Control Journal for Fly Lady
A control journal in the Fly Lady method organizes daily routines, weekly cleaning plans, and home zones to reduce overwhelm. Start with simple morning habits, update monthly, and adapt the system to your life—progress matters more than perfection. The journal frees your mind by tracking what truly needs doing.
What Should Be in Your Control Journal
A control journal is not just a to-do list, but a thoughtfully designed system that reflects your life. Marla Cilley, the creator of the Fly Lady method, suggests including several essential sections:
- Morning routine—those actions you do every morning to start your day right
- Evening routine—preparation for the next day, including a clean sink and clothes for tomorrow
- Weekly cleaning plan—each day of the week has its own purpose
- Zones for detailed cleaning—your home is divided into zones, with one week of the month dedicated to each
- List of phone calls and errands
- Weekly menu
In the LadyFly app, this structure is already built in, but you can adapt it to your needs. The main thing is not to try to make everything perfect from day one.
How to Start Keeping a Journal Without Perfectionism
Many women are afraid to start because they think the journal must be flawless. But the essence of the Fly Lady method is progress, not perfection. Start with the simplest thing: write down your morning routine of 3–5 actions. Let it be something basic—get dressed to shoes, wash up, have breakfast.
When your morning routine becomes a habit, add an evening one. Then gradually introduce the other sections. Write down only what you actually do or want to do regularly. If a task comes up once every six months, it doesn't belong in your control journal.
LadyFly helps you remember your routines with gentle reminders. You simply open the app and see what needs to be done today—without stress or overwhelm.
The Principle of Regular Updates
Your control journal is a living document. The Fly Lady method recommends reviewing it once a month, during your weekly home blessing. This is the time when you honestly assess what's working and what isn't.
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Which tasks do I complete easily and with pleasure?
- What do I constantly put off—and why?
- Has anything changed in my life over the past month?
- Do I need to add a new habit or, conversely, remove something unnecessary?
Don't be afraid to change your journal. If you realize that doing laundry on Mondays doesn't work for you, move it to another day. If your morning routine has become too long, shorten it. The system should serve you, not become a source of guilt.
Weekly Rhythm and Zones
One of the key elements of the control journal is the weekly plan. Each day of the week in the Fly Lady system has its own purpose: Monday is home blessing and errands day, Tuesday is menu planning and shopping day, Wednesday is crisis cleaning day, and so on.
In parallel, you work with zones. Your home is divided into 5 zones, and each week you focus on one of them—for 15 minutes a day. This could be the entryway, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, or living room. In your control journal, note which zone is active this week and what specific tasks you plan to complete.
In LadyFly, zones automatically change every week, and you receive suggestions on what to do in the current zone.
Your Journal—Your Rules
Remember: the control journal is created to free your mind, not fill it with new obligations. Marla Cilley always emphasized that the method only works when you adapt it to yourself. Don't blindly copy other people's journals—create your own, reflecting your rhythm of life, your priorities, and your family.
Start small, be patient and kind to yourself. Let your control journal become not a strict overseer, but a loving assistant who always knows what needs to be done and reminds you with care.
