How did you manage all those dang emails?

I signed up when DD was about 2 yrs old. I spent more time on the computer reading emails than getting the chores done. Is there a trick to it?

I tried getting them as individual letters and I tried lumping them in one email. Either way, I was just feeling lost. The one good thing I got out of it was the clean sink and kitchen. I even had a friend say "Flylady, huh?" when she saw my sink LOL.

If I can figure out how to manage it, I might sign up again.

By Melanie on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 10:26 pm:

LOL. I am an on-again off-again fly baby. When I am on I like the e-mails because I can look at the titles and think "Did it!" and delete it and then just read the mission for the day. But when I am off, I just hit the delete for everything. LOL.

By Pamt on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 11:13 pm:

Dana, I basically ignore the emails. I jusr start with the babystep routines (dressed to the shoes, shiny sink) and then progress to the morning and evening routines. I have my own workout schedule, time to return library books, days to pay bills, etc. so I just hit delete. Now on emails like the weekly home blessing I keep as "to do" list and delete it when I'm finished. I do like to try the daily mission, but basically I took of all Flylady's ideas and made my own control journal which I work from. I couldn't handle Flylady 3 yrs ago when I tried it, but I've been flying since early fall and it has honestly changed my life this go round. I also rarely read the testimonials...too time consuming...unless a title really grabs me.

I will say that the greatest thing has been getting plugged in with my local Flyladies group. If you go on the site you can find a local chapter and actually meet with these women. We have lunch once a month in my group and I have met some really neat women and it's been a nice "support" group. We issue challenges to each other as well.

I personally think the key to flying is starting off with the shiny sink and doing that religiously. Then I'd add the morning and evening routines and the weekly home blessing. Next start putting out fires in your hotspots (this is the first week I've ever kept the fires out!!! ) and try to do the mission each day. If you do it in baby steps and USE YOUR TIMER it really is a very effective and doable plan. Just start small and establish one habit before adding a new one and delete those emails.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

By Moeanne on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 12:22 am:

Okay, I'll ask... what is a flylady?

By Kaye on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 09:16 am:

Dana, I agree with Pam. I would sit down in the am print out the list of the day and work from that. It took some time but eventually I got my control journal going and I turned off my emails completely. Also i just refused to read a lot, I had a file that I put the fly lady stuff into and if I wanted to read I read some, but about monthly i just deleted everything. It has changed my life, I have to stick with it...i have NOT been doing that this month. I will probably get more emails at this point just to get going.

By Happynerdmom on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 09:36 am:

Monica, Check out flylady.net. It's a motivational and organizational tool to take control of the CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) in the homes of us housekeeping-challenged people! I do the same thing Pam does. It's amazing how far I got with just the shiny sink and making my bed every morning. Now the clean has *spread!* This really has changed my home. My husband asked the other day if he could send my "cleaning cult" some money! LOL

By Momaroze on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 11:13 am:

I'm just starting (flybaby). And yes the E'mails are overwhelming. Stick to the basics to start. Delete the others as the other ladies stated. It is motivating. I have my own workout schedule to and finances are fine, testimonials I read if they catch my interest and delete the rest. Good luck. Relax with it and do what you can!

By Kay on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 11:42 am:

I do what Melanie does - the emails are great reminders for me and allow me to 'check off' my chores as they get done. If they don't, oh well - they get deleted at the end of the day.

Some days I'm in the mood to read the testimonials, but not too often, so before I open any emails, I run down the list and delete anything (by looking at titles) I don't want to bother opening. Saves LOTS of time this way.

I do love the Missions of the Day - it really pinpoints one area to work on for the week, and keeps me from feeling too overwhelmed by the whole house.

I've been so inspired by the 27-Fling-Boogies, that I'm making great progress in cleaning out our 3-car garage and preparing for a yard sale!

My version of the FlyLady system, and my FlyLady dusters are absolute 'keepers' and 'can't do without' for me.

By Moeanne on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 12:38 pm:

Sounds exactly like something I need! CHAOS is hilarious! It's exactly how I feel. My husband doesn't understand it because he thinks having a messy house means you have a life. Ugh! Anytime someone comes over I cringe. I've been trying to do certain things on certain days - mondays for bathrooms and laundry, Tuesdays for mopping etc. but it NEVER works out that way. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

By Truestori on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 04:57 pm:

I think I have joined and rejoined 4x...lol

I am now at the point where my sink is uusally shinny, and I do get dressed to my shoes. Laundry is done daily and put away about 3x a week.

My hubby called from work last week to tell me that he couldn't find any work clothes in the dryer and he actually had to go upstairs and look in his closet!! I hadn't mentioned anything about me going back on the flylady kick but finally SOMEONE noticed!! YEAH