I have been blogging for over ten years, and blogging is one of those things that you can spend an infinite amount of time on! I am also a mom of two kids, and actually started blogging when my kids were young (one was a toddler and the other was in kindergarten). I am not sure how I managed to juggle everything back then, but honestly, things are just as busy now that my kids are older, since much of the year I work 40 hours a week and then have to get the kids to all their afternoon and evening activities.
You really have to be efficient and use time management in order to manage your blog, without spending all your time working, and also to prioritize what has to get done especially if you have other commitments (kids, a job, etc).
1. Prioritize
Blogging can mean something different every day, so prioritize what needs to be done. Sometimes I have a huge project with a deadline, sometimes I have smaller projects that need to be done, and sometimes there is nothing urgent. I start my day with the most pressing things, and work my way down the list.
2. Have a schedule, calendar, or list
It is good to have a schedule for what needs to get done every day. Maybe it isn’t an exact schedule, but it can help you get things done, from writing to posting, to social media. Have a calendar you can refer to. Most bloggers have an editorial calendar so that they can spread out their posts and have a timeline of posting.
3. Schedule Posts
There are lots of tools out there to help you schedule posts. By scheduling posts ahead of time, you can lighten your daily load and complete tasks ahead of time. When I have extra time, I work on posts way ahead of time (for example, I work on Easter posts in January). Catch up in your free time and schedule out.
4. Eliminate distractions and stick to your list
I have kids, so distractions are usually a part of my everyday life, and that is something I have to work around. But there are plenty of other distractions that can divide your attention and slow you down. This could be something like social media. I am guilty of going to post something on social media for my blog, and then I end up scrolling through posts. It is easy to turn on the TV and leave it on all day. While it may not seem like much, it can divide your attention.
Make sure you stick to your tasks and that you do not get sidetracked. It is understandable if you are juggling children at home during your work day, but this may mean that you should have set activities for your kids as well, such as 30 minutes of chores, quiet time, reading time, etc.
5. Designate work times
Blogging can mean endless work. As in, you can always work on your blog. But that doesn’t mean you should. Just like any other job, you need a balanced work and home life. It is important to designate work hours and non-work times as well. Obviously, projects can run over and take longer than expected, but it is important to keep focused during certain hours. This will also help you to structure your day, especially if you do not have an additional job. Work hours will help you to make sure you have set meal times and not end up distracted.
Check out my other blogging tips here.
This is so hard for me sometimes! I feel like the story, “When you give a mouse a cookie” sometimes when I start working. I just find so much to do I get distracted from my original goal lol!
I agree and yes, time management is so important. We need to learn how to manage our time for us to be able to do the different tasks that we need to be done.
I am definitely going to be working on time management this year
It takes up the whole day for me to complete a post, that’s because I change my mind a lot. This is something I will be working on this year.
These are great tips! It is not easy to focus on time management when you are a parent. But 10 years…you must be doing something right! 👓👜🍕
Yes girl!!! I love this list of tips because it’s so crucial to have a healthy balance!
OMG – not getting distracted is my biggest challenge, especially with 3 kids doing remote learning at home. But it’s SO important for productivity!
I have been blogging for over ten years, and blogging is one of those things that you can spend an infinite amount of time on! I am also a mom of two kids, and actually started blogging when my kids were young (one was a toddler and the other was in kindergarten)
[…] effects of multitasking and having too much on my plate. I’ve learned to batch posts to save time, and divide tasks over several days in short bursts, rather than trying to blast through them all […]
This is very helpful advice, thank you so much for sharing! It can definitely be so easy to get distracted and off course throughout the day when you are at home trying to work.