Take Abandoned Home Projects Over the Finish Line

It can be hard to motivate yourself to complete abandoned home projects that don’t have a specific due date. Tired of staring at that half-finished gallery wall? Or the garden shed you never quite got organized? How about the empty planters you meant to fill last spring? Our list of tips and tricks will help get you organized and push those projects across the finish line so you can stop stressing over what you “should have done” and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a completed project.

Make a List

Take stock of all the projects you’d like to complete inside and outside of your home. Whittle down the list of abandoned home projects to your top three or four priorities (maintaining a variety of large and small tasks) and you’ll already start to feel a sense of accomplishment in organizing your efforts into a manageable to-do list. Start small to get that first one easily checked off your list!

Pace Yourself

Once you’ve chosen your first project, make a list of everything you need to do to complete it. Do you need to clear space to complete the work? What tools will you need? Can you enlist the help of anyone in your family? Next, break the job down into simple steps to keep you organized and motivated.

Be Flexible

What if you don’t have the exact tool you need or a place to store your project while working on it? Don’t let questions like these stop you! Come up with a clever solution like clearing out a deck box to store the unfinished project, or check with a neighbor to borrow the missing tool. If you stay flexible and positive, you’ll get through your list in no time!

Celebrate the Little Victories!

Celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how small. Even if it’s just getting all the supplies you need in one place, you are that much closer to tackling your project. This will help keep you motivated!

Reward Yourself

Reward yourself (and any helpers!) after you reach important milestones in the project. It could be a snack break or a walk around the block. Or it could be something to look forward to after you finish your project—like guilt-free time to finish a new book or TV show!

Often times, setting a goal and working towards it is easier than we imagine it. Once your first set of jobs are complete, you can look for more unfinished projects around the house. But first give yourself a chance to relax and enjoy all you’ve accomplished!