When I was working my full-time job, one of the biggest challenges I had was balancing blogging with a full-time job. Does this sound familiar to you? You are not alone my friend. Many bloggers and influencers find it difficult to balance both, but there are ways that you can balance both and be successful.
When I started my blog back in 2011 I was working in a large hospital at the front desk. My job could be very demanding and busy at times. I worked at the front desk checking in and outpatients in the cancer and oncology clinic. All of this while trying to be a good girlfriend, sister, daughter, and cousin. I didnt have Riley until a few years into my blogging career. Then I had to balance my job, being a wife, and parenting a kid. Talk about stress. I eventually got it together and was able to get into a good grove that worked for me.
I know how hard it can be to juggle it all so today I am sharing some tips with you to help you find your work-life balance and get more things done with your blog. I want you to be successful because it’s possible even while working a 9–5 and running a blog. You totally got this!! I am rooting you on!
7 Tips To Help You Balance Blogging With a Full-Time Job
Create a schedule
Nothing would have been possible if I didnt create a schedule to work with. A saying that I use ALL the time is “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I live by this is every aspect of my life. I am a planner by nature so planning is second nature to me.
Map out everything you need to do for your blog. Come up with topics and create outlines. Create a schedule on when you will post each blog post and include dates. I usually use Google sheets for this.
Batch Your Work
Batching is probably what helped me the most when I was working my full-time job. Batching is when you work on one task until you are finished and then you move on to the next task. With batching you go through the entire process of drafting, editing, finding the images for your post, and publishing in one sitting. Batching saves lives.
Balance Blogging & Plan + Schedule Your Instagram Captions And Photos
Planning your Instagram captions and photos is something that you can also batch. Don’t be like me and find yourself scrambling on Monday figuring out what you are going to post. I usually spend Sundays planning my captions and photos out for the week. I also edit photos during this time. It’s best to batch this entire process. Believe me, it will save you a ton of time.
Balance Blogging and Schedule Blog and Social Media Posts
When I ask people do they schedule posts, sometimes they look at me like I am crazy. I schedule out my social media posts using the app Later. There are a ton of other apps that you can use to schedule out your posts and captions. This way you don’t even have to think about it during the week. I can check in on comments and engage with my audience, but the actual posting (scheduling) position is already complete.
Balance Blogging and Use A Content Calendar
Using a content l calendar to help you plan out your blog and social media posts in advance. Your content calendar helps you stay organized, see what you are going to write about in advance, helps you stay consistent, and also helps you with your marketing plan. Yes, marketing plans are important for bloggers too! I love using a content calendar because I go back to it every month and work off of the ideas and content I already have.
Balance Blogging and Create Graphic Templates
Creating graphics probably is another thing that takes a lot of time. You can purchase templates from someone or create your own in Canva. I use Canva for EVERYTHING! I love it so much. It has come in handy for me when creating graphics for social posts and also for my blog posts.
Unplug
Working a full-time job and running a blog can be exhausting. On top of family life and other things. So give yourself grace. You are doing an amazing job and are allowed time to rest and rest too. Remember that.
I hope these tips help!