(DIY) Builder Burnout

[Jb1rd]

How do you combat burnout? I am soooooooo sick of my van at the moment, I know it will pass but daaaaaaamn does it suck!! In an effort to not make more useless attempts at designing a layout/build sheet I just stopped altogether, now I feel over/underwhelmed all at once. FWP, most definitely, however, it is still not fun. Seriously considered selling and buying an already finished van but came to my senses that "NO" van will ever be "perfect" not sure how to start up again and winter is making it less and less appealing. Feeling like a deer in the headlights.

 

[villageidiot327]

How do you combat burnout? I am soooooooo sick of my van at the moment, I know it will pass but daaaaaaamn does it suck!! In an effort to not make more useless attempts at designing a layout/build sheet I just stopped altogether, now I feel over/underwhelmed all at once. FWP, most definitely, however, it is still not fun. Seriously considered selling and buying an already finished van but came to my senses that "NO" van will ever be "perfect" not sure how to start up again and winter is making it less and less appealing. Feeling like a deer in the headlights.

I'm right there with ya. Even posted it for sale, pulled it from sale and am just gunna make a list, a "drop dead" date, and make it happen. I think if you make a list and focus on one thing at a time, and makenitna bunch of little projects instead of one BIG project, it'll help. Also might help to simplify your NEEDS.

I had to look at the lifestyle I live, vs the conjured up dreams in my head. And realized the van doesn't need
To serve as a home, just something to get away for Weekends, as my wife has made it clear "she's not a gypsy"

Good luck with it.

 

[simple]

Interesting thread, I'm sure a lot people will weigh in on it. When starting a project, my thinking inevitably shoots for the moon. It's easy to look at a few peoples incredible works of art and make lofty plans. At some point I end up having to scale back and end up doing something between nothing and ultimate. Usually it falls on good enough, now lets get out and use it, on to the next thing.

 

[pugslyyy]

I'm right there with ya. Even posted it for sale, pulled it from sale and am just gunna make a list, a "drop dead" date, and make it happen. I think if you make a list and focus on one thing at a time, and makenitna bunch of little projects instead of one BIG project, it'll help. Also might help to simplify your NEEDS.

I had to look at the lifestyle I live, vs the conjured up dreams in my head. And realized the van doesn't need
To serve as a home, just something to get away for Weekends, as my wife has made it clear "she's not a gypsy"

Good luck with it.

Yeah this is good advice. Do it in small, bit-sized pieces, and realize that the only day you will be able to consider it "finished" is the day you sell it.

 

[expedition4x4]

meet me for a beer and lets talk through our build ideas!

 

[naterry]

If you can make one step, you can take one more.

It's like when you are stuffed and can't eat anymore but your mom makes you finish the plate. Spread the food around, take tiny bites, and get through it.

 

[jjohnny350]

I hear you. When I was working on my van I stupidly rented a storage unit to have space to work on it in. So I paid 100 bucks a month and said, oh I'll probably get this done real quick cause Im paying every month to have it here. Theres no way I will do my usual, slow, disorganized, distracted, scared of new stuff way of doing things. Naa this time it will be different. Well, 18 months later, 6 of those I was waiting on my buddy to weld some stuff, but still. The only way I could get it finished was force myself to the hard crap, and make it into small segments. Ok this little part is all that I have to do. Then when that parts done, the next and so forth. I feel like im wanting to plug dr leo marvins book from what about bob, great movie. Anyway, I'm trying to say, I feel your pain. But it is doable.

 

[toyick]

I think what has helped me is being realistic, modern day and age, we see so many more builds that we didnt see before...and sometimes trucks get majorly built or so it seems just in the span of reading a page of a thread..so we think it can be done.
so stepping back a bit and realizing that we can only do so much in a day has always helped me.

Another thing is burning out...just take some time off, even away from the boards, because you sit there beating your self up for not being in the garage.
Also setting a dead line, for a trip or some sort of event you really want to go to....
That justifies the long nights, the sleepy days at the office. But if you make that dead line the feeling is all worth it, some times you have to give up on some things that aren't truly necessary on your list, but that's stuff you can get the 2nd time around. Once a project always a project...nothing is ever done...................

 

[luthj]

Yeah this is good advice. Do it in small, bit-sized pieces, and realize that the only day you will be able to consider it "finished" is the day you sell it.

This. Break it down into 1 hour tasks. Change up the project occasional to keep it interesting. Do concept sketches and browse Google image search for places your van with take you. Read build logs and adventure blogs of other van people.

 

[The Artisan]

What stage are you into the build? Do a realistic check list say in 1 week I want to be here then adjust as you go. I have the door to build and do the Poly coating. After that I will finish building the kitchen shower area then on to the bed storage, custom couch build and upholstery. I have just been busy with work so have not had time to work on it. Maybe after the holidays I will get back to it.
Kevin

 

[ohpyramids]

I'm pulling myself out of this right now too. It's important to try and pace yourself, get excited about the challenges, understand that it will take longer than expected, look at the progress you've made, and stay positive.

Even if you mess it up twice, you'll still be out the door cheaper than anyone else.

All that said, the only ongoing bummer is that I'm still building stuff vs being out and just using the damn thing every weekend.

Good luck, and when the going gets tough, phone a friend!

 

[Maninga]

My build's been going on for ~3 years now, being 6 months design, 12 months truck mods/body building and 18 months of having it while I design and fit out the interior. It's a damn long time, there's been plenty of times where I've wanted to just rid myself of the project and find something easier/that's already done to start getting out there and using it. I honestly don't know what's been taking it so long to finish off, when I look at what I've done to date think it just shouldn't have taken this long.

I've had a couple of times where it'd sit there for 3/4 months without anything being done to it. I've made mistakes, rebuilt stuff, moved, started renovating a house, learnt how to do what I've been doing (prior to this I'd only worked on a house renovation under guidance of a builder), all the while thinking I should just be able to use this damn thing.

My suggestions
Break tasks into small chunks, finish a piece and move onto the next thing.
Can you use the van as it is? Even if it's just for a weekend trip, have it remind you why you started on the build in the first place.
Is your wife supportive of the project? I'm lucky that mine is and has been giving input during the process, that's made it far easier to want to keep going too, along with the eventual goal we have.

 

[goodtimes]

IMO - the first thing you should do is take a week off. Don't think about it, don't work on it, don't buy anything for it. Better yet, go on a week long vacation. Go camping. Go fishing. Ride a mountain bike. Paddle a kayak. Do what ever it is you like doing (as long as it doesn't involve the van).

You seriously need to clear your head - you won't be able to truly weigh the costs & benefits until your judgment is no longer clouded by all the crap currently going through your mind.

Once you've done that, you need to contemplate why you're building the van *today* (the answer may be different than when you started building it - and that's OK). My guess is that you'll come up with one of three answers:

1: You're building it to fit a lifestyle that you either currently have or are actively trying to achieve.
2: You're building it because you like building it.
3: You're building it because you started it & feel that you need to finish it to justify the time/money you have already invested in it, even though it doesn't really fit your lifestyle.

If the answer was #1 - keep the end goal in mind. That's probably motivation enough. If it's a long project - get it mobile & usable in a limited capacity so you can use it *now*. Even if it isn't finished (IE: sparse interior, no running water, no heater, etc), at least you can use it on a limited basis. It won't be nearly as nice, or as comfortable, or as "easy", but at least you're getting out there and enjoying it a bit along the way.

If the answer was #2 - then accept your hobby for what it is. Building it *is* the journey - so there's no need to get frustrated by slow progress. Who cares if you take a year off - or two years? Why rush to the end if the end isn't what you're chasing?

If the answer was #3 - get out now. Do the least amount necessary to make it marketable, sell it (likely at a loss), walk away. You will bring no happiness to your life by continuing on your current path - even if you finish it. Trust me - if this is where you are at, then this will be a difficult conclusion to come to, and even more difficult to deal with. But once you do - you'll free up mental & financial resources, & a lot of time, for things that are a better fit with your life, and will ultimately be much happier.

 

[philos]

How do you combat burnout?

 

[Jb1rd]

Solid advice from all of you, thank you very much, sometimes you need a pep talk!!!! I have taken time off and that was definitely helpful and tried breaking it down into bite sized chunks but even those were a bit to big (eyes bigger than mouth/stomach) what I am trying to tackle now is foundation type stuff which I feel is necessary to do it "correctly" (i.e. pre-wiring, getting an approx layout for said wiring, basic systems, such as water and heat, propane or no propane etc thinking forward to not have to tear apart an entire build to add a widget or what not later on) so with that being said I am in a holding pattern and am just going to have to be ok with that until I am ready to jump in again, probably spring. Working in the cold is a monumental drag so rather than aggravate myself further I just need to be patient :Wow1:

FWIW I do have a relative blank slate and not a whole lot of back tracking to do, as I sort through systems I will buy the parts accordingly and that way they will be on hand when build time comes. (not having parts is def a setback for my enthusiasm)