With the Internet in your back pocket, you can be a DIY expert in minutes. Just search for whatever project you want to start, and you’ll have a step-by-step guide in your hands in seconds.
But just because you have Google in your toolbox doesn’t mean you’re prepared for what a big project entails. Construction invites huge upheaval into your home — whether you’re doing a simple design refresh or a major restoration.
It can be hard to keep your cool throughout it all. If you’re wondering how you’ll handle the stress of DIY work, take a look at the advice below.
Plan, Plan, and Keep Planning
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when money is involved, and a DIY project only serves to put a spotlight on these anxieties. After all, it’s hard to keep calm when you’re halfway through a project and all out of savings.
You might be tempted to get a personal line of credit to help finish the job.
While a personal line of credit may work as a safety net for some financial emergencies, it’s not always the right answer.
A financial institution like CreditFresh suggests using a personal line of credit as a backup in unexpected emergencies. You can check out CreditFresh for more info on what constitutes as an emergency, but generally, it’s an unavoidable and unanticipated repair or bill you can’t afford on your own.
A planned renovation doesn’t quite fit the bill.
Before you plan your reno around a personal line of credit, break down your DIY project into smaller steps so you have a better idea of what costs you’ll need to cover at every stage.
Then sit down with your budget to see if you can afford it. You might have enough expendable cash to tackle your project right away. Or, you may have to postpone it while you cut out expenses and save up.
Give Yourself Breathing Room
Armed with a budget and a plan, you might think you’re ready for anything. But you’d be surprised — there may come a time when your project hits a speed bump.
Even a small renovation has a lot of moving parts. If one simple thing goes wrong, it can throw off every subsequent step in your plan.
It’s best to assume things will take longer than you expect and push out your due date. At worst, you’ll finish by your extended timeline, but in the best-case scenario, you’ll be done early.
Don’t Obsess
There’s a thin line between putting your nose to the grindstone to complete your project quickly and overworking yourself to exhaustion to get the job done. One ensures you can enjoy the results of your hard work, while the other promises to do damage to your nerves.
You can cause yourself to stress out if you only ever think about your project, so try to strike a balance between your task and relaxing.
Schedule some time away from your project. Choose something that will help you take your mind off the task that lays ahead. It can be something as simple as a walk around the block or a night out with friends.
At the start of a project, excitement for something new can help keep your spirits lifted. But it’s harder to stay positive the longer your work takes. Don’t let your composure crack under the pressure. Keep calm, cool, and collected by planning your reno thoroughly.