Q: Dear John (no it’s not a Dear John letter) and Sherry. I’m begging you (on bare knees in front of laptop now) to write a post that teaches the following: HOW… HOW, I beg you, do you find the motivation and… ENERGY to take on such things after work?! Or even a whole weekend cooped up in a bathroom? I BEG you, please, how do you get that mind-set to get things done?! And after work! It’s incomprehensible to me but I would love to be that person. If you bottle it, I’m buying ten. I know this isn’t a motivational/self-improvement blog but I think your attitude to get things done so consistently does have a place. Please? Purty please? Luv luv LUV your blog. -Anna in Sydney
A: We’re not going to lie. Fitting in our constant DIY undertakings is definitely is a challenge. We know all about being short on time (I’m usually tethered to the computer from 8am-8pm and John has a full time job downtown) so we do almost 100% of our projects on nights and weekends (and many of them over holidays as well). Sometimes it just comes down to making the decision to put off the fun stuff like going out to dinner and hanging out with friends in the name of crossing things off of our to-do list.
But of course, just like any strict diet that won’t work for the long haul, we’re all motivating ourselves to finally finish something that we’ve worked hard to accomplish. So here are three strategies that have worked to keep our DIY momentum going strong.
Strategy #1: Motivate Yourself With A Reward – We’re pretty into updating our home, so we’re weird enough to think that painting or demo-ing sounds like a good time… but we know it’s not everyone’s idea of fun. And sometimes we dread projects like you wouldn’t believe, but we tell ourselves that we have to do it sometime, so we might as well bang it out and then go out to dinner the next day to celebrate (instead of dragging it out and having it hang over our heads for months).
Working in these little “accomplishment rewards” can definitely keep things feeling more balanced and keep you feeling motivated- and of course you’ll be full of self-congratulatory pride for a job well done- so that also comes into play (once you paint one room you’ll feel so good it’ll be easier to embark on the next one than it was to pick up that paint brush the first time).
And sometimes setting a goal and working towards it is easier than you think- especially if there’s something oh so sweet waiting for you at the finish line. For example, declare that if you complete five things on your list you’ll treat yourself to a mini vacay in a nearby city for the weekend or that you’ll finally order that pretty Etsy print that you’ve been drooling over. I guess it’s sort of like doing anything else that takes time and effort (losing weight, studying for finals, etc)- it really takes drive and motivation to stay at it. So anything you can do to push yourselves forward and encourage each other along the way can really make all the difference.
Strategy #2: Share Your Home Adventures With Others – We’ll just come out and say it. Maybe you should start a blog. We find that we’re motivated to do more and work harder just so we can share our results with people who are chomping at the bit for pics and details. Maybe that will help motivate you as well? Not that anyone really has “extra time to start a blog” when they’re working on their home, but we didn’t think we did either (two years ago when John started this whole thing I was completely uninterested) and just look at us now!
Or maybe you can find another way to motivate yourselves by sharing your progress- like creating a super easy Flickr album with before & after photos and sending the link to friends and family once a week to share your DIY hardships- and all the glory that comes with them once they’re blissfully completed. Even privately documenting your process just for yourself can be hugely motivating. For example, you can take “before” photos of your entire house and put them in an album with a blank sleeve after each one that’s just waiting for an “after” picture. It definitely won’t happen overnight, but as you slowly start adding after photos and seeing exactly how far you’ve come you’ll be amazed how empowering, motivating and rewarding it can be. Heck, we’d even call it downright addicting.
Strategy #3: Get Your Mind Right – A lot of times when you head into each project your attitude can make all the difference. Just like if you’re training for a big tennis match or going to a job interview, if your internal monologue is saying things like “I’m going to fail- this is going to be a disaster- I’m so bad at this stuff- this will take me forever…” then you’re probably setting yourself up to fall on your face from the get-go.
We like to go into each project in a positive and optimistic state of mind. Just the act of putting on some music, having full bellies, and generally embarking on our next home improvement adventure in a good mood can make all the difference. Of course we’ve also learned that having unrealistic expectations is the fastest way to never want to pick up a hammer or a paint brush again. So even when we take on a should-be-simple task, we never say things like “this should only take a second” or “we can totally bang this out before our dinner plans in an hour” because those assumptions can really amp up the stress of the situation and make any small ten minute snafu seem like a major disaster since you went in with such unrealistic ideas about how the process would go. Instead we like to set aside large blocks of time when we know we can really dive into something (again with full bellies and some good music playing to rally our spirits) and then we often find that we’re pleasantly surprised by how smoothly things can go (instead of expecting everything to be effortless and being disappointed when things don’t magically happen in a matter of seconds).
In short: you definitely have to put in the time to get things done, but don’t forget to reward yourself and document your achievements along the way. And having realistic expectations and going into each project with excitement instead of dread can really make all the difference! Plus tackling one room at a time or breaking projects down into nice little manageable “bite-sized tasks” can definitely take the fear out of something that seems way too huge and ominous. Does anyone else have other secrets to staying motivated and keeping their to-do list in check without going crazy? Do tell.
Psst- Learn more about keeping your house sprucing projects more manageable by decorating in stages – and check out some of our biggest-bang-for-our-buck upgrades that were surprisingly simple to accomplish.
Jacci says
Totally. Completely. 100%. agree.
:)
Holly H says
I absolutely loved this post. We are in the middle of some huge renovations and just started a blog for 2 reasons 1) for the reason you said – motivation, and 2) to help us organize our own thoughts as far as our vision for the renovations .
( http://ourblankcanvas.blogspot.com/ if you want to take a peek at our scary reality!).
But my biggest question is how do you guys look so cute (and clean!!!) in all your reno photos?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, very funny. We know we look crazy and weird in our in-progress shots (especially thanks to our mismatched “painting clothes”) but we snap them anyway to capture things mid-adventure. So pardon any sweat drops, flyaways, or clashing outfits that you see!
xo,
s
Heather says
That was a good question. I totally agree with the part of your answer where you said it’s all about having that goal accomplished and once it is, treating yourself. My husband and I always plan little trips throughout the year, even if its just a quick weekend trip within driving distance just to get away, its still escapism and gives us that little carrot/treat to work towards. Thanks for sharing!
-Heather @ http://www.savingmoneylivinglife.com
kitliz @ DIYdiva says
I also think it’s important to build your confidence on small projects first… Nothing worse than getting in over your head (then you have a BIG MESS and no time to clean it up in.) But once you get that rush of “Hey, I can do this and the results are awesome!” that goes towards some of the rewards for small accomplishments.
Also it’s always easier to keep going once you start! Getting the rest of that tile laid (and having a plan for getting it done) suddenly becomes much more appealing than than 3 straight hours of American Idol.
During my last DIY Marathon I put together some tips for surviving DIY stress… first on the list? Protein bars. Now you can eat dinner and paint your ceiling at the same time! (http://diydiva.net/2009/10/diy-stress-when-mirrors-become-the-enemy/)
And I second everybody else… blogging is great motivation!
Anna, Sydney says
Hi Young Ones. Thank you so much for answering my question! You’ve provided some very good tips on how to get this tired and lazy bum going. :) And I’ve also gotten some very good tips from the comments section. I really appreciate you, and everyone else sharing.
Thank you all!
xx
YoungHouseLove says
We second Anna’s appreciation! Thanks so much to everyone for chiming in with lots of additional ideas. We love that you guys all seem ready to tackle a few new projects because you know we eat that stuff for breakfast. Just don’t forget to send the photos our way when you’re done! Happy homemaking…
xo,
s
Kimberly says
You guys really ARE an inspiration! I’m so glad I randomly found your site earlier this year — what a blessing. It’s such a breath of fresh, savvy, cleverly creative air. Obviously I had a small interest in DIY before I discovered you guys & your site, but now that I’ve really gotten a good feel for the site the bug is now outta control! I absolutely cannot wait for the point in which I’ll have a home to call my own so that I can spiff it up (with a little help from you both, of course). Love, love, love it — you’re one of a kind! <3
p.s. By the way, Burger just adds to the awesomeness. Exponentially! <3 to Burger, too!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kimberly! Burger sends you a few sniffs and licks right back!
xo,
s & j (& b)
Dena says
I think the reason you are able to get so much done is a) you are young (I am old – 37), and b) you do not yet have children (I have two boys under the age of 6. This will wear you down immensely and two boys always feels more like having 14) and c) you seem to plan very well and way in advance. I plan when I can, in between potty accidents, fixing broken Star Wars toys and Transformers, and working full time. I love your site; total inspiration for this fellow Richmonder!
Trina says
Hi guys! I so agree that having a blog helps motivate you to get things done. The other day I talked about having to paint and a commenter said, “Trina – go paint!” I had been putting it off all day and it was so funny to be caught on the computer – by someone in a different country! xoTrina
Paulette says
My husband and I just bought our house, and it’s a MAJOR “fixer upper” so we’ll be going on many adventures like these ourselves. For that reason, I find your blog so helpful and motivating in itself–to see all that other people can learn and enjoy through DIY projects is so inspiring.
Last weekend was “Weekend 1”–we demo’d a bathroom, a kitchen, pulled up all the carpets, pulled out drop ceilings in the commercial building (oh yeah there’s a commercial building on the lot too), pulled down a wall in the kitchen, and got some major cleaning done. I was scared in the beginning and it was a TON of work, but honestly I had so much fun. By the end of the weekend, we were totally exhausted–but saying to each other “I love our house” all starry-eyed as if we just had a baby.
I realize it will get MUCH harder from here, but just wanted to drop my two cents and let you all know that you’re not alone… we work full-time too, and we consider taking on this house as one of our many adventures together.
<3
Andi says
I also think that Sherry and John have each other! If your partner is not interested in diy projects or decorating it can be hard to get motivated and tackle bigger projects alone. I love how Sherry and John share the same interest…bettering the space around them!
Stacey T. says
Thanks for writing this post, Sherry. It’s an issue that’s hugely relevant in every area of my life right now. It’s great to have this how-to and I think it can apply to most of the things we try to tackle throughout our day — certainly not just home improvement.
cynthia says
GREAT advice, thanks for sharing!
Kelly says
Thanks…I needed to read/hear this today=:) Sherry, I have a sweetie like you; we’re two blessed ladies.
Peace & Hugs- K.
Dave says
Great blog. Great inspiration.. I’ve been avoiding pinterest, but im afraid you’re blog has pushed me over the edge .. :P
Randy says
I am in the business of home remodeling and home repairs. I have several ongoing projects at my own home but after doing it all day its sometimes hard to get motivated after hours or on weekends to work on my own stuff. I enjoyed this article. You have a great site!