Story-time: How Perfectionism Kept Me from Getting My Home in Order — and How I Got Past It with the Fly Lady Method
Perfectionism often keeps us from starting to clean and creates constant guilt around the home. This story-time shows how the Fly Lady method helps you overcome overwhelm through simple, manageable BabySteps. Just five minutes a day can shift your mindset and bring peace into your space.
For the longest time, I just couldn’t bring myself to tidy up. Every evening I’d look at the kitchen and think, “Nope. This is gonna take at least two hours, and I’m exhausted. I’ll do it tomorrow.” But tomorrow turned into the next day… and then into guilt, frustration, and the desire to just look away from the mess.
I used to believe that if you’re going to clean, it has to be perfect. Not a speck of dust. Everything checked off a list. The end result should look like a Pinterest photo shoot. And if I couldn’t do it perfectly, what was the point of even trying?
That’s perfectionism. And it doesn’t just steal your sense of order — it steals your time, your energy, and your confidence. Your home turns into a source of shame. You end up drained just thinking about everything that needs to be done.
One day, I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks: “Your house didn’t get messy in one day, and it’s not going to get clean in one day either.” That was my first glimpse into the Fly Lady method. And it changed everything.
I started with a 5-minute timer
I picked one thing. Just one. Wipe down the kitchen counter. Not the whole kitchen. Not a full-on deep clean. Just five minutes. And guess what? I felt relief. I had taken a step — a small one, but it was mine.
Then I took another. I shined my sink. It became my evening ritual. Not as a chore, but as a little anchor of peace. That’s when the system clicked. BabySteps. Daily routines. Consistency over chaos. Clean without burnout.
What changed in a month?
- I stopped feeling like a failure all the time
- I started treating myself with more care
- Cleaning stopped being a punishment — it became part of life
- My home started to feel lighter — and so did I
Most importantly, I stopped waiting for the perfect moment. I just started doing what I could, right now.
Fly Lady isn’t just about cleaning. It’s about caring for yourself
The Fly Lady method isn’t just a to-do list. It’s a gentle rhythm. The LadyFly app gives you pre-made routines, reminders, motivation, and support. You don’t have to keep everything in your head — the app guides you, step by step.
If you’re like I was — putting off cleaning because you’re afraid you won’t do it “right” — start small. Try LadyFly. Try one routine. Set a timer. Give it five minutes. Give it one day.
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about moving forward. It’s about kindness. It’s about you.
🧡 Try it now. Let peace and order ease their way into your life — gently and for real.
