Create Habits You Need for a Clean and Decluttered Home in Just 21 Days!
Day 9 – The Power of 15 Minutes
How'd the five minute room rescue go yesterday? Were you surprised by how much can be done in just five minutes? Did it help to reduce some overwhelm?
Here are the daily habits we've built so far!
Morning Routine
- Get dressed
- Check your daily routines in your home management binder
- Come back to this post to see the next baby step, or check your emails
- Become aware of a few of your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones
- Hot Spot – set your timer for two minutes to tackle one hot spot
- Room Rescue – set your timer for five minutes to do a room rescue
Evening Routine
- Shine the kitchen sink
- Plan your outfit for the next day at bedtime
- Hot Spot – set your timer for two minutes to tackle one hot spot
I think this is one of the smartest ideas in the Flylady method! We've already been using our timers for two and five minutes. Now, we are going to use them for fifteen minutes. The idea here is that we know there is an end, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That we won't be spending hours cleaning and exhaust ourselves! The timer gives us permission to stop. It helps us not to get burnt out so we will consistently clean and declutter.
Before Flylady, I'd Spend Hours Cleaning and Get Burned Out
I know before this method, I'd spend 2-3 hours on a Saturday cleaning like a mad woman, and feel so tired afterwards. Then I wouldn't do it again for two weeks because I got so burnt out!
Now, with just 15 minutes a day, my house is staying clean so that a 2-3 hour session twice a month ISN'T EVEN NECESSARY. Did you catch that?! Consistent cleaning keeps us from exhausting ourselves cleaning for hours at a time! And we won't be embarrassed of our homes like we used to be when a friend or neighbor pops over for a visit.
15 Minutes, One Area
So today, set your timer for 15 minutes and stay focused to clean one area. That could be to gather the trash from around the house and put it outside in the garbage can, or to wash the dishes in the sink, or to clean a bathroom. Whatever you'd like to tackle first! Then, set your timer for 15 minutes again and sit down, put your feet up, and do something you enjoy doing as a treat to yourself.