I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I’ve been having a really hard time staying focused and motivated lately while working on our bedroom. I want our bedroom finished, but it’s all the steps to get to that finished space that I’m struggling with.
Well, last night I was scrolling through social media like I do every night when I’m relaxing before bed. And I just came across a video that really got me thinking. I wish I had saved the video because I can’t find it now but I found it very interesting but I’ll try to summarize it. The woman in the video said that the main obstacle for people who struggle with productivity is that they focus on the anxiety of each step required during a project, while those who are truly productive don’t focus on those details. Instead, those who are truly productive focus on the payoff that comes when the project is completed.
I found this really insightful. And true. I think this is the problem I’ve been having lately. I mean, let’s be honest, this foyer and bedroom project required a whole lot of drywall work, and of all the home improvements I do, drywall is the absolute worst. I mean, I just can’t even bear to do drywall work.
The foyer and bedroom have changed significantly compared to the beginning of the year. After watching the video last night, I pulled up my 2025 Home Goals post that I wrote in January and was actually surprised to be reminded of what these areas used to look like. The drywall in the foyer was a disaster.
It scares me just looking back at these pictures. And it makes me proud that the foyer and the door to the closet look so completely different now, and all with my own hands.
But at the same time, I get up every morning dreading work. I don’t want to work on trimming anymore. And I was particularly discouraged when I felt like I was going backwards and dealing with the drywall situation again, even though I thought the drywall was already done.
But after watching this little motivational video last night that couldn’t have been more than a few minutes long, I realized that what she described at the beginning of this video was exactly the trap I had fallen into over the past few weeks. I get up every morning focused solely on what I need to get done that day (drywall, difficult trim problems, uneven floors, etc.) and I’m just scared. I haven’t been excited about my work in weeks. I have to force myself to work, but I find excuses to take as many breaks as possible. And by doing that I’m just extending the time it takes me to do the projects I don’t want to do.
After watching this short video, I started to focus on the benefits at the end of this project. This is truly amazing – a full bedroom suite with a beautiful foyer, an amazing walk-in closet with laundry area, a beautiful bedroom and an amazing bathroom. Everything together. Everything ready. All one huge, special room that will be our master bedroom.
I never in my life thought I would have such an amazing bedroom suite. And the only thing standing in the way of realizing that vision lately is me and my mindset – my mindset that’s bogged down by the fear of more drywall work and the fear of uneven floors making it difficult to install trim. My anxiety that keeps me in a constant cycle of searching and making excuses for needing constant breaks from the task in front of me that I really don’t want to do.
But last night when I started focusing on the payoff at the end instead, I actually noticed a change. I got really excited. The drywall work I need to do today before I can finish the trim? I can do that very easily. Install the rest of the paneling and have it wood filled, sanded and caulked? It’s not fun at all, but once I get this done, I can move on to some fun projects like making an upholstered headboard! Install the light in the foyer? Yes, it will require more drywall work, but then I will have a beautiful light in the foyer and will be on my way to a finished and beautiful foyer!
I actually woke up this morning excited and excited to go in and get the work done. I haven’t felt like this in weeks. It’s truly amazing what a change in mindset can do. From now on, I will challenge myself to keep winning at the forefront rather than getting lost in the fear of the task right in front of me. I’m so glad I came across this short video. Sometimes we really can be our own worst enemies, and sometimes all it takes is a random two-minute video on social media to make us realize that.
So now I need to finish some drywall and install and finish some trim! And I’m actually pretty excited about it today!
