My kitchen sink {the foundation of it all!}

De-cluttering your home AND cleaning = overwhelming for most 

Keeping our homes clean AND free of clutter =  unimaginable for most

You may be thinking, “I have better things / bigger priorities than trying to impress with my homemaking skills.” While I totally get that, I know from organizing training along with working with clients {and myself! I’m not naturally organized} that bringing more order into our environments enhances everything we do and provides more time for what we love.

Easier said than done, I know. That’s why, after reading Marla Cilley’s Sink Reflections, I decided to give it a try for one month and share here with you as I go. When you have a {well-working} system in place, it really frees your mind up for bigger and better things and this one for your home really makes good sense. {Plus, Marla (aka “FlyLady”) has a huge following so there must be something there!}

This is what I’ll be sharing:

Here we go!

TACKLING CLUTTER + 1 CLEANING TASK

STEP #1:  DO THIS NOW!  Shine your sink. She explains how here. {If you do this with me, click on this link and do the steps – it’s THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PLAN!}

“I know you are ready to get started, but hold your horses, because I don’t want you to crash and burn. We ARE going to begin with a cleaning task. You just have to have faith that this is the best way to start. Your home did not get dirty in a day and it is not going to get clean overnight… It all starts with a shiny sink.”

– Marla Cilley

STEP #2:   EACH MORNING: get dressed {look good to feel good} – including putting on “lace up shoes”

{I’m a barefoot kind of girl but must say there’s something about putting on my tennis shoes that gets me going. And a tip from follower: put on good lotion before putting on socks – fab beauty treatment for feet – LOVE!}

STEP #3:  “YOU CAN’T ORGANIZE CLUTTER” so spend just 15 minutes a day {actually set a timer!} doing one of the following:

  • 27 Fling Boogie: go around as quickly as possible & get rid of 27 things {“Speed is key” – & immediately after, take box to car for donating / or toss in trash}
  • Hot Spot Fire Drill: Take care of items in “hot spots”which Marla describes as “an area that, when left unattended, gradually and insidiously takes over your home.” {For example, the dining room table, kitchen counter, chair in bedroom, exercise bike (turned clothing rack)…}
  • 5-Minute Room Rescue: Spend just 5 minutes putting away + tossing

“If you do nothing else besides getting dressed {with lace ups} and spending 15 minutes a day tossing out your clutter, you are going to see major changes in your home and the way you feel about yourself. You can do this by setting a timer and spending the whole session in one area or you can spread it over Hot Spot Fire Drills, Room Rescues, and 27 Fling Boogies.”

– Marla Cilley

Marla also reminds us to:

  • get good sleep
  • do something each day for yourself {she devotes a whole chapter on taking care of yourself entitled Running on Empty}
  • give up going for perfection
  • take baby steps {it took Marla nine months to really get her routine in place and get to the place like the one described in last post}

Clutter control and cleaning maintenance are two key things I’m focusing on this month but there’s lots more great stuff in both her book, Sink Reflections, and website including:

  • FlyLady’s 11 commandments: #5 {while SO obvious} is what I’m working on; #7 was a big organizing downfall of mine before I began training in this profession.
  • why lace-up shoes?
  • the importance of baby steps {this reminds me of a favorite wellness book of mine, Kathy Freston’s Quantam Wellness – it’s the “small, focused changes” you make that will add up to big transformations – this goes for organizing, wellness, so much more…}
  • 15-minute decluttering: more on 27-Fling Boogie, Hot Spot Fire Drill, 5-Minute Room Rescue

Going to shine my sink now! Will be back tomorrow to share more of FlyLady’s plan on MAINTAINING your home.