Running a blog alongside a full time job can be incredibly difficult to manage. We're all constantly juggling a million and one things, but adding a website and all its intricacies into the picture is another thing entirely. As a blogger we wear about thirty different hats: we're the features writer, editor, photographer, researcher, social media manager, accountant and agent all in one. The key to running a site successfully (and without losing sleep/pulling your hair out,) is to getting super organised. Organising your tasks, your routine and your time efficiently can ensure you never get bored or become tempted to throw the towel in. Here are my top tips for having it all...
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1. Write Lists. Lots of Lists.
There's nothing more satisfying than crossing things from a 'to do' list. That tiny motion can make you feel accomplished, like crossing something off is a real achievement. By writing lists and crossing things off as you go you'll feel far more in control, rather than everything getting on top of you. There's also nothing worse than forgetting something important, losing your trail of thought or forgetting a great blog post idea, so keeping everything in little lists will help you manage the tasks at hand.
2. Keep A Notebook.
Having one place where you can keep all your thoughts will benefit you in the long term. Post-its are neither productive or inspiring; little bits of paper and millions of notes can make a simple situation seem much more complicated than it needs to be, fragmenting our thoughts and setting us into panic mode. A notebook close at hand will help you keep organised, especially if you jot down ideas on the go and take notes at launches, events and talks.
3. Set Yourself Bitesized Tasks.
Anything is achievable if it's cut down into a smaller size. Rather than feeling like you have to write ten posts, take photos, reply to emails and schedule your social media content all at once, cut down each task into smaller section and move onto the next when it's complete.
4. Start The Week Well.
For me, Monday mornings are the time I set aside to get myself sorted for the week. I schedule all my social content, research new ideas, check invoices and clear my inbox. Having a morning to set yourself up to win will only ever be a good thing; it stops you from 'chasing your tail' for the rest of the week and prevents that panicked feeling that you're not on top of everything.
5. Take All Your Photos At Once.
To ensure I can make the most of the time I have in my office, I take as many photos of products and illustrative images in one chunk of time. Downloading them to my computer always allows me to have a bank of potential content, rather than panicking about what I'm going to write about today and how I'm going to illustrate it.
6. Blog In Bulk.
Ever have those days when you're full of creativity and the words just spill over onto the page? Make the most of them. If you're in the mood to write, then use the momentum to churn out four posts in one go. Scheduling of blog posts is the best thing you can do as a blogger, utilising pre-written content on a daily basis rather than generating something new and trying to find inspiration every day.
7. Have A Great Workspace.
Finding a great area or space to write from will help you get 'in the zone' much easier than sitting on the sofa with a pack of biscuits. Your brain will quickly start to associate your writing area with the task at hand, allowing you to get those creative juices flowing. Ensure your desk is free from clutter and distractions, even lighting a candle or two to ensure there's a fab ambiance.
8. Schedule In 'Blog Time'
With our lives being extremely hectic and our diaries constantly being pulled in every which way, it's essential to treat your blog as you would a dance class. Blocking out time in the diary each week to catch up will help keep you motivated and on-schedule. It may be that nothing ever happens on a Tuesday evening, so block out three hours to focus on your blog.
It's never easy juggling a blog with a job, family or social life, but it can be done. The trick is to treating it seriously and making the most of the time you have available. Do you have any other top tips on how to keep yourself super organised?
Next in the series: How To Make The Most of SEO
Want to catch up on the rest of the series? Check out all the previous posts here.![]()
1. Write Lists. Lots of Lists.
There's nothing more satisfying than crossing things from a 'to do' list. That tiny motion can make you feel accomplished, like crossing something off is a real achievement. By writing lists and crossing things off as you go you'll feel far more in control, rather than everything getting on top of you. There's also nothing worse than forgetting something important, losing your trail of thought or forgetting a great blog post idea, so keeping everything in little lists will help you manage the tasks at hand.
2. Keep A Notebook.
Having one place where you can keep all your thoughts will benefit you in the long term. Post-its are neither productive or inspiring; little bits of paper and millions of notes can make a simple situation seem much more complicated than it needs to be, fragmenting our thoughts and setting us into panic mode. A notebook close at hand will help you keep organised, especially if you jot down ideas on the go and take notes at launches, events and talks.
3. Set Yourself Bitesized Tasks.
Anything is achievable if it's cut down into a smaller size. Rather than feeling like you have to write ten posts, take photos, reply to emails and schedule your social media content all at once, cut down each task into smaller section and move onto the next when it's complete.
4. Start The Week Well.
For me, Monday mornings are the time I set aside to get myself sorted for the week. I schedule all my social content, research new ideas, check invoices and clear my inbox. Having a morning to set yourself up to win will only ever be a good thing; it stops you from 'chasing your tail' for the rest of the week and prevents that panicked feeling that you're not on top of everything.
5. Take All Your Photos At Once.
To ensure I can make the most of the time I have in my office, I take as many photos of products and illustrative images in one chunk of time. Downloading them to my computer always allows me to have a bank of potential content, rather than panicking about what I'm going to write about today and how I'm going to illustrate it.
6. Blog In Bulk.
Ever have those days when you're full of creativity and the words just spill over onto the page? Make the most of them. If you're in the mood to write, then use the momentum to churn out four posts in one go. Scheduling of blog posts is the best thing you can do as a blogger, utilising pre-written content on a daily basis rather than generating something new and trying to find inspiration every day.
7. Have A Great Workspace.
Finding a great area or space to write from will help you get 'in the zone' much easier than sitting on the sofa with a pack of biscuits. Your brain will quickly start to associate your writing area with the task at hand, allowing you to get those creative juices flowing. Ensure your desk is free from clutter and distractions, even lighting a candle or two to ensure there's a fab ambiance.
8. Schedule In 'Blog Time'
With our lives being extremely hectic and our diaries constantly being pulled in every which way, it's essential to treat your blog as you would a dance class. Blocking out time in the diary each week to catch up will help keep you motivated and on-schedule. It may be that nothing ever happens on a Tuesday evening, so block out three hours to focus on your blog.
It's never easy juggling a blog with a job, family or social life, but it can be done. The trick is to treating it seriously and making the most of the time you have available. Do you have any other top tips on how to keep yourself super organised?
Next in the series: How To Make The Most of SEO
Want to catch up on the rest of the series? Check out all the previous posts here.