Sunday 7 April 2019

Nerd Church - 4 Tips For Blogging When Busy




I've been super-busy lately, and I've just about managed to keep up with the blogging.

I haven't got everything done that I wanted to do, but I've kept it ticking over with my average of 3 posts a week, plus answering comments, blog-hopping, Twitter-ing, and all the hidden blog tasks like SEO and finding images for posts.

graphic with 'blog' written/stencilled repeatedly with artsy globe
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay


Phew! When I put it that way, I wonder how I've been doing all this plus running my own business and dealing with regular life-stuff, but I have! (No wonder I've been so tired!)

Also there has been literal blood, sweat, and tears over the past month - I've come to the conclusion that I don't need to add to that with stress over blogging!





So here's four tips for blogging when you live a semi-hectic, usually poorly-planned, life:


1. You can only do what you can do



This is the most important one - arguably, the other points are just extensions of this over-arching main one: you gotta go easy on yourself. You can only do what you can do.

You're mortal (unless you're not - in which case, you have a whole lot of other stuff going on, now don'tcha?) which means you need to rest and eat and all of that stuff.



I wanted to do a butt-tonne more posts over the last month - but I just haven't had the time.

I've been throwing posts together the night before they go up, which is less than ideal (...and happens a lot more, generally, than I like to admit to. 😅)

But f**k it. That's what I've had time to do. So that's what I've done.


animated version of Kermit the frog typing meme - captioned 'work! work! work!'
Via Giphy




2. Quality > Quantity




You're better off writing one post with passion than ten that you don't give a sh** about.

Cos passion is what makes a blog, dearest nerdlets!

(Tired passion is OK - you can be exhausted and still passionate about what you're doing. It's what I've been doing for a loooong time! 😅)




3. You don't owe anyone anything



Obviously, I'm not talking about if you've borrowed money or something. Then you owe people.

Also, if you've agreed to a deadline with someone, it's a good idea to try to meet it and polite to let them know in as much time as you can if you won't be able to. A little courtesy goes a long way. 👍







No, what I'm talking about is the social tit-for-tat that we bloggers usually get hopelessly wrapped up in. You know - like for like, comment for comment, share for share, etc.

Due to self-esteem and Depression/Anxiety issues, I have to be careful about how much pressure I'm putting on myself to do this at the best of times.

When I'm stressed I pretty much have to shout it at myself every time I blog: YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND YOUR LIFE AT THE SERVICE OF OTHER PEOPLE!



That doesn't mean you can't be generous - I love sharing my friends' and other people's posts, and commenting and all that jazz.

But I love doing it without the expectation that that's what I'm gonna do.

Don't confuse that with being rude - if you're purposefully ignoring people, then that's just being a jerk.



...But don't get so caught up in wiping out your perceived social debt that you end up burning yourself out.

So what do I do? I answer people on social media. I reply to comments. I keep a comment-back list to let me know who I'd like to visit when I'm blog-hopping.

There is no time limit on these things, because I know I'll end up doing them sooner rather than later (I have a tendency to over-work, ok?)




4. Limit social media use


I mean it. Go on for an hour or so a day (or whatever you can spare,) then log-out and close the tab/app. DON'T keep it open. DON'T keep yourself logged in.

Even if you're not actively using it, keeping it open will take up part of your attention.

I find that's a good idea generally - log-out of, and close, things that you aren't currently using.


Matt Smith as Dr Who: 'You want to update ...Twitter?'
Via Giphy


If you're anything like me, you'll be surprised how much easier it is to get sh** done when you don't have 50 tabs open.

You can schedule things like tweets, but don't stress out about it. Just scatter a few scheduled tweets in if you have the time and energy to do so.



Also, if you find you can't get any social media-ing, or even blogging in general, done for a few days then DON'T. PANIC.

It's not the end of the world. Do what you can, when you can. That's all anyone - including yourself - can expect of you.


Bonus tip:



There's nothing wrong with using stock photos* because honestly? Most people won't notice.

I suck at blog-photography, I don't have the time or patience to take pictures that look all professional and everything. I mean... what's the point of faffing with getting things perfect?! Life isn't perfect!

I can do graphics, but only when I have the time and the energy.

Most of my posts would just be text without free stock photos - although, sometimes I honestly find it quicker to throw together my own graphics when I can't find what I want. (Dammit, specific imagination!)



Basically what I'm saying is this: use the tools at your disposal.

You don't have to carve everything out of wood with a piece of pre-historic flint.

You're on the internet, for Christ's sakes! Use the technology available to you.


*always follow copyright/licencing guidelines - I usually use ones where there's specifically no obligation to provide image credit, because it's easier when putting tweets together, or when I'm re-using images. It's still nice to give credit when you have the time/energy.







Do you have any tips for blogging when busy?
Do you struggle with balancing blogging and life?
Talk to me! 😁💬






You can follow me on Twitter @CeeDoraReads, on Dora Reads @ BlogLovin, and on Google+. For more ways to support me, check out the Support Me page



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Last updated: 13th April 2019

10 comments:

  1. i just started using stock photos because I always thought I was "cheating" even though everyone else used them. It's one of those things I put too much pressure on myself and then blogging doesn't become fun anymore. I agree with all your points, especially limiting social media. It can be too easy to just waste a couple of hours by ultimately doing nothing. Great post :)

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    1. Thanks! And I get that but a) there's nothing wrong with a bit of (acceptable) cheating ;) and b) who exactly wrote down 'The Rules of Blog' anyway? Lol! I think we need to remind ourselves that ultimately we are the ones in charge! :)

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  2. Boy do I ever struggle with blogging when busy! I only post once a week and it still seems like a chore to find time to sit down and write. But I like your point that we don’t owe anyone anything. I definitely need to remember that.

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    1. Hell yes! You're not a bad person if you forget to like someone's tweet! (In no way have I thought that before *shifty glances*)

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  3. This was just the post I needed to read right now! I'm learning not to be too hard on myself when it comes to blogging - with a full-time job, 3 girls, a husband and a house to look after and keep going, blogging HAS to take a back seat! I'm researching some good websites for stock photos, but also finding Canva really easy to use to create graphics too which is helpful! x

    www.steffsjourney.com

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    1. Phew! Just reading that is tiring! ;) <3

      I mostly use Pixabay for stock images - they have a wide range which makes it easier to find something that fits what I want :)

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  4. God I needed to hear this!! I am SO hard on myself when I don't get anything done for a few days because my schedule is manic or I'm uninspired to write or create. It can be so difficult to find the balance as a creative of working the right amount, especially when you do it full time as I find I can't set myself "office hours" due to inspiration and motivation coming at all times of the day, with the added bonus of a chronic illness giving me pain, fatigue and all sorts else on some days more than others. Luckily a lot of the work I do doesn't have a set "post by" date so I can give myself time to create! I decided to turn off all of my social media notifications last year and I have never looked back. I do still spend a fair amount of time on them but it means I don't have constant distractions popping up!
    Alice Xx

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    1. Been there, done that, have several of the t-shirts ;)

      Nah, in all seriousness, it can be a big problem - my natural impulse when stressed is to work harder (because working hard solves *everything*, right? *rolls eyes*) but that usually doesn't end well. I've had to learn to prioritise my health (both mental and physical) and realise that I am actually the exact opposite of lazy, and shouldn't be telling myself that I am.

      Notifications are intended to provoke a neurological response to make you wanna check them - it's a marketing brain-hack based on the colours and symbols that are most likely to provoke the required response (e.g. humans are designed to pay attention to red, in case it's dangerous) - so it's probs a good thing that you've turned them off! Saves a butt-tonne of time! :)

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  5. I used to blog so much more than I do now, back in the day when I was in secondary school (so 2 years ago now). But now I post round about a weekly and totally go for the quality over quantity. I also struggle a lot with having the time to comment back and blog hop. I pretty much only have the time to keep my channels running but it is so lonely like that :( So I just do what I can I guess. These are great tips!

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    1. Thanks!

      I know what you mean with the lack of time to blog-hop. I think by the time I get around to commenting-back a lot of people forget who I am! I try to reply fairly quickly though, if only b/c it makes it clear that I *am* listening dammit! Lol. (Not that people who don't reply quickly aren't listening - it's just less obvious.)

      'Back in the day' two years ago. *Sighs* You make me feel like I should be drawing a pension ;) Lol, I joke. No-one of our generation/s will ever be able to retire. *Sighs* <3

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Comments? I love comments! Talk to me nerdlets!