Heart & Home

The warm weather finally arrived this week, and I found myself suddenly wanting to get everything done all at once. The sunshine illuminated every little thing I wanted to fix: Should I start power washing the siding? Organize the garage? Tackle the flower beds? Patch the lawn? Build a stone walkway? That familiar summer pressure crept in— so much to do, and somehow it all needs to happen now.

But here’s the thing: home isn’t going anywhere and the work will never truly be done. The key to enjoying the season—and still feeling accomplished—is to choose one project at a time. One that fits your time, your budget, and your season of life.

This summer, for us, it’s staining our wrap-around farmer’s porch. I’m working on accepting that it’s slow going. We started on Mother’s Day ( why did I say that’s how I wanted to spend my day) and the weather hasn’t cooperated much since. Instead of painting until my shoulders are burning and my fingers are blistered, we’re chipping away at it for a few hours at a time while the kids play in the yard. The garage mess looms in the background, the weeds are trying to take over the flower bed, and the dog continues to create a bigger patch in the front grass. Stay focused on the deck, Alycia. The real pain point… I’m looking at a partially stained deck and the staging while the work is in progress. It takes serious effort not to feel annoyed when my deck isn’t arrange just so.

It’s hard for me to accept that projects take time—when I start something, I want it done yesterday. But I’m learning to take my own advice:
✅ Pick one project
✅ Fit it into your time and budget
✅ Let go of the pressure to do it all at once

Here’s the process that helped me decide what to tackle first—and maybe it’ll help you too:

✅ Make the honey-do list
Begin by walking around your home. Jot down every task that could be done—big or small. Then, ask yourself: Which project would make the biggest impact for our home right now?

✅ Pick the One Thing That Fits Your Schedule
Be realistic about your time. Summer is short and often full—between vacations, cookouts, family time, and New England weather, not every project will fit in.

✅ Make a Simple Plan
Break it down into small steps. Set a start date, even if it’s just an hour here and there, and let progress—even slow—be the goal.

✅ 1 Thing At A Time
The garage can wait. The yard will still be there next year. What matters is choosing what’s right for right now.

So, if you’re feeling the weight of that long summer to-do list, take a deep breath. Choose one thing, make a little progress at a time, and remember: the to-do list never ends anyways!