Following FlyLady's BabySteps: Day 11 and Day 12

My friend and I were both pretty excited for Day 11. The task was to add a page of inspirational quotes to our 3 ring binder. We are both quote addicts…we’re those people that spend hours scouring Status Shuffle looking for that perfect Facebook status that we can adapt and make our own. So this assignment was right up our alley.

I must admit, the first quote that pops into my head when thinking of cleaning is the Phyllis Diller adage, “Cleaning your house while your kids are still young is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”

I’ve also always liked something that Erma Bombeck said, “My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch fire or block the refrigerator door let it be. No one cares. Why should you?”

I’m pretty sure that was not what FlyLady had in mind for inspiration. So I give you our picks for inspiring quotes:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~Confucius

“Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism: the way you play is free will.” ~Jawaharal Nehru

“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” ~Gordon B. Hinckley

“He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality.” ~William J. Johnston

“There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can.” ~ Henry Ford

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” ~Reinhold Niebuhr

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." ~Nelson Mandela

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” ~Christopher Reeve

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” ~Mark Twain

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there!” ~Will Rogers

"It seems essential, in relationships and all tasks, that we concentrate only on what is most significant and important.” ~Soren Kierkegaard

“Leap, and the net will appear.” ~Julia Margaret Cameron

“Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense." ~Arthur Helps

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle

Feeling inspired? Motivated? Ready to take on the world? Let’s see how FlyLady’s BabySteps continue to motivate my friend and I….

DAY ELEVEN - ADD AN INSPIRATIONAL PAGE TO YOUR CONTROL JOURNAL

We are both getting used to our simple morning rituals that FlyLady has helped us established. Even though I despise rolling out of bed and getting ready first thing, I do it. It does make me feel ready to take on the day, and I think my friend feels the same.

Today was her birthday, and her teenage sons sent her flowers. Thanks to FlyLady, she had a former Hot Spot to display them on.

We both did all of our morning rituals, before bed routines and our inspirational quotes. She spent her 15 minutes throwing away toys that weren’t good enough to donate, and I spent mine going through a stack of paper that hadn’t been touched since possibly in 2 years.

I do think both of us are starting to get so much into these little habits that we aren’t even sure what day we are on. I did yesterday, and she did today. It is a good thing we have each other to straighten the other out. Its become our own little night time routine to look at the next day’s task and encourage each other. That seems to help keep us on track.

DAY TWELVE - DELETE ALL THE EMAILS FROM FLYLADY

When we looked at the assignment for Day 12 my friend and I both laughed. It was something we both knew we could accomplish. It was almost as if FlyLady was giving us a day off. We, of course, still had to do all of our routines we had already established, but it was great knowing that all we had to do was a couple of little clicks to finish off our FlyLady day. Since we had both opted for only getting one e-mail a day from FlyLady, it made it even easier to accomplish.

We did both opt for flip flops today. I know, we are totally rebels. We both need black leather jackets with “FlyBabies in FlipFlops” embroidered on the back of them. I don’t think it really has made a difference in our productivity. We both wore them all day, and are really paying attention to see if it really matters. So far, we don’t think so.

She spent her 15 minutes of de-cluttering on a cupboard in her bathroom. I spent mine organizing a junk drawer. The day before, I was searching frantically for a pencil to write down my quotes, and I couldn’t even find one. It was then I decided that the drawer really needed my attention. The drawer was littered with pen, markers, crayons, rubber bands, scissors…oh, all kinds of junk. I knew it had nail files in it, but I never could find them, but that search for a pencil put me over the edge. I had just supplied it with new pencils less than 2 weeks before.

I didn’t think I could get the drawer done in 15 minutes, so I decided to spend the first 10 minutes taking everything out and putting it into piles and the last 5 minutes putting it back together. One thing FlyLady has taught me by reading BigTent is that I don’t have to be perfect. Letting go of the need for perfection really helps in keeping things from feeling overwhelming. Before I would have felt that I had to do it perfectly and go through the whole thing. By sticking to only 15 minutes, I knew there would be a difference. I was happy knowing that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed, tired and frustrated.

I was right. 15 minutes did make a difference. It wasn’t perfect. In fact I didn’t even get everything out of that drawer in 15 minutes. BUT…I found so many things I had been searching for in that drawer. I laughed at myself when I found some sticky notes. It was just days before I had to run out to the store when FlyLady gave us our sticky note assignment.

Day 11 and Day 12 complete!

My friend and I are really rockin’ the BabySteps. We love the sense of accomplishment and pride it gives us in knowing we are making changes. We love seeing the improvements around the house. Heck, we love FlyLady!