I haven’t been blogging much lately, and there’s a reason for that. We’ve been caught in the middle of a home renovation that turned out to be a much longer and messier experience than expected.
Trying to manage contractors, deliveries, what’s been installed, and what somehow disappeared has been more than a full-time job. And that’s not even counting the normal daily responsibilities.
The one thing that helped me stay somewhat grounded? Kanban.
I set up a really simple personal Kanban board. Just three columns: “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” Every little thing went on it. Electrical walkthroughs, tile pickups, change orders, and reminders like “ask plumber about missing valve.”
That last one ended up saving me $300. They forgot to include a part in our plumbing order, and because I had it tracked, I caught it before installation.
Agile tools don’t just belong at work. Sometimes, they make all the difference when life is spinning out of control.
If you haven’t used Kanban for personal stuff, I recommend it. It’s great for renovations, moves, holidays, or anything where the number of tasks starts to stack up. It’s not just about staying organized. It gives you a sense of control when everything else feels unpredictable.
Now that things are settling down, I’m hoping to get back to regular blogging. But honestly, I’m just glad I had a system to help hold it all together.
Have you used Kanban outside of work? I’d be interested to hear how it worked for you.
