Welcome back.....

 ...on this Marvellous Monday!  👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

How was your weekend?

Did you keep up with your routines?  

Did you fit in some fun and some time to refresh?

Has your Monday morning been a little less hectic than in past times?

Don't forget to rate your mood and your house, every so often compare to previous scores and see where you're improving or stagnant and see if you can work out how to improve things.  Our aim is to use our time for maximum effect and reduce the stress (and shame!) a messy house might cause.

We're back to a new week but the same playsheet....

* MR

* Daily Focus 

* ZONE 

* PAMPER 

* ER 

Are you finding more things to add to your MORNING ROUTINE to help set yourself up for daily success? Mine includes....

* airing and making the bed which leaves it lovely and fresh for bedtime and the bedroom neat and tidy throughout the day.  I leave the bedroom with anything in hand that doesn't belong there.

* ensuring I wash or shower, do my hair and teeth and dress to hard bottom slippers or shoes.  This ensures I'm presentable to any callers and not lounging about in pyjamas all day!  I leave the bathroom clean and wiped over and with anything that doesn't need to be in there removed.

* I eat breakfast, take my vitamins, load or unload the dishwasher, wipe down worktops and dining table and get out food for lunch, dinner or both.  The kitchen is now tidy and I know what we're eating.

* I spend 15 mins moving on the laundry.  I either put on a load of laundry, move it to the airer or washing line, iron or fold and put away.

After this it's time to either do your DAILY FOCUS or move to your ZONE. 

If you need to clear the decks a bit before cleaning then start in ZONE WORK.  We're in ZONE 5 - RELAX, or our lounge, family room.

First, spend 15 minutes a day decluttering.  Work through a drawer or cupboard or shelf at a time. You're aim is to sift the rubbish from charity shop donations (or Ebay / Vinted sellable items) and to put back only the things you want to keep.  

If you're all decluttered and your lounge falls into the category of high traffic area then I would move on to the DAILY FOCUS,  you'll see why.

In FlyLadyLand,  today is POWER HOUR OR WEEKLY HOME BLESSING DAY.  This is the name for 6 jobs, 10 minutes each in your HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS...not your whole house!!  My HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS are my kitchen diner, where people pop in, my hall, downstairs shower room which is also the guest loo and the lounge.

The 6 jobs are...

* PUPA - Pick Up and Put Away clutter and rubbish

* bin the rubbish and refresh the bin

* featherdust the skirting, ceilings, doorframe... get those cobwebs.

* dust all flat surfaces 

* Polish glass like mirrors, picture frames, glass in doors, TV screens

* vacuum or mop the floor

Don't forget to set your timer, it gets you started and makes you stop....make it fun, race against the timer to complete each job.

Then all that's left is your PAMPER and EVENING ROUTINE. 

Don't think you can fit all this in?  Why not listen to a bit of input from Diane....

So, that's it from me today. 

Let me know how you're doing in the comments.

Toodle-ooo

Nora

xxx

Happy Weekend! 🥳

Another week complete in our declutter and clean and were back to a glorious weekend...woohoo!

But don't think it's a rest from routines!  That's how things start to fall apart!  We think days off and we forget that we need to wear clothes, eat and sleep plus get prepared for the week ahead!

Doesn't sound like fun?  Well, that's the attitude that's got to change.  That's why you fall behind, because you listen to the charmer in your head saying.... 'come on, it's the weekend, don't do housework, don't worry about next week, just go out and eat - cooking is boring!  Chill out, relax.....'

Sshhhhhhh!

Quiet THAT voice and listen to sense!

You don't have to go mad!  

Because of our habits and routines over the last 2 weeks we are on top of the laundry,  we have food in the cupboards, the house is in reasonable shape, we've got some odd jobs done.... AND.... the clutter is decreasing, surfaces are reappearing, dust is reducing....  oohhh... it's soooooo good!  Well done us.

However, it IS the weekend and we still need to do the basics.  Eat, wash school uniform, maybe have some time out as a family, pack bags for the week ahead (get that homework or presentation done!).  Plus... do something we'd like to and have time to refresh...ready in every way for the week ahead.

Saturday in FlyLadyLand is Family Fun Day and Sunday is Renew Your Spirit Day, I actually either do mine the other way round or I combine them because spending time with my family is a way to relax!  I also find Sunday busy we'll  have church in the morning, friends coming for lunch before we head off to evening church and a presentation from TV presenter David Harper on his unexpected journey to Christianity.

So, the non-negotiables are your MR and ER, those will keep the basics rolling along.  We need to switch those up from 'a drag' to 'a safety net'.  Something that grounds your day and provides familiarity, auto-pilot for the days when life isn't feeling so great!

The other must have is PAMPER time, sounds ridiculous, but it's time to slow down, reflect and do something nice for yourself.... a walk in nature to enjoy the autumn colours, a face mask, a chapter of a book or Bible...it's a little daily recharge just for you.

Did you refresh your cleaning caddy on Friday along with school bags, swim bags, gym bags, handbag?!  You'll thank yourself you did these on Monday when they are a fresh start for the week. 

If you're having trouble working out this system to fit your life why not listen to Diane....

...she's really good at suggesting alternatives and work around.

So, enjoy your weekend, and I'll see you on Monday. 

Nora

xxx

A warm welcome.

Good morning on this Fantastic Friday!  👋🏻

How are you today?

Don't forget to take the temperature of your home and yourself so that you can keep track of your scores.  Are they going up?  Remaining consistent? See if they tell you anything that can help you get where you want to be.  Where do you want to be?  Leave a comment if you need some support.

Our plan for today is....

*MR

*DAILY FOCUS 

* ZONE 1 - WELCOME 

* PAMPER 

* ER

Today in FlyLadyLand is the day to give our bags and car some attention.  It's also DATE NIGHT....  🍿🍹🎬 ...... or maybe, family film night.

Today is the day to close down the week by cleaning and refreshing all the bags coming back in to the house.  Is there a gym outfit or swimming kit that's festering somewhere, get it in the wash.  How about that handbag full of receipts from yesterday?  School lunch boxes that need emptying and washing.  

It's also a good day (whilst were in our handbags) to think about budgeting, do you need to file those receipts, balance your accounts, pay a credit card bill?

Hopefully you filled up with petrol yesterday,  so today is a simple shake of the car mats, putting any rubbish in the bin and maybe giving the glass or dashboard a wipe over.  You may want to use this as the day to check your water or oil too.

Finally there's Date Night, either with your husband, a best friend, your children, how about inviting your parents over for a games night? Think about the activity (film, games, making pizzas together?) Whatever you do, make it a fun night.

Today we're back in ZONE 1, WELCOME.  

15 minutes of decluttering or 15 minutes of cleaning,  or a bit of both!

Did you treat yourself to a pumpkin or a chrysanthemum for your front door?  or maybe a door wreath? 

Why not go and clean your front door and sweep the path and put out your purchases before you forget?  Lets do some to celebrate the beautiful colours of autumn and create a warm welcome to your home....

Dont forget your PAMPER TIME today, what will you do?

You could paint your nails autumnal colours.  How about making coffee time special by making a spiced coffee, hot chocolate or spiced chai latte? Listen to an autumnal playlist or wrap up warm with your drink and sit in the garden to drink it....or maybe if your trees have started to change colour, get out for a 15 minute walk around the block to see the colours, seed heads, fungus, listen to the birds.....

Once youve done all that it's just your EVENING ROUTINE to close down the house for the night and set yourself up for success in the morning.... you could set the breakfast table, fill the kettle or put your coffee machine on a timer!  How about treating the family to Danish overnight rolls....

Did you put out an outfit for today before bed last night?  How did it feel to be able to dress without wondering what to wear?  You didn't do that?  So, give it a go tonight, choose your clothes for tomorrow so that even that decision is made and you can get up on auto-pilot!

Have a great day today and we'll catch up over the weekend.

Cheerio

Nora

xxx

OUT & ABOUT....

Good morning and thumbs up for Thursday!  👍🏻

How are you today?

Don't forget to take the temperature of your home and yourself so that you can keep track on your scores.  Are they going up?  Remaining consistent? See if they tell you anything that can help you.

Our plan for today is....

*MR

*DAILY FOCUS 

* ZONE 1 - WELCOME 

* PAMPER 

* ER

Today in FlyLadyLand is the day to go OUT & ABOUT (Errand Day) and get as much done as you can.  This not only saves time,  it's also more economical on fuel and parking or public transport charges.

Apart from food shopping, do you need to buy petrol, drop off donations to the charity shop, go via the amenity tip to drop rubbish off, go to the recycling centre, the library, the chemist to pick up a prescription, any items to return?  

You could treat yourself to a pumpkin or a chrysanthemum for your front door to celebrate the beautiful colours of autumn.

Think about your route...what's on the way?

Also, why not put together your shopping bags, any coupons or gift cards, your shopping list, trolley token?  If you have one, pop it all into the car now ready to go, saves rushing out of the door...that's how you forget things!

Today we're back in ZONE 1, WELCOME.  

15 minutes of decluttering or 15 minutes of cleaning,  or a bit of both!

You could use your PAMPER TIME to watch Diane....

Other than that it's just your EVENING ROUTINE to close down the house for the night and set yourself up for success in the morning.... you could set the breakfast table, fill the kettle or put your coffee machine on a timer!

Why not choose your clothes for tomorrow so that even that decision is made and you can get up on auto-pilot!

Have a great day and see you back here tomorrow. 

Cheerio

Nora

xxx

Procrastinating? Don't!

Good morning on this Wonderful Wednesday!

How are you today?

Today's plan of action goes something like this....

* MR

* Daily Focus 

* ZONE 1

* PAMPER TIME 

*ER

Todays Daily Focus in FlyLadyLand is Anti-Procrastination Day.   It's the day to do stuff you've been putting off!  Quite often we chew things over...do we....don't we.... and quite often we spend more time chewing than doing!

The idea of Anti-Procrastination Day, or I call it ODD JOB DAY is to DO.  It's that simple!

I have a 'to-do list' which is mainly one off stuff like cleaning the washing machine filter through to DIY jobs.  I'm currently putting it new steps and a path in the garden and returning our loft space into a nice room after a flood.  It's he sort of day to change tap washers, lightbulbs or batteries.

I write down jobs I want to achieve and come ODD JOB DAY I decide where I'll work based on the weather, if it's fine, I'll be in the garden.  If it's wet, any other job will do as they're all indoors!

Get a sheet of paper and start your 'to-do list'.  Give yourself 15 minutes over a cup of tea to write down as many jobs as you can, if you can do 1 or 2, great!  

You'll find when you write them down that you'll empty quite a lot out of your brain... you'll feel so much better.  Keep the list handy so that you can add to it as things arise.  It'll stop you getting distracted, prevent you forgetting and get much more achieved than you thought.  Then refer to it on ODD JOB DAY and start getting these little bits done.

Next up is to return to your WELCOME ZONE.  It's another 15 minutes decluttering.... or cleaning.... or a bit of both.

I suggested some cleaning strategies yesterday, but how about a bit of a declutter and clean-along with Diane....

So, that's the plan today.  Remember to use your timer and keep topped up with water.

Don't forget your PAMPER TIME!  🧶🧵🎮📖☕️🫖

Finish your day with your ER and set yourself up for success tomorrow. 

See you then,

Nora

xxx

Declutter masterclass

Good morning on this Terrific Tuesday!

How are you today?

Don't forget to....

* take your temperature (you and home)

*MR

* Daily Focus

* PAMPER

* ER

Todays Daily Focus in FlyLadyLand is DESK DAY (or Plan & Play).  The day to get out your calendar and make any appointments for dentist, haircuts...or vet?!  

Also the day to check your fridge for things that need using up.  Plan your menu for the forthcoming week to include those and make a shopping list of everything else you need ready for shopping on Out & About Day  (Errand Day).

Once those things are done it's time to continue decluttering in your ZONE 1 - WELCOME.  In FlyLadyLand this is the entryway or porch, hall, stairs and dining room.  In my home it's the entry hall, stairs, landing and family study.

Here's a really great decluttering video from Diane in ZONE 1...

If you're all decluttered you can clean for 15 minutes by...

* featherdusting skirting, corners, ceilings... get those cobwebs!

* dusting flat surfaces

* polishing glass like windows, mirrors and glass in doors or pictures frames

* finally vacuuming carpets and rugs or mopping hard floors

Don't forget to use your timer so that you don't get too carried away.  Make time for a drink, I also take a glass of water with me, dust can make your throat dry.  And don't forget that PAMPER TIME!  You need to look after you!

OK, that's it.... let's go!

Byebye,

Nora

xxx

NEXT!

Good morning on Marvellous Monday!

How are you?  Take your temperature, compare to previous scores and try and work out what gives your best improvement and bear that in mind. 

So with a refreshed cleaning caddy and 2 weeks of routines and habits under our belt, we moving forward and in to a new Zone.

This week we're going to have a week in ZONE 1, I call this my WELCOME zone because it's our entrance.  The front door, hall, stairs and landing.  Some folks include their dining room in this, I include my office because it's at the top of the stairs,  so it makes more sense.

Make the system fit your home layout and your lifestyle.

Again, we're going to start by ensuring we've done our MORNING ROUTINE  (MR) ........

.. and don't forget to wrap your day up with your EVENING ROUTINE (ER)...

and we've done or are going to do our DAILY FOCUS, mine is ODD JOB DAY (anti-procrastination)

Our ZONE task across this week is first to declutter and also to clean.  You can declutter everything first and then clean later in the week, or next month.  Or do a 15min declutter followed by 15 minutes of cleaning, something in alignment with the jobs you'd do in your POWER HOUR (or Weekly Home Blessing).

With the change of seasons, my job will be to wash and put away some of the lighter jackets and get out winter coats and accessories.  Another day will be to clean and put away summer shoes and get out the cleaned winter ones.  I'll also have a paper purge and shredding and filing day in the family office or study.

I always do my glass when I'm in the zone like mirrors, windows, glass in doors or pictures.

Area by area, we are moving forward stress free.  We are stopping to rehydrate,  giving ourselves a break and a pamper.

We are taking small consistent steps towards a clean, clutter reduced home ready for whatever celebration you're having you're family over for or...just for yourself...why not?!

I'll be back tomorrow with some more prompts, until then, have a great day.

Nora

xxx