Recently, this was a question someone asked.  This is also my third year gardening and so I feel comfortable enough to give you this answer.  My answer for me is no.  Having said this does not mean my home is completely upside down and feel like I did when I first took on this venture to learn how to FLY.

Maybe there are people out there that can do both.  I am just not one of them but I needed a solution that would work for me.  I still wanted to feel accomplished by the end of the day when I lay my head on my pillow.

It has taken almost three years to find a way that I could be happy.  For me it all starts with ‘Getting Dressed To Shoes’.  I believe each and everyone of us owes it to ourselves to show up for our day and staying in pajamas all day keeps doors closed for oneself.  Why do I know this?  Because I lived it.  I then took the challenge of ‘Getting Dressed To Shoes, Hair, and Makeup’ taking a picture and posting a mini blog for 436 consecutive days.  I did this through FlyLady a website about taking care of our homes and ourselves.  For FlyLady herself it was about ‘Shining Her Sink’.

What I have learned is just like there are seasons in a year, there are seasons in FLYing.  I have only learned this through experience.  I live in the north in South Dakota where the summers are short and the winters are long.  When Spring/Summer/Fall which can be anywhere from starting in April and lasting as long as November, I want to be outside.  Those are the years that we are lucky.  It usually doesn’t last that long.

Now you would think if you spent all your time outside, your home inside would look wonderful.  It just doesn’t work that way and if someone has a better idea or maybe by next year I will have a better answer I will tell you.  What actually happens is that for myself I am in and out of my house throughout the day.  This means tracking mud, bringing in deadheaded flowers to dry for next season and getting a bottle of water or something like Propel to replenish myself with electrolytes.

Gardening is hard work.  It is all worth it when the blooms and vegetables come alive.  What did I finally come up with that I could feel good about what I was doing?  It is part of my system Dance Till You FLY! mw and the basics that get you started.  It is called ‘Nine Habits Each Day Every Day’.  There is a Before Bedtime Routine, a Morning Routine, and an Afternoon Routine and in this order of importance.  It has to be doable.  Each routine has three habits that one does each day every day.  What this will do is keep your home FUNCTIONING until there is a rainy day and you can’t be outside.  

These habits are grouped or linked together making it easy to remember and do.  And for me it all starts with ‘Getting Dressed To Shoes’.  When you get dressed to shoes, you are in the bathroom already.  Why not just swish the toilet and swipe the sink and mirrors?  Have your tools in there.  During this time think about What’s For Dinner so that when you walk out of your bathroom you can take out the meat in the freezer you will be planning to use. When that is done for myself I am off to gardening.  

I have to come in for lunch so while I start my lunch, I start a load of laundry, I eat my lunch and take a break to relax.  This is usually when the washing machine is going.  When it is done, I get up and throw the clothes into the dryer.  This reminds me to do some de- cluttering.  I just spend 15 minutes because I want to be back outside.  

I get the yard mowed or water flowers or pull weeds and enjoy the outdoors.  Some days I eat dinner early and sometimes late but whichever I make a simple meal like grilling a piece of meat, chicken or fish, vegetable and salad.  It is easy cleanup.  I ‘Shine My Sink’ and get the coffee ready for the next day.  The clothes are dry and off to the dryer I go.  I fold them and put them away.  This is also the time I ‘Lay Out My Clothes’ for the next day. I do it quickly because I want to get back outside to finish up.  I usually stay out until the sun sets.  I just love to be outside.  The last thing I do is ‘Get My Launch Pad Ready’.  I always have my purse and keys there.  Because I ‘Merengue Monday’ which is planning for my upcoming week, I know what days I place extra things there.  Sometimes it is a project I will be doing the coming day or items I take with me on ‘Doo-Wop Errand Day’.  I have other weekly habits I do as well and will write about them soon.  I feel the two weekly habits I do are important for this blog. 

I also have another ‘Launch Pad’.  It is by my chair where I relax and plan.  I still like my paper planner and I like to journal.  Some of it is done before I go to bed and some in the morning.

Each year I get better at keeping the inside of my home being 30 to 45 minutes away from being company ready.  I have learned some new things this year and found the best time to eat my dinner is around 3pm or 4pm.  That way I have plenty of time to go back outside and finish my projects.  I do lots of watering the gardens myself.  I am working towards having soaker hoses in my flower gardens as well.  That will free up some time for other projects.

The house needs to be stripped and painted this year.  I have started it and when I don’t mow, I go out there and scrape paint.  I have heard a power washer will take it off even better.  I am hoping to get my hands on one that I may be able to borrow from one of my brothers.  If it doesn’t get all painted this year, I will have to continue next year.  Do it yourself projects are like that.  You know, taking care of the inside of your home is like that too!
Dance Till You FLY! mw
Marilyn