I Do Things My Own Way (And It Almost Always Works Out)

Yesterday, I had somebody ask me, “Are you going to complete portray the ceiling earlier than or after you end the cupboards?” To be clear, this was not a snarky remark, and it’s perfecty high-quality to ask questions. She was simply questioning about my course of, and I definitely perceive that. And also you need to know what’s humorous? As soon as once more, I had conveniently forgotten that I nonetheless haven’t completed portray the ceiling and partitions within the studio. 😀

The ceiling appeared like this months in the past, and it nonetheless appears to be like like this at the moment…

As I discussed a couple of days in the past, I’ve developed a sort of blindness to it at this level, and I’ve turn into hyper-focused on my present mission — ending the workplace space cupboards. These cupboards appears to be like like this proper now. I’ve completed the aspect panels, {the electrical} for the sconces, and the cubby bridge.

At this level, I actually don’t bear in mind the unfinished partitions and ceiling until I’m making a psychological checklist (or an precise written checklist) of the tasks that I nonetheless have to complete within the room. And at this price, portray the ceiling will most likely be one of many final issues I do to complete this room.

I’ve at all times been a DIYer who does issues my very own manner. I’ll be the primary to confess that my methods don’t at all times make sense, they usually’re fairly often not probably the most environment friendly option to do a mission. However after 30+ years of DIYing, and particularly since we moved into this home and I had such a frightening whole-house rework to sort out just about on my own (solely calling in assist or professionals when completely needed), I’ve realized that I’ve to be led by my motivation.

My present work within the studio is an efficient instance of that. I’m completely dreading having to color that ceiling. I don’t know why, and it’s most likely a type of tasks that I’ve dreaded for therefore lengthy that I’ve made it a lot worse in my head than what it should really be. However regardless of the motive, I simply don’t need to do it. So if I insisted on doing issues within the order during which they take advantage of sense, or the order during which they appear them most effective, and I attempted to drive myself to color earlier than doing the rest, I’d be making excuses day by day as to why I can’t paint, and the entire studio mission can be stalled.

As an alternative, I went with my motivation. I felt motivated and excited to sort out the workplace space cupboards, so I went with it. Will that make issues tougher for me later? Perhaps somewhat. Now, earlier than I paint the ceiling, I’ll must drape the cupboards and the wallpaper mural with plastic, and I’ll must cowl the ground. However that’s not an enormous deal, and it’ll solely take about an hour to get all of that finished earlier than I can paint.

And I additionally suspect that when the workplace space cupboards are completed and looking out stunning, I’ll really really feel motivated to get the ceiling and the remainder of the partitions painted. At that time, I’ll be tremendous excited to get the entire studio completed, and to sort out any mission that’s standing in the best way of me having a very completed studio. That’s usually what occurs. I finally get excited to finish these tasks that I’ve been dreading and laying aside just because these are standing in the best way of me having a completed room.

I do know I’ve shared all of this earlier than in earlier years, however I simply need to reiterate for these of you who’re additionally engaged on huge whole-room or whole-house tasks. Sure, there’s most likely at all times a “appropriate” order during which to do issues. However we DIYers aren’t strictly certain by them. Clearly, there are occasions when issues do must be finished in a sure order. Sure, you must dangle drywall earlier than you possibly can set up cupboards. Please don’t set up cupboards on studs after which attempt to drywall round them simply since you hate drywalling and need to put it off. 😀

However what I imply. Don’t be so strictly adherent to a correct order that you end up dragging your toes, procrastinating for days, or weeks, or months, as a result of the “correct” subsequent step is one that you just completely dread. As an alternative, see if there’s a manner that you would be able to transfer on and discover one thing else that you are able to do as a way to see progress. And in the event you’re something like me, when you see that room coming collectively, you’ll end up waking up in the future enthusiastic about getting that mission completed, and also you’ll lastly really feel excited to do the very factor you’ve been dreading.

Simply don’t be so arduous on your self, or so strict together with your schedule and order of tasks. It’ll all get finished finally. And I’ve discovered that creating somewhat bit of additional work for myself later (like now having to drape every part with plastic earlier than I can end portray the ceiling) is properly value it if I can simply transfer ahead and make a great deal of progress on different issues that I’m actually excited to sort out proper now. That’s been the story of my 30+ years of DIYing (particularly since 2013), and issues at all times appear to work out ultimately.

So with that in thoughts, I’m going to disregard my unpainted ceiling and partitions, and I’m going to spend my afternoon and night trimming out my cupboards and getting them prepped for primer and paint. It’s going to take a whole lot of trim, wooden filler, and caulk to get this factor trying like what I see in my thoughts, however that is the enjoyable half!

And maybe after these cupboards are completed, I’ll get up in the future feeling excited to choose up the paint curler, drag out the scaffolding, and get that 11-foot ceiling with the ceiling fan and 10 recessed lights painted. 😀 However for at the moment, I’m extremely motivated to work on these cupboards.

Notice: On a very completely different subject, I do know that my electronic mail program has been sending out doubles, one hour aside, over the previous few days. I’m so sorry about that! I promise I’m not making an attempt to spam y’all! I assumed I had mounted it on Tuesday, after which it did it once more yesterday. I took one other look, and I actually do assume I’ve mounted it now. I hope. So you need to solely get one electronic mail a day, however please let me know if it’s nonetheless sending out doubles. So sorry for the annoying double emails currently!

Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and enhance the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.