Living in a Remodel - It's Not For Sissies! How to Survive a Home Renovation (part five)
We’ve been talking for a while about living in a house during renovations and I’ve shared some of the things that have made life a little easier for us.
So today let’s talk about keeping your sanity when you’re living in your house while renovating.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
I think it goes without saying that your project is not going to go one hundred percent exactly as planned. I have yet to meet anyone whose construction project has finished on time and on budget without any difficulties whatsoever.
So what are some things you can do to keep from losing it when your project is dragging on and it seems like it’s never going to end?
Here are some things that work for me:
Try to keep as normal a schedule as possible
Your health is important and to maintain it, try to go to bed and get up at your usual time. Pulling all-nighters to get things done on your house will eventually catch up with you.
Eat your meals as close to regular times as possible. Don’t skip meals. I know it’s easy to do because you’re focused on your project and you’re busy. But you will feel better and actually get more done if you fuel your body regularly.
If you regularly exercised and/or worked out before you began your project - don’t stop just because you are now in the middle of your renovation. Keep it up! A good cardio workout or a brisk walk does wonders for stress levels.
Treat yourself
Remember to do the things you enjoy. Have a chocolate treat. Watch your favorite TV show. Read a chapter in a book. Play a couple of games on your phone. Read some blogs. Whatever it is that you really enjoy - do a little of that each day.
Get away from it all
Sometimes the stress and frustration are overwhelming and you just need a break. Maybe not a two-week vacay but a few hours away relaxing at the beach or at the spa or hitting some Estate Sales once in a while can do wonders for your spirit. Try not to let the unfinished work nag at you. (This is my issue - it’s SO hard for me to relax when there is work to be done!) Try to unwind - it’ll all still be there waiting for you when you get back!
Remind yourself it’s only temporary
I’m not a very patient person. It’s hard for me to deal with things when they take longer than I think they should. But what does work for me is to remember that this is only a temporary situation. And I can put up with anything as long as I know it’s not going to last forever. So my advice is to focus on how great it’s going to look when it’s done. Enjoy the progress you see - no matter how small. If you are moving forward - then you’re going in the right direction!
If you missed any of the other parts of this series, you can read them here:
(part one) CREATE A SANCTUARY SPACE
(part two) THERE WILL BE DUST
(part three) IMPROVISE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
(part four) YOUR SLOW COOKER AND MICROWAVE ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS
