The FlyLady

From 43FoldersWiki

Marla Cilley, aka "The FlyLady", is a cheerleader and fairy godmother to thousands of households suffering from CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

Her book Sink Reflections is basically her website in printed form. She sells items to complement her strategies, but in no way do you have to buy anything from her to benefit from her methodology.

While "The FlyLady" was initially aimed at women - especially mothers - the many testimonials she has received from singles and men have shown her the universal need for structure which her book and website advocates.

Using a notebook, "FlyBabys" write out their Morning Routines, Evening Routines and Before Bed Routines. The daily emails are reminders throughout the day to actually do your routine. With time additional lists are added to your "Control Journal" (named for an airport's "Control Tower"). Constant reminders to "jump in where you're at" and reward yourself for taking baby steps towards your ultimate goal of overcoming CHAOS, help fight the all-too-familiar feelings of being overwhelmed by a new system which is SUPPOSE to make things easier.

Marla's system is loosely based on the chore card index card system popularized by Pam Young and Peggy Jones aka the "Slob Sisters " in their book Sidetracked Home Executives (SHEs).

[edit] Testimonials

I call her system "cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADD-types w/ messy houses) Moms with ADD-traits are notorious for struggling with messy houses. Marla overcame this struggle in her own life and is on a mission to help others to learn to FLY (Finally Loving Yourself). She understands the struggle, and is a cheerleader and a nag in her emailed messages, understanding the need to try again and again until you get it right.

Having tried every system imaginable previously, including more money than I'd like to admit to sunk into Franklin Covey products and other Productivity pr0n; this system comes highly recommended from an ADD-centric mom of 4 who has recently morphed into a computer geek!--4.143.53.250

Keeping the house clean with FlyLady--A clean house can be the sine qua non of organization in the rest of your life. The best tools my wife and I have found to help us do this are the tricks and advice of the FlyLady. The site's look and tone are mostly geared towards homemakers, but it has helped the two of us in our careers and home life as well (we don't have kids). --Robcourtney 21:29, 16 Apr 2005 (EDT)