How I Balance a Full-Time Job and Blogging

Having both a full-time job and blogging can become stressful. When blogging first entered my thoughts, I had no idea it would be so time-consuming. I thought I would write blogging content three times a week, and I would officially become a blogger. I was utterly wrong. Now that I have created a plan that works for me, I would like to share. If you’re like me and have a family that requires your time, it’s important to get them on board with your goals.

Set Monthly Goals-Plan

At the beginning of each month, I set both blogging and content goals. I write down topics for my blog and come up with content for my Instagram followers. Once I have my topics and content for the month, I begin putting my plan to action. For example, I know that typically I like to create eight Instagram videos for the month. I come up with the eight days that I would like to have those videos posted to Instagram then put those on my editorial calendar. Doing this helps me to stay committed to my goals.

What a Typical Month Looks Like

My week starts typically on Saturdays since that is the day that I have chosen for photoshoots. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that I take all of my photos. If you find yourself struggling with the expense of hiring a photographer, you should grab my free guide, The Ultimate Guide in Taking Stunning Photos Using Your iPhone. 

My photoshoots typically take about 3 hours. Within those 3 hours, I have gone to 3 locations and change outfits at each site. Since I work full-time and unable to shoot during the week, I have to cease all the time that I have. It’s important to prepare the night before to ensure that I stick to my schedule for the day. After shooting, I usually select my favorite photos and begin editing them. Sundays are left for filming content, editing, and choosing blog topics for the upcoming week.

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Early Mornings

Because I am a morning person, getting up earlier to work on content doesn’t bother me. I will rise about 5:30 a.m. to get ready for my 9-5, but if there is a task on my schedule for blogging that I need to complete, I will get up at least an hour earlier to get it done. You may find that early morning doesn’t work for you, but staying up later does. That’s perfectly fine; do what works for you. 

Late Evenings/Nights

Outside of getting up earlier than usual, I will occasionally work on my content later in the evenings or late at night. I try not to extend my blogging hours during family time, but if there’s something that I need to take care of or something that can’t wait, I will stay up a little longer to get it done.

Set Timers

Because I try to avoid spending too much time working on one task, I set timers. Here’s an example:

Once I decided to set timers, I found that blogging became a lot easier. Whatever I didn’t complete, I will move them over to the next day.

I use Trello as my editorial calendar to keep me on task. This allows me to see my progress and what I need to do for the day. If there is any content that I did not do over the weekend, I will add them to a day during the week. My goal for my weekdays is to come up with new ideas and content for the next week. 

Scheduling

I typically review my content to see what day I would like to post and begin scheduling. Once I have all my batch content, its time to schedule. For Instagram content, I use the Later app. Check out my previous blog post, How I Schedule My Instagram Posts Using Later. For my blog post, I schedule those through WordPress. 

Let’s recap:

Set Monthly Goals

Set Weekly Task

Set Timers

Weekend Schedule

Trello- Editorial Calendar

Scheduling- Instagram & Blog post

There you have it my fabulous friends. I know having a full-time job and blogging can be challenging, but it is possible to handle both.

How do you cope with your full-time job and blogging? Are there any tips that would like to share?

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