Work/Life Balance for Bloggers

Whether you blog as a hobby or as a part/full-time job, chances are, it takes up more of your time than you originally thought.  At least, this has been my experience.  I mean, sure, it may only take 30-45 minutes or so to create a post, but truth be told, there is more to blogging than post writing.  Way more... like: responding to comments, responding to emails, keeping track of affiliate sales, brainstorming new ideas, reading/commenting on other blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest... on and on,the list goes!

Thing is, for many of us, blogging can easily get in the way of our domestic duties.  While we sit at our computers/laptops/iPads, the laundry and dishes pile up, dust bunnies multiply, and our children crave our attention.  We feel guilty.

I don't know about you, but when the guilt comes, I just pour myself into the computer even more.  This time, though, it's not to blog or work on blog maintenance; it's to "research" how to achieve work/life balance and to figure out how other blogging mommies "do it all".  All the while, things around my house get worse and my child still wants my attention.  Ironic, huh?

Well, for about two years now, I've been trying to achieving the right balance between work {blogging; which for some, like myself, also consider it a ministry} and home {being wife, mom, homemaker}.  Sometimes I've got things down pat, while other time?  Not so much.  BUT, I have learned a lot {especially, here lately} and I wanted to share this information with you all in case anyone else finds themselves struggling with the balancing act, too.

Treat It Like a Real Job

I've mentioned before that I would like for this blog to become both a ministry {to bless you} and a source of income {to bless my family}.  Even though I'm not yet earning an income yet, this blog is technically my job; like when someone starts a business... it can take months or years before that business brings in any profit.  The most important thing I can do for my blog right now is to take it seriously and treat it like the job that it is.  Otherwise, no one else will.

You Will Have to Make Sacrifices

Though blogging should never cause me to sacrifice my relationship with the Lord, my marriage, or my son, there will be things I may have to give up in order to see this blog become fruitful {Like girls' night out or time spent doing another favorite hobby}.  It's about knowing my opportunity cost {what I'm giving up to pursue blogging} and learning to say "no" to things that don't fit into my priorities.

Have Office Hours

Because I'm a mom and I consider that job to be more important than blogging, I try to keep my office hours to: before Little Man wake up, when he naps, and after he goes to bed.  Sometimes, though, he wakes up before I'm finished writing that day's blog post.  So, we have a routine for those times: if he wakes up and I'm not done, I usually take a moment to sit on the bed with him and talk/laugh {he's not a morning person and needs a few minutes to "wake up" before actually getting out of bed...}, then he gets up and I make his breakfast and let him eat it while watching an episode or two of Little Einsteins or Doc McStuffins.  He knows that it usually doesn't take too long and that when I'm done, I'm done for the day and can play.

As the blog grows and my son gets older {and we - Lord willing - add more kiddos to our household}, I plan on asking a friend to come over once a week {for an entire day} or twice a week {for a couple of hours each time} and watch him/them while I work.

When Offline, Be Fully Present

Like I said earlier, my son knows that if I have to work while he eats breakfast that it won't take long {I try to keep it to an hour or less if he's already up} and that when I'm done working, I will be fully available to play.  This, in my opinion, is the number one way for me {or any one of you} to maintain the proper work/life balance as a blogger: when you're offline, be fully present.

For example, once I'm done working, I log off of everything and I try to keep my phone away from me {since I'm know to stay on it all the time}.  That way, I can be fully present with my son and I can avoid distractions when it is time to do housework.  In other words, I make the most of my time online, being as productive as I can, and then when I log off, I try to be just as diligent about spending time with my son and getting the housework done.

Make a Blogging To-Do List

The most frustrating thing to me, as a blogger, is to sit down at my computer at the beginning of my "office hours" and for the life of me, I can't remember what I was going to write about or what needed to be done.  So, I've learned the hard way: make a to-do list.  In my opinion, this is the best thing I can do to boost my productivity during "office hours".  No more staring at a blank post while the cursor taunts me with every blink.  Now, I sit down, pull out my to-do list, and make the most of the time that I have.

Realize You're Going to Miss Out Sometimes

Here's the deal: the internet never sleeps.  This includes Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.  It's not possible for me to keep up with social media all the time.  So, the best thing I have done for myself and my family is accepted the fact that I am going to miss out on some things.  I cannot possibly read every Facebook status update or Tweet.  I'm unable to participate in every linky party or accept every offer to guest post.  It's just a fact... I cannot do it all.  So, instead of trying, I simply let some things go.

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I hope these tips will help you as you seek to be the best wife, mother, homemaker,  AND blogger that you can possibly be.  You will never balance everything perfectly, and that's okay.  As long as you keep first things first {faith, family, and home}, everything else will fall into place.

Having said that, you all probably know by now that I try to keep my posting schedule to three times a week.  Plus, you may have noticed that I don't stay on Facebook or Twitter all day long.  This is my way of working towards a better work/life balance.  

However, even though I'm not on constantly, I do check in with social media and my email on a regular basis.  So, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me if you have any questions or comments because, as I stated earlier, though I'm trying to achieve that work/life balance, I also consider this blog to be a ministry and want to be available to you all as much as I am realistically able.

HOW DO YOU PRACTICE WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

P.S. 



A HUGE "Thank You" to Kathy from Cornerstone Confessions who featured this post on her weekly Titus 2 Tuesdays Linky Party for September 4th, 2012.  If you write on anything related to becoming a Titus 2 Woman - marriage and parenting, decor and DIY, etc. - be sure to join the link up HERE.

Blessings,

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