Blogging Like a Boss and Working Full Time
Hey, hey, hey cuties! I hope you are all doing amazing on this fabulous Tuesday. Today, I am going to be talking about blogging like a boss and working full time. This has been on my heart for a few weeks. I don’t want people to miss out on their dreams and passions because of their full-time job.
Let me start by sharing my story. I am a full-time teacher and coach. If you know anything about coaching, you know that the words full-time are a joke. During basketball season, I get to school around 7:15am and I leave around 6:30pm or so. So, that equates to an almost 12-hour day. Well, that doesn’t include the days that I have games which have me getting home around 8:30 or 9pm at night. In the early parts of the season, we have 3-5 tournaments that take up the whole weekend. So, full-time actually means 60-70 hour weeks.
I also have 4 children, two of whom just went off to college this past August. So, we still have two kiddos at home. One is 17 and one is 14. They are pretty self-sufficient but mothering never stops as you may know. I have dinners to be made, quality time to spend with them, and the list goes on. I am stressed just writing all this out. LOL
So, now let’s talk about you. Whatever your career may be, I am sure it is just as taxing as mine, if not more. Maybe you have more kiddos at home, maybe one is an infant. Yet, even with all of that, you have this dying passion to be a blogger. You want a place where you can let your creative juices flow. A place to connect with like-minded people. You are not alone. I was where you are. Now, let’s talk about how you are going to make it happen because I promise you, you can do it!
Here are a few of the excuses I gave when I started:
“I am so tired when I get home. By the time I sit down it’s 8:30 or 9:00 and by then I just want to sit on the couch and watch Fixer Upper and chill.”
“I don’t have any time left in the day.”
“How do I get motivated when I’m so exhausted already?”
Do any of these comments resonate with you?
I get it. Like I said earlier, I have been there. I also know that if you never start, you won’t ever succeed. So, why not start?
Let’s discuss some tips to get you started.
LOCATE YOUR TRIBE
What I mean by that is find other people that are where you are on your journey. Also, find some individuals that are further along on their blogging journey than you may be. They can help you avoid some of the pitfalls you may face as a beginner. I have a tribe of about 15 women. Any of these women, on any day, would be there to answer any questions I have. I have also joined a blogging education Facebook group called BLOG EDU. It is the absolute best forum for getting your questions answered. Tana is the creator and she is also a blog developer. She did mine and she is THE BEST!!!
FIND A PLACE TO CREATE
For me, I needed to find a place that wasn’t my home. Now, if you have younger kiddos this may not be as easy. And that’s ok, just change up where you create your blog posts. Some days, I write blog posts at my desk at work while I’m at lunch or on my off-period. But, the majority of my blog posts are written on Saturday morning at my local coffee shop. I get there early, like around 8 or 8:30am and stay for about 3-4 hours. This works for me. I get to enjoy amazing coffee and I get my blog posts done so, it’s a win-win for me! Wherever you write our posts, change it up from time to time.
SCHEDULE YOUR BLOGGING TIME
Treat blogging as though it’s a hair appointment. God knows us women don’t miss our hair appointments, am I right?? My Saturdays are my standing appointments to blog. Now, I know life happens so, don’t beat yourself up if you have to reschedule but try to make that the rarity. If you don’t plan, you won’t do it, trust me. I think I maybe did 5 blog posts last year and this year I have already done 21 and we are only 6 weeks into the year. Take a look at your calendar and see, realistically, when you can commit to blogging. And know this, it’s hard sometimes but if you really want it, you WILL do it! Again, if you REALLY want it, you will make it happen! Be intentional!
PLAN YOUR CONTENT
Here is an example for you:
Monday: I do a new recipe each week
Thursday: I post about deals I’ve found (fashion, home decor, food)
Sunday: I do a weekly recap of my personal life as well as recap everything that happened on the blog that week.
This is the schedule I follow weekly so, if I do nothing else, I am getting 3 posts done each week.
Then, I add in seasonal posts. For example, I write down the major holidays and then post about them at least a month in advance. Even further in advance for big holidays like Christmas. I also try to add in one DIY each month to two months. In addition to all of these posts, when I get the opportunity to work with brands, I add those posts in somewhere.
Here is a quick guideline to use:
January- posts about organization, de-cluttering, closet cleanouts, Christmas storage tips, new year’s resolutions.
February- posts about Valentine’s day, date ideas, gift guides for him/her/kids.
March- Easter decor, St Patrick’s Day decor and crafts.
April- Easter decor, DIY egg coloring ideas, Spring décor ideas, spring fashion.
May- Spring cleaning, porch makeovers, gardening.
June- summer fashion, landscaping, summer trip guides, boredom busters for kids, DIY project ideas.
July- summer events, road trip tips, BBQ party ideas, swim parties, July 4th party ideas.
August- back to school shopping, teacher gift ideas, school supplies, outdoor parties.
September- Fall fashion trends, fall decorating.
October- Halloween decor and costume ideas, Fall wreath and front porch ideas.
November- Thanksgiving tablescape, Fall decor, recipes for Thanksgiving day, winter fashion, Christmas decor.
December- Holiday traditions, gift guides, Christmas picture tips, Christmas card styling, planning for the new year.
I hope that gives you a few ideas you can use for years to come.
Also, make sure you have a large variety of posts that are evergreen. What that means is make sure the post would be relevant all year, not just specific seasons. It will do well on Pinterest so that’s a bonus as well.
Alright, I know that is a lot of material to read over and it may sound overwhelming but I promise you, if you put these tips to work, you will be well on your way to a successful blogging career.
Lets’ recap:
- Locate your tribe. These people will be your lifeline.
- Find a place to create. This will be invaluable in helping your creative juices flow.
- Schedule your blogging time. Create blogging like a hair appointment.
- Plan your content. Failure to plan=planning to fail. Get a base template set for each month.
- Stick to it! If you truly want to do this, you have to commit to it. Just like anything you do in life. Make the commitment and rock it!! YOU CAN DO IT!
If you are reading this and you also work full-time while running a blog, tell me some things that you have implemented to help you be successful. I would love to hear!
Friend, I hope this helps you and encourages you to start blogging like a boss and working full time. No more putting your dreams on hold. This is your year to do something for you, you deserve it! Also, thank you for allowing me into your home today to discuss some tips to blogging with a full-time job. I hope some of this has helped to jump start your passions, my friend. Have a blessed day!
