Let’s face it. Being newly single often means suddenly realizing just how much your ex actually did around the house. Now it’s your turn to play the role of DIY superhero, but where do you even begin when your home maintenance knowledge could fill a thimble? Enter the thematic approach! Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can conquer home maintenance one day (and one laugh) at a time with a weekly chore list that keeps you focused, entertained, and motivated to take action! Here is one of the Split Sister’s Lists to inspire your own ideas.
Mystery Mondays
Start the week by solving the “What the heck is this;” and “What do I do with it” game.
Note: The white spots on the counters are also a mystery as they won’t wash off.
| Tool Time Tuesdays Get familiar with your tool basket. Remember, it’s not just decorative! Figure out the difference between a wrench, a socket, and that other thing you bought because it looked handy. This day’s all about building confidence and, hopefully, not accidentally breaking stuff. |
Weed Wednesdays
Armed with gloves and possibly a cocktail (because gardening can be thirsty work), you’ll dig deep and wrestle with the tenacious weeds that grow like they’re auditioning for a horror movie.
Thermostat Thursdays
Today is your day to become a climate control connoisseur! Get cozy with your heating and cooling system, and learn how and when to change filters. When in doubt, blame it on “ambient temperature fluctuations” and pour yourself your beverage of choice.
Fuse Box Fridays
End the workweek with a jolt of confidence. Whether the power’s mysteriously gone out or you just want to know what all those switches do, today’s the day to dive into the world of circuit breakers. If your fuse box is located in a dark, scary place like mine, it may take a few Fridays to complete this task.
Stubborn Stainage Saturdays
This is the day you face the mysterious stains that have been taunting you for months. Whether it’s the red wine spill that turned into abstract art on the carpet or the stubborn stain on the driveway, grab your strongest cleaner and most determined face. If you succeed, great. If not—call it “character” and move on.
Silicone Sundays
Embrace your inner DIY diva as you tackle those mysterious cracks around your fixtures, walls, and floors like you’re prepping for an HGTV show! Just like silicone can enhance cheekbones and lift other areas—your walls deserve a little lift too! So, slather on that silicone like you’re giving your house a glamorous makeover.
A thematic approach keeps you motivated and adds a little humor to what might otherwise feel like a home improvement crisis. You can change things up each week as your needs arise. Once you have solved your mysteries on Mystery Mondays, you can pivot to Manual Mondays where you round up all the manuals for your appliances and review them to learn about all the necessary maintenance you have been missing. Rest assured; you will run out of time, money and fix-it energy long before you ever run out of home repair topics. But, with each small win, you’ll start feeling like the DIY Diva you never knew you could be—no ex required!
