stick to my FLYLADY routines

I think the flylady routine is too difficult for me, even with babysteps. So for now I am taking it back to little tiny ant steps and after spending 15 minutes on the computer doing “my stuff” (ie having fun) I have then been dealing with 5 things in the house, whether that’s clothes or washing up or stuff to be put out for recycling. I’ve only done it for a day so far but already things seem on the up.

My timer really IS my best friend. So I’m taking the theory from Flylady but using my own methods for the moment. You never know, I might even work up to a full 15 minutes of housework eventually!

Oh i don’t feel any further along with this than when i first found flylady 5years ago! Feeling like such a useless wretch at the moment. I’ve just got out of a relationship which demanded all my spare attention due to bad moods. I need a yay to remember to do my routines. I may just take to sticking instructions on the wall’s. They won’t make the place look any worse.

Now that I’m taking my pictures everyday, I wanted to show off my shiney bathroom sink! Woohoo!

This now coincides with another goal but I do want to keep this in my 43things list until these routines really start sticking to me.

I keep dropping the ball after a few days, so I’m going to consider a solid month of sticking to routines as my cut-off point. I’ll let my schedule goal sweep up the leftovers if I stray occasionally. Gotta leave room for life y’know.

Shined that ole sink again last night.. This time, extra nice, with a little extra spit shine going on. ;) Let’s just say that ole bathroom sink was just glimmering this morning. Heh.. it did make a difference.. It got me thinking about how to make little differences all around the place.. and that got me thinking about my business again.. so this is a good thing.. having me thinking more about the things I want in my life.

I shined my (bathroom) sink last night. It’s my main sink right now because it’s a houseshare and the kitchen is almost a lost cause.. due to a doggie.. at any rate, the sink was nice this morning..

onto the next step from FlyLady.. and no, I will not wear laced-up shoes every day.. sorry, I like my slip ons.. and besides, I’m freaking poor… But I will “get dressed” and ready for the day. I find that fair enough for me.

I remember when I was on a roll with that, and how much more ready for the day I really was. So much more could get done..

Only thing is, in the future, on days off, I will have a slow moving morning, that I can enjoy by having a cup of coffee and hanging out in slippers for a time.. but I will have to agree to have a stopping point where I will then get ready for the day.

Last night I was in a major slump and had a really bad back ache.. wah wah wahlol So I opted for being a bed potato and just got lazy.

But.. I feel a lot better today and had a realization.. if I expect to be able to take care of the dreams that I want to happen in my life, I need to be able to take care of myself first. And right now it doesn’t feel like I’m making life easy for myself.

So.. I’m hoping my internal heart to heart was a good way to kick start some stuff.. On a brighter note, I need actually clean up some stuff in the bathroom though.. It looks a little more put together now, and not so cluttered.

I have not touched this goal in a very long time. I was on a role at one point, but then life kicked into erratic mode and I lost all sense of routine…

Anyway, for some reason, today, I felt like it was time to do it. Now, I live in a shared house, and I’m technically considering the kitchen sink to NOT be the sink I shine every night, because there is an annoying dog that resides in the kitchen area who messes everything up.. daily..

But I will focus on the basement, where I live for now, and there is a bathroom sink that I will shine every night. It will be my sink to shine, and the area to keep clean and tidy.

It’s a start.. I think I just really need to do this right now. It’s for so much more than a clean house or a tidy this or that.. it’s to help me think differently.

Now the summer is basically over and my whole life is slipping into more of a routine I am finding it easier to stick to a couple of things. I am washing up twice a day, and it really does only take about 5 minutes each time, it’s amazing. I normally leave the washing up to spread all over the kitchen until there’s nothing left to use and then beat myself up while I wash up as much as will fit on the drainer. This does not make me happy. So I am pleased with myself for keeping on top of this lately.

I have also stuck to a morning routine, more or less. Getting up at a decent time, getting dressed from head to toe (make up/hair etc) and putting the washing on.

I have also composed a small morning routine for my 4 year old son. It is written as he can read and I have stuck it on his bedroom door. It is the things we do normally, but now he can look and see what needs to be done next, without me telling (nagging??) him. He seems pleased with it. He needs boundaries to feel happy as he (probably) has Aspergers Syndrome.

All in all these little steps have made me feel much calmer and ultimately, less guilty and less crochety. When my son wanted me to take him out to play on his bicycle today I was ready to do it, ther was no “wait a minute, i’ve got to find my shoes” or “when I’ve put the washing out”. Just a simple “yes” and off we went. It felt so nice.

..but today I got up with a bit more optimism than usual and just got on with tidying up a bit. It really is that dreaded perfectionism that renders me practically useless. I wonder how I can get rid of that nagging little voice in my head. The thing is, I hardly notice it because it’s so normal, but it really brings me down. Hmmm…something to think about while I do a 27 fling boogie!