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Journalism of Courage
IN many households, the war on clutter and cleaning resumes on Jan 1, along with resolutions to lose weight and save money. For six years, Marla Cilley has been a tireless Internet coach for the perpetually messy and disorganised.
She sends her 2,66,000 followers on her website, flylady.net, daily e-mails and testimonials exhorting them to stay focused on taking care of their homes, and themselves.
The key to success, Cilley says, is to establish a routine and stick to it. Now. Cilley8217;s 2002 book Sink Reflections argues that it all begins with a clean kitchen sink. Other tips:
DAY BY DAY: Start small but follow an unvarying routine, whether making your bed each morning, setting up a filing system for paperwork or writing a daily to-do list.
TIME IT: Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in one room clearing clutter. Create a pile of stuff that belongs in other places, but don8217;t actually deal with it until the buzzer goes off.
WEAR LACE-UP SHOES: Athletic shoes with good support are the way to go for housework: 8216;8216;Shoes tell us it8217;s time to go to work. Slippers tell us it8217;s lounging time and should be worn only for relaxing.8221;
DO THE 27-FLING BOOGIE: A method Cilley borrowed from financial guru Suze Orman to practise once a day, once a week or once a month: Grab a grocery sack and fill it with 27 items to go in the trash8212;papers, magazines or anything. Fill another bag with 27 things to give to charity. Cilley takes this bag straight to her car trunk and takes it to a charitable drop-off site on her way to work.
PACE YOURSELF: Your house didn8217;t become a mess in a day, and you can8217;t clean it in a day. Take it one day at a time, and don8217;t beat yourself up.
