Day 25 - learn how the routines developed. This is the Fly Lady's own testimonial of how she got her house in order. The gist is that she did one new thing or worked on one goal per month. It also shows how the little things can really snow ball until you have routines on auto pilot and a clean house. It also puts across her message, that it doesn't need to be done overnight, small steps, and small changes will get us there. Not only will it get us there, but it will make a lasting change that a whirlwind afternoon of deep cleaning probably will not accomplish.
I really like the idea of working on a single goal every month in order to make it a routine. I'm only about a week away from finishing the baby steps and then I want to start working on 1 thing each month. Benjamin Franklin used to do something similar on a weekly basis. He had a set of 13 virtues and worked on one virtue each week in 13 week rotations. The idea was that these were the virtues that would make him the most perfect Ben Franklin he could be. He also knew that it was a work in progress his entire life. While the 13 virtues represented perfection, he knew he was not ultimately seeking perfection. When he died he said that he knew he was a better person for having tried.
I'm going to finish out the babysteps. The final weeks in August I will try to add 15 minutes worth of zones - which, after the 1st Kelly mission, I didn't add to my routines. And then we will see where September takes us :)
Day 26 - Look at the bottom of any Fly Lady email. Well, there aren't any emails anymore, but it was a good reminder to go to Big Tent. At the bottom each of news item it says "You are not behind. I don't want you to catch up. Just jump in where we are." It's a great attitude. It is that kind of "you can do it!" message that I think attracts so many to Fly Lady.
