Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a home improvement project not knowing where to start, the steps to take, or even having a realistic timeframe for actually completing the project? I hear from readers all the time, that just don’t know where to begin.  I’m going to share a project planning tool with you that will put an end to this overwhelm and help you easily tackle your next home project.

Have a Successful Project

For over 15 years, I’ve used project management tools to help me get my professional work done on time and within budget.  As a homeowner, wife, and mom I’ve found these same tools are necessary in my personal life too if I want to successfully complete my home projects.  This FREE Home Project Planner can help with a DIY project, Home Improvement initiative, planning a move, or even trying to delclutter your entire home.

Home Renovation Project Success

My first home was a fixer upper.  We had a long list of projects including replacing all of the electrical outlets, painting every wall, installing new flooring and crown molding.  It was a floor to ceiling job.

The goal, get it all done within a month and for about $15,000.  This required a lot of late nights, a few contractors, and a ton of sweat equity.

My role was to serve as the general contractor.   Materials needed to be ordered, activities needed to be sequenced properly, and costs had to be tracked and managed.  The approach I’m going to share with you helped us achieve our goals and save our sanity!

What is a Project Planner

In its most basic form, a Project Planner is a tool for creating a step by step plan to accomplish a goal.  It helps you to take a big project and break it down into manageable activities.  In advance, you consider the timing of each step…how long it will take and how much it will cost.  You can also think about if you need outside help for the work or if you can do it yourself.

This approach is magical for DIY projects, moving homes, home renovation, or even trying to declutter your entire house.

Project Management Reduces Overwhelm

So, think about it, you feel overwhelmed because you’re moving and you need to pack…you don’t even know where to start.   It just feels like a dark cloud over your head.  You’re anxious because you don’t know how much time it will take or how far in advance of your move date you should begin packing.

Get Clarity on Your Home Project

By following a project management process, you take the guesswork out of the move.  Think of it like bringing a camera lens into focus.  The associated activities become less fuzzy (ambiguous and overwhelming) and much clearer.  You can actually see with clarity what you’re looking at and the overwhelm goes away.

In truth, much of our overwhelm is there because we feel like we’re facing some giant thing we can’t do.  When you pause to break down the steps one piece at a time, the project feels much more doable.

 

6 Things to include in your Home Project Plan

1) Project Objective

Either the name of the project or what you’re trying to accomplish.    This is important if you have several projects going on at the same time or if you want to look back at a project you did in the past so that you can recall the steps.

2) Action Steps

This is a list of the smaller steps you need to do in order to complete the project.  Check out this example:

Preparing for a move:

1. Declutter home and get rid of things you don’t want to take with you
2. Buy packing materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
3. Create labels for boxes
4. Pack*
5. Schedule movers or secure moving van
6. Moving day

*Note, you need to determine how detailed you want your action steps.  Something like “Pack” may be too broad, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by ambiguity.  I find that breaking things down into smaller parts gives me more peace of mind.  So, instead of “Pack” – I would have something more detailed like:

1. Pack Master bedroom
2. Pack Kids bedrooms
3. Pack Kitchen, Etc.

3) Start & End Dates

Next, you want to assign a timeline to each activity.  You’ll need to consider how many hours the step will require and what your schedule permits.  For example, if you are decluttering your home you might have these action steps.

1. Set up bins for Keep, Donate, Sell, Discard.
2. Declutter Master bedroom closet
3. Declutter Basement storage area
4. Take things to the donation center
5. Sell items on Facebook, Etc.

You’d estimate that the first step would take less than an hour and you could start and finish it on the same day, so you’d assign the same start and end date.  Decluttering your Master bedroom closet however, is a much bigger task.  You know that you have boxes in there of old maternity clothes, suits you used to wear to work when you were a smaller size, and vacation wear that you haven’t worn in 8 years. 

So, at this point, you’d estimate that your closet is a 4-5 hour job.  Ask yourself these questions:

• Can I dedicate the specified amount of time in one day?
• If I can’t, how much time can I dedicate each day I work on it?
• Do I have that specified amount of time available in consecutive days, or is my schedule already filled and I’ll need to spread the work over a time period?

Your thought process might go something like this. 

“Let’s see, I need 4-5 hours for this project.  I can’t do that all at once, but I can work on it for 2-3 hours at a time.  I usually have a 2-3 hour window on Sunday afternoons.  I’ll block Sunday to Sunday to accomplish this step in my project.”

4) Necessary Resources

The next thing to consider is who owns the job.  Often in home DIY projects, you are the owner, but a project plan may involve a spouse or one of your kids.  Also, sometimes you need expert help, so the action step may involve a contractor. 

5) Cost  / Budget

Last but not least, you’ll want to consider if the action step will cost money.  I find this especially important in Home Renovations or DIY projects.

FREE Home Project Planner

6) Status

If you have a really big project, like repairing your home after a flood, it’s helpful to have a column where you indicate the status of the action item.  Common terms used to define the status include:

• Not Started
• In Progress
• Delayed
• Complete

I find this information isn’t as important on smaller projects that have 10 action steps are less. In the example Home Project Planner above, the check box next to each action step is a simplified version of a status tracker.

Don’t Slip Into Old Habits

Recently, I was working on a project and I was feeling uneasy about it.  I had this nagging feeling that it was too big and I didn’t have enough time to complete it in my desired timeframe.  I was starting to feel stressed.  So, I reminded myself to write out the steps.  Almost immediately the overwhelm lifted.  I could visually see that the project was totally realistic for the time I had to give to it.

As someone who is very organized, I can slip into the habit of just relying on my memory and not writing each step down.  The challenge with this approach is that it’s hard to share the work with anyone else e.g. my husband.  And, it’s easy to slip into overwhelm.  I find that by writing down each step, I’m reminded of what I’ve already accomplished (which is highly motivating to me).  I can also see how much is left before the project is complete.  It helps keep my emotions in check and gives me a dose of reality.

Example Home Projects that would benefit from a Project Plan

Here are a few examples of home projects that could benefit from a Project Plan:

• House Renovation
• Landscaping Project
• DIY Projects
• Decluttering your Entire Home
• Packing for a Move

If you’re ready to get started, but feel overwhelmed, then a Project Planner is a tool for you.  Maybe you’re great at getting started, but stall before you finish, a project planner will benefit you too.  If you have a project in mind but are unclear on how long it will take or how much it will cost, a Project Planner will help de-mistify the numbers.

Don’t let your next home improvement project, DIY endeavor, decluttering effort, or move to feel overwhelming or impossible.  If you want a successful project that you actually complete, then commit to using a project planner.  You can download my FREE Home Project Planner at the end of this post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Supplies and Easy Stuff

These first few items are easier to do than things like implementing a new system or routine for your family.  If you enjoy shopping, you may even find these steps fun.

New School Clothes

Determine what new outfits your child needs for school. 

Uniforms

Do you need to purchase new uniforms or will they have one that’s passed down from a sibling?  Tip: if you need to buy uniforms, there are many schools that have a second-hand shop where you can buy gently used uniforms.

School Specified Clothing

Does the school specify any additional sets of clothing that will remain in the school?  For example, in Canada, people wear different shoes indoors than they do outside.  My daughter’s school specifies that she has a pair of “indoor shoes” she keeps at the school.  Check your school’s website or manual for their specifics!

New Outfits

If your child doesn’t wear a uniform, how many and what type of clothing items does he or she need.  Review their current wardrobe.  Do their clothes fit?  Are there holes in the knees or elsewhere?  Do their clothes meet the school’s standards?  Many schools have regulations about how much shoulder needs to be covered or the length of shorts or skirts. 

Once you’ve reviewed your child’s existing wardrobe and their school’s specific guidelines, now it’s time to make a list of what you need to purchase BEFORE you go shopping. 

Involving Kids

School Supplies

Next on the list is school supplies.  Many schools make this easy for you and they pre-package the supplies you need by grade.  You can purchase your child’s supplies through the school with one simple transaction. 

The majority of schools provide a detailed list of what each grade needs.  Target, Walmart, Staples are great places to purchase school supplies but don’t forget to check out online options like Amazon as well. You may be able to save more money than the brick and mortar options.

 

Other Optional Supplies

Labels

One option we love is the custom labels for all of your child’s gear.  They are machine washable and dishwasher safe.  You can pick out designs that reflect your kid’s interests.  They come big and small for clothes, lunch boxes, shoes, backpacks…you name it!

First Day Picture Poster

It’s always fun to do the first day and last day of school pics.  I love the posters that you can write on with an erasable chalk marker.  They are a fun way to remind yourself later about your child’s interest, age, height, school, etc.

Spare Supplies

Now for one last tip about school gear – including clothes and supplies.  Have spares!  It’s nice to make a go-to-bag in your car.  You can include things like extra socks, water bottles, hoodie, etc.  You may also want to create a schools supply stash at home for those late-night school projects that you learn about at the dinner table!

Organization Ideas

Let’s turn our focus now to things that can make a real difference in taming the morning chaos.  I’m a big believer in having systems in place to make life easier.  Here are a few helpful organization ideas to make your school mornings easy.

Lunchbox prep station

If you’re making lunches every day,  a dedicated space for your lunch supplies is helpful.  Prepackaged food like raisins, apple sauce, or goldfish place in a designated snack bin in the pantry or cabinet.  For refrigerated items like string cheese or a yogurt drink, dedicate an acrylic bin in your refrigerator.    Consider washing and prepping fresh fruit and vegetables on the weekend and then dividing into smaller containers so that you can quickly throw one into the lunch box.

Mudroom

Get the mudroom ready to quickly and easily make your morning exit.  A mudroom is always a chaotic place for us…especially when the seasons change.  We’ll have winter boots littering the floor when it’s starting to warm up and then flip flops taking over when Fall is around the corner.  Before school starts, get your Mudroom in order. 

• Remove any items that are not appropriate for the season e.g. summer pool floats.
• Eliminate shoes, coats, hats, or gloves that no longer fit.
• Clean out any cubbies, shoe racks, or baskets. There’s a good chance they’ve collected dust and debris from the previous season.
• Designate a space for each child to keep their gear e.g. backpack, jacket, outdoor shoes.
• Remove duplicates – in the spirit of decluttering, if you have multiple backpacks or lunch bags for one kid, choose just one to keep in this busy space.

Closets

Similar to the mudroom, it’s also helpful to clean out the kid’s closets.  Remove any items they’ve outgrown, worn out, or don’t wear including clothing, shoes, socks, belts, even play clothes like costumes.  You may want to get a hanging divider to plan out your child’s clothes for the week ahead.  This will help with no-fuss mornings!

Command Center

With the start of school and extracurricular activities, there is always a lot of moving parts.  A command center is a helpful area to keep your family on the same page. 

• Monthly Calendar – Include a family monthly calendar for all to see. It also helps to use an online solution like Cozi or iCloud where family members can see each other’s schedules and family commitments on their smartphone or tablet.  If you want to go high-tech, try to tet your family in sync with an online calendar like Cozi or iCloud.
• Meal Plan Chalk Board – Designate an area to write your weekly meal plan. A chalkboard can be attractive, but you can also have a place to pin a sheet of paper with your meal plan.
• Basket – Create an area for family members to set their keys or sunglasses
• File – Designate a place for papers that need to be signed
• School Binder – Some schools do this for their students, but if yours doesn’t this is a good option for keeping their craft projects. Create a binder for each child.  When your kid brings home a new piece of art that you want to save, file it away in chronological order in the binder. By the end of the year, you’ll have everything neatly saved in one pile.

Routines

Last but not least, make sure your family has strong morning and evening routines.  Start in late summer to reacclimate your kids to the routine, getting them to bed on time, waking up earlier than you did in the summer.

Have them take on as much of the responsibility for getting ready as possible.  Grab a copy of my morning routine chart to help your kids remember each step.

Back to school can be a stressful time, but planning and organization will help your family make a smoothe transition.  Planning what supplies and clothes you need to buy will help you save money and stay within budget.  Organizing key places in your home will reduce morning chaos.  Establishing morning and evening routines will help each person to do their part and minimize and chance for confusion and frustration.  Make this year a great year!