Everyone has them. Those pie-in-the-sky projects that just keep piling up. Typically, the delay boils down to the assumptions we make about how much time we think we need to complete the task at hand, but not anymore! We’ve asked painters and organization gurus to nail down the basic completion time on a couple of popular home improvement goals. Now that you’re halfway there, all you need to do is find the time and work backwards!
Paint the Front Door
Did you know: it only takes 15 minutes per coat of paint?
Here’s your work back schedule:
- 60-90 min to chose primer, paint, paintbrushes, paint tray, and painter’s tape.
- 15-30 mins to wipe down the door, scrape off stubborn grime, and apply painter’s tape around the hardware.
- 15 min for one coat of primer. Wait 60 min for primer to dry. The perfect amount of time for a lunch break.
- 15 min for 1stcoat of paint. Wait 30 min for paint to dry. The perfect amount of time to clean-up lunch dishes and daydream about your newly painted door.
- 15 min for 2ndcoat of paint. Wait 60 min for paint to dry.
- 30 min to remove painter’s tape, wash brushes, and put paint can away.
TOTAL TIME: 5-6 hours. That’s it!
Shred Ten Years of Confidential Papers
Did you know: it only takes 20 to 30 hours to organize an entire house. So, a decade of papers is only a tiny drop in the bucket!
Here’s your work back schedule:
- Assemble all your confidential papers next to the shredder. This is the most painstaking step. Block out 1-2 hours to locate all your files and documents.
- Some heavy-duty paper shredders can also shred CDs and credit cards. Plus, even the basic ones have the capacity to shred 14 sheets at a time. It’s important to keep in mind that most shredders will only run for 15 continuous minutes before automatically shutting down. Their average cool times vary from 15-30 minutes. This is the time-consuming part.
- If you’ve got a heavy volume; 10+ banker boxes, consider using the services of a professional paper shredding company. Many offer on-site mobile options so you can feel confident that your privacy is protected.
TOTAL TIME: 5-6 hours. That’s it!
