Not everyone has a fruitful DIY venture. Sure, the efforts are commendable. But for some people, their supposed resourcefulness can take a turn nobody saw coming.
These posts featured on the DiWHY subreddit can explain a lot of what we mean. Looking at the photos, you likely won’t be curious to ask, “How did they do that?” Instead, you might be more confused and ask, “Why did they do that?”
If you think doing it yourself is as easy as pie, the images on this list may make you think again.
#1 This Paperweight Was Clearly Made With Hot-Glue-Gun Misuse. I Found It On My Grandfather’s Desk After He Passed And Apparently I Made It When I Was 4
#2 Made A Bookshelf For My Brick Collection
#3 This Subreddit’s Title Says It All
Successful DIY projects draw praise for the aesthetics and creativity behind the nifty piece of work. And as you may imagine, people who aren’t as creative may not be able to come up with something that would generate interest and curiosity.
#4 Easy As Pie
#5 I Ate An Orange And Stitched The Peel Back Together Because I Was Bored
#6 DIY And 5 Minute Crafts In A Nutshell
That then begs one of the many common questions: how does creativity work? Penn State University psychology professor Roger Beaty offered insights in his article for The Conversation, describing three specific brain systems at work: the default system, the executive networks, and the salience system.
#7 Tried To Hang The Curtain Rod Above My Front Door Yesterday… Didn’t Realize What I Had Done Til I Stepped Back
#8 Your Grand Kids With Cherish These… Or Bury Them In The Backyard
#9 My Friend’s Phone’s Touchscreen Stopped Working So He’s Using A Mouse
As Beaty explains, the default network activates during spontaneous thinking. For example, when we let our minds wander freely while daydreaming. The executive networks, on the other hand, activate when we need to focus, like when we brainstorm ideas.
The salience network ties these two together and, as Beaty describes, acts as the “switching mechanism” that lets us alternate between idea generation and evaluation.
#10 Imagine Running Into Your In Laws While Wearing These
#11 Because Palm Trees Don’t Grow In Indiana
#12 Finally Found Something For This Sub. Thanks Idaho!
Beaty noted that these three brain systems typically aren’t activated at the same time. But his findings showed that creative people can co-activate these brain networks and use them separately.
His assessments were based on fMRI studies of professionals like jazz musicians, poets, and visual artists.
#13 Mows Grass, Gets Ass
#14 Soo… Yeah
#15 Roommate And I Didn’t Have A Table Big Enough For Our New Puzzle, So We Used My Closet Door
Most of these DiWHY projects may seem like failures. However, experts urge not to think of it that way. According to psychologist and Fordham University professor John Houtz, these mishaps can only lead to breakthroughs.
“The creative individual thinks of failure as a new opportunity,” Houtz said.“‘Okay, why did I fail? What was wrong? Let me try to do something else. Let me go forward with it.’”
Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google
#16 The “When Grandma Passed I Didn’t Know What To Do With Her Meds” Decorative Jar
#17 Stylish
#18 So I Posted This On Pics And I Was Really Proud Of It And Someone Said This Is Bad I Should Feel Bad And Post It Here. So Here I Am
Robert Epstein, senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, shared a similar sentiment. According to him, failure produces a resurgence, which is also why he teaches stress-management techniques to cope with rejection.
“Failure actually stimulates creativity directly. It really is valuable,” he said.
#19 One For The Classy Ladies
#20 Concrete And Horseshoe Kettleball Found At A Goodwill In Sweet Home Alabama
#21 Those Bathroom Tiles
#22 Why Even Have A Tree If You Hate Nature?
#23 The Most Innovative Way To Organize Your Apps
#24 Piano Wall
#25 My Dad’s Hot Glue And Silver Spray Paint Lampshade 😅
#26 I Don’t Even Know What To Say
#27 Whose Bright Idea Was This
#28 Tub Drain Was Overrated I Guess
#29 These Window Reflections Are Painted On
#30 Deodordon’t
#31 We Built A Double Decker Couch 🙂
#32 Swiss Army Wife
#33 Oh God
#34 How To Upcycle A Meat Grinder
#35 I Don’t Even Know Where To Start With This
#36 Bought Spare Remotes Then My 4 Year Old Found Electrical Tape And Made This So We’d Never Lose Another Remote
#37 Good Lord
#38 About 15 Years Ago I Got Drunk And Nicked A Security Camera. The Next Day I Gutted It And Put A Lightbulb In. It’s Been Stowed Away Ever Since Until Today
#39 Early Pandemic Was Wild
#40 When You Have $$$, But Lack Land
#41 Fake Sunroof Decal For Your Car
#42 I Guess Beaded Door Curtains Aren’t As Cool As Tape Measures
#43 Seen On Fb: Desktop Spam Grill
#44 Hand Soap
#45 What Is The Purpose Of This
#46 I Feel Like This Belongs Here
#47 Wooden Drainage. Why?
#48 My Mom Tried To Make A Cane For My Dad
#49 Rate My Husband’s Paint Job
#50 Man Laptops Are Getting Hot
#51 For Your Kick Back
#52 Just Saw This On Twitter
#53 Cyberpunk 2077
#54 Made A Watermelonboy And Tested It Out In Public [op]
#55 I Didn’t Have A Lampshade So I Made One Myself
#56 Partener Tried To Dye Our White Couch Because It Had Some Stains. I Said We Shouldve Got Couch Covers But No
#57 Found On Kijiji. Church Pew Headboard Complete With Buckets For Only $150.00
#58 Diwtf
#59 ☹️
#60 Found In A Hotel In Erfurt… I Don’t Even Know What To Think Of This
#61 Temporary Solution
#62 Saw On R/Shittylifehacks…a Definite Diwhy
#63 “Therapy Chairs” For Childrens’ Hospital Were Rejected. Wonder Why?
#64 This Is Terrifying
#65 This “Up-Cycled” Hot Water Bottle Necklace
#66 I Made An iMac For Ants 🖥 🐜
#67 Nice
#68 My Partner And I Did 5 Minute Crafts As Our Christmas Gifts To Each Other
#69 My Boss Thought These Were A Good Idea
#70 Nothing Quite Like Homemade Peanut M&m’s
#71 125 Pound Hairball Made By A Barber
#72 That Is An Actual Piece Of Bread.. Covered In Cement, Being Used As A Table Coaster
#73 Flooring Thought This Belongs Here
#74 The Hottest Freshest Pizza To Ever Be Delivered
#75 Oh No
#76 Thank You For Your Service
#77 Dread Bed
#78 My Girlfriend Is Disgusted By My Resourcefulness
#79 The More You Think About It The Worse It Gets
#80 Who Comes Up With This Stuff?
#81 Perfection
#82 Incognito Barefoot “Shoes”
#83 No Showerhead? Here Use A Tap Insted
#84 Don’t Worry, No Smell
#85 I Made An Interesting Ring From An Old National Geographic Article
#86 Meat Always Shrinks When I Cook It But Not Anymore!
#87 Easy Pz, Taco Serving Plates
#88 Built My Own Skates Instead Of Buying Them
#89 Kitchen Sink Placement
#90 1. Find A Dead Beetle. 2. Cover It In Hot Glue. 3.fashion
#91 Sometimes Homemade Just Hits Different
#92 Dad’s “Life Hack” Didn’t Make Mom As Happy As He Hoped
#93 Bean Burrito
#94 As A Teenager I Made A Duct Tape And Chainmail Frisbee
#95 Our Landlord Hired A Plumber To Fix Our Toilet. He Said He’d Put Some Sealant Behind It To Stop It From Moving. Can You Tell Me What’s Wrong With This Picture?
#96 Why?
#97 A New Trend?
#98 Found This On Facebook
#99 Dear Lord, I Hope Gordon Ramsay Won’t See This
