Index Card CLEANING ROUTINE! | Sidetracked Home Executives | SHE System

Hi friends! Today is all about the index card cleaning routine, otherwise known as Sidetracked Home Executives! We talk about the origins of the routine, who it might work best for, and a basic breakdown of how it works. My KZbin buddy ‪@FarmersWifeHomestead‬ suggested this one to me and it is so cool! If you want to clean and tidy your home using a good old fashioned index card cleaning routine, this is for you! :)
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
Sidetracked Home Executives Book: amzn.to/3Um19EP
3x5 Card File Box: amzn.to/42vJLQ7
Colored 3x5 Index Cards: amzn.to/3SIAyAP
Blank 3x5 Card Dividers: amzn.to/42ohwTq
***Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Hi friends! I'm Betsy from A Flourishing Place and I make videos on this channel about cleaning, decluttering, organizing and homekeeping.
Blog: aflourishingplace.com
Instagram: / a_flourishing_place
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[@gaylewills1294]

Been doing this since 1985.Raised 12 kids doing this. It is a tickler file. You can plan a whole yr at a time. I don't use 1 card per task. I combine tasks for same room. Now planing eveything for a 12 week.year. Plan christmas. Clean house mon thru fri. Sat deep clean. Sunday is for church and personal care. I do babysit mon thru fri. So have to clean nights. I rotate out personal care items since I am on a use it up challenge. Plan my hobbies..I divide my house in 12 zones..my house is large. Repeat 4 times. Then the last 4 weeks are for christmas. Have cards to read the bible in a yr. Have cards to keep track of weight and diet. Buy gifts throughout yr..keep track of that.

[@aflourishingplace]

Wow, this is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊

[@debbie1483]

Oh my goodness!! I almost cried to see a "recent" video about this!! I saw them on the Phil Donahue Show many moons ago. Has been married a few years, working full time and was drowning in disorganization. Had never learned to cook or clean...etc....anyway, bought the book, set up the system and success was made. My husband even said that whatever books these sisters sold going forward, I had his permission to buy them ALL.....lol After 2 kids, then a major move away from family and friends, lost the vision for the system. Now after trying so many "new" systems, including digital I am ready to go back to the basics and restart the only thing that was successful. You would think living alone, (kids married, husband passed 8 years) I wouldn't need this, but I do. Anyway, I am so thankful to see this! I hope I can find their book (I've bought a few times)...just to see if I'm doing it right (perfectionist here...lol) Thank you again, new subscriber here and can't wait to watch your other videos! 🥰

[@aflourishingplace]

Oh, I love this so much! Thank you for sharing! 😍

[@rosannecoleman3684]

I loved the Sidetracked Home Executive Sister books. In the mid eighties I made all the index cards recommended; it was quite helpful. And eventually the tasks or hopes for task completion became ingrained in my mind, rather than checking with the cards each week. Did love their organization and stories of turning around their lives. I actually wish I still had that box of index cards just to be able to smile at it. And yes these sisters were the first pioneers of home organizing systems. Thanks for taking me and us down memory lane.

[@aflourishingplace]

Wow, I love this! 🥰

[@pamelabirch7081]

I loved Pam and Peggy and still remember reading their books. I did try the notecards in the 80's when my kids were small - did not do a great job of doing everything, but it did help.

[@aflourishingplace]

That’s so cool! My mom smiled when I told her I was reading the book because she tried them as well when we were small! 😊

[@sewgatormomm]

I still have those SHE books…somewhere, lol. I had 2 custom made extra long wood card file boxes and loooved doing the card file system. FlyLady completely based her system on theirs and early on she said as much. For me, the card system and the sisters were so much better and more fun.

[@aflourishingplace]

That’s so cool! Yes, I think the sisters were so entertaining! 😂

[@lacemakr]

I became a S.H.E. back in the early 80's. It changed my life. I'm no longer "in the box" but much of it really became HABIT. I used the box for years. I had friends who were also on the system. Misery loves company, I guess & we would keep each other focused. The family is grown up & gone but my home is still put together and I wouldn't get upset if someone came in & opened a closet or drawer. Things can still become messy but it doesn't last forever. The book is really amusing to read even if you don't implement the system.

[@aflourishingplace]

I love this! Thanks for sharing! 😃

[@bettymiller1308]

Even their mother, a super organized person, had one card....to clean the light diffuser. That was enjoyable....

[@reneeca5696]

In 1985 I became a young wife. My cleaning routine always consisted of a once-weekly deep clean, including inside the refrigerator! I had a schedule for meal planning and grocery shopping too! Ugh! I used to be so organized! Priorities change as our lives do, especially when the kids grow up and move out.

[@aflourishingplace]

Wow, that does sound super organized! Kudos to you! 😊

[@MTeelTeach]

As far as I know, Sidetracked Home Executives was the original. Even FlyLady says she built her system after using theirs. I used it in the 90s after I had a baby. It was tedious setting up, but very easy to use and I was a working mom.

[@aflourishingplace]

Cool, that’s good to know! 😊

[@FarmersWifeHomestead]

Thanks, Betsy. That was a very informative video about the cleaning system. I'm definitely a paper person! BTW you look beautiful, glowing, in fact.

[@aflourishingplace]

Aww, thank you! 😊 I’m definitely with you on doing a paper system.

[@letscleanhouse]

Now that’s a throwback 😂

[@nsheikh9710]

Thanks, this was a great explanation. I'm definitely an analogue person! 😊

[@aflourishingplace]

I’m so glad! Me too! 😊

[@jillsauder8340]

I still have the original box I used way back when, and even some of the cards, with my young adult handwriting on them, ha! Going to resurrect this system, because it does fit my brain much better than anything else I have tried. Index cards are just so...friendly, I suppose. I like how they look, how they feel, and their pretty colors. And I like rotating them through the dividers; it's like a tangible reward for doing what I am supposed to do. Digital apps are not the best for me, as I am too easily distracted with all the other apps on my phone or computer once I get on there. I really need this analog system back in my life to keep me from getting, ahem, sidetracked! Thanks for refreshing my memory on exactly how to use it.

[@jillsauder8340]

Oh, and I do keep my addresses on index cards, too, but in a separate box. When someone moves or changes numbers, I just cross out or erase the info, and write down the new. If it gets too messy, I can quickly rewrite the card and toss the old one. I can access any card very quickly, and I never have to worry about whether my box has enough charge to turn it on.😆

[@aflourishingplace]

I found it really satisfying moving the cards back, as well! 😁

[@aflourishingplace]

Haha, so true! 😂

[@celestialgardens4380]

Sounds like the old Rolodex file system. 😅 ( psst...they sell vintage ones on eBay, they're great!)

[@aflourishingplace]

Cool! 😁

[@pjb9617]

Thank you 6.26

[@sallyoakes7709]

I don't see myself (in retrospect, as I'm an empty nester!) keeping up with going through a daily routine of index cards and marking them with dates and such. It sounds like that family with notebook pages to check off for tasks. Um, no; I was busy working, going to meetings, driving kids to music or dance or scouts, and cleaning and cooking and laundry. I might have tried it and developed a card system when I was in a pique, but I'd feel bad for never actually using them. Kind of like the sourdough bread starter I tried, didn't work out, so I fed it and let it go ..... and there it stayed until I finally said to myself, "Eh, it was a fun idea, but time to face facts and admit that I'm not going to do this." I'm a sewist and crocheter and we call such thing UFO''s - Un-Fnished Objects, those things that sounded good when you started them, but lost their charm

[@aflourishingplace]

Oh, I can so relate to the sourdough bread thing! 😊 I agree that it’s so good to be real with ourselves about what works and what doesn’t work for us. 👍

[@Dbb27]

Love the UFO thing. Very funny.

[@terriebrockmann9497]

I totally get you! I feel bad when I don't do the cards too. (And the dates are ONLY when you skip a chore, not every day.) I crochet, sew, and junk journal. Yikes! Lots of stacks of yarn, fabric, and junk mail/old letters/tea-dyed papers sitting around. LOL!

[@letscleanhouse]

It sounds like a lot to remember and a lot of details. I actually have their book on my Kindle but I get overwhelmed just thinking about setting up this system 😳

[@aflourishingplace]

The setup definitely seems to be the most intense part for sure! 😊

[@OprB17]

I used to use this system, and then wanted a change. Well, now some things never get done. When was the last time I dusted the top of all of the door frames? A long time ago. I realized that I need reminders for the very occasional stuff. Setting up the system does take some time, but you can work through it This month while setting it up to actually start Next month. Make cards for your dailies and file them when completed. Make cards for weeklies and file them when completed. Make a card when you think of a task then file it wherever you want it to be. You get to decide what and how often.

[@terriebrockmann9497]

I remember when I set up this system. I wrote out a few cards each day while my daughter (baby then) slept. I had the whole system set up in less than a week. Then I added special chores that they didn't have, such as have the furnace serviced each September and get the food out of the camping box (October), when I did them. It helped that I was making a duplicate set for my friend so I was motivated to write the cards! Awww, the memories!

[@cheykath]

Great overview! I was curious to know if you actually tried it out? I have made the cards but then never actually used them. I am more of a list on the fridge kinda gal.

[@im8555]

I’ve done it for a little bit over two months. Honestly it is the most effective system I’ve used because it’s tailor-made it. When I don’t do something frequently, it’s a signal to me that I probably need to delegate that task out or do it another day. I had a task list that I was ignoring so I pretty much just made cards out of the task list. I am still editing the system but I like how customizable it is. For example, if I skip a couple days, I know how to just set it up again. I am considering put in task Reminders in my phone also . I think this system is grade but also can be combined with concepts from other places like the lazy genius Way, and obviously fly Lady’s zones since she got her inspiration from this anyway.

[@aflourishingplace]

I love this! The tailor-made aspect is really what attracted me to it. I’m planning to give it a full test run after we have our baby. 😊

[@bonniegaither3994]

So does that mean you have to make a new card for every new task every time you do it since you have to put on there the last time you did it.

[@aflourishingplace]

That’s a great point! I’m planning to just use white-out. 😁

[@terriebrockmann9497]

I've done the system on & off since the book first came out and they were on the tv talk shows. I only make a card IF it is something that I will repeat. When my neighbor asked me to get her mail while she was on vacation, I wrote the dates and task on a Post-It note and stuck it on a recipe card and filed it for the date I needed to start picking up her mail. No need for a new card for something that may never happen again. Otherwise, I make a card. I need to remember in February that my car insurance will be a big March bill. It will happen every spring and fall so I made one card for February and August. I just move it to the appropriate month. Hope that helps!