It is tough to stay motivated during a build, especially when you don’t really know what you’re doing and you’re training yourself to work with unfamiliar tools, plumbing and cabinetry.
Why did I start this project?
You have begun this project for many reasons that you knew would benefit you. Don’t question your decisions because of a temporary setback or stressed mindset. – Skip to our reason why we started our conversion below.
- Don’t Put A Timeline On Your Build
Work when you can, plug away on your own time. There is less pressure to get the work done when it’s at your own pace. Looking at others on their builds on youtube from beginning to end can make you feel motivated knowing their struggle and how long it took them. If you watch the first video to the last you’ll find that they are usually around 2 years working pretty often.
- Never Compare Progress
It’s easy to get caught up in the success of others, mostly because you can’t see the work behind it. Know that what you are doing is all behind the scene of something amazing in progress.
- Take Breaks
If the build is consuming you, take scheduled breaks. It sounds silly to ‘schedule a break’ but if you know it’s coming you have something to look forward to, plans to make and the biggest reason is not feeling guilty about it. You are allowed to think of personal needs and have a project.
- Don’t Let Other People Get You Down
Being confident in your bus conversion convinces your peers that it is a good decision for you.
Your friends and family are not all going to understand or be supportive and that is something that will have to pass through you or push you forward.
Sticking up for yourself and not allowing other people’s opinions create a blur in your sight for accomplishing your goals is very important.
- Saving Up For A Big Purchase
Using your finances to create goals will allow your reward to come to fruition as well as motivate the next part of the build.
Who doesn’t look forward to a delivery!? You’ll be excited to get started.
- Ask For Help
If you just can’t get through a project on your own it’s probably time you ask for help. Get a friend or maybe even hire someone for assistance when you need it.
You can even take your build to a skoolie meet up for help or reach out to another builder. Stopping your project due to something that cannot be done alone shouldn’t be your reason to stop.Keep going!.
- Listen/Watch Inspirational People
Life can get you down, you need to pick yourself up and sometimes your surroundings are not the best. Create an environment that makes you happy and helps you get in the right mindset to get to work and push through your build. You will be proud of yourself for your independence and you’re going to need that for this life.
- Never Give Up
The best thing that can be done is seeing your conversion come to life!. You can show it off to family and friends, attend meet up at any time and live out your goal to build, own and have a skoolie. You are a part of the few people that have the wild side and the guts to take this on, do not give up on yourself or your conversion, you can do this!.
Reasons Why Bus Conversions Are Started In The First Place.
- Financial Freedom
- Travel Possibilities
- Living Simply
Financial Freedom
In America there are things an average person will pay for without even questioning what they are paying for like electricity, gas, rent, HOA, internet, gas etc… These are things we need, right?. Yes, but can I do it myself?. When you have a tiny home adding solar and your own heating elements are the most basic necessity. Adding these items to your build, you have sourced your very own liveability. Creating this kind of life will create sustainability that is far less costly than just handing over money to the utility and gas company.
If you just cannot live without being hooked to the grid you can use shore power, but you still get to decide who you rent a spot from and when you want to leave.
What you won’t have is a nosey or annoying neighbor to stick it out with for 20+ years, a mortgage or an atrocious loan. You won’t have to deal with an inflated or deflated market that you are forced to sell or buy in.
When you own and can control your finances, it’s easier to save or live on a small budget.
Selling your conversion.
A tiny home will sell. They are difficult to make and expensive for a company to build for you. People that are interested can buy one partially or fully built.
Skoolies have become so popular. There are skoolie groups, meetups and events that have all kinds of conversion communities that normalize this type of living.
Just in case you were looking into doing something different down the road you don’t have to feel like you have lost your investment. Some people move on to build off grid tiny homes that allow for an even better way of existence.
Travel Possibilities
Having a ‘mobile home’ allows for you to move if and when you need to.
Travel and experience other parts of the country/world for an extended period of time to fully engage with your surroundings.
The best part about having a bus conversion is that you get to wake up with all of your things, no matter where you are!.
Living Simply
Having only what you need helps you make better purchasing decisions and in small ways impact a carbon footprint left on the world.
You will find yourself buying products you love and that are high quality, resisting the urge to participate in purchasing fast fashion and cheap clothing.
Some things are worth spending good money on. Kitchenware, clothing, footwear, bedding and more.
Summary –
We struggle all of the time during our build. We bought it in March 2020 and so far we have the roof raised and the sheet metal on. We did move it from NC – Utah and had a pre-conversion to title it as a ‘House car’ before we left so, we’ve done some things. It’s hard to stay motivated when you work all day or work all day and have kids. We actually had an incident with our youngest son, we were cutting sheet metal in the garage and he had a run in with it. He was injured pretty badly, it was hard for us to continue and to have him near the build. We had to stop the fear and move forward. We know that time, weather, finances and even injury can put your build on hold but, you don’t have to stop. We truly hope we will see you on the road and that you have what you always dreamed of.
Safe Travels!
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