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Sawdust Girl®

Sawdust Girl®

Renovation, cabinet building and woodworking plans and tutorials. Build like a Girl®

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Finding My Mojo: How to Get Your Motivation Back

All Posts, Master Closet

Well hello, mojo! It’s nice to have you back! After getting ONE single, stinking cabinet built for Wes’ side of the closet last week, I finally woke up! Saturday morning, I got up and finished everything but the shoe cabinets! That’s 8 cabinets, plus the base! I’m proud–I admit it. This closet remodel may not kill me after all!

I suppose I’m more shocked at the sudden reappearance of my mojo. I’ve been dragging the last few months, feeling unmotivated. I think I’ve been overwhelmed. This house is 6,000 sq. ft., and every inch needs help!

We bought the ‘new’ house so it wouldn’t be too overwhelming while I worked on it, but it’s not functional. I feel like we aren’t even living in it. It feels like we’re camping out in it. I know, I know, all in due time…

Anyway, Saturday something clicked, and I feel like I’m back!

Building custom built in cabinets in walk in closet - Finding My Mojo: How to Get Your Motivation Back

The return of my mojo got me thinking, though. I know a lot of people struggle with finding their motivation and inspiration, especially now. It can be easy to get bogged down by the list of things you need to do, or thinking about all the people counting on you, all the things waiting to get done. The stress of life can weigh you down until it feels like you can’t push the box of ‘to-do’s’ off your chest to get up for the day.

But.

What I’ve found is that the best thing for me to do is just look into my heavy, heavy box of things still left unfinished, and pick the smallest thing. It’s usually not something that seems like it’s pushing along my big goal or my twelve-thousands-step project, but it’s something that I deal with everyday and say, I’ll deal with it later. I’ll do it when I’ve finally finished ‘insert very long, time consuming, hard-to-finish task’.

Then, I do that tiny task, and the next day when I wake up and that one, minor inconvenience or that minor to-do is done, I breathe a little clearer. My head is a little less cluttered, and my box is a little less empty. And I try to do that whenever my box gets too heavy.

It’s hard, because I want to only keep working on the things that progress my big goal, but I have to remind myself that I also have to take care of myself. By taking care of myself, I’m helping myself be able to keep getting up and keep working away at my big goals. I make it easier for me to finish things quicker and in better spirits.

Building wardrobe cabinets on 2x6 base - Finding My Mojo: How to Get Your Motivation Back

Hopefully, if any of you also struggle with finding your mojo, inspiration, or motivation, this post helps you. I know everyone has their own strategies for dealing with it, but this is mine.

As I continue working on my closet and house, I hope my mojo didn’t just stop by for a short visit and is here for the long term. But, if she does leave again, I know that I can get myself out of my slump. I just have to keep reminding myself to take care of myself, too.

If you’re interested, you can see the finished built in closet here.

October 3, 2021 · 27 Comments

« How to Make a Storage Bench and Cabinets for Your Side Entry
The Best Mobile Work Table 2021 – Centipede Sawhorse »

Comments

  1. Megan says

    October 3, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    pass along some mojo! I need a big dose!

    Reply
  2. Catherine says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Holy cow look at that! You rock! Love the way it’s coming together.

    But oh my, a 6000 square foot house?! What did you get yourself into? 🙂

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 1:21 pm

      I don’t know.. Sometimes I wish I could rewind and buy one of the older, REALLY ugly homes that we would have just hired a contractor to swoop in and get it done in a mad dash. But then I’d be so bored! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Lisa~ says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    When you get your mojo you really get your mojo! I always find it slugs along then one day…tada! A whole bunch gets done. It’s like the pickle jar that won’t open. OK, now I’m just not making sense. Lisa~

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 8:26 pm

      haha! Lisa, you’re hilarious– and I love pickles.

      Reply
  4. Wendy says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    Just found your site and am thrilled to see that I’m not the only one addicted to house building/remodels!! My question is; Just how in the world do you keep your project rooms sooooo clean!??? 🙂 Luv it!

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 8:28 pm

      Oh, it’s not clean at all…I just swept everything out of the picture! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Brandy Miller says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Welcome back mojo! With 6000 square feet, you are definitely going to need it!

    Reply
  6. Kristi @ Creative Kristi says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    WOW! One day?! Do you have super mojo?! Way. TO. Go!

    Reply
  7. Stephanie Wilson says

    October 3, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    WOW!!! I love it. It looks great. Did you build this different than your side cause they all look attached.

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      I used sanded plywood instead of MDF and he only gets 4 sections for clothes (I got 6) and then he’ll have 2 shoe cabinets that are not as deep (because of the window). Other than that, both sides are the same. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Beckie says

    October 3, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Send me some mojo! I had a bit on Sat and Sun, but it was gone when I tried to get up this morning. The aches are back.
    Great job on Wes’ side.

    Reply
  9. Andrea says

    October 3, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    I only have an ounce of mojo for about 3 days/month. It is sad, but true. But I usually can get a lot done in those 3 days, so I just wait until it comes, and then I’m off like a whirlwind.

    Reply
  10. SQL Gourmet says

    October 3, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Did you switch from MDF to plywood?

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 9:39 pm

      Yes, I bought some sanded plywood because it was a “deal” and was cheaper than MDF. It’s much lighter too so it’s easier for me to lift up which is a plus. You get what you pay for though, it’s not great quality. I probably won’t use much more of it which means I have to return about 12 sheets. (I stocked up!)

      Reply
  11. Candace says

    October 3, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Mine comes and goes too! You are still amazing…and the cabinets…wow!

    Reply
  12. amanda at every creative endeavor says

    October 3, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    Way to go! I can’t wait to see the rest!! I am glad your Mojo is back – it is always sad when it leaves for a bit!

    Reply
  13. Katie from Sew Woodsy says

    October 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Ahhh! Congrats. That’s so excited. We are loving your progress. Mr. Woodsy just informed me that he can’t wait to see the end product–that he “might” be able to “whip” up something like this for our closet! lol. At least you motivate and inspire him! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sawdust and Paper Scraps says

      October 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

      Great! Please inform Mr. W that if he ever feels like he needs an extra kick-start in the motivation department, y’all are welcome to come over and work up an appetite. It’s a short flight isn’t it?

      Reply
  14. WhisperWood Cottage & Junkologie says

    October 3, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    6000? And that is a closet? Totally dreamy! It’s going to be amazing!

    Reply
  15. Danielle says

    April 18, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    It came out awesome. Did you have a template. I currently bought my house and there is no storage. I am looking to re do my closets to get the most out of them . Can you advise?

    Reply
  16. Jose Colon II says

    October 21, 2018 at 10:36 pm

    We absolutely love your closet plans are in the final stages of new construction on a home we are purchasing. Looking at closet ideas and the girlfriend loves your closet so much! Could you adjust your plans to the size of my closet or come up with some new plans and we can pay you for the plans?

    We would love to have a closet like this!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      October 22, 2018 at 10:18 am

      It wouldn’t be cost effective for me to create custom plans for you. You should be able to adjust the existing plans to fit your space. Make fewer boxes or make each box slightly wider or narrower…

      Reply
  17. Mic says

    November 24, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Hi,
    How thick was the plywood you used?
    Thanks,
    M

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      November 25, 2018 at 10:41 am

      3/4″

      Reply
  18. Tammy Page says

    May 17, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    hi your boxes for the closet where what size in length width and heigth please

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      May 20, 2021 at 10:16 am

      They were sized to fit the space I had and the hardware I purchased. Always build the box, them measure the space YOU have left and size your drawers based on that and the drawer glides YOU purchase. 🙂

      Reply

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