When I first started blogging four years ago I never thought I’d be able to manage to blog daily. I mean surely those who blog daily don’t have jobs right? Wrong. So many of the people I know who blog daily, also have pretty demanding full time jobs as well. Myself included. And one of the questions I get asked a lot is how I manage to blog daily while working full time. There’s no big secret. It involves a lot of organisation though. Like a hell of a lot! I find myself having to turn down social events with friends and spend less time sleeping than I want. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Blogging is my number one passion and that’s why I choose to blog daily.
Now obviously there are no blogging rules. If you want to blog once a day, once a week or once a month that’s your choice. But if you also work full time but want to blog everyday, here are my top five tips on how to blog daily while working full time:
Start a list for everything
Lists will literally become your best friend. I have lists for which events I’m going to in a week, what needs to be photographed, what content needs writing, what needs to be scheduled etc. A list for everything! It’s the only way I can keep focused and on top of what needs to be done. Plus doesn’t everyone love that satisfying feeling when you get to cross things off your list? And it’s a great excuse to head into Kikki K or Paperchase and just buy all the cute notebooks. Because you need a cute notebook for all your lists right?
Manage your time effectively
I wouldn’t be able to blog daily if I didn’t manage my time effectively. This means I spend a good two hours at the weekend taking my blog photos in bulk. I use my lunch breaks to write posts and reply to emails. While my evenings can be spent editing photos and copy and scheduling posts.
Schedule everything!
Almost every blogger I know schedules their content in advance. It’s just a lot easier! I tend to schedule my blog posts about a week in advance. But have my content planned three to four weeks in advance. I then set aside time each Sunday to schedule my social media posts for the week ahead. It does take time but it means that everything is scheduled for the week ahead. You can then just sit back if you want to. Or spend the time working on the following week’s posts.
Don’t say yes to everything
I mean unless you want to of course. But while it’s lovely to be invited to lots of launches or being approached to review a load of products, the reality can be a little different. Will you have time to attend everything and write everything up? And are the products right for your audience? It’s OK to say no from time to time, especially if it doesn’t work for you or your blog.
Spend time away from your blog
While blogging is my number one passion. And I do love spending time on my blog. It is also important to tear yourself away from the blogging world and experience real life. After all I find spending too much time on my blog ruins the fun and gives me a bad case of bloggers block. By stepping away, enjoying real life and time with my friends and family actually inspires me to get back into it!
What are your top tips for managing to blog while working full time?
I agree with everything you have said in this post. Especially about the importance of scheduling and lists. At the moment I mostly review books on my blog. I can be provided with a pre-publication copy of a book 6 months in advance and asked not to publish a review until 2 weeks before publication. Without lists and schedules to keep me on the straight and narrow, I would be completely lost about what to post and when to post it.
I really admire bloggers that work and have this as another job on top, I struggle managing my time effectively with the children so I’m definitely going to implement some of your ideas to try and manage my time better 🙂 x
Can I just ask what programmes or apps you use to schedule your posts? I would love to get into scheduling. And totally with you on needing all of the cute stationary for all of your important lists! 😉 Me in a nutshell haha xx
I give so much credit to bloggers who work full time and blog daily! It’s so much work to blog daily and to it on top of working a full-time job is impressive. I definitely agree with your recommendations about keeping lists on everything and being extremely organized. Obviously, you have to manage your time very effectively and stay on top of everything to get it all done.
Oh my gosh. I need to be way more organised!! I usually find myself writing at about 11pm on the day I want to publish something!! Also, photos for me can be a big problem because it’s usually food and I don’t like to cook tonnes in one go because I live on my own and can never eat it all! I’m gonna try taking some more general photos at the weekend though – it will be good to have a stock of images I could use.
I love reading your posts, so you obviously know how to make it work. I did blogtober posts and just didn’t find posts as popular, but suppose it gives more variety for readers to look at. I also draft a lot of posts when feeling more inspired and add to them when can fit them in x
These are great tips. You’re so right about lists- I don’t know where I’d be without them!
I work every day, morning until night and your right scheduling really helps, else I would never post at all xx x
This has been an issue with me for years and I’ve never really figured out how to actually do it… I’ve always gone inactive, or just been so uninspired that I’d have nothing to write… this is helpful though, especially making a list. As soon as I start crossing things off I know I’ll get addicted to that feeling of accomplishment :’)
I think having a list is a really good idea. It definately makes everything nice and organized x
I agree with this post. In as much as we love blogging we still have to find time for another activities. Time management is really an effective idea.
I agree with absolutely everything here. I work full-time as well as doing freelance copywriting and editing a large music website so scheduling and lists are absolute god sends for me x
I have huge respect for anyone that works full time and blogs. I blog full time and find I spend 18 hours a day on it sometimes.
I find it so hard to manage unless I block write and schedule. When I was at work full time I found it easier but now I have a screaming baby and school runs and find I get behind a bit. Some good tips xx
I also take all my photos at the weekend, it’s amazing how much time it saves. Jo x
I don’t seem to be able to blog daily although I have tried a few times. I don’t work but I have 3 little ones and other commitments which of course slow me down a bit. I need to get scheduling!!!
These are fantastic tips!! My blog is actually my full time job and even I find it hard with everything else I have to do, like cleaning, taking the kids to school, etc. So for those that have a full time job AND manage to blog daily, I take my hat off to you
Some good tips. I’ve been blogging for 9 years and have always worked full time. This year I’ve decided to cut back on the amount I post so I’m not tying myself in knots! I’d love to build it back up but I found when i was posting every day I had no time to read other blogs. This way I feel like I can really interact with people and hold down my job x
I’m so pleased that you put dont say yes to everything in here- its advice that I give to other bloggers all the time!! xxx
I really love this tips, This is exactly what I need right now! Glad that you share this tips with us
It’s so funny since I’ve been off work I find it harder to blog daily! Because I always think of I have the morning to get up and write a blog post rather than scheduling in advance like I would do. I’m currently trying to get back into the habit.
Victoria x
FlorenceandMary.com
Jesus wept, daily blogging with a ft job? Are you Wonder Woman? I just know that if I gave it a go, I wouldn’t be consistent at all. I like writing long-form blog posts when poss. Bulk photos is always a great idea though, that’s what I did this weekend to try and get back into a rhythm of blogging.
This has been so helpful! I’m finding it really hard to balance work and blogging but your deffo right, all about organisation!
Thanks,