Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Balancing It All: Working, Blogging & Wedding Planning


It is quite noticeable how quieter it has been around here lately. Since November 2016, I've not put out there the usual number of posts I used to do every month and that is totally ok. I am not saying this is a bad thing at all, because I honestly do not think it is. I am currently going through an important period of my life and whilst I am doing my very best to keep the lights on in this space, I think it is perfectly fine to take a step back once in a while to focus on other priorities.

You may or may not know this but I am a full-time project manager at a prestigious finance company in the city, which means my weekdays are spent in a fancy office and on weekends I am able to do more blog related work and enjoy my free time. My job isn't your usual 9-5 instead; I work 10 hours a day, 50 hours a week usually from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Thankfully I'm well organised when it comes to work which means I don't need to stay longer in the office, unlike some jobs in the finance world require you to. This allows me to spend most of my evenings at the gym where I'm working my butt off, especially in the winter when it's dark out and I can't exactly have an outfit photoshoot. 

Work had never really impacted my blogging schedule previously. But, add our recent home move as well as less than the 3 months until our big day to the mix and I am stretching myself a little thinner than usual. That has definitely had an impact on the number of posts I have published but I feel like the blog content quality has stayed the same, if not increased during this period! You know what they say, quality over quantity and that is exactly what I am focusing on at the moment as I do wish to post new content just for the sake of it. I guess working so many hours during the week but still wanting to keep this blog running leads me to be more efficient and this is how I've been doing it lately.


GET ORGANISED WITH TO DO LISTS
I started this blog without really knowing I was doing. I would post when I felt like it and when I had time to create content, which is why my blog failed to gain much attention in its first 6 months of life. After becoming more engaged with the blogging community and reading various articles on how to maintain a blog I knew I needed to be a lot more efficient and lists became a huge part of it. I stuck to a schedule of posting 3 times a week and writing lists of potential topics I could talk about really helped me get more organised. Lists since then have become indispensable and I use them even more nowadays. With so much going on in my life I can very easily tick off what I've already accomplished on my list.This way, I am able to keep on top of things  I need to do every day, as well as plan ahead and brainstorm.

MAXIMISE MORNINGS
As much as I would like to sit in front of my laptop every Saturday and Sunday writing all the content I want to share with you all, I know it is just not possible. My weekends are usually jammed packed with outfit shooting, church commitments and quality time with the family and fiancé. That leaves me with weekday mornings which are fine as it is when I am most efficient anyway, and even though I wake up at 5:30am every day to be in London at 7:30, when I am up I am up! This means throughout the train journey I am able to draft my posts using the notes app on my phone or even put pen to paper when I am feeling particularly inspired. On days I don't publish a new post, I like taking my mornings to solve any outstanding wedding details and of course, visit my lovely readers' blogs too. It is all about sharing the love :)

SCHEDULE & PLAN AHEAD
Similar to making lists, I like planning ahead. I find useful to schedule in the day I will shoot a particular outfit and when I will have to write up the blog post. Keeping a blogging agenda reminds of aything I need to do as well as deadlines and events I may be attending. Knowing a week before that on that agreed date with the PR agency I need to post their product review gives me enough time to shoot some photos as well as do the writing up. Similarly, knowing I have a blogging event the next day allows me to sort out my outfit (always the hardest part isn't it!) the night before so I am not freaking out about what I am going to wear.

When it comes to blog posting, I've never scheduled posts, mostly because for some reason this feature on Blogger just does not work. Instead what I like doing is having my social media updates scheduled with the help of Hootsuite. This is just one of the apps you can download that schedule your social media content for you and I love it! I use it mainly for Twitter and being able to "tweet" without actually having to write it up every time I want an update is pretty great. With Facebook I do something similar, it is only Instagram (my baby <3) that I like publishing myself. Needless to say, social media plays a huge role in blogging and promoting your content to make sure your posts are being read, scheduling updates and planning them ahead allows me to be more consistent and efficient, even if I don't have all the free time I had before.

HAVE FUN
A cliché one but very true. If blogging feels like a chore and if you're forcing yourself into doing something, then you're most likely doing it wrong. Blogging isn't easy (even though the haters like to think so), especially when you're trying to balance it with a full-time job and pulling off a massive event. This is why you need to have fun and enjoy what you're doing. Everything becomes that little bit easier when you're having fun. I enjoy shooting outfit photos, I love updating my Instagram feed and I love writing about fashion trends. Blogging has become a passion for me, and it probably always will be one. Writing allows me to express myself in ways I never thought possible before and giving it up even if I am extremely busy is not an option. However, I am happy with taking it easy and focusing on other priorities right now. My wedding will be a once in a lifetime event, life and living always come first and working is how I make my living, so obviously essential. Blogging, whilst being something I love, is a hobby and yes recently it is something I am doing less of but by no means something I am loving or enjoying less. 

Tell me, how do you balance blogging/work/school? Are you a full-time or a part-time blogger like me?
Thanks for reading my ramblings beauties and for always sticking around!

xoxo

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34 comments

  1. Love your Post! I agree with you, blogging isn't easy with a fulltime job and a lot of other things to do. I use these lists to prepair my posts, too. Quite a good idea!
    Greetings from Munich!
    Heidi from wilderminds.de

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  2. Woow you are very busy girl! If I would have job like you , probably I would give up blogging because of time...

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  3. I usually write my blog posts during the weekend after church on Sunday. I love those moments. Now that I changed my blog to Wordpress I do schedule my posts, which makes life carefree when it comes to blogging. I used to hate not being able to schedule with Blogger lol. And when I used to live in Luton and travel to London for work, I used to draft my posts on my phone too haha.

    Mich x
    https://michjosephblog.wordpress.com

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  4. Can totally relate to this - between a demanding job and juggling other social commitments, sometimes blogging has to take a backseat. Definitely better to post when you know the quality will be better, instead of a rushed, half-arsed post.

    - Lubna | The Digital Review

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  5. I only get to work on the blog in the evenigs throughout the week, as my weekends and mornigs are dedicated to the kids and the days dedicated to working full time. That means no tv shows or socializing in the evenings, but as long as it all stays in balance, I am okay with that. Being organized is key, I can't believe how much time I wasted when it was only I and a job to deal with...

    Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

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  6. It's really nice to hear from another blogger who works a full time job at the same time. I'm just starting out and finding it difficult to juggle between my job, my blog, social presence and... my social life.

    Definitely need to take your advice get more organized + use hootsuite!

    Thank you for the tips! And good luck with your wedding plans!

    Maia ❤
    http://amazing-korean.blogspot.pt/

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  7. This is a really helpful post and you have got everything so right! I just my diary and plan everything down to chilling. I set myself goals, aims and what NEEDS to be done and crack on! I always give myself one whole day to myself, no phone or laptop and it helps me get ready for the week ahead!

    Fix Me In Forty Five - A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
    Blog Lovin' // Instagram
    xx

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  8. I enjoyed reading this post, Pam. You are so organized, I'm impressed. It's not easy to balance work, wedding planning, solcial life and blogging but you do it perfectly. Wish you a lovely day, beautie.
    Nina
    Nina's Style Blog

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  9. Wow, you're definitely balancing a lot right now, but you seem to be a great multitasked. Good luck with everything, babe <3 You got this

    Enclothed Cognition

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  10. It's my first time visiting so first of all, congratulations on the wedding! Thank you for sharing these tips x

    Jessica — NinetyCo

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  11. Blogging did started to feel like a chore to me since the past couple of months hence I took a step back by cutting down my posting schedule. It was no longer fun and frankly I'm still feeling on the fence about it. I'm trying to have fun with it again hence I'm posting less, rejecting lots of PR samples so my voice could be heard once again instead of becoming pure advertisement.

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  12. Blogging plus a full time job plus other commitments need a lot of balance! I also type my posts on the notes app, on the way into London. It helps a lot. I schedule tweets as well which helps, but I def need to make more use of my mornings!


    www.KacheeTee.com || Bloglovin'!
    2016 in Blogging, 2017 Goals (+ a genuine thank you!)

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  13. Wow Pam I knew you worked full time but those are some big hours you are doing! Great tips, I don't know where you get the time and I totally agree about quality over quantity, I work full time too and just find it easier to post once a week! You are so organised, I also notice you are one of the first to comment on my posts so thank you!

    Danielle's Beauty Blog

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  14. Linda imagens arrasou na postagem, obrigado pela visita.
    Blog:https://arrasandonobatomvermelho.blogspot.com.br/
    Canal:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmO8csZDARM

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  15. Love it. Please check out my new winter trend alert!

    Kisses xo | From Aliona With Love

    Instagram @alionawithlove

    Twitter @alionawithlove

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  16. What a crazy schedule you've got, but you're doing so well to manage a job, blog and time for yourself! I need to put a little schedule together I think because I really miss blogging - I just need to put some more time aside for it as I only work really! x

    Hannatalks

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  17. Absolutely love this post and such great tips! Love how you balance work, blog, and personal life. Thanks for sharing!

    aikocunanan.com

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  18. Oh Great Post my dear
    http://carrieslifestyle.com

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  19. Wow sounds like you're a super busy lady! I'm working full time too, leaving home at 8am and not getting back until 8pm, and trying to run and blog and plan a massive 3 month travel adventure - It's a lot! I can't imagine trying to deal with moving on top of all of that too! xx

    Frances Kayleigh | Beauty Fashion Lifestyle

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  20. For me sometimes it's very hard to balance job, private life and blogging, but I try all the time. We took pictures of outfits very often, in almost every free time.

    jointyicroissanty

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  21. Adorei o texto. Realmente não é nada fácil equilibrar tudo. Eu confesso que nos últimos tempos deixei o blog um pouco de lado, mas queria voltar aos posts regulares.
    xx, Ana

    The Insomniac Owl Blog

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  22. An interesting post. Your job title sounds really kool, working 10 hours a day must be so tiring.
    Organization is defo key x

    LAURA ­| Laura Thinks About

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  23. I can totally relate! Juggling a day job, blogging and other stuff plus personal life can be a tad bit too hectic. You're super for doing it all with a wedding and a move in the mix! I hope everything goes well for you in the coming months. Don't mind about taking a step back either. We need it sometimes. :)

    annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com | Bloglovin' | Instagram

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  24. Scheduling can be such a pain but it really helps. Great post! Xx
    http://christbelle.blogspot.co.uk/

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  25. You are one busy girl Pam! Wedding planning is both exciting and stressful. So cutting back on blogging is so in order. Have fun planning your special day, you always look lovely and I imagine you'd be the most beautiful bride!

    http://www.fashionablyidu.com/

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  26. You're definitely balancing your work, life and blog really well!
    I had to take step back from my blog as well because of other life commitments and my family and that's ok. As long as we still enjoy what we're doing and manage to produce quality content while balancing well other parts of our lif we're good :) x

    Mummy's Beauty Corner

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  27. My notes app in my best friend! I write lists on it constantly and always jot down post ideas & draft posts when they come to me- as you said it's great when you're on the go! I prefer buffer to hootsuite for scheduling my tweets though- you can refresh old ones and adapt them rather than having to write them from scratch which I find really helpful when I'm busy and it means I don't have to re-copy and paste the URLs to old posts!

    http://taradaniella.com/

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  28. Making blogging fun again is certainly something I needed to remind myself of once more. I have been so busy with everything I have had to take a count of what matters to me and put a pros and cons list and blogging was definitely a a pro. :)
    Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

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