FlyLady Baby Steps for 2024
If you put to keep your house clean or get more organized as a New Year's resolution for 2024 then this routine is PERFECT for you! The FlyLady cleaning system is one of the top-rated cleaning routines on the internet. FlyLady recommends starting with the 31 Baby Steps to add in tasks and build the routines that you will need to truly make changes that stick.
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What are the FlyLady Baby Steps?
The FlyLady Baby Steps are small changes that you make over 31 days. These small steps create routines that will help keep your home straightened up and you more organized. Each day, the FlyLady adds one more tip or task. Some of the tasks are as simple as getting dressed while others are learning a new but simple method to straighten an area.
FlyLady Baby Steps for Week 1:
Day 1:
The first day of the Baby Steps starts with scrubbing your kitchen sink. The FlyLady says don't worry about the dishes, just move them to the side. Hold the phone, what? I simply cannot move stinking dishes to the side and then clean the sink so this is where I will be breaking the very first rule. I washed and/or loaded my dishwasher.
FlyLady calls this perfectionism and discourages feeling the need to be perfect which I support wholeheartedly. I just think 2 extra minutes to do the dang thing is so worth it when for me the site of dirty dishes is revolting. Load the dishes and a good scrub has things looking great! I like this so far.
Day 2:
Day 2 of the Baby Steps is stupidly simple. Get dressed all the way to lace-up shoes. FlyLady spends extra time discussing the importance of wearing lace-up shoes. This is likely one of the biggest controversies amongst her followers known as her "FlyBabies".
Day 3:
Baby Step Day 3 you are supposed to go to the FlyLady website and sign up for her emails. I warn you that she likes to communicate a lot.
Day 4:
Write out all of the tasks on a Post-it note. Each day do them all. Simple.
Day 5:
On Day 5, the FlyLady starts to work on you or what may be holding you back. Write out all of the negative thoughts you are having. Then think of a correlating positive thought. An example I had was "I don't have enough time to do all of this" and my rephrasing went something like this "I just need to use the time that I have to make progress".
Day 6:
Today is a new phrase, the Hot Spot Fire Drill. You will be starting a 2 min Hot Spot Fire Drill. Basically, each day you find a "hot spot" or a dumping ground of things and tidy it up for 2 minutes. You are putting out a fire. Quirky but easy enough.
Day 7:
Baby Step Day 7 is when you start with an evening routine. To start, you are planning out your outfit for the next day. This will save stress and time in the mornings.
How Can I Simplify the 31 Baby Steps?
After years of publishing FlyLady Cleaning and Motivational videos @TodaywithTerriK on YouTube, the biggest problem is remembering what to do each day. I developed a simple way to track your progress and see the steps in one place. The BEST part is that it is 100% free! Plus created a video series to walk you through each day if you are ready to get started.
Users report 100% more success after downloading the FREE Baby Steps tracker! Download here.
As you can see, none of these Baby Steps are hard to accomplish. The key is to do them every day and let them build into a good cleaning routine. Beginning January 1, 2023, I will be posting a daily video that walks you through each Baby Step for the New Year.
Does the FlyLady Baby Steps really work?
The simple answer is yes, it works. However, things are never that simple. Many people complain that it takes too long to get to the real cleaning and therefore they quit early. The FlyLady Baby Steps build routines and do not focus on deep cleaning the house. What? The problem is not the house. When you moved in the house likely was not already a mess. So, the problem is you.
Don't get mad. I was/am the problem too! The really good news is that the solution is within reach. Learning the skills to maintain a clean house means that when we get to deep cleaning it will STAY clean. Crazy but it really works.
When do you get to the deep cleaning with FlyLady?
During the FlyLady Baby Steps, she introduces decluttering for 15 minutes. Set a timer and get to work. So 15 minutes each day you will pick an area to work on decluttering.
“You can’t clean clutter.”
Gradually you will see the clutter disappearing with tasks with crazy names like the Hot Spot Fire Drill and 27-Fling Boogie. Although the FlyLady is a bit corny, the concepts offer great guidance for digging through the piles of clutter that many of us have been living with.
How long will I have to declutter with FlyLady?
Since everyone has a unique situation, there is no definitive time for this. This is not the time to dive in. Hold back and follow the plan. However, many people struggle with sentimental attachments to even the most common things so letting go will take longer.
IF you struggle with letting go of most things, you might consider hiring a counselor who specializes in this type of issue. Every situation is different but the goal is the same--to have a clean and livable home that all can enjoy. Remember what is your true motives for cleaning. Knowing your why really helps keep you going when you are feeling overwhelmed.
To Summarize
The FlyLady Cleaning System starts with the 31-Day Baby Steps. You add a new task with each day. Once you graduate from the FlyLady 31-Day Baby Steps, you add in the FlyLady Daily Focus and FlyLady Zone Cleaning. These put life in balance and eliminate the need to Spring Clean. I strongly recommend following the steps according to plan, but for those of you that just cannot go slow and steady, I condensed the 31 Baby Steps down to a 2 week plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Once completing the FlyLady Baby Steps, the Daily Focus is the next phase in the system. Each day of the week is assigned a specific focus. Set a timer for 15 min and work on that focus/task. Monday is the Weekly Home Blessing Hour. Tuesday is Plan and Play Day. Wednesday is Anti-procrastination Day. Thursday is Errand Day. Friday is Car and Purse Day. Saturday is Family Fun Day. Sunday is Renewing the Spirit Day.
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Marla Cilley is the original FlyLady. She worked as a Fly Fishing guide and was referred as the Fly Lady since it is predominantly a male field-she stood out. The nickname stuck and she has embraced it. Now she has an acronym for everything. F.L.Y. is Fully Loving Yourself and that is what she is teaching.
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The FlyLady can be found on all of the socials. She has daily videos on YouTube, and podcasts, and is still emailing her fly babies daily. Her system has not changed much over the years.
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Working outside of the home limits your time more but the FlyLady system can still work. It will take dedication but the routines will keep things running smoothly while you are away from home. Getting the morning routines started before work and finishing up after dinner can be done. Many working moms do their zone cleaning and home blessing on the weekends.
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FlyLady has designated Monday in her Daily Focus as the day to do the core tasks that keep things looking tidy. These 5-6 tasks take about 5-10 min each. They include washing the sheets, feather dusting the living room, taking out all trash, sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping (all only in high traffic areas-no moving furniture).
