Q: Dear John (no it’s not a Dear John letter) and Sherry. I’m begging you (on bare knees in front of laptop now) to write a post that teaches the following: HOW… HOW, I beg you, do you find the motivation and… ENERGY to take on such things after work?! Or even a whole weekend cooped up in a bathroom? I BEG you, please, how do you get that mind-set to get things done?! And after work! It’s incomprehensible to me but I would love to be that person. If you bottle it, I’m buying ten. I know this isn’t a motivational/self-improvement blog but I think your attitude to get things done so consistently does have a place. Please? Purty please? Luv luv LUV your blog. -Anna in Sydney
A: We won’t pretend it’s easy. Fitting DIY projects into already busy lives takes planning and discipline. We both work long hours—one of us often stuck at the computer from morning until evening and the other with a full-time job downtown—so most of our projects happen nights, weekends, and sometimes holidays. Often it comes down to choosing to postpone social plans in order to finish a task and move on with life.
That said, short-term sacrifice only works when you have a sustainable approach. We’ve learned a few strategies that keep our momentum going without burning out. Below are three practical methods that help us stay motivated and actually finish projects.
Strategy #1: Use Rewards to Stay Motivated – We love home updates, but not every task is fun. When a project feels like a chore we give ourselves a clear reward for finishing it. That could be going out to dinner the next night, taking a weekend trip after completing several items, or finally buying that art print you’ve wanted. Telling yourself “we’ll celebrate once this is done” helps you push through the unpleasant parts and prevents the work from dragging on for months.
Small, meaningful rewards make the effort feel balanced. The pride of finishing a room is motivating, too—complete one space and you’ll be more likely to start the next. Treating progress like a series of milestones (five completed tasks = mini getaway; finish a tough job = buy that item you’ve been eyeing) creates momentum, just as setting goals helps with any long-term effort like training for an event or studying for exams.
Strategy #2: Share Progress With Others – Telling people about your projects creates accountability and excitement. For some people that means blogging; for others it might mean posting progress photos to a private album and sharing the link with friends and family. Even a private photo album where each “before” shot waits for an “after” can be hugely motivating. Watching the album fill with after photos over time is a tangible reminder of how far you’ve come, and that sense of accomplishment keeps you going.
Documenting your work doesn’t have to be public. Simply tracking progress for yourself—before and after photos, notes about what you learned, small checklists—turns vague intentions into measurable achievements. This is especially helpful for long, slow transformations where gains are incremental and easy to overlook.
Strategy #3: Adopt a Productive Mindset – Your attitude shapes the outcome. Walking into a project convinced you’ll fail sets you up for frustration. We approach tasks with optimism and practical expectations: put on good music, eat first so you aren’t distracted by hunger, and give yourselves a realistic block of time. Avoid thinking “this will only take a minute” because underestimating how long something takes just raises stress when things inevitably take longer.
Instead, set aside dedicated time to dive into a job without pressure. Accept that small setbacks happen and plan for them. Breaking projects into bite-sized tasks removes the intimidation factor—tackle one manageable piece at a time rather than trying to conquer a whole room in one go. Realistic expectations and a positive mindset make the work more enjoyable and much more likely to get finished.
In short: commit the time, reward yourself, document progress, and cultivate a constructive mindset. Break large jobs into smaller, achievable tasks and celebrate the wins along the way. These habits keep momentum steady and make even daunting projects feel manageable. What other tactics do readers use to stay motivated and keep their to-do lists under control? Share your tips — we’re always looking for new ideas.
Psst- Learn more about keeping house projects manageable by decorating in stages and focusing on budget-friendly upgrades that are simple to do.