How to deal with stress during your self build or renovation

I touched on it on an earlier post – managing a big project is very stressful.  Even if you have someone on board to manage the day to day work, you will still have a huge amount of decisions to make.

I thought I would create a blog post to give you some ideas that worked for me during our self build and others that I’ve learnt about along the way. Use these ideas to help you manage the stress that comes with the territory of your self build or renovation

1/ Set Realistic Expectations – don’t expect too much too soon and understand that the project will usually take longer (and cost more) than initially planned.  Be prepared for unexpected delays and expenses.

2/ Budget wisely – setting a realistic budget will reduce financial anxiety.  Create a detailed budget and stick to it and most definitely include a contingency fund, usually 10%-15% of costs.

3/ Plan thoroughly – Have a well thought out plan before starting.  Create a spreadsheet detailing each stage of the project and get ahead by making design choices and choosing materials early.

4/ Hire trusted professionals – by getting experienced tradesmen and contractors there is less likely to be any issues.  Ask for references and check them out and get everything in writing.

5/ Communicate clearly and frequently – discuss your expectations, changes and concerns promptly with your contractor and/or trades.  Agree the best way to communicate; be it telephone, on site meetings or email.

6/ Stay flexible – be prepared to adapt to unforeseen issues.  Being flexible can definitely reduce stress when things aren’t going as planned.

Keeping an open dialogue with your professionals is essential

7/ Designate a relaxation space – create an area at home where you can relax and escape to when feeling stressed.  This is key when you are living in your renovation!

8/ Take breaks – don’t forget to take breaks and step away from the project when needed.  It’s sometimes the only way to recharge and reduce stress.

Relax in whatever way that works best for you. A bubble bath sounds perfect (if you’ve a bath!)

9/ Stay organised – keep all your documentation organised in one place.  I used poly pockets for each category and then stored them all in a folder.  Create the same folders on your computer for electronic documents, especially receipts if you can reclaim VAT.

10/ Lean on Support – seek support from friends and family when required.

11/ Visualise the end result – remind yourself of why you started the project in the first place.  Look at the drawings and picture the end result.  Look at your Pinterest boards for inspo and dream of living in your new house.

12/ Self – care  - this should be number 1! Take care of your physical and mental well being.  Eat well, exercise and consider mindfulness techniques.  We didn’t do this well in the later stages of the build.  Working late nights on site there was no time for exercise and we were eating take aways far too often.  If I was to do it again, this is one aspect I would definitely improve upon!

13/ Practice a problem solving mindset – don’t get overwhelmed by any challenges, instead approach them with a problem solving mindset.  There’s no problem that doesn’t have a solution.  Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks to help.

14/ Know when to seek professional help – if stress does get on top of you deal with before it becomes too overwhelming that you are not able to function.  Consider speaking to a therapist or counsellor for coping strategies.

Remember, self builds and renovations are a significant undertaking and stress is a natural part of this.  If you follow the guidance above you can deal with the challenges and enjoy the completion of your new home.

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