HAPPY FRIDAY! July is officially in full force now!! So if you’re new to my blog, I am currently on maternity leave! I have a little baby girl, and she will be turning the big 1.0 at the end of the month! Which means *womp womp*, I have to go back to work.
So my question to you friends, is how do you do it? How do you work or go to school at the same time and keep up with your blog?
How about you fellow moms or dads? How do you spare a moment for the blog and reading while still being there for your kiddo?
Short-term Goals:
- Take advantage of my last month of blogging, and getting ahead on scheduled posts. I mayyyybee will take a week hiatus in order to crank out posts without feeling the need to post that week.
- Schedule weekly posts – I still want to participate in TTT and WWW Wednesday, and I would like to post at least one book review a week. I feel like knowing there is a system or set content, will take away that need for brainstorming posts.
- Keep a book with me at work or physically on me so if the time pops up that I can read, it will be available. I think I will be taking advantage of my e-reader more. I will also start listening to audiobooks on my way into work as a way to still enjoy books while I’m not physically able to read them.
- I also want to find at least 20 minutes a day where I read and scroll through your posts! Keeping up with commenting on your posts are just important to me.
Reality check:
- I think Twitter will be the easiest tool for me to keep in the loop, but I think my Instagram account will take a hit and be de-prioritized. And I have to be OK with not being full-force like I was now.
- I will have to be OK with missing a post, some months will be better than others. This community is super supportive and will always be there.
- STATS are fun, but not the most important thing.
I work part-time and am a full-time student. (Or, I will be in the fall when I start my master’s program.) I get up super early, so I usually do a lot of my work in the early hours. Also, if there’s nothing going on at work, I do some easy stuff like liking/commenting on posts and hop over to Instagram to do the same. Also, I’m a scheduler. I make a to-do list every single day, hammer out things, and then move on. I plan my reading, I know what I need to be doing. So, I make the most of my time. I try to be on top of everything, really.
– Caidyn
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Dang, high respect! I was thinking of fitting in easy stuff when there are lulls or if I need a mental break from work.
I’m terrible morning person, so I’m hoping the evenings will be my friend.
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More like high respect for you with blogging and raising a young kid! But, yeah. It’s intense. There are some months where I’m better than others, for sure. But, you can do it!
Mornings always have worked best for me, but evenings are great, too. Whenever there’s time, after all!
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Haha thank you so much!! I know I’ll figure it out but it’s daunting to have my life go from 0 to 100 overnight essentially lol
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I don’t have kiddos but I do work full-time. I always have a book on me and find random times to get reading in which helps. Plus, if i have five minutes between meetings I can keep up with WordPress reader and twitter to like and comment on people’s posts! Good luck 🙂
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Thank you thank you! Yeah I’m hoping I’ll get the same between meetings or moments where I can scroll through Twitter or the reader.
Hopefully it will be OK!
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I don’t have any kids, but I work full-time. I catch up on other people’s posts while I’m on hold (I spend a lot of the day talking to insurance companies!) or whenever there’s a lull in the action. Also over my lunch break.
I schedule all of my posts well in advance. I do most of the actual post writing over the weekend and sometimes if I get in the blogging zone I’ll write like five posts at a time. 🙂
I mostly read at night, but I also like to listen to audiobooks while I’m cleaning or if I’m traveling. And sometimes I can sneak in some pages while I’m having my morning coffee. 🙂
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I do the same thing with the weekend! I had one day I wrote 3 reviews in an hour and then worked on a couple of tags/Instagram pictures.
– Caidyn
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I tried scheduling posts this week; it was a good tactic. I don’t usually post much on weekends but I think I’ll try to fit it in during her nap times on the weekend.
I’m getting better at writing posts, but sometimes book reviews just take long lol 😂
You read so much and so quickly! You give me hope/motivation haha !
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Good luck! You’ll find something that works for you! 🙂
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It’s easier than you’d think. I work full-time (I’m a barrister, so there’s a hefty workload), I’m a Scout Leader, I run my blog and I have a family.
It’s cool. You just have to chill out and accept that sometimes your post might be a bit late. I don’t have a schedule for my blog because unlike work deadlines, activity plans for Scouts and feeding my family, it doesn’t matter when a post goes online.
Taking your book everywhere you go is a good idea, that definitely helps. Sometimes I read on the sofa next to my partner whilst he’s watching a TV or playing a game. That way you’re still spending time together but not necessarily doing the same thing 🙂
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Yeah my husband and I do that now! He’s just as big of a bibliophile as me so he’s supportive of the reading time.
Thanks so much for your advice, makes me feel better that I can do both just need to find what groove is best.
Thanks for being a super momma and inspiring fellow super moms 😊😊
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I’m a student and I’ve realised I cannot efficiently balance university, social life and blogging and so my blog always takes a hard hit during term time! That’s why I always look forward to summer. I’m hoping to find a concrete solution by the time September rolls around but for now scheduling posts and just knowing I’m trying my best to make it work are enough😊
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Honestly I felt like university was more stressful than my job because of exams and like when you got home you still had work and projects to do. With my work, I can kinda shut it out when I get home. So hats off to you for keeping it up.
If you find a trick that works, let me know I would love to find out! Hoping you have a wonderful summer of blogging!!
I know, being OK with putting the effort in and not holding myself to set expectations will be the best thing for me, even though it will be the toughest lol 😝
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Thanks♥ It’s such a good thing that the book community is so positive and supporting so even if you don’t post regularly or often people will be really understanding 😀
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Omg it’s insane. I can’t believe the support!!
Yeah I think my harshest judge will always be myself, but thank you for reminding about how awesome this community is and in reality, if I miss a post – that it’s OK! 👌
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Oh gosh, I read every time I can–while walking, before I go to bed, and during bathroom breaks (lol). I also allot a couple of hours to blog every week, usually before my days off from school (eg if I don’t have classes on Sunday, I’ll spend at least 4-5 hours drafting up posts and leaving comments on Saturday. ♥ Also, yeah, I prefer Twitter over IG when I’m busy. More to interact with + less bookshelf envy. xD New follower! ♥
– Aimee @ Aimee, Always
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Walking and reading?! The skills! 💪🏻🙌🏻
Sounds like you got an amazing system! I agree Twitter is way easier and way more interactive. Do you find that Instagram followers don’t really cross over to the blog? But I do find twitter and blog go hand in hand.
Thanks so much for commenting!! 😽
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Interesting post! I’m still struggling to balance my life with blog and I don’t even have kids haha. It was something I recently thought about though… Moms who have kids and find the time to read and blog are truly saints! You seem like you have it all planned out though 🙂
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Thank youuuu! It’s all good in theory but in real life it’s tough! So we’ll see how this goes!
Just taking it day by day! 😽 thank you for commenting and stopping by!!!
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I work fulltime and balance blogging/reading with other hobbies mainly by scheduling my posts out. I found having a schedule to be the best way to not have anxiety about posting and it keeps me consistent. I also prioritize my reading based on my schedule, and if I am ahead I can fit in some mood reading 🙂
Good luck with whatever you do!
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You’re so organized I’m envious! But I started the scheduling posts last week and this, and it seems to be working well!! So hopefully I can keep it going!
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I don’t have a kid but I am trying to juggle full-time work, aerial (circus and pole) training and competitions, my booktube channel and my blog. I have found the best thing for me is to carry my Booktube and Blog planner with me at all times. I always get ideas for posts and videos at random times and if I have my planner with me I can write them down. I also get a few minutes throughout the day while waiting for things at work and I use them to plan posts.
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