(Re)Considering My Next Steps
Let me share with you the thoughts that I’ve been wrestling with over the last three or four weeks. I really don’t have a point in sharing this except that I like to be open with y’all about this DIY life I’ve chosen for myself. I’m not necessarily looking for input on what to do. I’m the only person who can figure this out for myself. But I do wonder if other people like me — people who have taken on DIY whole-house remodeling — have these same internal dialogues going in on their heads along the way.
First, I’m winding down my current bathroom makeover, and I’ve decided to hold off on showing any more of it until it’s finished. It’s such a tiny room, and the “to do” items on my list are so uninteresting on their own, that there’s really no need to show you daily updates on that project.
But I’ve been thinking a lot about my next steps. What I had planned is to jump right into the next big project, which is to turn the hallway bathroom into a storage room. That’s the bathroom behind these double doors in our bedroom suite foyer.
I still may do that because we really do need that storage room, and I’d like to have it sooner than later. But here’s the deal. I feel like I need a break from big projects. I’d love nothing more than to take a LONG break from big house projects.
It gets pretty exhausting doing all of these projects (mostly) by myself. I’ve been at this for a long time now, and the past few projects over the last year were pretty big. Last night, I went back and looked at the pictures of how these areas looked at the beginning of 2025. It was such a big project, and while I didn’t do 100% of it on my own, I’d say I did about 90-95% of it by myself.
And then I jumped immediately into this current bathroom project, and while it isn’t nearly as involved as the bedroom, it has taken me a lot longer to do than I had expected because of the issue with the wallpaper leading to my decision to tackle a pretty labor-intensive wall design.
Anyway, don’t read this as me complaining, because I actually love what I do. Again, this is just me sharing this running dialogue that has been happening in my head over the last three or four weeks. I’d love nothing more than to finish up this bathroom and then take a long break from the big projects. I’d love to have a good chunk of time where I can just play, and I can do so without the pressure of “I need to get this project done.”
I have a big studio filled with art supplies, and a head filled with ideas of fun, crafty, artsy things I want to try just for the fun of doing them. They’re not even necessarily for my house. I just want to make them because I love creating and I think they’d be fun to make. I haven’t taken time to make fun, crafty, artsy projects just for the fun of it in a very long time. I miss that.
I also have a drawer filled to the brim with beads for necklaces and earrings that I want to make. They’ve been in that drawer for over a year now, and I haven’t had time to do anything with them. And I’d love to find other fun projects to do with beads other than jewelry as well. I have some ideas that I’d love to try just for the fun of doing them.
And then there are the smaller projects that I want to get done around the house. Remember that mural I bought a while back and couldn’t decide where I wanted to put it?
I’ve decided that I’m going to put it on the entryway wall. That’s my final answer. As much as I love the entryway as it is right now, I’m ready for a change.
But here’s the catch. As much as I’d love to stop pushing myself to do house projects, and just take a good, long break to do nothing but fun, crafty, artsy projects and small projects around the house, I find that I don’t have a good stopping point. And this is where that internal dialogue and that internal struggle comes in.
As soon as I convince myself that I can stop after this current bathroom project and take a long break to do fun things, I find myself thinking, “But you really need that storage space! Just get that done first! ” And that’s true. We really do need that storage space sooner than later.
And when I convince myself that I just need to power through and get the storage room finished and then I can take a long break to do fun, crafty things, I think to myself, “But wouldn’t it be better if you finish your workshop first so that your tools will be organized and available for some of those projects?” And, of course, the answer is yes. It would be so much easier to have my tools in the workshop rather than dragging them into the carport when I want to build something. And lots of those crafty projects that I want to do are small buidling projects, so they’ll require my tools.
And when I convince myself to just get the storage room and the workshop finished first, and then I can take a long break to do artsy things, I think to myself, “But don’t you want the workout equipment out of your studio?” And the answer to that is a resounding YES! I want Matt’s Theracycle, my treadmill, and my rebounder out of my studio so badly. They take up so much space and make my huge studio feel so cramped. So I really want to get them moved to the sunroom as soon as possible.
So that’s the storage room, workshop, and the sunroom that needs to be done, and then I can take some time to do my fun, crafty, artsy projects, right? But then I think to myself, “Why would you stop there? After all of that is done, that just leaves the breakfast room, and then you’ll have the whole inside of your home looking complete. Don’t you want to do that first?” And the answer, of course, is yes. I’d love to get to a stopping point, with all of the interior areas of our home in a state of completion, before I take a long break just to do fun stuff that has nothing to do with getting a room finished.
So I’ve kind of gotten myself into a bit of a quagmire here, and I’m not really sure how to get out of it. All of these things need to get done, and I’d love for all of them to get done ASAP. I know I would probably feel more enthusiasm to jump in and tackle them if Matt were able to help me. I’ve always envied those DIYing couples out there who work on their homes together. And, of course, if he were able to help me, the projects would go a lot faster as well. But, unfortunately, that’s not our situation, and I’m working by myself pretty much every single day.
I’m not going to hire out the projects, either, because that’s not what I do. I’m too cheap for that, and I’m a DIYer through and through. So for the most part, they need to be done by me. But at the same time, I’d love to finish the studio bathroom and then take two months to just play and create fun, artsy things that don’t necessarily serve a purpose, and that aren’t a means to an end (like finishing a room).
So I end up telling myself that I just need to push through this year, get all of these things done, and then next year I can take a good chunk of time to do the fun, artsy things. If I can last that long. 😀 All I know is that at this very moment, the thought of finishing up the studio bathroom and then jumping right into tearing out the other bathroom exhausts me. I guess we’ll see how I feel about it next week when I wake up and that’s the next thing on my list to do. We’ll see which side of my brain wins this struggle — the pragmatic side or the artsy, crafty side. If I had to make that choice today, I know which side would win.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Sounds like burnout, it is okay, it happens. I suggest go slower keep your Wednesdays think the solution is having an additional day a week off plus more hands off Wednesday to do not post on everything and focus on different tasks than the big. You are still doing work but enjoying where it’s at. De-prioritize the blog on everything you make. Round-up on the smaller made stuff once a month (or less, or if its enough to be a how to, however it feels). Make it less structured You can shuffle the small fun days around based on the big project needs.
Happens so often when I want to do something fun. That little voice says “but do this first – then you will enjoy the fun stuff without that nagging feeling that something else is waiting.” I usually listen to that voice. My 2 cents, worth what it cost ya 😉
I’m thinking you’re at a point where you need a fun-time break. The rest of the projects will be there for as many years as you want to work on them. Maybe instead of buying ready-made art for the guest bath, come up with a fun craft that you make yourself. I agree with your method of working on a big project but skipping completion of part of it so you can get started on the fun parts of it. Helps keep you inspired and from burnout.
Take the break, you’ve earned it! Some of my favorite posts of yours have been crafty projects too- the tiles in the pantry, resin art, the herringbone table, your spoon and button art pieces. Maybe pick 3-4 artsy projects and complete those then reevaluate if you are ready to start something big or not. We are here for the journey no matter what you decide to do next!
I hear you clearly! Do-ers want to do. And it’s also hard to turn off that planning brain.
Is it all or nothing? What about finishing the bathroom. Then taking a week off for a little fun artsy project. Then put in a couple days of demo-ing the old bath. Then go back to the fun. Perhaps if you gave yourself permission to “play” and intentionally schedule it in you could relax and enjoy those times without guilt. And as much as I enjoy your posts and truly look forward to them, post less often or keep them shorter. My two cents from a fellow do-er.
Remember to just breathe. Slow and steady wins the race, and it’s a not really a race. When my husband retired from the Army and started his new career down here at the National Laboratory, I figured I grew up on a farm and getting our farmhouse renovated and the farm up and running would be a piece of cake for an old Army wife of 27 years…HA!!! Was I wrong. First off, I was 45 when we started this project 15 years ago, you can do the math, I’ll be 60 in April. Most of what you see up here on the farm looks nothing like it did when we moved in. Our home was slightly better looking than the one you bought, but not by much. Just figuring out where to start was one of the hardest things. My husband had a ton of ideas, I had a ton of ideas, and more importantly, my body had a few ideas of its own. All that to say that Home isn’t built in a day. Do I wish I were further along, youbetcha! I had a few accidents up here that has slowed the process, I have had a few epiphanies that sometimes good is good enough. I have learned that working smarter, not harder is the only way I can go at my age, and to stop and smell the roses as often as possible. I am excited about this year, my husband, of almost 4 decades will finally be retired and underfoot, which will be a bit of a novelty since we’ve spent most of our married life apart. Slow down, have lunch out with Matt, sit in the backyard and stare at that gorgeous She shed, go for a drive and see those lovely bluebells and remember to breathe in, breathe out, and repeat as necessary. Live Life…sometimes it’s over faster than you can imagine.
Sending all my love and support!
I feel like I wrote the book on procrastination.
My vacuum has been sitting in the LR waiting to be used and
I’m very likely going to prepare for a live art video first.
All of those projects are going to be there no matter what you choose
to do first. You can take the month of May off just for you and Matt.
Or the summer. Or a week after you finish the bathroom.
You’re the boss here, you’re in charge. Do what you need to feed your soul.
Break it up. Dedicate 2 or 3 days a week to the projects and the rest of the time doing whatever you want to do. And blog about what ever it is your doing, art projects and jewelry making. You have accomplished A-LOT, it’s time to go at an easier pace. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Are you able to get the exercise equipment out of your studio without doing any of the other stuff first? I would vote get the exercise equipment out if you can, then take a fun break. You’ve gone this long without a storage room or usable workshop. It’s not going to hurt to wait. My thinking is if your studio is empty of exercise equipment, you’ll be able to have some fun with beads in peace, because you won’t be looking at a to do list in the exercise equipment every time you’re in there.
Hey there, Kristi! For what it’s worth… I’d recommend taking a couple weeks off big house projects and so some crafty stuff. Then do your storage room. Then take another week off, and work on your shed. You might even want to incorporate a regular day every couple weeks for crafty stuff. From a business perspective, it still gives you content, and from a health perspective, it gives you a recharge. 💜 Or just flat out refuse to do house projects on the weekend … And save those for your crafty stuff. You’ve been pushing really hard (understandably). I think you’re at a spot where you can continue to make forward progress, but be okay with a slower pace. 🙂
I remember how much you enjoyed making jewelry. I think you should allow yourself to take a break and recharge doing artwork and crafts. I wouldn’t be surprised if you decided to take a month long break then found after two weeks you were itching to get back to DIY projects after. You’ve managed without the storage closet in the primary suite and having exercise equipment in your studio this long so what’s another month or so? I love the mural and it would be pretty in the entryway. I would consider moving your piano where the large chest is or closing off the doorway between the living room and kitchen and placing the piano there. Then you could expand your kitchen into the music room. Do you actually use the music room? Just a thought.
Hi, Kristi.
I get so much inspiration from you! You’ve done so many BIG projects over the past year (and more) and you’ve accomplished so much!
Why don’t you take the next 2 months off to do all the fun things and small things you mentioned, and enjoy it. Put the to dos out of your head and have an amazing time doing the things that inspire and relax you. You’ll come back with even more gusto (although I don’t know where you get all your energy from as it is).
You can live with Matt’s stuff and the other things for a couple of months to take time to revive. I’m sure Matt would want that for you as well. You would also have more time to spend with him as well since you wouldn’t be sooo busy.
Just don’t forget to come back to us, or better yet, post once a week about what you are doing (show us your beading, mural, etc.) because once a week would keep us involved and yet it would be a huge break for you instead of posting every day.
While I’m sure we will all miss you, you deserve to take some time for yourself before you start any more projects. They will still be there when you are refreshed!
Be kind to yourself and take a break.
Love ya, Gail
Do you think you could work on projects in the morning then do the fun stuff in the afternoon?
I understand your desire to have it “done”, and the one that says rest and enjoy some fun projects. I know you have a day or two a week that you “take off”. Would that be a time to do smaller fun artsy projects? Then you can feel like you’re still making notable progress on the big projects, but also allowing your creative side to be exercised.
But is that’s just not do able, take the break. give yourself the grace to allow yourself the rest and rejuvenate time. The big projects will still be there.
You need a break obviously. I think the guest bath was a necessary item and had to be done. Everything else is more of a wishlist. You can still store equipment in that closet behind closed doors without renovating it. Take a break from both the reno and the blog if you need to. Spring is coming-do some gardening! OR NOT. You will figure out your next step.
The closet/laundry room and the bedroom probably took you at least two months longer than you thought it would be. And your life did not come to an end because you couldn’t start the storage closet did it? So would hurt to put that storage closet off another couple months so you can rejuvenate yourself? Just something to think about.
Bah. I’m in the same situation. Unfortunately, I need to finish renovating the craft room before I can do any fun artsy stuff, because that’s where the art takes place. I have plenty other things on my to-do list, but Im thinking I’ll take an “art break” after I’m done with the craft room, just to preserve my sanity.
It sounds like not only one but several holidays are due! There are some good ideas in the posts above how to organise breaks so that you can recharge and I’m sure that you know what helps you most: a big break, several smaller ones, another day a week free from the big projects, entirely free weekends… whatever helps.
You powered through last year because it was necessary for you both to have that bedroom suite done – from that perspective, all the bigger future projects you listed are not so immediately necessary for both of you (perhaps with the exception of moving the training stuff out of the studio?). So allow yourself some time to recharge whichever way helps – be it crafting or a plain pause – and then allow yourself more time for the next projects because they should be done for fun and not mainly for the necessity of having a finished bedroom/bathroom etc.
I love reading about your smaller projects, too, it is a nice break and still so inspirational! I hope you find a way that is nurturing for you and helps you recuperate!
My two cents……after you finish this bathroom, stop and take a couple weeks off to have fun. Is there any room at all in your sunroom to put the exercise equipment now that the washer and dryer are out? If there is, maybe you can just put it in there. You probably haven’t been using it since you are so busy and then Matt could still use his bike, your studio will be back for normal use. You won’t be getting to that sunroom anytime soon, it sounds like, anyway. Maybe move some stuff around in there to make room if you can. You really need a break, nobody can sustain that much work for such a long time without feeling like just giving up, I am tired of working so hard all of the time. I can’t do this anymore. Anyway, my two cents……..
I enjoyed reading your inner dialogue musings because I can relate to the dilemma. Good for you in being able to clearly share it with us. I appreciate it very much.
All in all, the description of your feelings do sound like temporary burnout. The energetic pink bunny that just keeps at it also needs a hopping good time free of deadlines or ‘just gotta do it’ thoughts. Nobody else is clocking what or how much you accomplish doing anything.
Doing something fun to break the tension would sure help. Idea? Make something that you know someone would be delighted to receive. You don’t mention doing that sort of thing that I recall. Maybe you already do. Jewelry, an art piece, whatever. Give it as a ‘just because’ present not tied to any special occasion. That reflects true generosity and makes the giver’s heart soar. Is unforgettable for the recipient.
Because of your circumstances you are pretty well housebound. You dart here and there to get supplies so that is like a little outing. You can leave Matt for short periods when he is settled, which is a great advantage. You do very well in caring for him. Most people would consider that a fulltime job in itself. Look at what more you do. Quite amazing, Kristi.
I hope you will decide on some diversion to enjoy. First, get some rest and the other decisions will come easier. I wish only the best for you. Hugs from Cuenca, Ecuador.
The past year has been tough for me too…building a new smaller home, packing and trying to down-size possessions, moving and soon spending lots of time getting the older, bigger house ready to sell. I just recently realized how I have things I was making for two years and haven’t been able to do one thing creative or fun. For you, it is pretty much your full time job, and you don’t even take weekends! Maybe time for more balance…a outing day, a day for creative, and shorter work hours. We will all be out here following you no matter what…and most of us love seeing your creative ideas just as much as the house renovations! Maybe less posts each week too…I know that takes some time…we will all look forward to your shares anytime. You need to balance and you will have some beautiful days in your studio.
My personal antidote for getting past that overwhelming feeling is to do something outside, that gets me in the fresh air and sunshine. In Texas, for me, that would mean working out on the workshop during the mild spring weather! It’s gonna be too hot for outdoors soon enough and you will want to be in the ac comfort where you can work in your studio on all those fun things. I feel like things would flow more easily if the workshop was functional first. That would seem to clear the sunroom so the gym equipment could be moved out of your studio, opening up that space for you again. If you aren’t using the master suite hall bathroom as a bathroom isn’t there enough space to store part of those things until you come back to that project after some fun crafty projects indoors during the heat of the summer. I know youll figure it out and we’ll be here for it.
I am all in on the break, you have had the exercise equipment in your studio all this time let be a bit longer. Here are a few suggestions:
Weather permitting start a small flower bed with some fresh plants that way you get instant satisfaction. Besides God gave us earth to play and plant in to get a semblance of peace in our souls.
Do make your jewelry, it doesn’t need to be a lot just a few pieces to soothe your creative need. Maybe sell them on Etsy or eBay for a ;little pocket change.
If you get the urge to jump in and start a project, organizing your tools, putting them away where they belong. That will give you a sense of satisfaction and the bonus is you will have a clean space and know exactly where every tool you need is.
Ok enough of me giving my opinion. My daughters gave me a sign that says “I’m not bossy, I just have better ideas” I believe after my droning on to you how I would do things I can hear you telling me “you have better ideas” LOL. Have a blessed week Kristi, tell Matt hello and ruffle the fur on the babies.
You have some really good suggestions, as a creative and do-er I totally get your dilemma.
Not to get too personal (but I guess I am, lol) as I got older I realized I didn’t have the energy, spunk/drive, strength, metal capacity to do as much, as hard, as long as I used too. And it happened very shockingly dramatically.
I’m taking a long over due look at my body’s complaints. I’ve started drinking some herbal teas that have helped with my energy levels and cognitive issues, mood (red raspberry leaf, and spearmint in particular. I also drink a blend for inflammation). It just seems these type of post have become more frequent and seem similar to things happening in my own life. For me, this dramatic change was startling and I spent years going to doctors that told me I was just getting old! Although true, I believe we can help and support our bodies (and minds) along. Just sharing some of my experience, if it helps. The teas are not aggressive and it took some diligence in drinking them, but over time I have seen some improvement.
You know you, but does it have to be 2 months? Could it be 2 weeks or 1 month? Seems like a reasonable solution to perhaps split the 2 month block of time into 2 or more respites. 🙂
100% agree….! You need time right NOW to recharge your “Battery”…. You are literally stifling your most creative side and your boundless creative talent… you need to let “Her” out…. Most “Working Employees” in this country get a least a two week vacation … per year …..pls give Yourself the much earned Permission… Bob’sGal
Kristi,
I have followed you from the condo to today. My mind has been saying, “When is she going to slow down?”
You are ready! Do the fun stuff! Maybe start with a schedule – like every weekend is no big projects. Ease into a new routine. But the one you are on needs to lighten up. Life is short – eat the dessert first! Best wishes to you!
Take some time to “goof off”. I think you will find you will be back at the big projects before you know it. Putz around with your beads, do lots of thinking about what you want them to be, spend quality time with Matt, hang out outside … They you’ll be ready to start something big, probably before summer ends.
Thats what I do to keep myself energized and ready to go.