August 2026 - Finishing the Projects & Maintenance Magic
- Judy Granlee Gates
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Newsletter Topic of the Month
Finishing the Projects & Maintenance Magic
It’s the year of less, with less buying and consuming. August is all about finishing up and maintenance magic! We are wrapping up things we started (me too!) and fixing small issues around the house!
I love a new project start, but sometimes, I don’t finish 100%, I get to 90%. And this month, I am wrapping up. I did a MASSIVE (and awesome) garage re-org on my own garage in July, but in August, I will put a bow on it and get it done! Photos coming soon to embarrass myself on social media.
I have some small issues that will either a) become bigger issues or b) make me nuts, so I have hired a handy person to come over and make those all better.
Get my free guide to LESS here!
Decluttering and Organizing:
Not all clutter is stuff that needs to go. Sometimes it’s the lamp that needs a fix, the pictures we want to hang, the half-organized space we started and lost interest in.
Each of those is a tiny unfinished decision that talks to us as we walk by, nagging us to complete. That can make our homes feel heavier than they should.
Time for a home walkthrough, make a list of:
· Things needing repair
· Projects that need a final push
· Items to be returned, delivered on donated
· Purchases still in bags or amazon boxes
· Item that needs assembly, hanging or attention in some way
· Hobby or DIY projects you have lost interest in.
Then it is decision time. Fix it. Schedule it. Or, let it go.
I recently let go of several dresses made by my beloved Gram in the 1940’s. I have been packing them around for 42 years. I donated them. Let them be a treat for someone who discovers them at the thrift store. I gifted my husband’s old high school letterman’s jacket (with his blessing) to a kid in the town where he went to school. They are thrilled to have it, it’s “vintage” (1980. Go Sequim Wolves).
Guess what, it feels FREEING, not sad.
Completion is a dopamine hit, so give it a try this month. Pick three unfinished things and act on them this week! Then message me and tell me how you feel!
Home Edits:
It’s a great time to remove excess. I have a chair I adore in my guest room/gym. Yes, I have a guest room gym combo. When no guests are here, it looks like a gym. I recently had a guest arrive and it was set up as the gym. She took a moment to take a walk and I set it up quickly for her, and she came back and said, “what a transformation, you would never know this was the same room”.
But I digress. This chair is a “doom” chair. No one uses it, crap gets piled on it. So, I am wrapping it in plastic and storing it in the shop, because it is my daughters. When she is ready for it, it will be waiting for her. It’s not working, so I removed it.
When we moved in, I bought two pretty but somewhat generic abstract paintings. I have always wanted to do a free form plate wall. I even have plates. August is my month. I’ll let you know how that works out and may even post a photo.
Look around for problem areas, and things you want to change. They usually don’t require much effort. Even if it is just clearing off the top of your dresser!
Short Term Rentals:
As the busy season winds down, it’s a great time to review your place for wear and tear, what needs to go, and what might need replacing.
Fix little problems, like a leaky faucet, before it becomes an emergency.
On your walk through or with a friend, ask what looks broken, tired or neglected. That’s your work list!
Have a topic idea? Area of struggle? A fun tip? Send it in and I may make it the topic of the month. Email me at hello@judygranleegates.com
Join in the conversation at Home Elevated on Facebook or Home_Elevated_WA on Instagram!
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