How to Find the Time and Motivation to Work on Your Home

06/18/19 • 37 min

Colorful Conversations: DIY & Home Design

In this episode of Colorful Conversations, Thea and Tasha talk about how to find or create time to improve your home! Their goal is for you to learn something useful and have fun every time you listen.

If you are a new listener to Colorful Conversations, we would love to hear from you. You can find us 24/7 on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope and on Facebook at Kaleidoscope Living. You can also check out our YouTube channel. As a thank you for listening, we have an awesome FREE guide called “5 Easy Steps to Design A Room You Love.” Text “DESIGNTIPS” to 44222 and you will get the guide in your inbox!

In this episode:

0:31 - Today is a little different - We’re without Joe, as he’s at work, but Thea and Tasha are leading the way with their discussion on how to find or create time to improve your home.
1:00 - What’s happening on Tasha’s homefront? Tasha tells us about embarking on the demo & reno on the kitchen, hallway, foyer and dining room a few days ago - it’s honestly more like a first-floor renovation! The family is on their way to finally setting up their temporary kitchen.
3:26 - Because we’re Joe-less today, Tasha and Thea are taking on the Newlywed Game to test each other’s knowledge of their friendship. The question is: what is the biggest time suck in the other person’s life? Tasha guesses that Thea’s biggest time suck is loading and unloading the dishwasher. Thea admits that she fully avoids that chore, and her actual time suck activity is spending time on social media. Thea guesses that Tasha’s biggest time suck is work because it’s what she spends the most time doing! Tasha agrees, saying work is a big time suck because it’s hard for her to turn her working brain off.
5:50 - Just a reminder that this is not your ordinary podcast! Make sure to follow on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope where we announce our upcoming topics and you can submit your questions for us to answer. If we pick your question, we’ll send you some free swag!
6:50 - The question that Tasha gets by far the most often is How do you have all this time to work on your house? (Thea has asked this as well!) Tasha and Joe both work full time, have twin girls, and enjoy their busy work schedules. They have to make time to work on their house!
11:40 - Tasha shares her tips to find more time in your schedule or create the time needed to improve your home. Tip #1 is a big one: Do not begin until you have a solid plan! You need to think about what you want to change or keep, create a budget, pick color pallets and patterns, and actually plan for what you want to do before you buy any supplies.
14:30 - Tip #2, which can be a tricky one for some people, is once you have your plan, you have to make it a priority. This can mean that you may have to say no to other things that take up your time and money. Set a deadline to complete your project by and don’t treat it as an optional task.
17:00 - Tip # 3 is to shift your mindset. For Tasha and Joe, this meant that they reframed “house project time” as “fun relaxation time.” Taking on work at home has become an enjoyable way to spend quality family time together, while also making progress on their home projects. Make a great playlist to listen to while you paint (or listen to a great podcast, like this one)!
21:55 - Designer In A Binder Pre-Sale! To purchase Designer in a Binder, visit designerinabinder.com. And as a big thank you for listening, you can enter the code PODCAST to receive 25% off either package.
22:12 - Tip #4 is you need to set deadlines! You didn’t get through school without a deadline, and life works the same way. Give yourself realistic deadlines for your projects. It’s okay if you need to change it, but you have to work towards something.
25:20 - Tip #5 is to ask for help, which is a big struggle for Tasha! Don’t be afraid to ask others for help picking up or taking care of your kids if you’re taking on a project, or ask for extra hands if you’re taking on something big. Setting deadlines can also really help you plan for when you need to have extra help.
27:45 - Tip #6 is for anyone with kids--get your kids involved when you are working to improve your home! Parents often feel that big projects aren’t really kid-friendly, but there are ways to get them safely involved. Kids can help with yard work, help with smaller parts of the project, or simply be coloring in the same room, and it can be a great source of pride for children to feel like they contributed to their house. This can sometimes slow the pace down on a project, but Tasha feels that the benefits of involving the kids outweighs any inconvenience.
30:55 - Tip #7 is to take breaks between big projects! These types of home projects are exhaus...

In this episode:

0:31 - Today is a little different - We’re without Joe, as he’s at work, but Thea and Tasha are leading the way with their discussion on how to find or create time to improve your home.
1:00 - What’s happening on Tasha’s homefront? Tasha tells us about embarking on the demo & reno on the kitchen, hallway, foyer and dining room a few days ago - it’s honestly more like a first-floor renovation! The family is on their way to finally setting up their temporary kitchen.
3:26 - Because we’re Joe-less today, Tasha and Thea are taking on the Newlywed Game to test each other’s knowledge of their friendship. The question is: what is the biggest time suck in the other person’s life? Tasha guesses that Thea’s biggest time suck is loading and unloading the dishwasher. Thea admits that she fully avoids that chore, and her actual time suck activity is spending time on social media. Thea guesses that Tasha’s biggest time suck is work because it’s what she spends the most time doing! Tasha agrees, saying work is a big time suck because it’s hard for her to turn her working brain off.
5:50 - Just a reminder that this is not your ordinary podcast! Make sure to follow on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope where we announce our upcoming topics and you can submit your questions for us to answer. If we pick your question, we’ll send you some free swag!
6:50 - The question that Tasha gets by far the most often is How do you have all this time to work on your house? (Thea has asked this as well!) Tasha and Joe both work full time, have twin girls, and enjoy their busy work schedules. They have to make time to work on their house!
11:40 - Tasha shares her tips to find more time in your schedule or create the time needed to improve your home. Tip #1 is a big one: Do not begin until you have a solid plan! You need to think about what you want to change or keep, create a budget, pick color pallets and patterns, and actually plan for what you want to do before you buy any supplies.
14:30 - Tip #2, which can be a tricky one for some people, is once you have your plan, you have to make it a priority. This can mean that you may have to say no to other things that take up your time and money. Set a deadline to complete your project by and don’t treat it as an optional task.
17:00 - Tip # 3 is to shift your mindset. For Tasha and Joe, this meant that they reframed “house project time” as “fun relaxation time.” Taking on work at home has become an enjoyable way to spend quality family time together, while also making progress on their home projects. Make a great playlist to listen to while you paint (or listen to a great podcast, like this one)!
21:55 - Designer In A Binder Pre-Sale! To purchase Designer in a Binder, visit designerinabinder.com. And as a big thank you for listening, you can enter the code PODCAST to receive 25% off either package.
22:12 - Tip #4 is you need to set deadlines! You didn’t get through school without a deadline, and life works the same way. Give yourself realistic deadlines for your projects. It’s okay if you need to change it, but you have to work towards something.
25:20 - Tip #5 is to ask for help, which is a big struggle for Tasha! Don’t be afraid to ask others for help picking up or taking care of your kids if you’re taking on a project, or ask for extra hands if you’re taking on something big. Setting deadlines can also really help you plan for when you need to have extra help.
27:45 - Tip #6 is for anyone with kids--get your kids involved when you are working to improve your home! Parents often feel that big projects aren’t really kid-friendly, but there are ways to get them safely involved. Kids can help with yard work, help with smaller parts of the project, or simply be coloring in the same room, and it can be a great source of pride for children to feel like they contributed to their house. This can sometimes slow the pace down on a project, but Tasha feels that the benefits of involving the kids outweighs any inconvenience.
30:55 - Tip #7 is to take breaks between big projects! These types of home projects are exhaus...

Previous Episode

Love & Renovations-How to Survive Renovation Stress

In this episode of Colorful Conversations, Thea, Tasha and Joe talk about how to live your best life by creating a home you love through DIY, home design, and life at home. Their goal is for you to learn something useful and have fun every time you listen. This time, we’re talking about love and renovation and how to survive renovation stress.

If you are a new listener to Colorful Conversations, we would love to hear from you. You can find us 24/7 on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope and on Facebook at Kaleidoscope Living. You can also check out our YouTube channel. As a thank you for listening, we have an awesome FREE guide called “Design Vault.” Text “DESIGNVAULT” to 44222 and you will get the password to access the vault in your inbox!

In this episode:

0:30 - Today, we’re talking about Love and Renovation- How to Survive Renovation Stress. First, let’s find out what’s going on on the homefront. Joe and Tasha talk about their ongoing kitchen renovation, which is fully underway. Things have been ripped out, inspected, roughed in, and drywall is expected soon!
2:30 - It’s time for Thea’s favorite game, testing how well Tasha and Joe know each other. Today’s question is: What is the most annoying thing about doing a renovation with each other? Tasha thinks Joe finds it annoying when she says “Oh, that’s good enough,” and “I can caulk that!” For perfectionist Joe, those aren’t always the phrases he wants to hear during renovation. Joe guesses that Tasha gets annoyed by his need to do everything perfectly, even if it means re-doing it. However, what really gets to Tasha during renovation is Joe’s need to over-secure things - nails, wood glue, screws, and more. Everything needs to be super secure because “safety has no holiday.”
5:40 – This is not your ordinary podcast. Make sure to follow on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope where we announce our upcoming topics and you can submit your questions for us to answer. If Instagram isn’t your jam, you can also find us on Facebook to ask your burning DIY and home design questions. If we pick your question, we’ll send you some swag!
6:20 - As always, Tasha has done some research for today’s topic of Love and Renovation. The article, How to Survive Home Renovation Without Killing Your Spouse, is funny but definitely has some truth thrown in! Renovation stress is real and can cause problems, but Tasha and Joe haven’t approached the danger zone yet.
11:34 – So, what are the tips from the article for not killing your spouse? First, whichever parent has to stay at home during the renovation, either caring for kids or because they work from home, always wins the whose-day-was-worse argument. The stay-at-home parent has to deal with all the disruptions that come along with a renovation, while the other partner gets to escape the madness of the house!
13:50 – Surprisingly, Tasha’s research uncovered that going through a home renovation is not one of the top ten most stressful life events. However, Thea, Tasha, and Joe all agree that home renovation should definitely be on the list.
14:45 – Truman Sponsorship Spot
17:50 – Tasha and Joe each share two tips each about how to survive a home renovation together. Joe’s first tip is to be ready to compromise. Even though you love your spouse, sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles throughout home renovation and design.
21:40 – Joe’s second tip is if you’re talking about renovation, you must talk to your partner about money! Talk about your budget and where you want your spending limits to be going ahead of the renovation, so you can both be on the same page if unexpected things come up or if plans change. Leave yourself some budget leeway and keep communication open as you move through the renovation, because reno budgets are rarely less expensive than expected.
23:40 – Now, for Tasha’s tips. Tip #1 is to keep an open mind, which can be difficult depending on personality types. Tasha is a very decisive person and it can be hard to change her mind, while Joe is more flexible depending on the situation and finances. Regardless of what your personality type is, it makes life easier if you are open (or force yourself to be open) to plans changing throughout your renovation.
29:22 – Tasha’s second tip is to give your partner a little more space than usual. Home renovation means there are lots of people in your house, there is dust and dirt all over the place, and it can really be exhausting. Remember to communicate when you can, but also ...

Next Episode

Why Your Home Matters So Much More Than You Think It Does

Hear Tasha talk about why it matters so much for you to love your home. Tasha and Thea discuss key points about the relationship that exists between us and our house and why this plays such an important role in our quality of life!

In this episode:

0:30 - Today, we’re talking about why you should love your home is so important and why it matters more than you may think. But first, updates from the home front! The kitchen renovation is still underway with the contractors, but Tasha and Joe are getting ready for their DIY piece of the project. Tasha is going to be working on tiling the kitchen backsplash and they both will be installing the new floors themselves.
2:30 - It’s time for the newlywed game for Thea and Tasha! Today’s question is what do I love least about my house? Tasha guesses that Thea’s least favorite thing about her house is that she has one bathroom, and there are several things about that one bathroom that Thea doesn’t like. Thea agrees, but adds that she thinks her house is haunted and that is what she was thinking of! Thea guesses that Tasha’s least-lovable feature is her master bathroom, which she describes as “the most 80s explosion of tile you’ve ever seen.”
7:40 - This is not your ordinary podcast because we announce our upcoming topics so you can submit your questions for us to answer! Make sure to follow our Instagram, @tasha.kaleidoscope so we can see what you’re asking. If we pick your question, we’ll send you a sweet free gift!
11:00 - So, why do we believe it matters so much to truly love your home? Home is where we start and end our crazy busy days and home is usually a place where you spend a lot of time. You don’t need to have a magazine-style, perfect home to be happy, but your home should be a place that you love, that you’re proud of, and is beautiful to you.
13:00 - Studies done by environmental psychologists recognize that for most people, their home is part of their self-definition - it helps define who you are! You’re in a relationship with your home, so you need to do a little work to make sure it’s a good relationship.
14.20 - Click here for Designer in a Binder
16:35 - We have conscious and sometimes subconscious reactions to our space, and finding frustration in your home, whether it’s ugly tile or just untidiness, can cause unnecessary stress and negativity in our lives. Conversely, creating a space that you feel relaxed and happy in, those positive emotions affect the rest of our lives too.
19:27 - Tasha feels strongly that when you really love your home, it gives you the energy to take care of your space. You may be tired, but you have more motivation to clear the dishes out of the sink or make your bed when those spaces make you feel joy. Remember, “home is a feeling, not a place.”
25:50 - What Tasha and Joe are going through right now with the stress of their kitchen renovation is a perfect example of how loving your home matters for your mental health. Tasha even got a comment on Instagram from a woman who had gone through chemotherapy and a kitchen reno... guess which she claimed was harder?
29:15 - Tasha encourages people not to feel selfish or guilty for wanting to create a home that they really love, which she herself has experienced. When we feel at our best and feel good about our home base, we can do more for everyone else and help be a part of the solution for our larger world problems.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our social media and in our comments section. You can find us 24/7 on Instagram @tasha.kaleidoscope and on Facebook at Kaleidoscope Living. You can also check out our YouTube channel.