Renovation is dysregulating.

Renovation is so dysregulating.  

I’ve recently been involved in renovating a new property, and boy, is it dysregulating.

I am tired, grumpy and most of all- totally overwhelmed. 

My home is visual and logistical chaos. The mess, the dust, the noise. The tradespeople in my home. 

I’ve struggled with having things out of place and having parts of the home un useable- most notably the toilet, laundry and kitchen. 

I have ADHD- so the stressors of decision making, prioritisation and planning, communication and ironically- organisation; has thrown me for a loop! If you’re autistic, or AUDHD you’re going to have that added stressor of your routine and safe space being thrown out too. 

Here’s my tips on how to get through this stressful time a little bit smoother! 

• Declutter pre design.

  Even before you even THINK about renovating. I have worked with clients who are desperate to renovate; but decluttering first easily delays the need to do so for at least a few years, if not indefinitely. If you’re feeling really pressed for storage space, please consider decluttering and organising as the first solution. You could save 100s of thousands of dollars! 

• Declutter AND organise  pre reno.

  You’ve got to get the house tidy, and organised. Tidy helps you to stay calm on the chaotic days, limits damage to your belongings and creates ease of use+ a safe working environment for both you and your tradespeople.

  Decluttering beforehand means you’ve got less to store, and less to manage when you have to put it all back. You’ve got more energy now than you will at the end of this process- I promise you. 

  An organised home helps you to find items quickly without added stress, it also makes your home easier and faster to tidy (see above!) 

• Prioritise your stuff and store it well. 

My renovations were (meant to be) completed over summer and autumn- so I packed my winter wardrobe away. I’ve stored it in plastic boxes so I can clearly see what I own and have in there, incase I need to pull something out. Now that renovations are taking longer than expected, and we are coming into winter- it’s still easy to access and find what I need. If I remember I own it! 

• Create temporary homes and systems for the stuff you use frequently. 

If you have storage boxes already- these are going to be king. Prioritise a small amount of the most used items and store these in whatever storage solutions you have. 

Be strict about having homes for items, and having items go back where they live. Keeping your home tidy, and knowing where to find things will keep you sane over this process. Keep up your systems, especially if you have neurodiverse kids. The small routines of keeping something in the same place will really help. 

• Get creative. 

I’ve been living without a stovetop and oven for probably 4-5 months now and I don’t miss it apart from being able to make pancakes! I get creative with the kitchen appliances I do have. If you have the privilege of time and budget, you could look at buying replacement options such as a camping hotplate and maybe a kitchen trolley or island to pop in another area of the home. 

• Be prepared

Personally I wish that I had covered or packed away more of my belongings before the tradies turned up. Dust does travel, and when you struggle to get routine cleaning tasks done; extra cleaning of items is not the challenge you need! I recommend plenty of drop cloths and communication around planned work.

• Outsource. 

Yes, we have the DIY genes, but use the help available to you as much as possible. Get movers, choose a great builder who is happy to project manage for you, and of course- I think you should hire a Professional Organiser to help you pack and unpack in a smart manner! A Professional Home Organiser can check over your plans and give you a realistic view on how it’s going to work, we can help you prioritise packing of items, and help you unpack into your new space in a way that will help it to stay functional. 

• Last of all- buy yourself some great noise cancelling headphones! 

What neurodivergent friendly tips would you add that have helped you stay cool during home renovations or remodeling?