There. I said it.
I am not a fearless DIYer.
They say confession is good for the soul, so here it goes: I am a slow, cautious and overly fearful DIYer. I get bogged down in the details of a project and paralyzed in problem-solving. I’m intimidated by new tools and techniques. Sometimes I just wish I could turn it all over to someone else because I’m completely overwhelmed.
Sometimes I feel like the worst DIY blogger ever because aren’t we all supposed to be endlessly inspired, driven, skillful and confident?
You guys, I follow some seriously impressive and talented DIYers. Sandra from Sawdust Girl can build just about anything and the results are incredible. Kristi from Addicted2Decorating is tackling her whole house renovations from drywall to tiling to installing kitchen cabinets, doing the majority of the work by herself. Cassity from Remodelaholic has completed multiple house remodels with no sign of slowing down. Mandi from Vintage Revivals is one of my long-standing blogging heroes and the epitome of fearless DIYing.
Gosh, I look up to these ladies and sit in awe of their skill and creativity. I wonder if they’ve ever completely come undone over hopelessly stripped screws or say, a broken ladder? Or put off starting a project for days and days and days because some portion of the plan was a bit scary? Maybe, maybe not.
My point is that there are these fantastic and brilliant DIYers out there and at times I get so frustrated at my own inexperience and anxieties. But I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle”. I tend to dislike pithy little sayings like that until something clicks in my life and it fits perfectly and I’m like: “Oh. I get it now.”
I’m kind of a tenderfoot DIYer, learning as I go. I just bought my first hand-saw last week. I own a drill and an electric sander, and that’s about the extent of my current power tool collection. This is our first house and my first time stretching my own little DIY wings. This is my beginning.
At the same time, I’m thinking back over the last several years and some of the skills I’ve acquired and that feels very empowering. A few years ago, I had no idea how to install a light fixture myself. A few years ago I had never scraped popcorn ceilings and turned them into smooth, bright surfaces. A few years ago I had never stripped wallpaper, or cut copper pipe, or painted upholstery. And I was nervous and anxious about starting each one of those projects. But I was able to learn (and make mistakes) while doing them and accomplish my goals.
So I just wanted to level with you today: This where I am. I have really big, wild ideas and sometimes I lack the experience needed to execute them. I’m on a journey to acquire those skills. Sometimes those skills scare the crap out of me. Maybe you’ve felt that way too?
I thought I’d share a few things I do when I’m feeling particularly un-fearless about starting a project or trying something new.
#1: Hit The Books
Like Hermione Granger, whom I uncannily resembled as a child, my first step is research. I frequently spend several hours online reading product reviews, tutorials or checking out YouTube videos on techniques before jumping into a new project. I like to have a plan formulated first, before I ever pick up a tool or run out to the store for supplies. If I’m feeling nervous about something new, I boost my confidence by becoming an internet expert on it.
Sometimes I’m still not feeling completely confident after exhausting my online research capabilities…
#2: Phone A Friend
For me, this friend is frequently my dad. He seems to know how to do just about everything when it comes to making things and fixing things! Sometimes I just feel better if he’s run through something with me over the phone, and sometimes he’s awesome enough to take a little trip over here and help me out or I take my project to him (like when I needed his input and garage full of power tools for these agate and copper sconces). Other times, the friend is another blogger with more experience in the subject who is kind enough to answer a few questions or make some recommendations.
Hit a speed bump in the middle of a project? Phone a friend for advice or even just plain commiseration. Having that support network in place definitely helps ease my anxiety about potential problems.
#3: Get Your Feet Wet
Just start. I can easily let myself become paralyzed by perfectionism and preparation and sometimes I just have to actually begin the project. Dip my toes into whatever the project is so it becomes easier to dive in. Since even the best-laid plans can flop unexpectedly, sometimes you just need to go for it, get the ball rolling and then deal with obstacles as they arise. Run into trouble? Repeat tips 1 and 2, but then ultimately get right back into DIYing. Complete a small step and let that confidence propel you towards your next goal.
If you’ve ever sat at the beginning of a new project and felt completely overwhelmed too, I hope this post helps you! I spent a lot of time chatting about my fears in DIYing, and yet… I keep on DIYing! There’s just something so rewarding about conquering difficulties and seeing something come to life under your own two hands! The joy of a job well done, the satisfaction of hurdles cleared, the achievement of the fruits of our labors – this is why we DIY.
I wish you courage and success in your creative endeavors!
Much love,
Julia Konya says
Love the post. I'm paralyzed by taxes with now and can't wait until it is over so I can start working on some projects.
Mmm… yay… taxes. I'm going to have to tackle those soon too!
Great post! I realized this year that DIY is not my strong-suit at all. I'd much rather find awesome pieces and give ideas for how they could be transformed or refreshed… but when it comes to ME doing it – bleh! I have several "projects" stored up, ready for me to work on — but the reality is, it's not me. At least right now. I'm holding out hope that when the kids are a bit bigger I'll have more time to tackle some smaller DIYs that inspire me.
Kristen, I think it is SO good to be able to identify what you want and what you love doing! And it sounds like you have!
these are great tips- i feel the same about diying…. i am scared of what i don't know how to do and frankly i don't want to sit and read all the directions. i just want to do. my dad knows all, too! 🙂
Haha – I will spend DAYS agonizing over the directions! 😉 Thank goodness for DIY dads!
Great post Brynne and a great reminder. In the world of DIY blogging its so easy to be inspired to dive in head first, but we arent all Mandi and Sandra and thats ok. I think its important to understand our limitations. Im pretty comfortable with everything except drywall. I learned from experience that #aintnobodygottimeforthat
Thanks Shavonda! I think it's helpful to realize that that comfort level comes with experience! It's okay to be new and uncomfortable at something, because that's where everyone starts.
It's so exhilarating to hear that being a DIY blogger doesn't mean we're all fearless. Fearless ideas sure, but execution, scares the bones out me ha!
I'm blessed to have a DIY partner in crime to bounce ideas off of, formulate better ideas, push me to get crap done, or just there to conquer my fear of that dreadful table saw (a blade half hidden by a table, ready to slice those precious fingers off?!). 24/7 service, now that's what I'm talking about!!
Hooray for having a strong supporter Trisha! I'm right with you on the fear of the table saw, but it's one I hope to conquer sometime soon! Hearing feedback on this post has been really great!
Such a good post!! And yes, every time we (and yes, we, because Wayne wasn't all that experienced with DIY although he was more experienced than me) tackle something new, it's scary and we read EVERYTHING about it before we take those first hesitant steps into it. But you definitely build confidence and I can't believe how many things we've learned to do living here for 4+ years now. I also learned that as much as I would love to reupholster, I hated trying it – like vehemently HATED it. So now, I am happy to tackle most anything but upholstery work, I'm happy to pay someone else to do it for me! 😉 xxx
That's the lesson I learned from our popcorn ceilings! I CAN do it, but I hate it with a passion 🙂 It's so true that experience builds confidence, so I guess I just need to get out there and earn some more experience!
great post! 4 years ago I knew literally NOTHING about DIY…. now I don't think I could live without my miter saw. It's amazing what you can do when you read, watch, and then try it yourself!
That's pretty much where I started too Stephanie! I love the cool projects you can do with a miter saw – here's hoping I can add that to my skill set soon!
I so feel you! I was just telling my hubby yesterday that I wish I could do more by myself but I'm scared. Sure, I can paint baseboards, hang photos, jigsaw, etc., but when it comes to other things I just get scared. Yep, those baseboards are just primed and painted waiting to be installed, but I've never used the miter saw.
I've never used one either! It's intimidating, but I know you can do it! And then you can take a trip over here and help me learn how 🙂
Awww, Brynne, you're a fabulous DIYer even if you aren't using fancy tools or techniques. You'll ending learning and using plenty of these things as you go. As for my power tool collection, I've only got you beat by a circular saw. And I make my husband use it for me since the weight of it alone terrifies me.
Thank you sweet friend! I'm hoping to increase that collection this year – yay for trying new things!
It's so wonderful to read this, thanks for being so open and honest about something that a lot of us tend to feel. I'm still getting my feet wet with even painting and decorating and have very limited experience with power tools (a lot of which still scare me…pretty much anything w/ a blade whirring at 100mph!). I totally relate to getting trapped in the research mode too and taking longer than I should to just DOING it and learning from failure. But y'know, it IS empowering when we see the finished result of something we've done, and "this is why we DIY". Great reminder that we're not alone and have a great blogger community of support!
I'm so glad this post resonated with you! And yes – the community is such an important part! If there is any way I can help my friends and readers with questions, I am so happy to spread my [limited] knowledge because of how amazingly helpful other bloggers have been to me!
I feel the fear all the time! Like what if I really eff up my house?!?!?
Fingers crossed that doesn't ever happen, but I'm totally with you on that. It can be really scary! For peace of mind, I'm happy to just consider some things off the table – no moving walls for this girl! 🙂
I wish we'd done more diving in earlier on….we were very nervous DIYers for our first, umm, decade or so of home ownership? So you're way ahead of us already 🙂
And now look at you guys!
Excellent post! I also follow several.of the blogs you mentioned in addition to a few.more. I find great encouragement in them and detailed directions. That said, I lack skills and sometimes just have to jump in. I usually get my cousin to start a project with me even though she doesn't have diy skills. But she is great at thinking the project through and making suggestions. Just having someone to bounce things off of is calming to me.
I feel the same way Guerrina! It's so nice to have a partner when you start a project, even just for the encouragement and moral support! I'm so glad your cousin can be there for you!
What a great post! I'm a DIY-ER wanna be! But I'm a MAJOR chicken. 🙁
Just dip my toes in. OK I'll do that!
I totally understand Vicki! I am just by nature an anxious person. Starting with something small and manageable can really help boost your courage for tackling something bigger next time!
I appreciate this post v v much! I feel like I go back and forth, so maybe I'm a bipolar DIYer. I have moments where I boldly jump into something. But then I end up feeling WAY overwhelmed and wondering why I ever did that. Then I have moments where I am overly cautious and overthink everything and talk myself out of something because I'm way too afraid of the risk.
Ha! Same here! It's nice to hear so many other peoples' experiences with the same thing 🙂
So grateful to hear I’m not the only one! I too have a drill and an electric sander – oh! and a circular saw that has never left the box (I bought it a year ago). I’m so fearful of that circular saw that I hid it in the garage. I do this with other DIY projects too, challenging quilt patterns that I think I like (til I look a little closer) and have alrady purchased the fabric for, then it sits on the shelf. I’m fearless with other things but the power tool (pneumatic nail gun I haven’t purchased yet) anxiety is the worst. Most of my circular saw projects a small ones and I keep trying to find a way to avoid using it, haven’t come up with one yet. Now with colder weather upon us, I can safely avoid it until next spring, but one of these days I’ve got to get past the fear of cutting off all of the fingers on my left hand and just DO IT!
These are amazing tips and I 100% relate! My Phone a Friend is my cousin who has been a general contractor for 30 years, and my boyfriend, who can somehow look at something and understand how to do it all himself. It’s crazy. I, on the other hand, get nervous, watch a ton of youtube videos, cry and then finally try it myself. It usually turns out just fine!
Sounds like you have the perfect support system in your life! And I agree, Youtube videos can be a lifesaver – there’s nothing like watching someone else do it first to help give confidence! 🙂