A dear reader of mine, Lisa of Cozy Condo Living, emailed me the other day to ask a question. I resisted the urge to respond right away, because I thought the answer deserved some more thought. And the more I thought about it, I thought maybe it deserved it’s own post, because there may be others with the same question. Here is what Lisa wrote:
My jaw dropped when you said that you work full-time. How do manage to post so much and do so many projects? I’m working full-time and have a 4 year old. I’m trying to blog about my DIY projects around the house, but am having trouble finding time (to do both). Do you have any tips you can give me for how you organize your time?
I don’t talk about it often here, but I have mentioned a few times that I work full-time outside the home. As you know, I also post original content on this blog 5 days a week. Most of my posts include a DIY project or a tutorial. I know there are several DIY bloggers who blog full-time as their job. Yes, I am jealous. It is amazing they are able to make a living from what is currently just a creative passion for me. But many of them have been blogging for 4+ years. It took them a while to get to that point where it was a full-time gig.
For me personally, someday I would love to blog full-time and dedicate my working hours to creative endeavors. The reality is right now I make no money from this blog. I could not currently make enough money for it to be anything but a hobby. I may never make enough money blogging and doing related creative activities to replace my current income. At this point it is prudent for me to stay grounded and keep my day job (which I happen to love too). My full-time income helps pay for many of the wonderful projects I showcase here.
So you are probably wondering why I blog? or why do I blog so frequently? First of all, I do want to build this blog into a bigger part of my life. To grow readership most bloggers will tell you takes time, consistency, and originality. I have made a commitment to myself and to my readers to blog regularly, 5 times a week, with all original content.
It is probably helpful to note here, all the projects I do would happen regardless of whether or not I had a blog. Some of my most successful recently posted projects, like the stair tread shelves, I actually did before I even started this blog. I cannot help myself. I am overflowing with creative ideas that I like to bring to reality. It is my hobby. It is the thing I am most passionate about. The only thing as wonderful as completing a great project is being able to share it with others. That is where the blog comes in.
I am not going to lie…it takes time! I don’t keep track and I am sure it varies from week to week, but I know I spend over 10 hours a week combined on DIY projects and blogging. That is on top of working. I am outside the home 10 hours every weekday. When I started this blog my husband was working on his MBA full-time in the evenings in addition to his full-time job. During his classes and when he studied, I would blog. It kept me from being bored without his company. Now that he is done with his MBA (yay!), he still occasionally brings work home or likes to have his own time to pursue hobbies.
Oh and I don’t want you to think I have forgotten about the kids…time with them is not sacrificed for the blog. I have two kids, a four year old and an almost two year old. I don’t blog when they are awake. After bedtime is when I can start blogging. It is also the time I have for crafts and DIY projects. I also try to use nap time on the weekends, where my youngest is asleep and my oldest plays independently or does computer time. My husband is super supportive of my hobby and will help watch the kids if I need to finish up a project. On occasion, my kids get to help out with a project, like the recent DIY terrarium my oldest helped plant.
Are you wondering how I ever do anything besides work or blog? Well, I don’t, that’s my life…just kidding! Seriously, it takes planning and a solid routine to make it all work and still have free time. There are a few nights a week, which vary, where I never open my computer or enter the craft room. If I don’t feel inspired to write or craft, then I don’t. It is not productive to force my time. Other nights I will write multiple posts or complete multiple projects. I can afford schedule flexibility and downtime from blogging by planning ahead.
How I fit in DIY projects and blogging into a little over 10 hours a week:
- Let’s be honest…my house is never clean. We have a clutter-free and neat home always, but I make some trade offs and go longer in-between bathroom cleanings and vacuuming than is ideal.
- I do most projects after bedtime on weekdays, so they are ready for photographing on the weekend. This is imperative in the winter because of limited daylight. I steal a few minutes each weekend day from the family to photograph projects.
- I always have multiple projects going at once. I know that sounds complex, but I always have something about to finish, something in the middle, and new projects starting at any given time. Again, this would be happening whether or not I had a blog. This helps with blogging because I always have a pipeline of post-worthy projects.
- I try to blog ahead one week. That is my target, but sometimes I don’t make it. Ideally by the time I go to bed Sunday night I would have all 5 posts for the coming week drafted and scheduled. That rarely happens. I have found I am sitting pretty good if I have a minimum of 5 photographed projects before the week starts and 2-3 posts pre-written. I can write the remaining posts during the week.
- In the winter especially, if I do not hit my minimum projects photographed, then I am in trouble. But I have a backup plan. Sometimes I do projects around the house and photograph them, but don’t post them right away. Either I am not inspired yet or I already filled my editorial calendar with other ideas. I also have many photographed projects from before I started blogging. So in a pinch I basically have an archive to pull from. This also helps immensely if I am sick, uninspired, or going on vacation.
- I constantly keep track of project and blog post ideas. Usually a project inspires a blog post, but sometimes a blog topic idea will inspire a project.
- I keep all post ideas, project ideas, and drafts in an editorial calendar. I use Editorial Calendar for WordPress and I LOVE IT! I can quickly add a new post directly from the calendar. In an easy to use pop-up I can put the title, start writing the content, and choose the date and time. Once these draft posts are created I can drag and drop them to move them around on the calendar. I use the editorial calendar to plan out my posts, but I also use it to keep ideas. I will create draft posts on the calendar that may only have a title. They are placeholders for projects I want to do or posts I want to write. I like having them in the same calendar, so I never lose sight of my ideas. If I do not get around to them, I can just drag them to a later date on the calendar. Once a post is fully ready and scheduled to post, it shows differently on the calendar to easily see the number of posts ready vs. drafts (or ideas).
- Sometimes I blog backwards. In fact, I am starting to think this might be a better way to do it. By blog backwards I mean I write the blog post before doing the project. I find that writing out the project in advance actually helps with planning how I am going to do it. Then when the project is done my draft post is already written and I just need to add pictures. If I deviate from my original plan or think of a great tip while doing the project, I can just edit the draft post before publishing.
What could make blogging and working full-time easier for me?
- I would love to be able to take more advantage of lunchtime during the work week. I try as much as possible to keep up with the blogs I follow and with comments on my blog during lunch. Doing so is relaxing and enjoyable for me, but it also allows me to keep that precious after-bedtime for my projects and writing.
- Two things which would be amazing:
- Something that records my thoughts and visual imagery and turns it into blog posts. I am seriously writing posts and doing projects in my head all the time.
- Since that first one is kind of unlikely, option 2 would be a way to tape record me saying what I want to write and it magically getting transposed into a full blog post…haha, wordpress voice control!
To end on a serious note, I am able to work full-time and blog original content 5 days a week, because I love what I do. I have turned my passion into my blog. Nothing is forced here…it all flows naturally for me. Sure, there are many days where the last thing I want to do is blog after a long day at work, but that is why I plan ahead. And if I ever doubt that my blog matters to anybody but me, I turn to the amazing comments my readers leave and I look at what readers have been pinning from Teal & Lime. I know I am on the right track.
Thank you for answering my question and for your honesty. You sound really organized and seem to have a good rhythm going with blogging. I think that you left one thing out which is that you’re naturally talented (I’m just guessing here) so creating comes easy to you. I’m going follow your example of making sure that I always have projects ready to post about. That’s been my struggle so I’m now only blogging once a week to try to get those projects going. Keep up the good work on your blog. I love checking out what you’re up to. :)
Boy, just reading that made me tired. I agree with Lisa: you are naturally talented and creative…..and that makes us readers so lucky.
I am inspired to get more organized and blog ahead (like you mentioned). I also seem to have a million diy ideas going through my head but for me the challenge is posting (and I only have the modest goal of posting 3 times a week). I only work part time but I also have 2 young kids (Spencer is 2 and Oliver is 10 months) that consume the rest of my time (until they are in bed).
You are such an inspiration, both with your blog and your diy’s.
Susan,
I think the most important thing is to do what is best for you. That is the great thing about blogging…there really is no right and wrong. And I always try to remind myself it is not a race. Before the blink of an eye my kids will be grown and I will have all the time in the world to blog. So cherishing that time when your kids are so young and need you is so important.
I think your blog is adorable and has so many great projects. Thanks for linking to me for your owl makeover. I am sharing those gorgeous tinted jars on twitter and Facebook today!
So… you never sleep. I get it! I think Pinterest (as you alluded to) is really going to give you the exposure you seek. You have great photos that really work on Pinterest. I enjoyed this post and can apply some of the concepts to the new food blog I’m developing (dicedandspiced.blogspot.com) in addition to my current family journal blog. Thanks for the insights.
Love the name of your new blog! Our oldest starts school next year and I am definitely going to need your lunch box tips.
So, your kids go to sleep at 7 and you stay up until 2? Kidding!
HaHa…I am actually pretty proud we make it to bed by 11pm most nights.
You are an amazing woman! Love your blog!
i am just now starting to follow ,i really admire that you are so committed to blog .basically because it is something you enjoy doing & you are obviously dedicated to family also. You seem to be focused & i admire anyone who is & stays focused >Thanks < for sharing with us out here
I can’t tell you how inspired I was to read this! A friend sent it to me, so I am new here and haven’t read your blog before today, but I have been really struggling to find time to blog (despite love love loving it) and reading your post made me feel like it was all so clear! Thank you so much for that!
So I do have one clarifying question: since you only take pictures on Saturday — do you not take many “in process” photos (because the project gets done weeknights when there’s no light)? Or do you wait to take the photo Saturday then do more and take another photo Saturday — etc.., until the project is done?
OK, off to work on my week’s worth of blog posts! :-)
~Angela~
Hi Angela and welcome. I am so glad to inspire you, but by no means is my process perfect…it has been a work in progress for over a year now.
I still struggle with taking pictures for tutorials. When I work on something late in the evenings I will sometimes take pictures, but they are never very good. Personally, I think less than perfect step by step pictures are better than none at all. The point of the in process pictures is to show how to do something, not how well I can take a picture. For simpler tutorials, I do try to reserve the whole project for the weekend so I can get good pictures as I work.
Good luck with your blog! No matter what keep it fun!
This was SO helpful!!! Thank you so much for sharing your tips & tricks!
WOW! Thanks for such an amazing post. I also work full time and blog 5 days a week. I felt like I was reading about myself here and my process throughout the post (crazy!). People have asked me this question a lot, and now I can just point them to this post. :)
I’m new to your blog (I think someone linked to this post from FB or twitter – can’t remember), and am so glad I found it! I can’t wait to check out your posts :).
– Chaney
Chaney, I feel like a celebrity just stopped by :). I have been reading May Richer Fuller Be for a while! Thanks for reading!
Jackie, this was so helpful, as everyone else has said. :) I especially loved the tip about the editorial calendar plugin. I went straight over and added it before I read the rest of the post. Amazing! I’ve tried so many ways to keep an editorial calendar and NONE of them have worked so far. Hopefully this one will stick!
Thanks so much!!
Laura, so glad it helped. I have used the editorial calendar for two years and love it! Sometimes I only plan a week ahead, but it still rocks! I worked about a year and a half full time while
blogging 5 days a week. At the beginning of this year I announced I left my job to focus on my family and the blog. It is amazing how quickly the blog filled up my time and I feel busier than ever, but at least I am doing what I love now!
Jackie, I just came across this post while reading your feature on Megan’s blog. I am so impressed with how organized you were! I’m working full time…and definitely not blogging 5 days a week. You are a total inspiration! I am downloading that scheduling plugin as soon as I finish writing this comment :).
Jena, The Editorial Plugin is amazing. I live by it. I no longer have a corporate job, but it is amazing how helpful having all that structure earlier on is now that I blog and decorate full-time. Let me know if you have any questions on the plug-in.
Jackie, this was such an encouraging post! I love your blog, and it’s one of the few I read on a daily basis. I am fairly new to the blogosphere but would love to do my own blog, but I have found looking at established blogs kind of intimidating. Thanks for the reminder that it takes time and consistency to work up to blogging being a full-time endeavor.
Rebecca, thank you for the sweet comment. Best of luck on your blog endeavors. I worked full-time for the first year and a half of blogging. For the last year I have worked full-time on Teal & Lime, but since the bulk of my income is from decorating services and e-courses, the blog still feels like a side job…but it has it’s own benefits :)