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One of the questions that I get asked most frequently is how I maintain a profitable blog while working full-time.
The answer to that? Well, I’m pretty much a zombie.
Maintaining a profitable job while also having a full time job is no joke, and it takes a lot of energy, energy that I sometimes don’t really have.
But I’ve found that by following some of the tips I’m providing here in today’s post, things can be a little easier. We’ve only got so many hours in the day, and when you’re working full-time and blogging on the side, you need to make the most out of those hours.
So here are some of the things I definitely recommend.
Figure out when you’re most productive
This one’s a big deal, okay? Some of us are productive in the morning. Some of us are productive at night. Some of us are most productive at noon during lunchtime. If you want to make the most out of whatever little time you have, you need to figure out when you’re most effective so you can get the most done. Me? I can’t wake up earlier than 6am. I wish I could. I have blogger friends who wake up at 5am and they tell me that they get so much stuff done before work and I’m super jealous. I just can’t. I don’t know what it is, but if I try waking up before 6am it’s a total waste because all I do is hit snooze until it’s 6. So instead, I’ve learned that I’m most productive the second I get home from work. Knowing that, I set aside a good hour when I get home to work on the blog and get things done.
Work on Your Energy Levels
I’ve been working on this a lot lately, because I feel like I’m always out of energy. I mean, I’m 25 years old, for crying out loud! I should have SO MUCH ENERGY! But I don’t. I’m always exhausted, so lately I’ve been trying Energems and I’m loving them! I used to have to chug cups of coffee every day which was a tad bit too much sugar, so Energems are a great option for anyone needing a little energy pick me up, without having to drink lots of coffee or energy drinks. I just keep a bottle in my purse and I’m good to go.
I’ve found that when I have energy, my work is so much better. Not only am I more focused on the things I have to do, but I’m just ready for anything that comes my way and I find it so much easier to hit all the things on my to-do list.
Just three of these babies contain 133 mg of caffeine, which is the same amount of caffeine in a large cup of coffee. So you can take one, two or three Energems to get the boost of energy you want, whenever you want (or need) it. Like when you have a blogging deadline and need to get that post up ASAP!
Do work in batches
I had been hearing about doing work in batches for a while, and I didn’t really know how I felt about it. Essentially, when you do work in batches, you’re doing ONE task repeatedly. So in our case, we’d be writing blog posts back to back, or spending a whole afternoon just focusing on taking or editing photos. I gave this a shot a few weeks ago and yes, it’s life-changing. Why? Because you end up focusing on what you’re working on and you produce more work. I think it helped me a lot because I found myself less distracted and instead of just creating one blog post a night, I found myself creating 2 and 3 posts back-to-back. So definitely give this one a try because especially when you’re working full-time, you need to make the most out of your blogging hours.
Automate Whenever You Can
I was finding myself looking at my phone three hundred thousand times a day checking social media, so I started using some tools to help automate that process a bit. I’m now using HootSuite to schedule some posts on Twitter and Tailwind to schedule posts on Pinterest. I used to think that using these tools was cheating. Like, unauthentic, even. But it’s not like I’m having a robot write stuff for me that I wouldn’t write. Everything I post is stuff that I write on my own, I just do it in advance so I don’t have to spend all day remembering to post. Saves me a lot of time because I’ll do these on the weekend and then I can spend my days RESPONDING to comments and engaging with my audience instead of focusing my attention on trying to remember to post.
Use Your Breaks at Work Wisely
When you’re working full time and managing any kind of side hustle, you have to use whatever breaks you have wisely. I have a one hour commute on the way to work and a one hour commute on the way home, so I always take that time to work and think about my blog. I listen to a whole bunch of different podcasts. Some that I’m loving right now are Two Inboxes, ProBlogger, Smart Passive Income, and GirlBoss Radio. Even though I HATE being stuck in traffic, I like knowing that I’m being productive. I’ll talk to myself like a crazy person, brainstorm blog posts, and make reminders for myself for things I need to do later. I also fully utilize my lunch breaks. When I was writing Corporate Survival Guide For Your Twenties, I spent my lunch breaks writing. Sure, it’s a lot more fun to sometimes get away from work and relax and just eat your lunch, but when you’re building something you’re passionate about, it’s totally worth it.
Get organized, Have an editorial calendar
And for those of us who need that extra boost of energy (which is totally fine) you can find these Energems at your nearest Walmart in the pharmacy where the supplements are (not by the vitamins).
Click here to check out their rebate offer.
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- Building A Framework
- Blog, Inc.
- Creative, Inc.
- How To Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul
- 365 Blog Topic Ideas: For The Lifestyle Blogger Who Has Nothing To Write About
- #GirlBoss
- Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job, Kill It In Your Career, Rock Social Media
- Crush It
- Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook
- Thrive
BOOKS TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH YOUR TWENTIES:
- 101 Secrets For Your Twenties
- Life After College
- The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter & How To Make The Most of Them
- Adulting: How To Become A Grown Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
- All Groan Up: Searching For Self, Faith, and A Freaking Job!
OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Generation Y Redefines Success
- How To Be Rich in Your Twenties
- The 5 Most Valuable Lessons Grad School Taught Me
- Pursue a Lifestyle, Not a Job
- Why It’s Okay to Be Excited About the Awesome Stuff You’re Doing
- Why We Need to Get Over Our Fear of Rejection
- Don’t Wait, Be Happy Now
- The 5 Best Investments You Can Make in College
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Awesome tips! Finding your most productive time is a good one. Late morning and night are my best times, despite being completely opposite!
Love this! I also blog and have a full time job. I have to remind myself of that when I see what other bloggers have time to do!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I found when I work in batches I get a lot more accomplished than when I work on one blog post at a time. ! It’s amazing. And you are so right, I get a lot more done when I have the energy. Yesterday I didn’t have energy and I got nothing done! -client
I want to try the ‘energums’ they look tasty and better than an energy drink!
Currently working on an Editorial Calendar now.
I am still unsure how I can make money off my blog. It is a work in progress I keep telling myself.
Thank you for sharing these amazing tips.
Great info. Definitely hard to juggle them both at times.
Great post. I have a full time job as well as write a blog. It’s hard work sometimes and I feel myself getting overwhelmed. I’m going to try all of your suggestions and hopefully they help. Thanks for sharing
Man, I need something like this! For someone who’s just now entering her mid-twenties I don’t have much energy and that’s concerning. Thank you for sharing.
xoxo, Jenny
I love love love doing things in batches – I agree, it’s totally life changing!
The batch idea sounds like something I need to implement. I am definitely going to check out the energems. Being a new mom has been a killer to my energy levels.
I NEED some energems! Where have they been all my life?!!!
Great tips!
An editorial calendar is huge, I’ve just started doing this and it gives me peace of mind for sure. Definitely need to work on doing things in batches, thanks the tips!
I’m struggling with the same problem, trying to keep up blogging and a full time job at the same time.
It’s not easy, but indeed is really worth it. I try to spend as much time as possible working on the blog when I get some free time and in the weekends. And although it’s exhausting sometimes, I keep reminding myself why I’m doing it in the first place, and that brings back my motivation.
Kisses,
http://www.bloggerissa.com
This post is really inspiring. I never get time to create a blog because of my work timings. Now I know that I must utilize my break time and even find out my most productive time and start on my blog.Thanks a lot.!
Yes!! You can totally waste your break times or use them to your advantage! It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth it! Thanks for stopping by!!