you don't need the living room, hall, stairs, landing and bedroom main lights on full blast just as you're going to bed - they're telling your body to wake up just as you want it to go to sleep.

4. Get some air. Keep the bedroom window open at least a crack all night, open windows when you draw the curtains back/pull the blinds, open the back door as soon as you get in the front door in the evening, open a window near you at work.

4a. Get fresh air. If it's wet and blustery, hold onto an umbrella. Take chances to go outside. Never miss a chance to get outside at lunch/break because the weather is foul. Just do it anyway.
If you feel tired and headachey and generally yuk, have a glass of water and go outside for five minutes. It will usually make you feel better, but even if it doesn't, you've done something that is good for you.



It's all very well telling yourself you must eat better, get exercise, lose weight, sort out your sleep, etc, etc, but they're all things that have a pass or fail aspect to them and are, in all honesty, a bit lofty if you're struggling.

We all need

Water
Daylight
Darkness
Air/Oxygen

Look at the types of foods you are eating, look at the amount of sleep, how you look, etc, after you have got used to giving yourself permission to have things that almost everything living on this little blue and green planet needs to exist.

Having a bit more water means everything works a bit better, from thinking clearer due to not having a dull headache, dry eyes or slightly creaky joints, not pulling a face in horror at how tired your skin looks in the mirror because you aren't so dehydrated, to simply being able to go to the loo (both types) more comfortably.

Having daylight and good artificial light, along with proper times of darkness means your body and brain is more aware of the difference between time to be awake and time to sleep. Even if you are awake at night, your body is still aware that it's a time for rest and quiet and that's better than gazing blankly at some shopping channel or random groups of people screaming at one another on a 24 hour eviction show. Maybe you'll sleep for three hours and then wake up for a bit. Fair enough. If it's dark, you'll still know that going back to sleep is possible rather than waking yourself up fully - if you don't, listen for sounds of the wind, of birds or foxes - or stick on a radio programme, as it's not bright light to wake you up. Humans generally sleep in roughly three hour blocks, if you give yourself slightly more than that, there's space for a bit of being awake in between.

And air/fresh air - well, it gives you time to breathe, which feels good and we wouldn't get far without it.




Personally, I was fortunate enough to be able to chuck some conservation work to get me out of the city, plus a fortnight on Dartmoor, over the summer so I got all of those things - I had to drink more water because of the activities (conservation and walking), I got more daylight, lots of fresh air, and I got proper darkness as well.

The result of just those is that I am not going into work on absolutely zero sleep, I've pulled my normal sleep time back from 4am - 3.10am - 2.30am - 2.05am - 1.30am - I've been asleep before midnight two nights this week, and I've woken up with less than my normal OHMYGODIHATETHISPLEASEKILLMENOW reaction to mornings. And today, well, we stayed up watching a movie, but we both went to sleep before 2am and I woke up at 11 feeling fine.


***************************

From 12 - 12.45 today;

Empty kitchen of used packets and tins
Put half used packets and tins back in cupboards
Fill bin bag and separate recycling into correct boxes outside
Clear the coffee table, sideboard, floor and sofa of crud and gibble
Chuck random things from the fridge into the binbag.
Offer wildlife in garden the banana and fruit fly pic n mix that was behind the kettle.
Empty sink of foulness
Stack draining board of stuff ready to rewash
Stack dirty stuff to wash
Clean top of TD and WM
Put knitwear load into WM
Clean evil goo out of sink
Refill bowl with all the cutlery
Take Himself a coffee because he needs to get up for a gig
Do 2 big bowls of washing up
Smile sweetly at Himself when he comes down and point out that whilst I am happy he is up and love him very much, I am slightly p***ed that I'm having to do this when I've been at work all week.
Sit down with a big mug of tea whilst Himself takes over the washing up without complaint, as this wasn't an argument, it was a genuine expression of discontent before it festered away for 24 hours and came out in a slightly less helpful manner.
Eat breakfast, drink more tea.


In a minute, I shall attempt to find the kitchen floor under the detritus and possibly instigate diplomatic relations with the entity that appears to have occupied the SC. It really wouldn't have hurt for Himself to have washed it out, would it?

However, I have definitely had daylight, fresh air, a little bit of sunshine and lots of tea.

Valli

I have stripped DS's bed, remade and, while I was in there, cleaned the room, inc the windows and have tried the steam cleaner on the carpets. TBH they need way more than a simple 'refresh' - they need replacing but I cannot afford it.
DS had a few half-drunk bottles of coke lying around so their contents are now in the loo doing their magic. I'm having a coffee and an apple then I shall do the kitchen.
I cleaned the car, too.

NDNs to the left have their parasol out, NDN to the right is sunbathing. *checks calendar*

LameWolf

roundtuit wrote: »

Reading back my own post I actually gave myself a starting point D'oh!

Sometimes just running it past someone else helps to sort it out in your own mind, because you're having to phrase it in a way that the other person will understand. Mr LW used to run work problems past me all the time when he was working; he said it helped, even though I couldn't "offer a solution" as such.

And as always, Jojo speaks volumes of good sense.

I'm another one who needs to get back on track - I always used to keep a glass of water by me and sip from it throughout the day; must get back to doing that.

The bedroom thing is harder, as Mr LW likes it very warm in there, (I'm allowed to open the window on the very warmest nights in summer); also he gets up at least twice every night for "calls of nature" and seems to be incapable of finding the loo without the hall and bathroom lights on (and even then his "aim" leaves something to be desired). *rolls eyes*

Anyways - I have managed 2 x WM loads today (1 load of Mr LW's clothes and 1 load of bedlinen) all of which Mr LW kindly put out on the whirligig. The BM is on for a loaf, and I shall be making tomato soup for dins as I got a shedload of toms for £1 at the F&V market on Thursday. What Mr LW doesn't yet know is that he'll be helping prep the toms - they're cherry toms, so we need a large number of them to make the soup.;)

roundtuit

Thank you Jojo - water, daylight, darkness, oxygen - the building blocks necessary for life. That makes so much sense; I definitely need to drink more water - I'm a walking checklist of all the symptoms of dehydration! As I sit here with a dull headache realising that I haven't been to the loo since 8.30 am because I haven't needed to, because I'm all dried out

Cheers LameWolf - here's to our mutual hydration

I'm going to have a glass of water, fetch in the washing and wash another bowl of pots.

Rx

pigpen

roundtuit.. the issue I've seen with SW is it is too much sugar and not enough of everything else. you know what is good food and what is not.. I have issues with weight too.. I NEED to lose weight to make my hip and knee feel better but I can't DO anything to aid that.. everything just hurts. The one thing I found that works is rather frowned upon.. alcohol.. it numbs the pain and I can climb mountains... then I have a hangover and can't do a blooming thing for 3 weeks because I am utterly broken! I don't do that, it is silly.

I found having a big lunch and a smaller dinner helped.. going to bed earlier stops me stuffing my face on an evening, I always have the backdoor/windows open.. except at night, I'm convinced someone will creep through my bedroom window and stab me to death.. bay window downstairs so easy to get in and I'm a freak. Our tap water is not drinkable, it smells of chlorine and is nasty.. I only drink tea.. pints of it!

I have anaemia, Vit D deficiency and hypothyroid .. it ain't easy.. I don't drop clothing sizes when I lose weight either so it is very demoralising, I just feel hungry because the only time I ever lose weight is when I simply don't eat..

It is a pain.. and so I decided I'm staying fat, it's easier lol

Swimming lessons done, OH at work until close.. off to feed the mini-beasts!

Pixie had bug shampoo scrubbed out.. poor girl spent most of the day wet!

kazwookie

Afternoon type stuff done ie talking to neighbours!
I keep sneezing I hope that is nothing to do with my flu jab I had today

I only drink water and nothing else, so I hope I have enough each day

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Oh, good grief.

In the process of [strike]picking up the coats he hasn't picked up for a fortnight[/strike] clearing behind the showerroom door and I found a chicken leg and three pigeon feathers in front of the cat scratching post. (We last had chicken a fortnight ago).

And then, as I picked up the stuffed mice from behind the scratching post - I found the Idiot Cat had decided to bring in a not stuffed mouse and put it behind the post for later. _pale_


I'm not sure who I want to murderise more - the Bloke or the Idiot Cat.