As a full-time working mom, I often get asked, “How do you juggle
it all?” This question often makes me cringe and makes me feel as nervous as a
cat in a room full of rocking chairs because honestly, I don’t juggle it all.
Not even close, and most people don’t want to hear that. They want you to tell
them that you have the perfect secret formula to being a super mom when really,
I’m just a hot freaking mess. Just this morning I was 10 minutes late for work,
smeared lipstick across the side of my face and almost ran out of gas during my
morning commute. To add insult to injury, yesterday, I busted a hole in my pants during a presentation in front of 20 people. It was glorious.
Zero time. Hot mess. Walking disaster. So when do I find time to blog? Well, let me back up
for a second. I figured a few things out quickly when I started this blog:
//I would never get more hours in the day for simply deciding to
take on another project.
//Blogging takes work. It’s not going to do it on its own.
//Albeit work, I want it to be enjoyable and fun.
//Blogging takes work. It’s not going to do it on its own.
//Albeit work, I want it to be enjoyable and fun.
Having said this, I think the main way I find time to blog is by
remembering my priorities. I don’t blog at the expense of my child and my own
well-being comes first meaning, if after I’ve put Maddy to bed and I’m
exhausted, I’m not blogging. I love you guys but chances are I’m going to bed
to relax and will not be up just so I can finish a blog post.
I also don’t put a lot of pressure on myself to constantly post
every day. I know most bloggers will disagree with this tactic but it’s what
works for me. I don’t feel the need to have to post something all the time just
for the sake of posting so it really frees up my time to give me more wiggle
room on being able to focus on more important things when I need to or to
simply just set the blog aside for a bit. Remember the fun aspect I mentioned
above? Not putting the extra stress and pressure on myself to constantly have
something to say helps with keeping the fun in my dysfunctional. This space
will always be here. There’s no need in rushing things.
I’m also notorious for having several blog post drafts going at
once. I constantly have ideas floating around in this head of mine so I may log
into my account and briefly get out those ideas and then leave it alone for a
while. It also allows me time to think, research, or decide how much effort I
really want to put into a particular topic or issue.
So when do I find time during the day to get it all done?
Lunch breaks at work. Quiet mornings like today before
anyone gets up. Evenings after Chickie is asleep. Nap time on the weekends. I
keep a running list of blog post ideas on my Wunderlist app and update it when
a thought or idea pops up. I also keep a calendar with important dates noted
for the days I definitely want to post or for reminders of link-ups but I still
give myself leeway to not participate if I’m just not feeling it. I wish I
could tell you that I have the magic formula for making it all happen but I
don’t. The good news? No one else really does either. We all have full, busy
lives and have to find our own unique ways of making it work. It’s a juggling
act for everyone. Don’t let any other blogger tell you otherwise.
For me, this blog is a hobby. My life as a mom, partner, and
employee isn’t. Those things must, and will always come first, so really it’s
all in your mind-set. The truth is that we will always make time for the things
we really want to do regardless. Just remember what your priorities are.
I’m curious to know other
blogger's tactics, thoughts, and ideas. How do you make it all happen as a
blogger and working mom?
Very good points you made. Blogging is work but at least it's fun work
ReplyDeleteI think this is the perfect schedule. I dont have any little kiddos though so its just me, the boyfriend, the cat, & the dog. I work 10+ hour days at a fast pace and somedays i want to relax when i get home. Blogging is fun and it is a great hobby. I hope your having a great Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteI use Wunderlist for my running list of blog post ideas too!! I agree, as a working mom, daily posting is just not in the cards!!
ReplyDeleteYep, totally with you. In fact, the reason I blogged so little this summer was just that - I just didn't feel like it (and hello, pregnancy exhaustion). I do better with a schedule though, so I'm aiming for M,W,F going forward and giving myself grace if I can't do it. No need to stress over it!
ReplyDeleteAll of this fits me as a on the go, never slowing down SAHM. My word for 2017 is going to be BALANCE. I want to find a good routine and fit things that I love into my life, all within reason and will total balance.
ReplyDeleteYou have read my mind and put the words in place. I cannot agree more! I love writing and blogging is such a passion of mine but I've seen how stressed I can make myself that I loose the love of it all. I work full-time and have a preschooler so juggling that is my life. Blogging and everything else squeezes in or becomes the icing on the full cake when possible. I stopped pressuring myself and removed all deadlines, this has made blogging fun again.
ReplyDeleteI "schedule" when I am going to write. Honestly, if something pops in my head at work and I have time, I open a word doc and email it to myself to fiddle with later on. It's hard juggling it all, but if blogging isn't fun I won't do it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a mama yet, but I totally feel ya! I work crazy hours (yay retail!) so I feel like I am always exhausted. It's definitely all about priorities. Sometimes ya just need to relax, and sometimes that relaxation is blogging. It's a balance : ) xx, Kristen
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have your priorities straight and I think that is one of the best things a person can do.
ReplyDeleteI have to tip my hat! I am not a mom yet, but I can only imagine what its like to juggle everything! I love my lists and scheduling things!
ReplyDeleteRachel | www.theconfusedmillennial.com
The mom part is new for me, I've got a 3 week old newborn now but before this baby arrived I was working full time at a start-up working well over a 9-5 and commuting on top of that. I found to keep the blog going, which I what I wanted to do I would work on my posts mostly on the weekend and finish them up in the evenings before they went live on the blog. I was posting M,W,F but tried to not get too down on myself if I wasn't able to post one day. Now, I'm just hoping to get baby Mason into a routine soon and so I can start back up on the blog posting more frequently again.
ReplyDeletexo, Laura
have-need-want.com
Great post here! It is so hard to balance blogging and being a mom and I can't imagine a job outside of this too! I'm sure you are doing a great job! Writing out a schedule has been so helpful for me!
ReplyDeleteyep i totally agree, as a working mom its hard trying to blog daily. I have tried to narrow mine to twice a week but some weeks i can't even do that. I will try the app you talked about for storing blog ideas. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same! It's so hard finding time to blog, I usually only have time after everyone is asleep and have to stay up late working on posts. If it's slow at work, I can sometimes start drafts, but that's not always the case.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's all a balancing act. The kids come first. As done work and my marriage and friends. The blog gets what's leftover, when there's time. I try not to stress about it too much. I try to make sure it's still fun for me and use it as an excuse to do new/fun stuff with the kids. I don't want it to feel like work.
ReplyDelete