Many of you have asked me over the last year or so where I find the time to blog and do other things being a busy mom of two and working full-time. This mini series was started to give all of you a glimpse into some of the ways I manage to find time to do things. It all starts with scheduling and time management and getting myself out of the door in the morning.
I am sure many of you know how much time blogging and other social media can suck up a lot of your time on a regular basis. Here are some of the ways that I manage to make time to blog regularly, comment, and play on Pinterest:
Planning blog posts: I admit that Kayla and I both plan blog posts in advance, type in the content and idea for a specific post, and then set them to post at a specific time most days. All outfits are actually worn at some point during that week, but they may not actually be a true "Outfit of the Day." Outfit posts are usually a day or two behind the actual day they are posted.
The Mother/Daughter Remix posts are done every Sunday for posting on Monday. These outfits are the only outfit posts that are "staged" so to speak. Obviously Kayla can't wear a lot of the looks we post due to Kayla's school dress code (scrubs). I promise though, all looks that we do put together we have or would wear at some point with whatever item we choose for that week to remix.
Give yourself a set schedule or time limit: I could spend hours on blogging and Pinterest, but unfortunately I don't have that much time on my hands. My work allows me to have a pretty flexible schedule so I get in a half hour early and that gives me time to settle in, read some blogs, and leave some comments. At times throughout the day (coming back early from a lunch break) I do have time so I will read through a blog or two and leave a comments as well. In the evenings after all my chores and errands are finished and everyone is settled in for the night, that's also another time I have allowed myself to read through emails, comments, and read blogs that post later in the day or evening.
Pinterest is a whole other beast! I could spend hours on that website if I could. It's quite addicting, so this is where I really have to be disciplined and not spend my whole day pinning things. As mentioned above, during the work day I do have some time to squeeze in some Pinterest as well as blog stuff. Pinterest is also reserved for the late evening as well as those lazy Sunday afternoons when I am relaxing on the couch too.
Limit how much social media you do: I do not do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other forms of social media. This is one of those things like "pick your poison." Some people are able to do all of these forms of social media, but I just choose not to. The blog and Pinterest are about all I can handle time wise, so those are my two "poisons" of my social media.
It's ok to take a tech break: There have been times when I just want a break from all things related to the computer or phone. Last year Kayla and I were getting burned out from always feeling like we needed to take a photo, think up blog post ideas, and just got too darn busy for awhile. We ended up taking about a two month break from the blog and all things related to the computer. It was just what we needed to re-charge our batteries and getting back to enjoying blogging.
A two month break might not be for everyone, but blogging and social media should be fun and not feel like a chore. We all do have other things in our lives that don't involve our blogs or social media, so it's ok to not post every single day or always leave a comment or always tweet and update our Facebook status. The true readers who really like your blogs or whatever will still be there when you get back.
Spend time with real people: My girls and husband are obviously the most important people in my life. When I am with them, they are who I want to be with, not my computer, phone or tablet. Be present with whoever you are with at the time and stop playing on your phones at the dinner table or at a party. Speak to real people and have real life conversations! Put those phones down for a little bit and enjoy those around you!
So there you have it! These are just some of the tips and ways that I manage to squeeze in time for blogging and Pinterest during the week and weekends. This may not work for everyone, but it works for me.
How do you find the time to squeeze in for blogging, commenting, and other types of social media?
I am sure many of you know how much time blogging and other social media can suck up a lot of your time on a regular basis. Here are some of the ways that I manage to make time to blog regularly, comment, and play on Pinterest:
Planning blog posts: I admit that Kayla and I both plan blog posts in advance, type in the content and idea for a specific post, and then set them to post at a specific time most days. All outfits are actually worn at some point during that week, but they may not actually be a true "Outfit of the Day." Outfit posts are usually a day or two behind the actual day they are posted.
The Mother/Daughter Remix posts are done every Sunday for posting on Monday. These outfits are the only outfit posts that are "staged" so to speak. Obviously Kayla can't wear a lot of the looks we post due to Kayla's school dress code (scrubs). I promise though, all looks that we do put together we have or would wear at some point with whatever item we choose for that week to remix.
Give yourself a set schedule or time limit: I could spend hours on blogging and Pinterest, but unfortunately I don't have that much time on my hands. My work allows me to have a pretty flexible schedule so I get in a half hour early and that gives me time to settle in, read some blogs, and leave some comments. At times throughout the day (coming back early from a lunch break) I do have time so I will read through a blog or two and leave a comments as well. In the evenings after all my chores and errands are finished and everyone is settled in for the night, that's also another time I have allowed myself to read through emails, comments, and read blogs that post later in the day or evening.
Pinterest is a whole other beast! I could spend hours on that website if I could. It's quite addicting, so this is where I really have to be disciplined and not spend my whole day pinning things. As mentioned above, during the work day I do have some time to squeeze in some Pinterest as well as blog stuff. Pinterest is also reserved for the late evening as well as those lazy Sunday afternoons when I am relaxing on the couch too.
Limit how much social media you do: I do not do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other forms of social media. This is one of those things like "pick your poison." Some people are able to do all of these forms of social media, but I just choose not to. The blog and Pinterest are about all I can handle time wise, so those are my two "poisons" of my social media.
It's ok to take a tech break: There have been times when I just want a break from all things related to the computer or phone. Last year Kayla and I were getting burned out from always feeling like we needed to take a photo, think up blog post ideas, and just got too darn busy for awhile. We ended up taking about a two month break from the blog and all things related to the computer. It was just what we needed to re-charge our batteries and getting back to enjoying blogging.
A two month break might not be for everyone, but blogging and social media should be fun and not feel like a chore. We all do have other things in our lives that don't involve our blogs or social media, so it's ok to not post every single day or always leave a comment or always tweet and update our Facebook status. The true readers who really like your blogs or whatever will still be there when you get back.
Spend time with real people: My girls and husband are obviously the most important people in my life. When I am with them, they are who I want to be with, not my computer, phone or tablet. Be present with whoever you are with at the time and stop playing on your phones at the dinner table or at a party. Speak to real people and have real life conversations! Put those phones down for a little bit and enjoy those around you!
So there you have it! These are just some of the tips and ways that I manage to squeeze in time for blogging and Pinterest during the week and weekends. This may not work for everyone, but it works for me.
How do you find the time to squeeze in for blogging, commenting, and other types of social media?
Smart advice. You're right on target with the point that blogging should be fun, not a chore. I've seen too many new bloggers burn themselves out by viewing this activity as a job instead of a hobby. And your time-management tips are perfect.
ReplyDeleteI swear by having an editorial calendar. The last thing I want to do is be up late writing a blog post for the next day. I schedule my stuff in advance too and I take a tech break every weekend to recharge. Great tips!
ReplyDeleteAwesome advice Heather! I totally agree with all of the above. You really have to set a time limit, live by an editorial calendar and enjoy what you do. Great tips!
ReplyDeletei'm horrible at setting time limits. i am up super late every night, and sometimes i spend a little too much time during the day on all of this. i do agree you have to pick your poison. while i do have many accounts, there are some that are updated regularly, and others that aren't...
ReplyDeleteand i take all my outfit photos on the weekend.
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Social media make connection among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.Social media is a great thing to connect with friend and families.
ReplyDeleteSocial Media Management