I don’t get the
Flylady emails and haven’t signed up to Fly, but I do read her website and have found many great ideas. I think that all of the Flylady emails are over the top and could clutter my inbox, but if you don’t know where to start—then they are good. Try to do one thing until it becomes a habit---fixing the bed every morning, for example. Then move on to always keeping your dishes washed up.
I’ve heard people debating why she says to get your shoes on and shine your sink, etc. Ladies, these are just tips, not a mandate from the Bible. Take what you can use and discard the rest. These tips are helpful to me and sometimes I get these “duh” moments where I read it and I think “why didn’t I do think of that?” Getting accustomed to these habits saves me time and energy---I just do it automatically. And I always try to remember that there will be setbacks—when I was pregnant I was sick and tired for the whole 9 months…last week we all had colds and the flu bug. Things happen.
I have a couple of quotes and sayings that I try to keep in mind:
It takes 3 weeks of consistently doing something for it to become a habit. Seriously. I have tested this one out.
Autograph your work with excellence. I really don’t want to sign my name to something that I haven’t put my best effort to, and looks junky or sloppy.
Don’t do what you like, like what you do. This is why I am trying to get myself accustomed to calling it House Blessing instead of house cleaning. I, of course, would rather be reading a book or scrapbooking.
Give 110%. I know a lot of you don’t work fulltime. Why would you give your family less than you would to an employer? I manage to be on time to work everyday, I stay focused, and I get emails answered, phone calls returned, projects finished before deadline, etc. My family deserves as much.
Plan your work and work your plan. You can use whatever method you want. I work best from a list.
These following tips were received via the Get Organized Now email that I get every week from
http://www.getorganizednow.com. Maria Gracia is the owner of this website and she has many great tips for organization. If you sign up for her weekly email, she sends an Idea Pak by email. Here are this weeks tip's, that I thought were worth sharing.
15 Top Timesaving Tips1. Multi-task. Do two or more things at once. Exercise in
front of the TV, while you're catching up on the news, or
watching a favorite program. Sew a missing button on a
blouse, while you're waiting for a pot to boil.
2. Say No. You don't have to say yes to every single request
for your help. Schedule a set amount of time each week for
random requests. Once that time slot is filled, don't take
any more requests for your time that week.
3. Stop running up and down. Tired of running up and down
the stairs while you're cleaning? Stock a set of cleaning
supplies on each level of your home.
4. Set up a bill paying area. Keep a set of bill paying
supplies--your bill paying organizer, a calculator, pens,
pencils, your checkbook, stamps, envelopes and address
labels--in one defined place. Next time you want to pay
bills, you'll be done in a jiffy.
5. Use shears. Stop fumbling with knives. You'll be amazed
at the time you can save by simply using kitchen scissors to
open bags, chop herbs or cut up fish or poultry.
6. Book while you're there. Whenever you visit your doctor,
dentist or hairdresser, bring your datebook and book the
next appointment before you leave the office.
7. Call before you go. Hate driving all the way to the video
store or library and discovering that the video or book you
wanted is already checked out? Next time, call before you
leave home and ask if that video or book is available. If it
is, great! If not, you've saved yourself an unnecessary
trip.
8. Stop waiting in line. Make your purchases from the
Internet. For the small amount you'll pay in shipping and
handling, you will have saved time driving to the store,
time waiting in line, and money in fuel costs.
9. Open mail over the recycling container. Don't carry your
mail over to your desk or table where it's bound to pile up
and take hours to go through later. Open it right over the
recycling container, and get rid of all unnecessary mail
immediately.
10. Stop checking every 5 minutes. E-mail is great, but if
you're checking for new mail every five minutes, you can
easily get distracted and time is going to quickly slip
away. Check for e-mail only once or twice per day.
11. Make lists. Stop trying to remember everything you have
to do. You're bound to forget something, and it may result
in lost time or a missed appointment. Write it down and let
your list remember for you.
12. Set goals and deadlines. Know what you have to do, and
attach deadlines to those tasks. Don't waste time constantly
having to think about 'what's next.'
13. Screen your calls. Don't answer the phone every time it
rings. If you do, you'll find yourself talking to
telemarketers or people who would be more convenient to talk
to at another time. Screen your calls. Only return those you
wish to return. And call back your friends and relatives
during a set telephone hour later.
14. Get ready the night before. Stop wasting morning time
frantically running around like a madperson trying to get
done to get to work on time. Do whatever you can to prepare
yourself the night before. Set the breakfast table. Lay out
your clothes, and your kids' clothes. Have the coffeepot
start automatically by using the timer.
15. Restrict TV viewing to your favorites. Use your VCR to
tape your favorite programs. Then, watch them during a
designated time each night, or each week--and zap through
the commercials!
