For many, despite how badly they want it to be, blogging is not the only “work” related commitment they have to make. Most have jobs ranging from different hours of the day to night, and some people (like me) have to deal with school. These other commitments, not always ones we’d like to keep, are often more important than the our actual blogs. So, how do you cope with the fact of putting what you love second to something you don’t enjoy as much?
Basically, this weekend I want to discuss with you guys and talk about how you all do it. It’s not easy trying to create a blog that may someday earn you a full-time living, or just build a blog period when you have other commitments that need your most focus.
When it comes to sitting in front of my computer and debating whether to do school work or blogging, it becomes tough to choose. The right answer, many would say, would to do school work and I’d have to agree on some level. But sometimes it’s just too tempting to write a blog post than write a paper for school.
How do you find the Mindset to do it?
Maybe you just aren’t too connected to your blog like you are with your job, or don’t blog for anything but the sole purpose of entertainment.
But for those of you who want to maybe make money or create a great reputation for yourself, how do you find the right mindset to actually do it all? To resist the urge to make your focus 100% about blogging and not much else?
It can be tough, believe me. I’ll admit that I have missed out on a few homework assignments here and there largely because I was doing something related to blogging or freelance. But we all slip up and fail to balance everything from time to time.
How do you do it all?
Fighting the urge to choose the less important commitment over the more important one can be extremely difficult, but not impossible. Sometimes it takes more than just having a mental argument with yourself, but to actually make sacrifices for the best. When it come to juggling your blog and your work/school, how do you do it all?
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Hey Alex,
Nice Post. I also have to deal with school and it’s really a difficult task for a student to mange school, tutions , blog..etc.. !!
.
There many times when i don’t sleep, just to write some articles.
I know how hard it is, but this days i am free/no school for 1-2months as my vacations are going on
Thanks for sharing this great Post.
~Dev
School sucks, doesn’t it? :p
I have been pulling some late nights lately, even on school days. But, I am most productive at night and get the most important things done. So, it’s justified to me since I don’t value school too much.
Summer vacation is coming up for me as well, summer’s going to be extremely productive!
Yeah, Really School sucks.
.
I really don’t like the studies at all, but i like to go schools as there is much more fun than just studies..
Btw. When you going to launch kolakube? Thanks.
Hoping this summer…I have A LOT to do still, like it’s still in the early stages of development.
But when it comes, it’s going to kick some serious ass I guarantee it!
Believe me, things will only get worse when you get a daytime job, and a family. There’s only more responsabilities, more items over which you have to divide your time. However, it is passion that keeps you going!
I’m sure they will, and that’s why I plan on never getting a daytime job.
A family is so long term for me (I’m like 16) so I won’t have to worry about it for a loooong time!
But I agree, no passion means no success. Thanks for dropping by, Bjorn!
Hi Alex,
You have to find a balance between everything you want to do and everything you need to do.
I currently get up at 4am to get work done on my blogs/sites (which I run full time from home) – I have a five month old son and once he gets up things can get a bit erratic, so the more I can do whilst he is asleep, the better!
It sounds like you have worked out a pretty effective work schedule Stephen! Good for you, really.
Is your kid of one those who wakes up really early in the morning and start crying? I know 4-5am is pretty early, but has it ever happened? When I stay at my dad’s house, my about 3 month year old little nephew always wakes up in the very early hours of the morning crying. So annoying lol.
He is actually a good sleeper, now. He goes through to about 8am. He has been doing that for the past two months or so. Like your nephew, he was a screamer when he still very new, but he has settled down a lot recently. For the first two months we had hardly any sleep!
I have always been an early riser and like to work in quiet, so working in the am hours is good for me. Once he wakes up there are lots of tears and feeding and playing and what have you, so that eats into my day (even though my partner does most of it, I still get involved). I manage to work, but not with the same concentration or without interruption as I get between 4-8am.
Alex, Luckily I am through Studies..
And I started Internet Marketing right after my studies..no Job here..
So I can dedicate my whole time to the Internet Marketing..
I can feel your guilt and I know it is hard to maintain a balance..
I wish you all the success with your blog.
Kindest,
Nabeel
Luck you Nabeel, so what do you do for money? Are you that well established online?
I wouldn’t say I feel guilty about missing on homework assignments, but I’m glad you understand the point of this post.
Hi Alex,
I had some small savings before I started Internet Marketing…So that helps to pay the small expenses that occur in running a web business..
Regarding the money matter, my family supports me, and so I am currently building my list!
Nabeel
Many times I have no clue how I do it. Staying organized and sticking to my schedule is always a good start, but I have been trying something new.
It’s called “single tasking”.
Basically instead of having Twitter, Skype, Facebook, textbooks open, a sitting word document, and few websites all opened. I have my calendar, to do list, and just one other thing running. So, when I need to do school work I will just have my iTunes and calendar opened to complete a single task or have a word doc opened if Im writing a paper.
Now for my blog it varies. If Im writing a post I will have iTunes, iCal, maybe Skype, and just my wordpress admin for writing that post. And if Im networking that is my “free time” where Im either thinking of more posts, doing some planning, planning out my days, or watching TV. But, instead of just doing those things I am also networking with people on Twitter, Skype, and/or Facebook.
This is how I do it, but I always need to improve.
It’s because of our late-nighters dude.
I’ve been trying to focus on just one thing at a time myself, and it’s worked out. Like, I would try to get caught up on replying to comments and email at the same time and it just became a mess for me. I need more organizational tools in my life, but I can never stay committed to them all (except Teux Deux!)
Sounds like you’re well off man, keep up the good work.
Just had to quickly note that you are how I found out about Teux Deux. You’re going to hate me say this but for awhile I stopped using it, but I have made it part of my daily happenings again. Mission is to complete everything.
Thanks bro
Yeah dude I use it for a long time, then sometimes stop…really need to keep it consistent, but whatever haha. Glad you still use it!
I’ve borrowed a lot of ideas from “Agile” project management to help manage my time. Agile is a progessive approach to managing projects which centers on deriving the most value from your time.
I’ve blogged a few times on the topic in the past and would be happy to guest post if anyone is interested.
Agile comes in many different shapes and sizes but an underlying principle is that you take the bits you like and shape them to your needs. When it comes to personal web projects I find it very useful to break work don into the smallest tasks that deliver value.
It is then easy to prioritise and complete these tasks giving you both a sense of achivement but also ensuring you actually deliver meaningful achievments into your blog. This helps to maximise your precious time, it makes it easy to pick up and stop, it gives you a sense of progression and help to eliminate waste (eg twitter, planning and not doing, etc).
That sounds interesting, I’m totally open for a guest post about it here if you’d like.
I have no other commitments, and this is good and bad.
It’s good because, well, I have no other commitments, lol. It’s bad because the reason for this is constant pain from one area or another on this body…..motivation is tough to say the least some days.
I have a suggestion for you and all in school like you though; it’s a psychological mindset thing…
Got papers to write? You’re allowed to type and print them from a computer, yes?
Type them up as blog posts, just don’t publish them. lol. Copy/paste to Word or whatever and print…..like writing a new post, but not.
So you don’t have another job or anything like that?
Haha, I love it! I will totally have to try that out next year dude. I can see it working out which is the crazy thing.
Nope nuthin’. I can’t work a normal job due to some physical issues. I have to break every hour or two and even lay down for a few now and then.
Wacky idea huh? lol It was a real DUH moment for me a while back. I never did article marketing because I had so much trouble writing articles; ideas and such.
However, I never have issues with blog posts. DUH! Write as a post; use as an article for article marketing.
Frankly, blogging affected my college results. I had to manage blogging, a very active twitter account and also my college work. It was becoming difficult day by day.
Firstly I deaddicted myself from twitter (http://www.twitip.com/twitter-de-addiction-camp-6-steps/) which was really tough for me. But deaddicting myself from social media helped me save around 90% of my time, which I used for content creation and writing guest articles.
Also, I diverted my work only for content creation and commenting rather than wasting a lot of time on marketing my blof
Maybe college is affecting your blogging results?
This is very interesting because I am faced with the same or have experienced the same. But, what do I love most? Blogging. So, I am striving to make it work but still do well in college. (surely don’t want to waste any money) Currently writing a book on this sort of.
Really great question,
I have to do that which pleases me first (;)). Like now, I am having my exams, I just have to do it, I have no choice.
Thanks a lot for the great post,
-Onibalusi
I do too, but there’s no way I’m going to let them take away all of my time from blogging/making money.
But that’s good man, just don’t let school drive you away from blogging!
Hi Alex,
Sorry for the mistake in the comment, After reading my comment again, I discovered it is a little bit confusing.
I love Blogging far more than schooling, if you ask me to go with one then I will go with blogging. What I wanted to say is that if it is a matter of choice, I will go with blogging but If it is a must (e.g. My exams), then I will go with school.
Thanks a lot,
-Onibalusi
I have a blogging schedule, so when I’m done, I’m done. Then, like it or not, it’s time to move on to other commitments. I try not to get into any head drama about it, and really, it’s for my own good. If I let myself, I’d probably get totally lost in blogging and miss out on a lot of other great stuff in life.
As always Jean, you are wise and level headed.
If you ever get lost, just send up a flare. I’ll come pull you out! lol
I try to do the same thing, but I always feel that if I have free time I should go back to work. I mean, if I’m bombed then I’ll stop. But generally I am very eager to go on and do more, so I do.
Well they say you will always find time for what is important to you. But you do have to strike a balance. I have a schedule of blogging activities that I seek to complete each week. Actually, it’s more like a list of minimum things I must do every week to maintain a healthy blog. Some weeks I get more done than just the minimum and sometimes it’s just the minimum. That’s because I take the time to fulfill my other obligations and activities as the needs arise.
So for me it’s a matter of always doing the bare minimum, doing extra if time allows and making sure my family, friends and other obligations are all met. I know the importance of being flexible, adaptable and where my priorities truly lie.
So you plan for the week rather than a day? That’s interesting as I, and most other people I know plan day-to-day, not so much the week.
So what kind of things count as your “minimum amount” of work for the week? You’ve made me curious about your workflow now!
It was really a tough task for a student to blog when there are so many assignments to be finished and submitted. In addition, i joined a lot of activities instead of just focus on my academic. For me, blogging is an exciting activity. So, i will not force myself to write. I will give the priority to the thing that is more important. Thanks for sharing!
You’re right, but no one ever said blogging was easy. Just keep up the good work bud.
Alex,
This post hits right at home. Working 40 hrs/wk, having a part time job as a Worship Pastor at a church AND trying to run 2 blogs is extremely difficult. I have to put priority to the first two, though, because they are my legitimate jobs that pay money. I don’t get much from my blogs, but I do it for the enjoyment of it.
Basically what it comes down to is effective time management. If you can’t manage your time, something will fall through the cracks all the time. It also helps to plan (even though that takes up some of the precious time) because you waste less time fiddling around about what to do.
A lot of times I just have to suck it up and and say that the post will have to wait another day or two. I hate that it has to be that way, but that’s how life goes.
Oh yeah, did I mention that I am getting married next year? Wedding planning takes a ton of work lol!
Oh how I wish I was a little kid climbing tress once again!!
Dude you are a busy man, haha wow. You are definitely keeping up with everything though, I mean as long as you’re not stressed out than keep using those time management skills the best you can.
I’m surprised to read how many people decide to blog and write articles at night. I thought I was the only one that spends all day working and then is stupid enough to stay up into the night working on their blog.
I think it’s much easier if you see blogging as a hobby and really enjoy it. If i saw it as work i’d never get round to writing anything.
Yeah, for some reason I work better at night. I can’t explain why, it just happens. I like working in mornings too, but it’s night that gets me going the most.
I totally agree, and it’s hard to see blogging as work anyways. Too much damn entertainment!
I actually recently just wrote about something similar – it was almost like a breakdown because I was thinking along the same lines, is the blog about making money or making money from blogging?
I think we can all get a little skewed in our efforts because there is so much allure to our blogs. However, we can’t forget that we do have responsibilities and work to be finished so what we write has actually been implemented – we should show proof, not just theory, ya know?
Just looking at so many successful people that have popular blogs, their job really isn’t their blog, it’s a secondary activity to their main business.
You just have to work hard to balance both and consciously choose the one that will give you the greatest benefit.
I’m with you man, I mean the more intricate you make your blog the more you prove to your audience that you know what the hell you’re talking about.
Thanks for stopping by.
Alex and others,
It seems we are all in the same boat. I work on my blog for three hours in the morning before heading to my full-time job. Luckily I am fortunate enough to work as a website developer, so I still get to do what I enjoy for work.
I am actually posting this from my office which just goes to show you how I still struggle with balancing things. Managing the site content and replying to comments gets addicting.
Anyway, thanks for all the advice, Alex. I find Blogussion to an excellent resource.
A beer blog, rock on man!
But you’re lucky that even though you aren’t a full time blogger, you still go to a job that you love to do. Hardly any bloggers can say that, so you’re doing great dude.
It is all very addicting, I wish I could manage my blog when I have free time at school, but it’s blocked haha. Just don’t get caught, and you’ll be fine.
And I’m glad you like Blogussion, hope to see you around more!
I think the hard part is the time at the beginning of your blog. You have no readers, you’re kicking your ass to promote it, and you are making $0. This is the time where you feel guilty working on your blog rather than doing schoolwork or work projects. If you want your blog to be successful, you have to make time for it now even if that means getting up at the crack of dawn to fit it all in.
It is hard, but it is also the most fun I think. I mean, buying your domain, setting up WordPress, getting your theme up and stuff like that. Promoting and marketing is a pain in the ass lol.
But hey, you have to work for free to earn big later right?
Thanks for dropping by.
Exactly! I just don’t get why everyone doesn’t understand that…..I know too many people who want to get rich today. I always tell them “good luck with that” – they definitely need it if they think it’s going to happen!
My main job is farmer. I usually write blog and another online activities 3-4 hours a day.
Have you ever considered writing a farming blog?
Not yet but i plan to write planting trees blog
Your right about this. I get stuck in this dilema a couple times. When there’s a fresh story I need to post (but I need to get to work in 15 minutes), especially with the celeb blog I run, I need to post that content as soon as possible. If not I potentially lose tons of traffic. I don’t lose regular traffic, but I lose new traffic as far as being the first to share the story over twitter and other social media portals.
My solution for finding time to blog is to wake up at the crack of dawn as some one mentioned earlier… Nobody said making money online was easy… well it gets easy after a while lol.
That is tough, to run a celebrity blog. So how do you manage it? Do you let yourself miss out on stories for work or do you put your blog first sometimes?
this is something which i have not done till date…too difficult for me to keep a balance
Yes, i agree with you. nowadays, nobody can manage their other activities with blogging. generally, most of blogger choose weekend for blogging.
You run a blog called Bloggers passion and can’t find a balance? Man, if it’s your passion then you HAVE to do it!
Balance is certainly the key to life and success. An online business can be an addiction under cover because we can justify the time spent online.
As long as it’s justifiable, right?
Would you say you’re addicted to your work? I might be able to.
Totally agree, Colleen. I am an addict when it comes to the Internet. It’s so hard not to be.
For a mother of two like me and a wife, i spend my rest of the time with my family, at first i was so addicted to blogging stuff but i try to slow down, since to me, family is still number one
Have you ever tried blogging while relaxing with your family?
I am writing my blog post mostly in weekends.
The only problem coming when I have a very busy weekends. With Google wonder wheel, it really help on giving me idea what to write about on certain topic.
Thank you for sharing this. Retweet them.
I always write my posts on the weekend. It usually works out pretty well, but sometimes I have to pick up on some slack during the weekdays. As long as they get done, I don’t care when they’re written.
Basically, I create a schedule and follow it. I also tend to work on the stuff I enjoy the most during weekends, so I’ll be able to prevent myself from doing them when other tasks need to be done.
I’m like a few others here in that I balance a full time job, my family, and my blog and business. I basically just make a tentative schedule that’s still flexible. There are times when I get frustrated because I miss a day of posting or I can’t get to work on something. But I just remember that it isn’t going to kill my blog as long as I keep trying. It will just take me a bit longer than someone who has more time on their hands. It will work out eventually.
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Personally I have a set amount of standard activities that I do for my blog every day, and then I take care of the rest. At the same time I try not to allow this time to be more than an hour and to distract me from what brings the real money at the moment.
My first 12 months online involved less than healthy sleep patterns, quick and not so healthy meals, less than normal exercise and much less sunshine.
I’ve learnt to be more patient since. If I don’t get things done on the weekend and decide to have fun with the family during the week instead of ‘plugging in’ then so be it. I have adjusted my blogging goals to make less money in the short term and have more time with my family. A true measure of a blogger’s success is sticking with it for at least 2 years – like any small/new business.
My best tip is to capture all of your ideas as they arise. If you disrespect your muse the flow of ideas may slow down or worse still stop. You’ll get around to doing what you want eventually – be patient.
Thanks alex. I’m student too i need to go college. At first when i started my blog first i though i’ll post every day. But i found it hard because i need to make my home work. Then i tried to write my blog post at late night. But there is a problem too. My mom don’t allow me to go to sleep at too late. So it’s still problem for me.
It’s not easy to handle your stuff when you have to go to school, and other activities.. Usually like you @Alex mentioned – I get productive at night for my work and blog, because I am a freelancer.. it’s good at night to work, because most of the people are sleeping and there’s no one to bother you..
I am in a summer vacation right now, and I don’t go to school.. but I can’t work in the day, because there is always someone or something to distract me from my work.. so because of that every day I stay to about 3-4 AM to do my work.
P.S nice post.
great post alex,
figures that everyone would eventually experience this.
i personally enjoy making money online and doing whatever i can to improve my site and affiliate performance.. even at the point of ‘working’ from the office. i know i may get myself ‘scewed’ for it but having a laptop with an internet connection to it is so tempting.
besides, i don’t really enjoy working my full time job.
I am really looking forward to one day turning full time working online. =) will work hard towards it.
Nice post! It can be difficult balancing other activities with blogging. Especially since blogging consists of so much more than just blogging (marketing, promotion, seo, design, etc.)
I blog everyday, but I take it seriously only on weekends. And also I spend my holidays with writing my ideas and create many blog posts.
i am a management training, leadership training consultant i am passing throught the short of time during my weekdays but i spent some little time during weekdays and spent some extra time during weekends. it works for me to balance both my work and blog.
i follow up myself with all task i m doing using Excel time scheduler words best in my system to complete all task on time great post.
as in business of fire protection services i m the person who can work most of the day in field. but i try to get some times for the internet activities like mail checking, blog posting and all.
this is a big question for all the blogger and seos, they have to spend some hrs for the other off page activities too. but we can manage this hrs our from the other seo job.
I never do blog. my business in coil replacement and i didn’t find the blog will be usefull for my business.
how many hrs spend for blog is enough? i hardly spend 1-2 hrs in week. i just do blogging when i do not have other work. does this blogging is useful in business development. if then can one describe me for the same.
Pretty astute post. Never thought that it was this easy after all. I have spent a good deal of my time looking for someone to clarify this subject clearly and you’re the only person that ever did that. I really appreciate it! I look forward to reading more from you!
Hi Alex, sweet blog! I think the only way to truly balance blogging at the weekends is to not go near your blog! Posts can scheduled mid week and comments sorted early week. Tweets can be scheduled ahead – we can automate so much of the process. So I work on my blogs in the week and leave the weekend to relax and catch up with friends – oh and enjoy that luxury of luxuries – reading for pleasure
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