This is just a little something I thought I would write to maybe help those of you that struggle with the whole blog vs life balance. Perhaps you are starting up a blog and are feeling completely overhwhelmed with how much us dumb lipstick-swatching bitches have to do? Maybe you have been blogging a while and all of a sudden it’s becoming a little overbearing on your sanity?(We’ve all been there) I am not saying this are the things you HAVE to do, it’s just from my experience, as a blogger who has been doing this a good number of years, these may be some handy tips to adopt. Also, I would love to hear any good ideas and things you do to keep your blog life organised and in balance, because blimey, I often struggle myself!
KEEP A NOTEBOOK….EVERYWHERE |
I just counted up my notepads….and I have 18 in the first tally, but there is likely more to be hidden around my house. I keep them scattered all over the place ; next to my laptop/working space, in my makeup room, next to the bed and always in my handbag. Anytime you get an idea ; big or small….jot it down! It may result in nothing but it’s good to gather your thoughts & inspirations. I spend so much of my time on the tube and I get so many ideas for posts when I am just sat there on my own and listening to music. BTW I don’t use ALL of my notepads as this would kind of defeat the object of being organised having all thes notebooks with etchings and ideas, I use around 4 of them and for slightly different things ; and one ‘main’ one for the final proper ideas and blog listings.
WRITE LISTS |
In notebooks from the above. This is how I can keep on top of what I need to write about and when I want to post them. Now I usually do a 1-page monthly overview of what I will want to do on my blog..and realistically this never gets ALL done but the plan and structure is there. I will then also break down lists into smaller, daily *To Do’s* such as what drafts I want to do and what photo’s I need to take. As a blogger you get sent a fair bit of things, and I would hate to think something just gets out aside and forgotten about ; I write down everything I receive, be it at an event/launch or directly from a PR so nothing is forgotten. I also think , and I KNOW that if you are a blogger reading this you will agree, that my mind is constantly on the go and slightly scrambled with beauty blog VS everyday life & work…..by writing down ‘to do’ lists if effectively takes it from your mind and places it elsewhere so you are a little more calm. ish.
PLAN & SCHEDULE |
Links in with above. Plan your week and schedule your posts. I often spend 1 day a week writing all the content & links and then 1/2 a day taking all the photos for that week. I then will schedule my posts accordingly (I try to do them every other day in the week @ 7am) so no matter where I am or what I am doing for my makeup work, I know content is going live without me having to do ‘anything’. I also am mindful about mixing up content and topics for that week. I won’t do 3 foundation reviews in one week or all skincare reviews. I like to mix it up and throw in a makeup look/how-to when I can. Variety (I think!?) keeps it interesting for your readers.Schedule your tweets to coincide with your blog posts ; this is something I also personally need to do and am looking into at the moment. So when you are at work/busy with life, you don’t have to keep reminding yourself (or forgetting) to promote your latest post via social media.
WORKSPACE |
We haven’t all got pinterest-perfect blogging offices with white marble and flowers everywhere unfortunately but try and work with what room you have at home and make a little area to keep your blog things ; laptop, camera stuff, notepads, stationary etc. I have made a teeny space in the corner of my makeup room (ok I sound pretty lucky here, but my makeup room is simply a small room in my house where I keep my makeup kits & products for my work), where I have set up a small desk to work from without clutter & distraction. Granted, I spend most of my time blogging in front of my TV in the lounge whilst finding out who ‘A’ is on Pretty Little Liars, but I do try.
BE REALISTIC |
The best way to feel scatty and unorganised with your blog is to set unrealistic goals for the day/week/month. I write a monthly ‘to-do’ and I don’t often 100% get it done, sometimes not even half of it, but I don’t beat myself about it and you shouldn’t either. I would love to post every single day but I also work full-time so this is phsically impossible, especially as my job is never near an office or a laptop. It’s way better for your mindset and your readers to deliver x2 good quality posts a week than 7 half-assed ones. Know your time limits with your blog and what you can put into it ; maybe you can do 1 day a month on photo’s and 2 on text and content? That’s fine, just don’t think you can do 30 posts every month and you will keep your sanity.
EVENTS |
It’s hard to say no to events when you are starting off or even a more established blogger ; you are always worried of ‘missing out’, oppurtunities and of course, networking with PR’s and fellow bloggers. However, events can take up a big ol’ portion of your day (sometimes around 3 hours+ with travel) and if you have been working all day and then are going to events that will cancel out your oppurtunity for blogging that day. I wish I could go to every event/launch but sometimes you just have to say NO, even if it’s to rest up and chill at home with your cat. Exhaustion and over-exhertion is never good for the mind or body.
Have you got any tips for keeping on top of your blogging life?
