FlyLady is a support and self-help group that offers advice to help people with housekeeping, founded by "The FlyLady", Marla Cilley. The group is based upon the website FlyLady.net, as well as a Constant Contact group for its email mailing list. Members of FlyLady have stated that the group has helped them and has changed their lives. FlyLady's messages cover topics include clutter, the value of routines, weekly and monthly cleaning, increased self-esteem, and letting go of perfectionism. As of 2016, she had over 300,000 subscribers on her email list, and 550,000 followers on Facebook. A store on her website sells organizational tools and housewares, sent from the FlyLady Distribution Center in Brevard, NC. In 2007, sales from the store reached US$4 million. In November 2015 Alex Elsea, Marla's nephew, launched FlyLady Premium, a paid virtual mentoring service which adds extra support to followers of the FlyLady methodology in small private online groups. FlyLady Premium released an app, FlyLadyPlus in July 2016. Later in 2016, FlyLady herself released a subscription-based iOS reminder app, FlyLady Messenger.
History
Marla Cilley, founder of FlyLady, is from North Carolina. In 1999, Cilley joined a web forum called SHE's Online, based on the housekeeping system created by Pam Young and Peggy Jones, detailed in their book Sidetracked Home Executives: From Pigpen to Paradise The book covers many of the key topics that were adapted to become the FlyLady system; daily task lists, routines, "slipshod cleaning", and a systematic view to housekeeping. FlyLady refers to Pam and Peggy as her mentors and inspiration. Marla first created an email group, then published her website, Flylady.net, in February 2001. The name FlyLady was Marla Cilley's screen name, as she was a fly-fishing fan and instructor. One of the members of the FlyLady e-mail list later created a "backronym" for FLY: Finally Loving Yourself.
Methodology
FlyLady's methodology is outlined in Cilley's book Sink Reflections and on the web site. The system encourages "baby steps" to develop routines and habits to organize and maintain your home. The primary focus is on "Finally Loving Yourself" by making your life easier by decluttering, menu planning, "anti-procrastination" day, and establishing routines, as well as financial and health-related self-care In 2007, Marla Cilley and co-author Leanne Ely also released a New York Timesbestselling book called Body Clutter: Love Your Body, Love Yourself, which aims to apply the FlyLady's housekeeping methodology to caring for the reader's body, through self-examination and increased self-respect. Key points in the FlyLady system include: ;Babysteps and Routines ;Shine Your Sink ;15 Minutes at a Time ;Clutter Cannot Be Organized ;Weekly Routines ;Weekly Home Blessing ;Get Dressed to Shoes ;Zones ;Control Journal ;Flylady Reminders ;Perfectionism leads to Procrastination ;No Whining
