Nerd Church - 4 Tips For Blogging When Busy

I've been super-busy lately, and I've just about managed to keep up with the blogging.

I haven't got everything done that I wanted to do, but I've kept it ticking over with my average of 3 posts a week, plus answering comments, blog-hopping, Twitter-ing, and all the hidden blog tasks like SEO and finding images for posts.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Phew! When I put it that way, I wonder how I've been doing all this plus running my own business and dealing with regular life-stuff, but I have! (No wonder I've been so tired!)

Also there has been literal blood, sweat, and tears over the past month - I've come to the conclusion that I don't need to add to that with stress over blogging!





So here's four tips for blogging when you live a semi-hectic, usually poorly-planned, life:

1. You can only do what you can do

This is the most important one - arguably, the other points are just extensions of this over-arching main one: you gotta go easy on yourself. You can only do what you can do.

You're mortal (unless you're not - in which case, you have a whole lot of other stuff going on, now don'tcha?) which means you need to rest and eat and all of that stuff.



I wanted to do a butt-tonne more posts over the last month - but I just haven't had the time.

I've been throwing posts together the night before they go up, which is less than ideal (...and happens a lot more, generally, than I like to admit to. 😅)

But f**k it. That's what I've had time to do. So that's what I've done.

Via Giphy

2. Quality > Quantity

You're better off writing one post with passion than ten that you don't give a sh** about.

Cos passion is what makes a blog, dearest nerdlets!

(Tired passion is OK - you can be exhausted and still passionate about what you're doing. It's what I've been doing for a loooong time! 😅)




3. You don't owe anyone anything



Obviously, I'm not talking about if you've borrowed money or something. Then you owe people.

Also, if you've agreed to a deadline with someone, it's a good idea to try to meet it and polite to let them know in as much time as you can if you won't be able to. A little courtesy goes a long way. 👍

No, what I'm talking about is the social tit-for-tat that we bloggers usually get hopelessly wrapped up in. You know - like for like, comment for comment, share for share, etc.

Due to self-esteem and Depression/Anxiety issues, I have to be careful about how much pressure I'm putting on myself to do this at the best of times.

When I'm stressed I pretty much have to shout it at myself every time I blog: YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND YOUR LIFE AT THE SERVICE OF OTHER PEOPLE!



That doesn't mean you can't be generous - I love sharing my friends' and other people's posts, and commenting and all that jazz.

But I love doing it without the expectation that that's what I'm gonna do.

Don't confuse that with being rude - if you're purposefully ignoring people, then that's just being a jerk.



...But don't get so caught up in wiping out your perceived social debt that you end up burning yourself out.

So what do I do? I answer people on social media. I reply to comments. I keep a comment-back list to let me know who I'd like to visit when I'm blog-hopping.

There is no time limit on these things, because I know I'll end up doing them sooner rather than later (I have a tendency to over-work, ok?)




4. Limit social media use


I mean it. Go on for an hour or so a day (or whatever you can spare,) then log-out and close the tab/app. DON'T keep it open. DON'T keep yourself logged in.

Even if you're not actively using it, keeping it open will take up part of your attention.

I find that's a good idea generally - log-out of, and close, things that you aren't currently using.

Via Giphy

If you're anything like me, you'll be surprised how much easier it is to get sh** done when you don't have 50 tabs open.

You can schedule things like tweets, but don't stress out about it. Just scatter a few scheduled tweets in if you have the time and energy to do so.



Also, if you find you can't get any social media-ing, or even blogging in general, done for a few days then DON'T. PANIC.

It's not the end of the world. Do what you can, when you can. That's all anyone - including yourself - can expect of you.


Bonus tip:

There's nothing wrong with using stock photos* because honestly? Most people won't notice.

I suck at blog-photography, I don't have the time or patience to take pictures that look all professional and everything. I mean... what's the point of faffing with getting things perfect?! Life isn't perfect!

I can do graphics, but only when I have the time and the energy.

Most of my posts would just be text without free stock photos - although, sometimes I honestly find it quicker to throw together my own graphics when I can't find what I want. (Dammit, specific imagination!)



Basically what I'm saying is this: use the tools at your disposal.

You don't have to carve everything out of wood with a piece of pre-historic flint.

You're on the internet, for Christ's sakes! Use the technology available to you.

*always follow copyright/licencing guidelines - I usually use ones where there's specifically no obligation to provide image credit, because it's easier when putting tweets together, or when I'm re-using images. It's still nice to give credit when you have the time/energy.

Do you have any tips for blogging when busy?

Do you struggle with balancing blogging and life?

Talk to me! 😁💬

You can follow me on Twitter @CeeDoraReads, on Dora Reads @ BlogLovin, and on Google+. For more ways to support me, check out the Support Me page

Related Reading:

• Anxiety Vs. Blogger

• Nerd Church - Work/Life/Whatever-Balance Is Hard! (Especially When You Have Cats)

• Nerd Church - Cut Yourself Some Slack

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Last updated: 13th April 2019