Comments on: Why Flylady Didn’t Work for Me

By: Organized Does Not Mean Storage Boxes | SimpleProductivityBlog.com

Organized Does Not Mean Storage Boxes | SimpleProductivityBlog.com — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:01:24 +0000

[...] don’t agree with Flylady on everything (see Why Flylady Didn’t Work for Me), but this one I do: you can’t organize clutter. Putting clutter in boxes just gets it out of [...]

By: amy

amy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:47:02 +0000

Oh Thank God for this post. I was never able to ‘get’ FL to work for me either, with a job outside the home or within the home. Add kids to the mix and rather than a beautiful cake of a home, I had/have a mud pie. FL followers can be quite rabid about no longer followers not trying hard enough. Bunk.

Like you, I too gleaned a few tips, but for me, FL’s considerable quantity of emails left me feeling more stressed and anxious than did a messy – but organized- home.

By: LJ

LJ — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:02:17 +0000

While I appreciate your comment, I beg to differ. I followed her instructions day in and day out for five years. Because I was convinced that something that worked for so many people had to somehow work for me. I had testimonials published about my small successes, which to me were huge, because I had so few successes while doing the system. I finally threw in the towel, realizing that for whatever reason, I just wasn't interested in trying to make it work anymore. It never became a habit. Following the instructions felt more to me like trying to walk backwards constantly. I never felt comfortable enough to live without the lists, and honestly, the routines were a straight jacket. That's not to say that all of the system hasn't worked. I still have zone lists, because they are good reminders of what needs to be done. But I don't do them on specific weeks in the month. I still do a "weekly home blessing", because the bathrooms and kitchen really do need attention every week. But I don't follow her list, and I do it as it fits my schedule. And I run errands on one day only. Routines have been very helpful with my daughter, and my binder of household information has been very helpful in the two situations where someone has had to take over the household during medical emergencies.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:35:13 +0000

not certain why FlyLady wouldn’t work for you, but if it didn’t, it didn’t. It’s quite obvious that you really didn’t understand or follow her instructions from what you’ve written. That’s ok, and she’ll tell you that it’s ok if it doesn’t work for you. Hopefully you’ll find something somewhere that does. Good luck!

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:59:36 +0000

Yes, yes, yes, and YES!!!! Thank GOD I’m not the only one, and for the same reasons. I tried, God KNOWS I tried, to make FlyLady work, and I just couldn’t. And I’m a stay at home mom! I have other things I must do with my time. My house is tidy, well organized (I can find anything I need within 15 minutes, and if it takes longer than that it’s a pretty good indication to start clearing stuff out), and if the dog hair is starting to breed, well then, I’ll get to eventually. My vacuum is terrible. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
I try to explain to others that FL doesn’t work for everyone (had QUITE the discussion on Facebook), but no one seems to believe me. Oh, I also got rather tired of her product ads…and the feather dusters are terrible.
Enough rant from me. So glad to see someone else feels this way!

By: Jessica @ Acting Adult

Jessica @ Acting Adult — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:02:54 +0000

THANK YOU! I’m glad I’m not the only one who couldn’t hack the fly lady system. I feel your pain with the deluge of e-mails, plus the zone thing. She says it works for everyone, but not for me! Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone.

By: Heathen

Heathen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:24:57 +0000

I too have recently left Flylady. I loved the site for the detailed cleaning lists and some basic routines, but the mass influx of unwanted and unnecessary emails drove me insane.

I go to school till 11pm at night, we don’t wear shoes in our home, so much of her routine just did not fit my life. I now do my own little routine and am much happier. My house stays tidy and if it looks a little lived in, that is just fine by me!

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:10 +0000

I’m glad you like it. I just think that people need to be aware that just because something doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean the fault is yours. And we’re only human. We can’t do everything. If it comes down to trading time with my daughter to spending time vacuuming, I know that the carpets will wait.

I’m glad you found a workable solution!

By: Corrie

Corrie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:54:59 +0000

Thank you soooooo much for this article! I work about 40 hours a week, go to school, and have 2 kids. Flylady worked for me when I worked part time and had 1 baby. I gave up and hired a cleaning lady and it was the best thing I ever did for my sanity.