Let's face it, we are a fun-loving group of people. This is why the drudgery of housework bogs us down. All work and no play makes Franny a Frazzled FlyBaby.

For SHES (Sidetracked Home Executives), we need to see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is so hard for us to get enthusiastic when all we can see is work. This is why I want you to regularly schedule breaks, give yourself rewards and only spend just a few minutes on a job. Take baby steps.

When you walk into a room that is totally trashed, your eyes see the whole, great, big mess. That is when we want to throw in the towel, because we can't see us ever getting all of this done. Our perfectionism smacks us right in the face and we give up, since we can't possibly do it all. This is why we have to make it fun with small jobs, and you can do these without feeling overwhelmed and martyred. We can do anything for five minutes if we know that at the end of those five minutes we can stop! I'll bet no one ever told you that before. You have heard this hundreds of times and you have probably said it a hundred times yourself. "Don't come out of your room until it is clean!" We don't have to clean this way any longer!

Breaking a job into small pieces is the beauty of FLYing (Finally Loving Yourself). With this attitude adjustment, we can eat an elephant if we want to. I don't expect you to slave over your home all day and all night. Now listen closely. It is not ever going to be finished. You could work until you are dead and in the grave and there would still be things that needed your attention. So it is OK to stop and just breathe on a regular basis. I want you to do what has to be done on your routines as fast as you possibly can.

This is the carrot-and-stick approach to cleaning. If we will work in double time, aerobic housecleaning if you will, then you will be able to sit down with a cup of tea and your computer or a book for 10-15 minutes. If you have to, set a timer and work for 15 minutes and rest for 15 minutes. You will find your rhythm and what works best for you. My timer is my favorite tool. It reminds me to change jobs as well as helping me to remember that my laundry is washing or when it is time to drink my water. It also gives me freedom to just sit and relax.

This is going to be a beautiful week so plan something wonderful with your family. This will not happen if you have housework, laundry and other jobs hanging over your head.

So today or tonight, get your family involved and do your weekly home blessing hour so you don't have to clean all day on Saturday. You can find something fun to do if you will talk about it as a family and set it as your family fun time for the weekend.

There are many things to do: Take a hike, see a movie or enjoy a local festival. On Memorial Day weekend we have a White Squirrel Festival in our hometown of Brevard, N.C. (www.whitesquirrelfestival.com). Come and join us or find a festival in your area.

I don't want house work to be a chore anymore. I want you to enjoy blessing your family with everything you do. This is why I want you to make it fun!

Are you ready to FLY? Have a great week getting ready for a family fun day.

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For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, check out www.flylady.net. Also see Cilley's "Sink Reflections" and her new book, "Body Clutter." Copyright 2006 Marla Cilley. Used by permission in this publication.