Work v. Play
If you read my last post on weeds, you are either now a) so depressed about trying to diminish them from your yard, you are currently dialing a local realtor and asking about the prices of condos in your area (who needs a house and yard anyway?),  b) are still pondering the philosophical question "what is a weed?", c) not worried, afterall you've been keeping a close eye on all the interlopers and have no concerns that alien bittersweet will swoop down in the middle of the night and snatch you from your bed, or d) know that you have a lot of yard work to do but you are looking forward to spending time in the fresh air.

Sometimes the effort is worth it.

If you answered either a) or b), well, you might want to reconsider how you view your yard, how you'd like it to look, and whether or not you have the "right stuff" to achieve your goals.  If you can afford landscaping services, use them for the jobs you really hate but be prepared to supervise the work and clean up any loose ends left behind.  If you don't want to pay a landscaper and you don't have the energy to weed, plant, water, and maintain, then maybe a few simple slow growing shrubs and drought resistant ground cover will suit your yard best.  Setting realistic goals is as important in gardening and yard design as it is in budgeting and weight management and there are as many external messages that will try to convince you otherwise.

To set an example, I could lose a few pounds (well, maybe a few more than a "few") and despite the fact I am inundated with external messages on TV, in bookstores and magazines letting me know how "easy" it would be to look younger and more slender if I just bought the right supplement, the right exercise equipment, or followed the right exercise regimen I cannot summon my enthusiasm for any of it.  Other than eating a healthy diet and getting moderate exercise I am not really interested in spending extra money, hiring a personal trainer, running five miles a day, or investing in a "lifestyle" that I will lose interest in within a few months.  Maybe I'll reach a point as I age where I become interested in joining a gym or eating grapefruit five times a day, but until then I have made peace with my physical flaws.  The same philosophy can be applied to yard work.  If you are ready, then great, if not, limit your expectations to meet your commitment and don't feel that you are letting some editor from Better Homes & Gardens down (chances are, unless your yard is a botanical theme park, they won't be contacting you for a magazine spread anyway).