Of all the blogs I read, design blogs are my favorite. I love to look inside people’s homes, see how they decorate, and define and develop my own style. Occasionally I get jealous, but not as often as I used to. Now that I think about it, “almost never get jealous” sounds more accurate. It takes a blogger to know a blogger, and I know that an entire world–messy, chaotic, imperfect–lies just beyond the camera’s frame. Understanding this, I rarely covet these days. Instead, I admire design bloggers for their energy and ambition.
But I do wonder how they do it.
I understand they don’t do it all; they couldn’t possibly. But the tutorials, the painting, the vignetting, the monumental work that goes into designing and executing a room overwhelms me. I walk around my home and see so much undone, so much that could be better. It’s not bad, but it could be better. And that’s what kills me, that I have let things slide, let projects sit unfinished all because…well, I have no idea why. Apathy, I suppose. After enough trips to the laundry room, you no longer see the peeling wallpaper or perilously stacked shelf full of the Trader Joe’s bags you have no idea why you keep.
On Monday, I remembered something obvious. I’m a list person. If I don’t write out a to-do list, my day is at best unproductive. Hopeless and aimless is better, but I’ll go with unproductive. My to-do lists are insanely detailed, and sometimes I add items to my list that I have already done or am about to do just for the satisfaction of crossing it off moments later. Things like…
- make breakfast for Nicholas
- make breakfast for me
- eat breakfast
I break it down. I break it down, down.
So I broke the house down, down. I wrote out a 29 item list (not including sub-items!) that details every single project or task that needs completing for this house to shine inside and out. I walked around the house with a stranger’s eyes and noted all the little things I usually miss until company is over. It was overwhelming to have it all on paper, but it was also freeing.
A funny thing happened once I wrote out my list. A lot of the stuff is doable. Yes, there were plenty of items that required money we don’t have right now. I still went out and got quotes or priced out how much these items would cost so I can establish concrete saving goals. But a big chunk of the stuff? All I need is a block of time and, more importantly, time management.
The next few months will find me patching window frames, painting baseboards, donating items to charity and cleaning out closets. Little things that add up and leave you with what sums up to pride in ownership and the satisfaction of a job well done and–finally–completed.
Fabulous idea … and, now that you mention it, I need to get a list of my own …
I just did this last week. I made a deep cleaning list – having finally accepted that the house won’t do that itself magically – and a very detailed to do list. And I have actually crossed things off.
Beautiful table! Didn’t know Moroccan tea tables existed, no sir.
Good idea with writing the list. I might go ahead and purge myself of any furniture that “needs fixing” so I can abandon the idea that will ever get done for now. If it hasn’t been done in years…it never will ;)
I can relate to your list-making. I have kept a list of the to-do’s for six years, since we moved to our home. It’s nice to check it off and see the progress. I just created a list for the master bathroom yesterday. I’ve been putting it off thinking it would be way beyond our budget but it turns out it is doable and on the affordable side! Good luck!
I’m a list junky, too. I have a similar household list, but your post has inspired me to update it. Once upon a time it was even sorted by time – 15-minute jobs, 30-minute jobs, and so on. That was actually very helpful when I was feeling under-motivated.
I’m thinking I need to add “read blogs” to my to-do list, that way I can say I’m accomplishing something while I’m sitting here.
I pretty much identify with everything you said here. Especially the list thing, I am worthless if I dont have a list. It gives me direction and the fortitude to follow through at a reasonable pace. I was literally just doing this the other day; writing lists of things that need to be accomplished. So many of them are so doable.
First, that table is bitchin’. And so is the succulent that sits on top of it. Second, I can so relate to this. lists drive me and give me purpose. Good luck working your way down your list. Clean freshly painted baseboards are one of my most favorite things in a house. :)
“…sometimes I add items to my list that I have already done or am about to do just for the satisfaction of crossing it off moments later.”
Exactly! Even “make a to-do list” is a good start.
Oh Jules, you read my mind…I’m in the same situation!
I hope I can get a bit of inspiration from you to finish my never ending projects for this house…
ah and I adore lists :)
So true about the Trader Joe’s bags.
I once read a book on home organizing that said exactly that — go around your home and make a list of all that needs repair/attention. It feels good to see it written down, doesn’t it?
This is how I make my lists! If you break down every step, it looks more intimidating but ultimately feels more doable.
Love this post! I feel like I could have said the exact same thing (although not quite so eloquently!) I am a list maker too and love the satisfaction of crossing off the little things…it seems to make me more productive with each item I cross off. I better go make a list right now!