Top Ten Countdown: Number Ten

So, I’m starting the countdown of the Top Ten Things I’ve Learned in 365 Days with Flylady. And Number Ten is:

I can get A LOT of things done in only 15 minutes.

Since the Timer is my Friend in 2010, I’ve utilized the services of my timer quite a bit this year. My timer has been very helpful in giving my 15 minutes to de-clutter, for example. Or 15 minutes to get the kids’ rooms picked up. Or 15 minutes to clear all of the Hot Spots in the kitchen. Yes, I’ve learned that I can get A LOT done in 15 minutes.

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Flylady and Me and De-cluttering

I’m almost afraid to say it, but I think I might actually be getting the hang of de-cluttering. I can’t believe I’m saying that. However, I’m finding that I’m kind of ruthlessly (for me, anyway) throwing stuff away instead of piling it up to be taken care of later. For example, yesterday, when we were all finished with the crafty 4-H projects, Margaret, Eleanor, Tim and I set the timer for 30 minutes and got the whole craft room put back in order. Most of the out-of-place stuff ended up in the trash cans.

This may be a turning point for me…but I’m not going to get too excited too soon!

Flylady and Balance Revelation

Today, I think I actually caught a glimpse of how this whole Flylady Control Journal/timer/balance thing works! As you know, I’ve been really wanting to work creativity into my daily routine. I realized the other day that one major obstacle in my path toward daily creativity was my craft room clutter. So…I started whittling away at the clutter. In my stereotypical SHE way, I really wanted to hyper-focus on the craft room and spend all of my time de-cluttering it until it was–you guessed it–perfectly tidy.

BUT, instead, this morning, after I ate breakfast and did my Bible reading, I set my TIMER for 30 minutes and told myself that I would de-clutter the craft room for only 30 minutes and then get on with the rest of my Control Journal responsibilities (laundry, Zone Missions, etc.). First of all, I was amazed at how much I actually got done in only 30 minutes. Second, I was amazed at how much energy I had left for all of my other responsibilities. Third, I was amazed at how de-cluttering an area in which I am looking forward to an activity (creativity!) was so different for me than de-cluttering an area of the house that, in my mind, will just eventually be cluttered up again by someone else. I wonder how I would feel about de-cluttering if I could always imagine doing something I like to do in the areas I am de-cluttering….

So…I am energized by my revelation today and look forward to some crafting this week!

I Do Love My Flylady Timer

This morning, I was facing some de-cluttering tasks that I new were going to take several 15-minute sessions. But, I grabbed my timer and got going. We made some big progress and it’s all because we started.

My Flylady Timer Is My Friend

This morning I faced the potentially daunting task of whipping my kitchen into shape before Anne’s physical therapist arrived. Thursday is our Weekly Home Blessing Hour day, but today the kitchen needed a little extra boost due to the Hot Spots. So, I set my timer and away I went. I got everything done in plenty of time, thankfully. I felt like I was using the timer to set a pace so I could get to all of the little areas that needed attention.

Yea, timer!

My Flylady Timer Helped Me Get ‘er Done

Yesterday, I did set my timer in an effort to get stuff done. A lot of stuff. And, guess what! It worked! I know you are all so surprised to hear that. Not. (Oh, does saying, “Not,” show that I am not “up” on the current sarcastic one-word comment?)

Yes, everything on my list was done on time yesterday so we could head off to play some music an hour-and-a-half from home. That meant that my list included getting the laundry done and put away and socks folded and put away, exercising, feeding small people breakfast and lunch, getting the music together for the performance, making sure everyone was dressed appropriately (either for playing music or going to Sheree’s house), etc., etc. My timer helped me through the whole day.

And, it’s helping me today, too!

Facing Monday with Flylady

Wow. We have been so very out-of-routine lately that I’m facing another out-of-routine day (or, at least, parts of it) with a little fear and trepidation. I think I am going to go write down every routine chore and every out-of-routine chore and responsibility for this week and see how my timer can help me out of this Monday morning dilemma.

At least my timer should eliminate the fear and trepidation.

FLYing on Friday with My Flylady Timer

My timer has been my friend today. First I set it for 30 minutes, slipped it in my sweatshirt pocket and went for a 30-minute run. This was my first “official” training run in preparation for a half-marathon I hope to run this fall with some OLD members of my high school track team. I knew it would take the whole allotted 30 minutes for me to figure out how to set a 30-minute alarm on my cell phone, so I got out my timer and was back before I knew it.

Since then, my timer has helped me get ALL of the folded laundry put away, scrub the front of the kitchen cupboards AND clean the stove. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with the Kitchen Zone Missions that I hadn’t yet completed this week, I felt encouraged by my timer. Now, my timer is timing my little computer break and then I will re-set it to help me with my last kitchen chore.

Thanks, Flylady timer!

A Confession About My Timer and Decluttering

Yes, I have a confession. While I have used my timer — for it is my friend in 2010 — on many occasions, I had never used it for decluttering until this week. When I challenged myself to debunk my personal decluttering myths, I knew I had to follow Flylady’s 15-minute guideline to make my little experiment valid. After all, if I’m proving to myself that decluttering can be accomplished by dealing with it a little at a time each day, then I obviously have to set a time limit on my endeavors.

I was seriously amazed at how much I could get done in 15 minutes, how fast 15 minutes flew by AND how easy it was to stop after 15 minutes. In this journey with Flylady, I have trusted that Flylady knew what she was talking about when she first urged me to shine my sink and swish and swipe my bathrooms. I have no doubt that washing two loads of laundry every day keeps Mt. Washmore under control. I don’t question the value of wearing my lace-up shoes from the moment I get up. But, somewhere along the line, I didn’t buy into the whole idea of routinely decluttering for 15 minutes.

However, I think that my experiences over the past two days have made me a believer. I’m actually looking forward to spending those 15 minutes continuing to declutter our pantry, even though it’s Saturday. If you’ve never tried setting your timer and decluttering, I urge you to try it! You might be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Flylady’s 2010 Motto

Lately, I have been thinking about my Flylady routines and my motivators for getting things accomplished. I still catch myself procrastinating at times. As usual, I want to get to the root of the problem so that the solution is not just a temporary fix.

One thing I’ve noticed is that I don’t take advantage of actually using the timer. It’s more like I mentally acknowledge that it’s not going to take very long to complete a task, so I might as well not put it off. But, I rarely go get the timer and set it for 15 minutes. I was also thinking that I should really start using the timer to work in my creative time each day.

Then, I saw Flylady’s post on the 2010 motto. I wonder if all of my musings were based on my already having seen that motto, but forgetting what it was! Or, maybe, it was God-incidence.

In any case, after the wedding, my timer is going to get a serious workout because “My Timer is My Friend in 2010.”