If you've read the Best Year thread, you know that I have chosen keeping up the ol' homestead (i.e., cleaning) as the focus of my quest for change in the Best Year course some of us are taking through Barnes & Noble University.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Flylady (www.flylady.net), part of the philosophy is that there are people who are born organized (BO), to whom keeping up a clean home seems to come naturally, and then there are SHEs (side-tracked home executives) who definitely do NOT come to this talent/skill naturally. Flylady helps us SHEs by giving us structure and direction in regard to cleaning and organizing our homes.
Like anything, FlyLady helps only as much as you will let it. I have been struggling to spread my wings and FLY for over a year, with various levels of success. I have been part of a weekly FlyChat with this group for a year now and, while there were times when I was almost cleared for take-off, I've been circling the tarmac for a few months now...not good. I really need to create a plan for how I'm going to change. I know the basics, but more information is always better.
Whether you're a BO or a SHE, I'd love to hear from you about some of your favorite or most helpful routines, methods, tips or tricks for keeping a clean and clutter-free home. You can go "big picture" general or get specific, as you wish.
I will never be Martha Stewart, but if I can learn to keep a home that makes me smile to walk into, this truly will be the Best Year of my Life.
As always, my heartfelt thanks for sharing.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I sent an email to Land's End today and called another vendor where I bought 1 Christmas gift in 2004 and they kept sending me stuff (jigsaw puzzles...NOT my thing hehe).
Originally posted by p7eggyc: one of the worst quantities of catalogs comes from Land's End. Between their regular monthly one and all the specialty ones (including the plus size one I don't need anymore) it gets crazy.
Ugh. Yea, Victoria's Secret is like that. My GOD, the quantity of catalogs they put out is jaw dropping. The only reason I get is because I have a VS credit card, and the only reason I have a VS credit card is because the only bra I wear is VS and only sold through the catalog (well, now online too). I like getting the catalogs only because it reminds me (in July and December) of the semi-annual sale so that I can stock up on bras while they are halfway reasonable.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
As for catalogs, oh yes, I used to be the Catalog Queen in the 80s but I reformed. 98% of the few catalogs I still get go right from the mailbox to the trash. That alone has helped a LOT with clutter.
This is inspiring me...one of the worst quantities of catalogs comes from Land's End. Between their regular monthly one and all the specialty ones (including the plus size one I don't need anymore) it gets crazy. I'm going to write them right now and see if I can get them to stop sending them. I only shop their website anyway and I know what sorts of stuff I want from them.
Originally posted by p7eggyc: My current approach is to not keep getting the magazines (of course, the gift thing is another issue) and trying to get myself to ditch most catalogs directly into the recycle bin upon arrival.
Yea, I have been on a path with both those things myself in the past 1-3 years. I have cut out a few mag subscriptions in the past 2-3 years. I'm at the point where I'm thinking of asking my mother to not continue getting me a gift subscription to Health every year. Despite the fact that it's a fabulous magazine, it is HUGE with a lot of long articles and takes a lot of time to wade through.
The only two subscriptions I've ADDED in the past 2 years are Eating Well and the Nutrition Action Newsletter, both of which are easy to review in a relatively short time and help with healthy eating.
Unfortunately, the magazine problem is far more than about subscriptions. A LOT of the mags and pubs I get are because of my membership in various organizations. Like AAA has a monthly mag and my car insurance has one and AARP has both a monthly mag AND a newspaper...stuff like that. I have finally given up on reading these on a regular basis. The AAA and GEICO ones I usually look at momentarily for articles of interest and then they go in the trash.
As for catalogs, oh yes, I used to be the Catalog Queen in the 80s but I reformed. 98% of the few catalogs I still get go right from the mailbox to the trash. That alone has helped a LOT with clutter.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I've tried and failed to read one piece a day. I've tried carrying them in the car for those apparently illusive times where I have a minute out and about (why don't I ever really have something when that happens?) to no avail. My current approach is to not keep getting the magazines (of course, the gift thing is another issue) and trying to get myself to ditch most catalogs directly into the recycle bin upon arrival. This is in line with my BYOYL goal of debt reduction too. I actually don't shop from the catalogs but it does seem to give me the wants sometimes so just best to avoid it at this point I think.
Originally posted by p7eggyc: I love getting rid of big piles of magazines/catalogs. I always have this fantasy that I'm going to read them or whatever and it's just a joke.
Yea, I'm horrible about it. I have this PILE of "to be reads" on my coffee table that just gets bigger. I used to be better about taking the time to at least look through them, but I've fallen way behind. Then there's the OTHER pile of the Entertainment Weekly's and that really piles up because it's a weekly and I'm not good at jettisoning it as soon as I've read it because I often skip the big articles and come back to them.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Sheri, I know you weren't feeling terrific so excellent job getting it done anyway. I love getting rid of big piles of magazines/catalogs. I always have this fantasy that I'm going to read them or whatever and it's just a joke. I keep my backpacking magazines, a travel magazine and a few cooking magazines. I've stopped getting them all but I want those around for reference. I got 2 subscriptions as Christmas gifts and I'm hoping I don't get overwhelmed with those. Anyway, getting rid of those piles is good not just for my clutter issue but for my mental clutter of feeling like I need to 'get to them'.
Went through and flung a big pile of old magazines
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Scrubbed bathroom sink inside and out Scrubbed electric toothbrush base Wiped down top edge of tile around sink Dusted/wiped off everything on the sink Refilled hand soap pump container Replaced bathroom cup
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Okay, here's the big question...will I remember to fly when I get home tonight? LOL This has always been one of the big issues in the 1 1/2 years I've been trying to establish the habit. I just forget. I come home and I get into my ALREADY ESTABLISHED routine and I forget.
Hoping this will help me remember.
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
But, to be honest, it felt like you were saying "Don't beat up on yourself for being who you are." and then saying "Don't approach this like a perfectionist." when that IS who I am. But, like I said, I did hear what you were saying...it just hit me wrong. I almost deleted my response but figured it was better to be honest about how I was feeling.
I can't figure out (in my jetlagged frame of mind) how to reply to this that won't dig me in any deeper so I think it might be best to let this go for now. I'm sure we'll come back to it at some point. Doubt the subject of perfectionism is going anywhere for either of us anytime soon.
I'm glad you shared. I understand so well where you are and only wish you every success figuring this stuff out.
Originally posted by schoolmom: I am inspired to pick my own new habit and spend a month on it. And the winner is: going to bed with a clean kitchen.
You go, girl! I'm impressed!
In my situation, the kitchen is probably the worst of all my household areas and bad behaviors. Picking going to bed with a clean kitchen as my first new habit would leave me horribly sleep-deprived, I fear! LOL I would never be able to go to bed because my kitchen is never clean! However, I hope to NOT be able to say that is as true come the end of 2006!
Best of luck to both of us! Sheri
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by p7eggyc: {{{Sheri}}} Didn't mean to stand on your toes. You're doing great and you'll figure it out. Take what you can use and leave the rest as always.
I don't want you to ever feel like you can't say what you think or feel to me. I SO value your input and, because you have struggled with some of these same issues, you have great insights. But, to be honest, it felt like you were saying "Don't beat up on yourself for being who you are." and then saying "Don't approach this like a perfectionist." when that IS who I am. But, like I said, I did hear what you were saying...it just hit me wrong. I almost deleted my response but figured it was better to be honest about how I was feeling.
Hugs! Sheri
Posts: 7336 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I am working on FLYing myself. I am learning in FLYing, eating, and life in general how important it is to me to do babysteps. I think that the ideas of establishing one new habit per month and committing to spend 10 minutes per evening cleaning/decluttering are both great ideas.
I am inspired to pick my own new habit and spend a month on it. And the winner is: going to bed with a clean kitchen.
Don't get me wrong, I hear what you're saying...but I'm not there yet. I'm happy for you that you are, but I'm not. I need structure in order to develop the habit. That doesn't mean I'm going to say "Today is Tuesday, you can ONLY work in the bathroom." but I've got to find some structure to hook this habit on as a starting point--and then I can be as flexible as I want.
{{{Sheri}}} Didn't mean to stand on your toes. You're doing great and you'll figure it out. Take what you can use and leave the rest as always.
