Hi Diane, my house is still very, very chaotic. However, and maybe this note is for those who are still struggling, in spite of the chaos I use my baby step routines as an anchor. If I follow my little guideline everyday then I find my anxiety levels really reduced, no medications necessary. I see rooms that look like WW1 but I don't panic, maybe I do a five minute in there, maybe not. It is so gratifying to sit at a table with a cloth and have the teenagers help with the dishes, everyone pitching in after supper. Before we had gotten so bad, no one ate at the table, everyone ate something different, it was more like a hotel than a family. Also it is gratifying to go to the laundry basket and see that it is an eighth full and not overflowing. So, I think that a lot of us are here because we suffer from anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, self loathing, ADHD, depression, confusion, OCD, loneliness, and a myriad of other conditions. I see my little routine book, control journal as a lifeboat in a stormy sea. As long as I hold onto the daily routine then the storm does not affect me so much. So a big thank you again from Canada. Maybe one day I will report that the house is clean top to bottom, but until then it is progress not perfection.
Andrea Marr You shared some very astute observations about the state of your home, family, and the human condition. Bless you. 💕Hope all continues to improve for you and yours. Also it’s progress not perfection, you said it Andrea! 💕
I'm so glad that you are seeing improvements, Andrea! My house isn't at all perfect - you would certainly find dust/cobwebs - but it is cosy and welcoming and not stressing me out! LOL!
Diane: You have no idea how much you've improved my life. I'm now heading straight for the home I've always dreamed of living in. Thank you. Thank you.
Ive been decluttering all summer. I have been through every drawer, cabinet, and closet in my house. (Except my 17 yo grandsons room), hes trying to resist. Lol. Im ok with that though. I have faith he will see the light one day. We dont bug him. Im not saying everything is perfect, but wow. Ive never had my house so organized. Just putting like things together and only keeping 5 of something instead of 55 has made a huge difference. I truly have way more time to lounge around than I ever had. Its so much easier to clean up whatever mess your family has made when everything has a place. Its amazing when you can just go get whatever you need instead of spending 20 minutes looking for stuff. I definitely follow a morning and night routine too. I want to add to whoever needs some inspiration. I started one cabinet, one shelf at a time. Some days I barely went through anything. Other days I might have gotten a lot. I just didn't give up. Before I knew it I had been at least somewhat through every inch of my house. Thank you Diane, you have always motivated me.
When I did my declutter I also did one little space at a time. I didn't follow other people'swere you pull everything out of a certain type throughout the whole house make a huge mess that takes hours to get through. I just did one drawer or one shelf. For my clothes I did look at all work tops are all leisure tops, etc. But I kept the categories very small. I have declutter this way multiple times over the years. I find it's like peeling an onion. I have decluttered one layer at a time. and even after downsizing from a 3-bedroom two different living room house to a one bedroom apartment under 800 square feet, I am still de-cluttering and reducing. This is because I've discovered it's easier to put things away when there's plenty of room to put them away. Keep it up it is worth it.
We did this when we were selling our home and moving to another state. We got rid of 75% of what we owned. It's so freeing!. We've been in our new home for over 1 1/2 yrs now, and cleaning and staying organized has never been easier. :) Well done Kelly ! tfs 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
kelly dry This is the way to go I believe. That’s the system I am using right now and it’s working! Thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us. 💕
I love your assurances that our routines need to suit us in particular, rather than duplicating yours. I, too, wait for a while to make my bed each morning -- because the dog likes to sleep in. Thanks for your videos! You start my mornings off with sunshine, every single day!
I'm so glad I found you Diane 🌻 I'm starting my first full month after watching lots of your videos, following your baby steps and making my own version of the journal. I'm feeling so much better about cleaning and the routines are becoming familiar. You are such fun, you make home care fun and I love that we can look so glamourous while cleaning. Thank you for sharing all that you have learned. I'm loving your Dressing your Truth journey too. That will be my next adventure. Love from Elaine in Australia xx
A really helpful video. I use the home blessing hour like a home rescue. I am just at the beginning of the fly lady system. But I am sure that the routines and first decluttering are the most important things to get it done. I'm so happy that I've found this system and you, Diane. I also watch the secret slob. Your channels are the best for the fly lady system. Thank you. I hope my English is not too bad, I am from Germany 🙈
Routines are everything! When life happens, they keep us grounded and moving forward. They create a momentum that creates progress. So glad I found this channel - it changed the way I’m doing life. Thank you! 💝🦋
Diane...........I had to come back to tell you that it is 6.46am here in UK and my morning routine is done (no laundry today as I haven't got enough for a full load!) AND did you know you can empty the dishwasher and put it all away in the same amount of time it takes to boil the kettle??!! Today I am going to be doing 10 minute stints in the lounge, bedroom and bathroom, tackle some hot spots and deep clean my hall. Have a fabulous day x
“Eyes down for the whole house.” You sound like a wonderful teacher 👩🏫 and you are a fabulous example. While I was on vacation at someone else’s house, I could help by always keeping the sink clear and counters clean. Thanks for your inspiration. Peace
Dear Diane I have been following you now for a couple of months and it’s working very slowly because of my health but its working some days I spend in bed on those I just get meals ready and clean up after but my house looks better thank you somuch🥰🥰🥰🇨🇦
Thank you. I found this video great. I have realized that because I don't have routines, I feel like my cleaning is never "finished". I am hopeful that I can get good routines in place so I can know when I am "done" for the day. Very helpful video, thanks.
Also, I appreciate you mentioning the routines not needing to be exactly in a certain order. I always felt like I was not able to be efficient in making a routine because I have a hard time doing a routine in an exact order.
I’ve been watching your videos for a long time now, and I have stablished my routines (I have young kids, I work partially from home and the rest outside the house, I have a fairly large house) and with the routines and slow but steady daily decluttering sessions I have gotten back control over my life/my time. And, I still get something great out of every single one of your videos. Thank you Diane, truly, thank you!
Diane, thank you so much for being so giving of your time and patience. I was recently introduced to the fly lady system, and I have already slipped sideways, so....back to basic routines. Swish and swipe. Shine the sink. Life changing! From being so overwhelmed for decades, I have a kitchen sink and a toilet to be proud of! It gives me such hope!
I have used this method for many years before I knew about Flylady, and jokingly called it my morning and evening walk -thru. Makes life so much easier. This morning was more of an errand day, with my anti-procrastinations scheduled for Wednesday. Picked up fresh produce for dinner from our local farm stand. We dropped of donations, items for other family members, and returned a clothing item I never wore and now is too big. Still very hot for the next few weeks here. Treated myself to a bottle of nail varnish and some pedi items from the beauty supply store.
This advice is great! I was adding items (decluttering, daily tasks, etc.) to my morning AND evening routines, causing everything to take longer! I will work on (focus) on keeping my daily routines and daily tasks separate. Wish me luck!
Thank you, Diane!! I have been so thrilled to find you! I feel full of hope and optimism for my future clean home and orderly life! I’m 67 so it’s been a long struggle for me and I’ve actually begun to see real progress. I’m not a hoarder, tho I have too much clutter. I suffer from a lack of a functional game plan and also over committing . I love being busy and appreciate your energy. I especially am buoyed by the way you ‘slip’ in tips to avoid common pitfalls of we ‘scattered’ types, without getting deep into the psychological weeds. So many books and systems I’ve read in the past have left me bogged down and almost immobilized by naval gazing. While gaining understanding is useful, what I’ve really needed is just a simple routine with simple steps to gaining control. Permission to not be perfect has helped tremendously! I’m so looking forward to your videos dealing with other aspects of life, as well. So thank you for all the great videos and especially your bright spirit and positivity! Jenny Dunn from Oregon
Your morning routine is very efficient. I like that! I've modified mine to work for me. (Why do people get so hung up on rules?) I work nights, divorced, 3 kids (25, 13, and 3 yrs old 😯) I'm home with the little one all day. My morning and "after dinner/before work" routines are crucial. If the morning stuff doesn't get done, I too have found that nothing else does. THE BEST thing that has worked for me is not leaving my bathroom in the morning until: I've washed up, combed my hair, dressed, and done my swish & swipe. It REALLY REALLY gets my day going. Also, thank you because your past comment of "the timer allows you to stop" has done wonders for my stress relief. Before I was trying to get it all done with no rest, tending to the toddler, then making dinner, cleaning up AND still having to go work all night!! Whew! My home is calmer now and cleaner! 😊
Thanks Diane. As a Realtor I don’t have as much time as I did as a homemaker, things got a little messy around the house. I’m getting back to my routine.
Thanks, I'm making my control journal, again. Like you've said baby steps. The reason I failed so many times is because I list everything I want done & nothing gets done. This time I will follow directions, thank you! 🤗
I’m at home all day, but I can’t stand having things hanging over my head. If I need to get groceries, I’m at the store at around 7am :D I only just recently got my decluttering and everything to the point where I could arrange my weekly chores into a sensible pattern, which feels really nice.
Back to school for my kids today, and I SO needed this!! I am the queen of procrastination, or working hard for a week or two, and then slipping into complacency! So it ends up that I’m just putting out fires!! 😢Thank you, for being my one consistent support💕
I absolutely agree with getting ready every single morning. Clean clothes, hair, makeup (keeping it all simple) some jewelry, and a spritz of fragrance. For me, I get up, use the bathroom, turn the shower on to heat up, make my bed, shower, do my hair and makeup, get dressed, then coffee. Then I;m ready for the day ! It makes me feel good. And I know I am ready for anything. Morning, during the day and evening routines are crucial. A clean kitchen is crucial, clean bathrooms are crucial. It's very easy really . , tfs 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
Thank you Diane! Really like the point about the difference between working from home and outside the home. I’m halfway between the two - stay at home mum with 1 ds to get to school. I think I’ll have to split my routine to before and after the school run. I really enjoy the process of refining a routine.
in the last few days you repeatedly mentioned, that you had made these refresher courses. it took me a while to understand, that could be for people like me, who have some trouble staying on track or implementing things during the 31 babysteps as well. these are very helpful. one or two I had seen before, when I first discovered your channel and only wanted to understand, what this is about (and because you are so cheearful as well :-D). but as I wanted to follow the 31 babysteps and not always looked into the book, because I didn't want to get confused, I didn't watch these here. But these are really helpful - esp. after day 18-20 some issues began to come up... thanks for the hints and these videos. it might be, I have to listen in again next week. I probably will transfer these ones into an MP3, so I can listen to them more easily and maybe, when I do stuff in other rooms and such. I know, having cleaning sessions as podcast is not everybodies liking. but these videos, that are like lectures, where you don't have to demonstrate a lot, or if you do, describe it well, these work fine.
Routines! Yes! I'm still a work in progress, but some of my routines are pretty much automatic now. I found, the simple daily ckeaning routines kije the swish and swipe, shiny sink, dress to shoes first thing, can be dine pretty much no matter where I am. I stayed at my mom's house recently while we were dealing with a family emergency, and other than the routines that are soe ifoc to my home, I kept to my morning and evening g routines, including g tge Dky lady tidying routines. And even that tiny little bit if daily ckeaning was exactly the type of practical support my mom needed at the time. And getting g dressed right as soon. As I got up, meant that I was ready for whatever came up each day , to be available for family. My home is slowly but steadily becoming less cluttered. And my kitchen is my pride and joy right now. That I'd the first area I started on 3 years ago, and now I've finally upgraded it from being maintenence in tidyiness and being orgsnised to functional, It's mow at the stage where zi can pretty it ip just a bit. I have slot of stuff in my kitchen still, but everything in my kitchen has a functional purpose, and I easily get rid of anything I don't need there anymore to make more room for the things zi actually love, use, and need in there.
I just love you Diane! You are so down to earth and helpful. I've really struggled with being consistent and your videos are the most helpful. ❣️ BTW your windows are so perfectly clean, you definitely are a great mentor.
Diane, thank you for this Back To Basic series! I love your FlyLady refresher videos. Always perfect timing to keep me on track. You are the best thanks for keeping us motivated. ☕️🧺💄👡🧹🛒🥖🏃🏻♀️🖖🏼❤️❤️
Yay! I never grow tired of a refresher. Diane, I have come so far since the initial days of discovering your 31 Babysteps Ad on my facebook newsfeed back in January 2017! After being drawn in by your calming voice, cheery disposition and pretty (lingual) accent, I fell in love with your home and it's peaceful, refreshing vibe and Danish/Swedish style. One by one, the babysteps have become regular habits and routines for me! My am routine is this: wake up, indoor shoes slipped right on, tidy bed and leave duvet to air, tidy hair/wash face/teeth, LOL, feed pups, make ice water bottle, head to gym, return home and reboot LOL, shower, s&s, duvet on bed, unload DW while making breakfast/ hot tea :) This is with "no coffee" can you believe it?! I drink ice water to get going, haha I still struggle a bit with my pm routine and not wanting to hit the sofa with my book before cleaning up dinner but most nights, it is a shiny sink :D This habit has been the toughest to instill bc I am a morning person so I often think, "I'll just get that in the am!" But what a reward it is when I don't have to, and the sink is shining. Thank you for all that you do to encourage us; it does not go unnoticed!!
I had to stop doing zone cleaning because I would focus too much on that and not do my morning and evening routines. I still struggle doing an evening routine. a lot of days I'm doing both the evening and the morning chores at the same time. But it would be better if I would follow my plan. I'm going to try starting my evening routine earlier like you suggested in the video. I had already started doing the tidy chore before I eat dinner. And that helped. My morning and evening routine are the same five things. 10-minute tidy, do something related to clothes, dishes, and S&S. AM S&S= bath swipe and swish PM S&S= kitchen swipe surfaces and sweep with the broom. I don't think my evening routine is too much but I end up not getting the dishes and the S&S done 80% of the time. These something to do with my clothes part is very easy. I don't do laundry every day but it might be a load of laundry. I partially dry my clothes in the dryer and hang them to finish drying, or I might be taking them off where they've been drying and putting them away, or something as simple as making sure the dirty clothes are in the hamper. On occasion I do a little mending for that chore like sewing on a button. Because I have health issues I break up my home blessing hour to Saturday and Sunday. I do half one day and half the other. But even on Saturday night I will not get my evening routine done. It's like I have some sort of block about it. I'm going to try your suggestion of starting and finishing the whole thing earlier.
Hi Diane! You are so right with doing morning routine first, when you don't have to leave the house! I'm working self-employed in homeoffice, so I can decide on my own working time, BUT that makes it very difficult for me. Everyday I struggle "Should I first do laundry and zone cleaning or should I start working and do it later." I noticed I have to do it first otherwise I often don't do it anymore this day.🙈 I'm interested in how do you structure your day with flylady tasks, working, cooking, leisure time and so on. Do you have a fixed schedule which is every day the same? Thank you for your great motivation!😘 Best regards from Germany! 🙋🏼♀️
Yes, I always get my Routines done and out of the way before "work". Make sure you have them written down (on paper or an app) so you can work through them/tick them off/don't get sidetracked. And remember to take fixed breaks when you are working in your home office.
I appreciate your sociological mind - you consider the wide variety of personal circumstances of the people who watch these vids. And I *really* appreciate that you're not constantly trying to sell stuff or line the pockets of Mr. Amazon 😉😜😎.
Mixed Media Life yes! YES! I found flylady through the original “FlyLady” Marla years ago but stopped watching official “FlyLady channel” videos because she doesn’t clean anymore, just sits on her bahookie selling her “flylady” branded rags & other products she gets affiliate $$ for. But Thank you THANK YOU Diane in Denmark.. encouraging us to “start where we are, use what we have, and do what we can” (I’m crediting Arthur Ashe for that quote though :) ) Bless You, Diane!!!
@@losiento2 I watch both channels. I love that Diane shows us how things are done, but I still think that Marla has a heart for her Flybabies. But Flylady is also her business so I don't resent that she sells products. And I don't think it's affiliations, it's products that her business sells. They do try to find high quality items that will help make cleaning easier. I own her mop handle and mop cloths and Rubba Swisha. I never felt like I had to own them to do the Flylady routine but I would order them again if I needed them because they are really nice and work well. (The mop cleans better and more easily than any I have ever used.)
@@thechickenwire6136 Yes, I agree. Marla was never really out to be a UA-camr she started with emails and forums etc before YT was around. Let's give her credit, she invented the whole thing years and years ago...I think I had dial-up then lol. There is a limit to what one can do for free. Some people can't win...sell affiliate products and be scorned, sell your own products also be scorned. Diane is great too though, obvs.
@@losiento2 I don't begrudge flylady selling her stuff but I just watched her for the first time a couple of weeks ago and noticed that the table next to her was beyond cluttered and everything was covered in very well established dust. Ironically, especially the table right under all her feather dusters. I found it uninspiring. No one is perfect but when I watched the next week,still dusty. Someone mentioned it in the comments and she got very upset at them, but she did get a duster out of retirement and used it. I'm grateful for her passing on what works for so many, but I have trouble with people that talk the talk, and I get the feeling she is not walking the walk. A few days later she turned the camera around to show wall hangings and the rest of the room was just as cluttered and dusty. When I watch her I want to sit. When I watch Diane I want to move and improve.
You may have covered this in another video - but how do you keep your clothes from being "crunchy" or stiff from air drying? I can't seem to figure that out! And I don't have time or energy (chronic illness) to iron everything. Love your videos!
I use the following trick: in a spray bottle you mix one half water, one third white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of hair conditioner (maybe 2 teaspoons If it is more liquid). Mix well. Caution: the spray must be very thin if you don’t want your clothes to get stained. After laundry or drying, hang your clothes and spray this mix. Let stand some hours, till they dry completely. Most of the clothes will be wrinkle free, others will be easily ironed. Hope this is useful for you.
Hi Diane....watching Steph too and hope this cracks my lacklustre approach! I have reordered and rejigged my routine so that my MR is in the order I tend to do it and a couple of things that depressed me because it slowed me up are now moved to my daily routine which fits better with getting out on the school run and returning home to do all the other stuff. Gonna beat my bahookie to get the ER done! Checking in with Steph on that one too! Thanks oodles xx
The sun is shining here Diane and I am enjoying my sea bathing. The sea is so warm. Thank goodness for my flylady routines. I do them quickly and I am up and out to enjoy life itself. HAVE A GREAT DAY XX MARGARET
I would love to know what you have your kids do to help around the house. We have a 17, 13, 8 and 5. This has been a struggle for me because my hubby thinks they should be doing more and then I feel “why am I home?”.
1) Your name is hilarious. Captures parenting perfectly in three words. 2) Maybe we teach and expect our kids to help out more because it's what is best for them in the long run, not because it makes our lives easier(cos often it's easier to do it ourselves). As a mom you will always be needed and never obsolete no matter how much the kids help with the house.
Along with my DD12 I am refreshing my routeens. We made ourselves check lists yesterday. I didn't put make bed or swish and swipe on the list because they are ingrained now. 😊
What do you mean by "tidy up"? I do a weekly clean (the Weekly Home Blessing Hour). And we put things back when we have used them/clear away things at night before we go to bed. So there is no "tidying" to do! LOL!
Don't focus on how long my routines take. Set a timer, have your own routine list ready and work through it! Setting a timer/having a list will keep you focused. Let me know how you get on!
I have to just accept dirty dishes sitting around and sometimes a messy sink- my fiancé does the dishes and he usually cleans things right before I cook dinner, so the dishes sit for a full day before he cleans them. He doesn’t do a lot of other housework so I am not going to discourage him from the one thing he does regularly
For more help on setting up daily routines, see my Seven Day Challenge playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLxIYCyTLBED_jlyESS5EQKSbtoTCRK_8f.html
Hi Diane, my house is still very, very chaotic. However, and maybe this note is for those who are still struggling, in spite of the chaos I use my baby step routines as an anchor. If I follow my little guideline everyday then I find my anxiety levels really reduced, no medications necessary.
I see rooms that look like WW1 but I don't panic, maybe I do a five minute in there, maybe not.
It is so gratifying to sit at a table with a cloth and have the teenagers help with the dishes, everyone pitching in after supper.
Before we had gotten so bad, no one ate at the table, everyone ate something different, it was more like a hotel than a family.
Also it is gratifying to go to the laundry basket and see that it is an eighth full and not overflowing.
So, I think that a lot of us are here because we suffer from anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, self loathing, ADHD, depression, confusion, OCD, loneliness, and a myriad of other conditions.
I see my little routine book, control journal as a lifeboat in a stormy sea. As long as I hold onto the daily routine then the storm does not affect me so much.
So a big thank you again from Canada. Maybe one day I will report that the house is clean top to bottom, but until then it is progress not perfection.
Andrea Marr You shared some very astute observations about the state of your home, family, and the human condition. Bless you. 💕Hope all continues to improve for you and yours.
Also it’s progress not perfection, you said it Andrea! 💕
I'm so glad that you are seeing improvements, Andrea! My house isn't at all perfect - you would certainly find dust/cobwebs - but it is cosy and welcoming and not stressing me out! LOL!
Andrea Marr 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
Diane: You have no idea how much you've improved my life. I'm now heading straight for the home I've always dreamed of living in. Thank you. Thank you.
Ive been decluttering all summer. I have been through every drawer, cabinet, and closet in my house. (Except my 17 yo grandsons room), hes trying to resist. Lol. Im ok with that though. I have faith he will see the light one day. We dont bug him. Im not saying everything is perfect, but wow. Ive never had my house so organized. Just putting like things together and only keeping 5 of something instead of 55 has made a huge difference. I truly have way more time to lounge around than I ever had. Its so much easier to clean up whatever mess your family has made when everything has a place. Its amazing when you can just go get whatever you need instead of spending 20 minutes looking for stuff. I definitely follow a morning and night routine too. I want to add to whoever needs some inspiration. I started one cabinet, one shelf at a time. Some days I barely went through anything. Other days I might have gotten a lot. I just didn't give up. Before I knew it I had been at least somewhat through every inch of my house. Thank you Diane, you have always motivated me.
When I did my declutter I also did one little space at a time. I didn't follow other people'swere you pull everything out of a certain type throughout the whole house make a huge mess that takes hours to get through. I just did one drawer or one shelf. For my clothes I did look at all work tops are all leisure tops, etc. But I kept the categories very small. I have declutter this way multiple times over the years. I find it's like peeling an onion. I have decluttered one layer at a time. and even after downsizing from a 3-bedroom two different living room house to a one bedroom apartment under 800 square feet, I am still de-cluttering and reducing. This is because I've discovered it's easier to put things away when there's plenty of room to put them away. Keep it up it is worth it.
@@sentarose yes, I agree. I never drug out too much at once. I would still be sitting in that mess. Lol
We did this when we were selling our home and moving to another state. We got rid of 75% of what we owned. It's so freeing!. We've been in our new home for over 1 1/2 yrs now, and cleaning and staying organized has never been easier. :) Well done Kelly ! tfs 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
@@momof2momof2 Thank you, it is awesome
kelly dry This is the way to go I believe. That’s the system I am using right now and it’s working! Thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us. 💕
I love your assurances that our routines need to suit us in particular, rather than duplicating yours. I, too, wait for a while to make my bed each morning -- because the dog likes to sleep in. Thanks for your videos! You start my mornings off with sunshine, every single day!
I'm so glad I found you Diane 🌻
I'm starting my first full month after watching lots of your videos, following your baby steps and making my own version of the journal. I'm feeling so much better about cleaning and the routines are becoming familiar. You are such fun, you make home care fun and I love that we can look so glamourous while cleaning. Thank you for sharing all that you have learned.
I'm loving your Dressing your Truth journey too. That will be my next adventure. Love from Elaine in Australia xx
Yay, go you, Elaine - you are taking action and seeing progress! Thanks for letting me know!
Elaine Ogden Isn't she just the best?! 🙂
@@Dreblueskies ~ Yes, just gorgeous. So genuine and unpretentious. 😊
@@elaineogden My thoughts as well. I'm grateful she shares her time with all of us 😌
A really helpful video. I use the home blessing hour like a home rescue. I am just at the beginning of the fly lady system. But I am sure that the routines and first decluttering are the most important things to get it done. I'm so happy that I've found this system and you, Diane. I also watch the secret slob. Your channels are the best for the fly lady system. Thank you.
I hope my English is not too bad, I am from Germany 🙈
I understood you perfectly, Bird 81. Welcome here! 🖐😀 You are my neighbour in the south! (waves from Copenhagen)
Yeah, one more from Germany ^^
Routines are everything! When life happens, they keep us grounded and moving forward. They create a momentum that creates progress. So glad I found this channel - it changed the way I’m doing life. Thank you! 💝🦋
Diane...........I had to come back to tell you that it is 6.46am here in UK and my morning routine is done (no laundry today as I haven't got enough for a full load!) AND did you know you can empty the dishwasher and put it all away in the same amount of time it takes to boil the kettle??!! Today I am going to be doing 10 minute stints in the lounge, bedroom and bathroom, tackle some hot spots and deep clean my hall. Have a fabulous day x
Thx for the reminder about the importance of an evening routine when you work outside the home, Diane! Now I know where to focus next.
“Eyes down for the whole house.” You sound like a wonderful teacher 👩🏫 and you are a fabulous example. While I was on vacation at someone else’s house, I could help by always keeping the sink clear and counters clean. Thanks for your inspiration. Peace
Heidie Ho
Heidi’s that a great idea.
Dear Diane I have been following you now for a couple of months and it’s working very slowly because of my health but its working some days I spend in bed on those I just get meals ready and clean up after but my house looks better thank you somuch🥰🥰🥰🇨🇦
Thank you. I found this video great. I have realized that because I don't have routines, I feel like my cleaning is never "finished". I am hopeful that I can get good routines in place so I can know when I am "done" for the day. Very helpful video, thanks.
Also, I appreciate you mentioning the routines not needing to be exactly in a certain order. I always felt like I was not able to be efficient in making a routine because I have a hard time doing a routine in an exact order.
I’ve been watching your videos for a long time now, and I have stablished my routines (I have young kids, I work partially from home and the rest outside the house, I have a fairly large house) and with the routines and slow but steady daily decluttering sessions I have gotten back control over my life/my time. And, I still get something great out of every single one of your videos. Thank you Diane, truly, thank you!
You and Steph make such a good team. The two of you, along with The Minimal Mom, have inspired me to make housekeeping simpler and, I dare say, fun.
Thank you so much, Peggy! 😊
Yes, the minimal mom is awesome too.
Diane, thank you so much for being so giving of your time and patience. I was recently introduced to the fly lady system, and I have already slipped sideways, so....back to basic routines. Swish and swipe. Shine the sink. Life changing! From being so overwhelmed for decades, I have a kitchen sink and a toilet to be proud of! It gives me such hope!
I have used this method for many years before I knew about Flylady, and jokingly called it my morning and evening walk -thru. Makes life so much easier. This morning was more of an errand day, with my anti-procrastinations scheduled for Wednesday. Picked up fresh produce for dinner from our local farm stand. We dropped of donations, items for other family members, and returned a clothing item I never wore and now is too big. Still very hot for the next few weeks here. Treated myself to a bottle of nail varnish and some pedi items from the beauty supply store.
This advice is great! I was adding items (decluttering, daily tasks, etc.) to my morning AND evening routines, causing everything to take longer! I will work on (focus) on keeping my daily routines and daily tasks separate. Wish me luck!
Thank you, Diane!!
I have been so thrilled to find you! I feel full of hope and optimism for my future clean home and orderly life! I’m 67 so it’s been a long struggle for me and I’ve actually begun to see real progress. I’m not a hoarder, tho I have too much clutter. I suffer from a lack of a functional game plan and also over committing . I love being busy and appreciate your energy. I especially am buoyed by the way you ‘slip’ in tips to avoid common pitfalls of we ‘scattered’ types, without getting deep into the psychological weeds. So many books and systems I’ve read in the past have left me bogged down and almost immobilized by naval gazing. While gaining understanding is useful, what I’ve really needed is just a simple routine with simple steps to gaining control. Permission to not be perfect has helped tremendously!
I’m so looking forward to your videos dealing with other aspects of life, as well.
So thank you for all the great videos and especially your bright spirit and positivity!
Jenny Dunn from Oregon
Aww, thank you so much, Jenny - and welcome here!
Thanks, Diane!
Your morning routine is very efficient. I like that! I've modified mine to work for me. (Why do people get so hung up on rules?)
I work nights, divorced, 3 kids (25, 13, and 3 yrs old 😯) I'm home with the little one all day. My morning and "after dinner/before work" routines are crucial. If the morning stuff doesn't get done, I too have found that nothing else does.
THE BEST thing that has worked for me is not leaving my bathroom in the morning until: I've washed up, combed my hair, dressed, and done my swish & swipe. It REALLY REALLY gets my day going.
Also, thank you because your past comment of "the timer allows you to stop" has done wonders for my stress relief. Before I was trying to get it all done with no rest, tending to the toddler, then making dinner, cleaning up AND still having to go work all night!! Whew!
My home is calmer now and cleaner! 😊
Thanks Diane. As a Realtor I don’t have as much time as I did as a homemaker, things got a little messy around the house. I’m getting back to my routine.
Thanks, I'm making my control journal, again. Like you've said baby steps. The reason I failed so many times is because I list everything I want done & nothing gets done.
This time I will follow directions, thank you! 🤗
I’m at home all day, but I can’t stand having things hanging over my head. If I need to get groceries, I’m at the store at around 7am :D
I only just recently got my decluttering and everything to the point where I could arrange my weekly chores into a sensible pattern, which feels really nice.
Back to school for my kids today, and I SO needed this!! I am the queen of procrastination, or working hard for a week or two, and then slipping into complacency! So it ends up that I’m just putting out fires!! 😢Thank you, for being my one consistent support💕
I absolutely agree with getting ready every single morning. Clean clothes, hair, makeup (keeping it all simple) some jewelry, and a spritz of fragrance. For me, I get up, use the bathroom, turn the shower on to heat up, make my bed, shower, do my hair and makeup, get dressed, then coffee. Then I;m ready for the day ! It makes me feel good. And I know I am ready for anything. Morning, during the day and evening routines are crucial. A clean kitchen is crucial, clean bathrooms are crucial. It's very easy really . , tfs 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
Everything is easy....when you know how!
Thank you Diane!
Really like the point about the difference between working from home and outside the home. I’m halfway between the two - stay at home mum with 1 ds to get to school. I think I’ll have to split my routine to before and after the school run. I really enjoy the process of refining a routine.
in the last few days you repeatedly mentioned, that you had made these refresher courses. it took me a while to understand, that could be for people like me, who have some trouble staying on track or implementing things during the 31 babysteps as well. these are very helpful. one or two I had seen before, when I first discovered your channel and only wanted to understand, what this is about (and because you are so cheearful as well :-D). but as I wanted to follow the 31 babysteps and not always looked into the book, because I didn't want to get confused, I didn't watch these here. But these are really helpful - esp. after day 18-20 some issues began to come up... thanks for the hints and these videos. it might be, I have to listen in again next week. I probably will transfer these ones into an MP3, so I can listen to them more easily and maybe, when I do stuff in other rooms and such. I know, having cleaning sessions as podcast is not everybodies liking. but these videos, that are like lectures, where you don't have to demonstrate a lot, or if you do, describe it well, these work fine.
Routines! Yes! I'm still a work in progress, but some of my routines are pretty much automatic now. I found, the simple daily ckeaning routines kije the swish and swipe, shiny sink, dress to shoes first thing, can be dine pretty much no matter where I am. I stayed at my mom's house recently while we were dealing with a family emergency, and other than the routines that are soe ifoc to my home, I kept to my morning and evening g routines, including g tge Dky lady tidying routines. And even that tiny little bit if daily ckeaning was exactly the type of practical support my mom needed at the time. And getting g dressed right as soon. As I got up, meant that I was ready for whatever came up each day , to be available for family. My home is slowly but steadily becoming less cluttered. And my kitchen is my pride and joy right now. That I'd the first area I started on 3 years ago, and now I've finally upgraded it from being maintenence in tidyiness and being orgsnised to functional, It's mow at the stage where zi can pretty it ip just a bit. I have slot of stuff in my kitchen still, but everything in my kitchen has a functional purpose, and I easily get rid of anything I don't need there anymore to make more room for the things zi actually love, use, and need in there.
Thank you, Diane! Hope you’re enjoying your day. Love waking up with motivation from you.💗🥰
Thank you so much, Dawn - what a lovely compliment! 😊
Thank you! Such a brilliant reminder.
I'm watching Stef' this month,too. Thank you, Diane.
I listen to your videos while shining my sink😊 Tack för sällskapet❤️
I just love you Diane! You are so down to earth and helpful. I've really struggled with being consistent and your videos are the most helpful. ❣️
BTW your windows are so perfectly clean, you definitely are a great mentor.
Diane, thank you for this Back To Basic series! I love your FlyLady refresher videos. Always perfect timing to keep me on track. You are the best thanks for keeping us motivated. ☕️🧺💄👡🧹🛒🥖🏃🏻♀️🖖🏼❤️❤️
Thanks!! I'm rewriting my routines for the school year and setting a few work routines as well!
Yay! I never grow tired of a refresher. Diane, I have come so far since the initial days of discovering your 31 Babysteps Ad on my facebook newsfeed back in January 2017! After being drawn in by your calming voice, cheery disposition and pretty (lingual) accent, I fell in love with your home and it's peaceful, refreshing vibe and Danish/Swedish style.
One by one, the babysteps have become regular habits and routines for me! My am routine is this: wake up, indoor shoes slipped right on, tidy bed and leave duvet to air, tidy hair/wash face/teeth, LOL, feed pups, make ice water bottle, head to gym, return home and reboot LOL, shower, s&s, duvet on bed, unload DW while making breakfast/ hot tea :) This is with "no coffee" can you believe it?! I drink ice water to get going, haha I still struggle a bit with my pm routine and not wanting to hit the sofa with my book before cleaning up dinner but most nights, it is a shiny sink :D This habit has been the toughest to instill bc I am a morning person so I often think, "I'll just get that in the am!" But what a reward it is when I don't have to, and the sink is shining. Thank you for all that you do to encourage us; it does not go unnoticed!!
Aww, thank you so much, Julie - yes, you have been with us here for a long time! 😍
I had to stop doing zone cleaning because I would focus too much on that and not do my morning and evening routines. I still struggle doing an evening routine. a lot of days I'm doing both the evening and the morning chores at the same time. But it would be better if I would follow my plan.
I'm going to try starting my evening routine earlier like you suggested in the video. I had already started doing the tidy chore before I eat dinner. And that helped.
My morning and evening routine are the same five things. 10-minute tidy, do something related to clothes, dishes, and S&S.
AM S&S= bath swipe and swish
PM S&S= kitchen swipe surfaces and sweep with the broom.
I don't think my evening routine is too much but I end up not getting the dishes and the S&S done 80% of the time.
These something to do with my clothes part is very easy. I don't do laundry every day but it might be a load of laundry. I partially dry my clothes in the dryer and hang them to finish drying, or I might be taking them off where they've been drying and putting them away, or something as simple as making sure the dirty clothes are in the hamper. On occasion I do a little mending for that chore like sewing on a button.
Because I have health issues I break up my home blessing hour to Saturday and Sunday. I do half one day and half the other. But even on Saturday night I will not get my evening routine done.
It's like I have some sort of block about it. I'm going to try your suggestion of starting and finishing the whole thing earlier.
Hi Diane! You are so right with doing morning routine first, when you don't have to leave the house!
I'm working self-employed in homeoffice, so I can decide on my own working time, BUT that makes it very difficult for me. Everyday I struggle "Should I first do laundry and zone cleaning or should I start working and do it later." I noticed I have to do it first otherwise I often don't do it anymore this day.🙈
I'm interested in how do you structure your day with flylady tasks, working, cooking, leisure time and so on. Do you have a fixed schedule which is every day the same?
Thank you for your great motivation!😘
Best regards from Germany! 🙋🏼♀️
Yes, I always get my Routines done and out of the way before "work". Make sure you have them written down (on paper or an app) so you can work through them/tick them off/don't get sidetracked. And remember to take fixed breaks when you are working in your home office.
@@DianeinDenmark thank you for you answer!🤗
I appreciate your sociological mind - you consider the wide variety of personal circumstances of the people who watch these vids. And I *really* appreciate that you're not constantly trying to sell stuff or line the pockets of Mr. Amazon 😉😜😎.
Mixed Media Life yes! YES! I found flylady through the original “FlyLady” Marla years ago but stopped watching official “FlyLady channel” videos because she doesn’t clean anymore, just sits on her bahookie selling her “flylady” branded rags & other products she gets affiliate $$ for.
But Thank you THANK YOU Diane in Denmark.. encouraging us to “start where we are, use what we have, and do what we can” (I’m crediting Arthur Ashe for that quote though :) )
Bless You, Diane!!!
@@losiento2 I watch both channels. I love that Diane shows us how things are done, but I still think that Marla has a heart for her Flybabies. But Flylady is also her business so I don't resent that she sells products. And I don't think it's affiliations, it's products that her business sells. They do try to find high quality items that will help make cleaning easier. I own her mop handle and mop cloths and Rubba Swisha. I never felt like I had to own them to do the Flylady routine but I would order them again if I needed them because they are really nice and work well. (The mop cleans better and more easily than any I have ever used.)
@@losiento2 I agree on all counts 😆!!
@@thechickenwire6136 Yes, I agree. Marla was never really out to be a UA-camr she started with emails and forums etc before YT was around. Let's give her credit, she invented the whole thing years and years ago...I think I had dial-up then lol. There is a limit to what one can do for free. Some people can't win...sell affiliate products and be scorned, sell your own products also be scorned. Diane is great too though, obvs.
@@losiento2 I don't begrudge flylady selling her stuff but I just watched her for the first time a couple of weeks ago and noticed that the table next to her was beyond cluttered and everything was covered in very well established dust. Ironically, especially the table right under all her feather dusters. I found it uninspiring. No one is perfect but when I watched the next week,still dusty. Someone mentioned it in the comments and she got very upset at them, but she did get a duster out of retirement and used it. I'm grateful for her passing on what works for so many, but I have trouble with people that talk the talk, and I get the feeling she is not walking the walk. A few days later she turned the camera around to show wall hangings and the rest of the room was just as cluttered and dusty. When I watch her I want to sit. When I watch Diane I want to move and improve.
You may have covered this in another video - but how do you keep your clothes from being "crunchy" or stiff from air drying? I can't seem to figure that out! And I don't have time or energy (chronic illness) to iron everything. Love your videos!
I use the following trick: in a spray bottle you mix one half water, one third white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of hair conditioner (maybe 2 teaspoons If it is more liquid). Mix well. Caution: the spray must be very thin if you don’t want your clothes to get stained. After laundry or drying, hang your clothes and spray this mix. Let stand some hours, till they dry completely. Most of the clothes will be wrinkle free, others will be easily ironed. Hope this is useful for you.
Hi Diane....watching Steph too and hope this cracks my lacklustre approach! I have reordered and rejigged my routine so that my MR is in the order I tend to do it and a couple of things that depressed me because it slowed me up are now moved to my daily routine which fits better with getting out on the school run and returning home to do all the other stuff. Gonna beat my bahookie to get the ER done! Checking in with Steph on that one too! Thanks oodles xx
The sun is shining here Diane and I am enjoying my sea bathing. The sea is so warm. Thank goodness for my flylady routines. I do them quickly and I am up and out to enjoy life itself. HAVE A GREAT DAY XX MARGARET
The danish band Babagenush played on this morning's news in Chicago. Of course I thought of you Diane.
🔊 🎶🎶🎶😎👍🎶🎶🎶
I would love to know what you have your kids do to help around the house. We have a 17, 13, 8 and 5. This has been a struggle for me because my hubby thinks they should be doing more and then I feel “why am I home?”.
1) Your name is hilarious. Captures parenting perfectly in three words.
2) Maybe we teach and expect our kids to help out more because it's what is best for them in the long run, not because it makes our lives easier(cos often it's easier to do it ourselves). As a mom you will always be needed and never obsolete no matter how much the kids help with the house.
Great video again Diane
Thanks for another wonderful video
Tack Diane! ❤
Yay! Let's get a big rah rah!
Along with my DD12 I am refreshing my routeens. We made ourselves check lists yesterday. I didn't put make bed or swish and swipe on the list because they are ingrained now. 😊
When do you tidy up the house Diane ??
What do you mean by "tidy up"? I do a weekly clean (the Weekly Home Blessing Hour). And we put things back when we have used them/clear away things at night before we go to bed. So there is no "tidying" to do! LOL!
Diane in Denmark maybe because you have older kids LOL. I have to pick constantly
Lovely jacket today:)
Can you please clarify how long you spend on your Morning and Evening Routines 🙂
Don't focus on how long my routines take. Set a timer, have your own routine list ready and work through it! Setting a timer/having a list will keep you focused. Let me know how you get on!
Thanks Diane 💕
😊
I have to just accept dirty dishes sitting around and sometimes a messy sink- my fiancé does the dishes and he usually cleans things right before I cook dinner, so the dishes sit for a full day before he cleans them. He doesn’t do a lot of other housework so I am not going to discourage him from the one thing he does regularly
Exactly, Perri - no need to fret about the messy sink! 🖐
🎉
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