News + Trends

Is "Do it for me" the new "Do it yourself"?

20.12.2018

Translation: machine translated

Is my generation really tired of DIY or is this just millennial bashing again?

Lately, I stumbled across a comment that said millennials are less likely to pick up a hammer themselves than previous generations. Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are people born between the early 80s and early 2000s. I also belong to this demographic. I would say of myself that I do and can do a lot of things myself. So am I part of a dying species?

Do it yourself

The concept that my generation seems to enjoy using is called "Do it for me" (DIFM). This includes, for example, delivery, cutting and assembly services from furniture stores and DIY stores, but also repair or renovation work by professionals. For the author of the commentary, this is no cause for concern. For him, DIFM is not an expression of laziness, but of intelligence. It's smart when people make life easier for themselves. I'm ambivalent about this, but as a do-it-yourself aunt on duty I'm also biased. On the one hand, it makes sense to avoid any frustration and hand over the task straight away. On the other hand, it's nice not to be constantly dependent on the help of others. But before an argument breaks out: is the thesis even true or is everyone just picking on Generation Y again, as the author of the comment assumes?

Comfort is the trump card

A study by IFH Cologne from 2016 suggests that "Do it for me" does indeed attract a lot of attention. Just under 66 per cent of the more than 2,000 participants stated that they consider DIFM offers on sale in DIY stores to be interesting. However, no statement was made about age. Perhaps DIFM is simply a phenomenon of today's zeitgeist and has nothing to do with age. Faster, better, higher doesn't just apply to the under-40s. However, other sources such as Mobile emphasise that "Do it for me" is on the rise, especially among millennials. Logical, because this generation is currently in the rush hour of life. Between starting a career and starting a family administrator, things can get stressful and a lot of coordination is required.

DIY is not dead

It is understandable that certain things are given up, especially if they are not fun. Nevertheless, this kind of thinking is often dismissed as laziness, especially among millennials. The words self-realisation and work-life balance always make older generations shake their heads. If we're honest, however, this mindset didn't just start with the millennials. The dishwasher does the tedious washing up, electric tools save energy and time, the cleaning lady makes the whole flat shine. All things that optimise life and leave more time for hobbies because we don't have to do them (entirely) ourselves. And now the trend is moving towards DIFM. Nevertheless, I believe that DIY is not threatened with extinction, even among my fellow millennials. On the one hand because it saves money and on the other because it's nice to be able to build your own Billy shelf.

Survey

Which camp do you belong to?

DIY
86%
DIFM
14%

The competition has ended.

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Carolin Teufelberger

Editor

carolin.teufelberger@digitecgalaxus.ch

My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.

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