I have a 4-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a newborn baby who just turned one month. I’m by no means “super mom,” nor do I try to be. However, I am able to still find time to blog, keep up with the housework and find some time for myself. Today, I’m sharing my secrets on how to accomplish this!
Whether you’ve been blogging for years but are struggling with time management or if you’re a mom who’s debating starting a blog, this post is for you!
Lower your standards
This is by-far the best tip I can give you when it comes to finding time to blog (or do anything, for that matter) with little kids at home. I’ve learned to completely let go of “perfection” and it has served me well. For example, my house is clean, but it’s by no means spic n’ span. Eliminate your clutter!! That gives your home the appearance of being clean, plus it makes you have less to clean. A win-win!
For blogging, I’ve learned to write quickly and not worry so much about errors. Yesterday, for example, I wanted to send out a newsletter recapping my Thanksgiving and telling my readers about a sale that my hosting company for my blog, Bluehost, was having. My baby wouldn’t settle down and was cluster feeding. Instead of skipping the newsletter altogether, I set her down and typed it up in 20 minutes. She cried for a bit, but I was able to get my work done. Normally I would have spent an hour on it, but yesterday time just didn’t allow. And that’s ok!
Interested in starting a blog? Check out my tutorial here!
Quiet time is your best friend
Just like we need a “break” from our day, so do our kids. Some parents I know don’t do a quiet time and I really wonder why. Kids of all ages could benefit from 1-2 hours of quiet, alone time in their rooms. We do this every single day at my house. Usually, my kids even fall asleep which gives me a good 2-3 hours of work time. Now, of course, things are a bit different since I have a new baby, but I’ve still managed to find snippets of time here and there. And if she’s extra fussy? Well, there’s always tomorrow!
Work quickly and avoid distractions
If you really need to get something done and are short on time, do it fast and do it efficiently. I used to log on to Facebook every single time I sat down at my computer. Not only did that hinder my thought process, it also took away my precious time to work. Now, I reserve Facebook and other mindless internet browsing for after I’m done writing.
Here’s how to write faster and increase your productivity tenfold!
Think about what you want to blog about before you sit down to write
I spend a ton of time thinking and brainstorming about my post before I actually write it. I’ve usually mapped out in my head what I want to say, so when it comes time to write it, the words naturally flow. Sometimes I’ll keep notes in my phone so I don’t forget certain points I want to hit on.
Ask your spouse for help
My husband knows that my blog is a form of income for our family. In order to continue making money, I have to continue writing. He knows I have to promote my content, spend time responding to comments and commenting on other blogs, answer emails, and more. Oftentimes on weekends, I’ll ask him to take the kids for 20-30 minutes multiple times throughout the day so I can crank out work.
Put your kids to bed early
Around here, our kids are in bed by 7:30 most nights and asleep by 8:00. They need their rest; I need my peace and quiet! I don’t blog every night, but I at least sit down and promote older posts, schedule posts on Pinterest, and check my mail before winding down for the evening. If your kids go to bed late, you’ll be too tired to blog after they’re in bed. Slowly push their bedtime back in 15-20 minute increments until they’re in bed at your desired time. And, if they’re having trouble falling asleep, allow them to read in bed quietly for 30 minutes or so before it’s lights out.
Wake up early yourself
Many serious bloggers wake up between 4 and 5 am to get work done before their kids are up for the day. I’ve done the early morning thing before, and trust me, it works. Right now, I’m not waking up super early since I’m up with my baby multiple times. Once she’s sleeping through the night, I plan on waking up at 5:30 to do about an hour’s worth of work before my kids wake. It may seem impossible at first, but eventually you will crave and look forward to that time every day.
Need help waking up earlier? Check out this post on how to transform your mornings!
Don’t stress out
At the end of the day, it’s JUST a blog. If your kids are sick or the day is just extra busy, forget about your blog! It can wait. This has been huge for me, especially since having a newborn in the house again. There have definitely been days where I truly have not even been able to sit down at my laptop for even one minute. And that’s OK! There will always be time to blog at some point, but our kids will only be little once, so make sure to keep them your number one priority.
Do you blog with little kids at home? What are your secrets to success?!
This is great advice! I’ve been a work-at-home mom for over 10 years and this post is right on point. ?Thanks
Definitely sharing!
Waking up early (2 hours before my kids) and working in 30 minute increments had helped me immensely while I’ve been trying to get my blog going. It’s so hard though!
A former partner that I worked for when I was at a public accounting firm told me after I had my first baby that working moms actually are often better workers because we learn to be so efficient. It’s so true in the blogging world too! I don’t have time to waste so I am forced to focus and be efficient and effective with my time.
Thanks for the tips. I recently started a blog for my business and finding the time to write is pretty scarce. These tips are great!
Rae
http://www.shesellsstudios.com
This is great. I am a blogger but now expecting a baby. I am trying to prepare myself for this as much as possible. The baby is due next May. I plan on having 2 to 3 months worth of blogs in advance just in case. This way I can blog once a week when the baby comes, but I will only focus on promoting the blogs that I pre wrote. I planned out my first quarter of 2017. I am not sure how life will be once the baby is here, so I am in prep mode.
I will be back for more tips.
Divine
http://www.ladiesmakemoney.com
Loved this! I think your #1 is likely the most important. Sometimes us mommas (and especially momma bloggers) can be too hard on ourselves. The house, dinner, or whatever, doesn’t have to be perfect and really it can’t be if your business is your priority. 🙂 Probably one of the only situations where lowering your standards is the way to go.
Have a mind map and list topics, sub-topics and ideas. I usually have few titles ready in my drafts, so, when I do get a bit of time, I can immediately start writing and not waste valuable time with research. I also have a posting schedule and asked my best friend (who’s a content writer) to pitch in as well. This way we’re now getting used to a posting schedule and have fresh content for the website.
These are great tips! My almost 3 year old is home with me every day. He still has a nap time, where he stays in his room for 2 hours. He doesn’t have to sleep, but he does have to rest and be quiet. I find that allows me to get so much done!
Love this! I’m a new blogger with a 10 month old and another one on the way. The waking up early one is definitely a struggle for me since I go to bed late (writing this at 3am), but is for sure one I will have to implement. Thanks for the tips!
Oooo if you can work late than I think that replaces waking up early! I wish I could stay up late, but I just cannot function after 9pm haha!! Do what works for you!! 🙂 And congratulations on the baby on the way!!!
Thanks, this was super helpful!
Great advice. I have 2 littles at home and it’s hard to find time to blog. My boys are 2 and 6 months. I can totally relate to the struggle of finding time. I am a night owl so I tend to work on my blog in the evening at night and small spurts through out the day. My husband is a huge help as well with the kids if I need to get something done. Great job managing your time with blogging and kids. I am trying to get more scheduled now so that I can be better with my time.