Practical Boat Owner

How to beat the restoration blues

Procrastination is the art of busily doing nothing while another part of you gets really disappointed about it.

I’m a serial procrastinator. Phew, glad to get that out in the open. Given that I teach Maritime Studies and psychology, I thought it was time to address the problem of my own six-year restoration.

So what does the science of psychology say about it? Let me take you on a tour of some of the theories and the tactics we can employ to beat the restoration blues.

WHY WE DON’T SUCCEED

Overdoing it

Overdoers take on too much. When my Halcyon 23 Kaikoura arrived at the boatyard, I started by pulling out everything: headlinings, cushions, rotten locker tops, fittings, etc. I then instantly had a job that looked far bigger than it had originally. Now, all these things probably did need dealing with but I had made the mountain twice the size. Some people revel in such a clean slate. However, decide if that is you before you strip out the boat.

Perfectionism

Perfectionists make great procrastinators. A sense

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