Rachel of Small Notebook asks, "How you prioritize your time with responding to comments, visiting other blogs, and writing your own content? I like blogging, but if I’m not careful it can take up way too much time and I want to strive for balance."
Photo by Dave Shea
Blogging is more than just writing. Add all the feed reading, topic researching, photo selecting, social networking and promoting, and comment moderating – blogging can unintentionally become a full-time job.
Here are a few tips I've applied in my own life to set healthy parameters around my time spent blogging and my time in "the real world":
1. Keep a notebook handy. Post ideas come at the most random times, and if you don't write them down, I promise you will forget them. By having your place to jot notes with you at all times, you can dump it out of your brain and move on to getting dinner ready.
2. Close out other programs on your computer. When you're writing, compose the text in a simple program like TextEdit or Notepad, and close Firefox, your Twitter app, your email client, and anything else that serves as a distraction. You can reopen them when you're doing the non-writing part of blogging.
3. Designate official blogging times. It helps to not try to blog while also trying to balance your budget, clean out your desk drawer, check e-mail, and use StumbleUpon. Use set times to blog, and blog only.
4. Make daily, specific goals. Instead of having one giant upcoming post loom over you, put it in your to-do list that you will research for such-and-such post idea today, then write it tomorrow, and then edit it the next day.
5. Write out a blogging calendar. My post topics are usually set on a calendar a month in advance, but I still stay flexible for those sudden post topics, such as when a commenter asks a great question, and you want to answer it right away.
6. Have a stockpile of timeless posts. Slowly try to accumulate simple posts about things that can be used at any time (in other words, not newsworthy topics). Then when you're slammed with everyday life busyness, you can post and still keep your blog fresh while tending to your "real" life.
7. As you're perusing Flickr to use for your post, "favorite" any photos you like that could potentially be used in a future post. Lately, all I've needed to do to find the perfect photo is go to my favorites collection.
8. Set realistic goals. If you're a stay-at-home mom to three kids under 5, you're not going to have scads of time to post an in-depth article every day. Currently, my goal at Simple Mom is to post three times a week.
9. Cut the online clutter. Unsubscribe to blogs that you don't love. Select only a few social media networks to involve yourself in, and don't worry about missing out in the rest.
10. Take a day off. When blogging starts to gets stressful or obsessive, step away from the laptop and get some fresh air. The blogosphere will manage just fine without you for 24 hours, and you'll get some much-needed perspective.
What little things do you do that provide sanity, balance, and perspective amidst the blog-writing busyness?
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Tsh is an American mom living overseas with two kids under 3, and she writes about life hacks for home managers at Simple Mom. She also has a deeply passionate affinity for coffee made in her French press.
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Thank you. I'm always looking for suggestions to help me, with this topic!
'Miss' Mari-Nanci
Hi! and thanks for the tips. Currently I'm home b/c I'm on summer vacay- I'm a teacher. I'm blogging like crazy! During the school year I usually only post 1x a week! Now it's almost everyday! These suggestions will help when I get back to work in September…I'm worried I may have blog withdrawal!!EEEK!
That was a great post! I was just trying to figure out many points that you stated, especially the daily goals and a blogging calendar. I do have pretty specific times I blog, beofre my daughter gets up for breakfast and a couple of hours after. Then once in the evening. I also check emails through the day. But, you are so right, it can consume all of your time quickly!
Thanks for these tips. I've recently figured out that I can write my content twice as quickly if I write in the morning instead of at night. I also decided to shorten my list of blogs that I had subscribed to. I can still visit them regularly, but I don't need the daily updates.
My newest favorite tip:
When I bookmark a new blog, I add the person's name next to the blog title, so it helps me to learn names and I don't get mixed up.
Glad this is a help!
@Rachel – Good tip! It's a great way to keep the blogosphere personable, too.
Wow, I'm impressed that you set up a whole calendar a month in advance. I really need to get more organized about future posts.
Great insight and advice, thanks!
Great tips! I am definitely going to try and start doing some of these things for my new blog! Thanks!
These are some really great tips. I appreciate your structured and planned approach to blogging without it becoming another "job". Next time I'm struggling with how to do it all, I'm come back here to read your tips!
Great tips, I'm still trying to put many of these into practice….sigh
Great tips! If you don't have things laid out specifically, it really is easy to drift off task.
I wanted to add, since you mentioned using flickr photos, that all blog authors need to take special care when using the photographs of others. Not all photographs that you find online are free for the taking, as it were. You MUST check for copyright or ownership before you use a photo.
It matters not whether you link back to/give credit to the photographer. If a photo is marked "All Rights Reserved," for example, the only way you are allowed to use it legally is if you request permission and are granted said permission, by the original photographer.
Many photographers put their work under "Creative Commons" licenses which offer the ability to do things such as use the photo as long as credit is given, without specific permission.
It is imperitive that before you use a photo, you check to see if you are doing so within the legal limits.
Sorry for the length, but I am obviously passionate about this topic.
I love these tips, I'm new to blogging and I've found myself addicted to posting and finding ways to improve my blog, etc. Balancing a family with any hobby can be tricky, these tips are great, I will definitely use them! Thanks.
http://www.aprildawns.blogspot.com
@Sarcastic Mom – Thanks for the reminder to everyone! I use this great article by Skelliwag as my source for appropriately using Flickr photos:
http://www.skelliewag.org/a-complete-guide-to-finding-and-using-incredible-flickr-images-162.htm
Some great ideas. I'd like to add one more…when life gets in the way, be willing to walk away and write something later.