This post is based on Episode 65 of the ProBlogger podcast.
A lot of people ask me how do I manage to accommodate everything – blogging, social media, talking, product development, family life, and so on.
The truth is, I can’t do anything I want. But over the years, I’ve developed skills and habits that have reduced the overwhelm and stress of how I spend my time.
And today I want to share with you what I’ve learned and help you focus on where to spend your blogging time in order to make your blog a success.
Opportunity knocks
And it’s not just the things you do regularly – creating content, posting updates on social media, responding to comments, and so on – that you need to find time for. There are also the different options that you have to be content with.
Some of these options are more traditional. Someone may offer you a guest post on their blog or an interview on their podcast. You may be asked to speak at an event or work with a major brand.
Then there is what I call a seized opportunity – something that seems to do everything else and that makes you think you should, too. It could be a new social media site, new medium, or maybe a different blog.
These seized opportunities can lead to a serious case of FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out. Could this be the happy break I need? If I don’t start doing what everyone else is doing now, will I keep trying to catch up?
You can be good. But they could also mean that you end up taking on more than you should. This can lead to a loss of quality not only in your content but also in your life.
Granted, I can delegate / outsource some of the things that need to be done, which gives me more time than someone who has to do it all myself. But I still have to grapple with various options that come up to me. And in many cases I just have to say “no”, whether it’s someone else or myself.
Yes or no?
You probably think That is all well and good. But how do you decide what you want to rate with “no” and what with “yes”?
Sometimes I just guess that I should or shouldn’t do this. But in most cases I ask myself a series of questions before I make up my mind, like …
I have time for it
My life is pretty full, so the answer to this question is usually “no”. People could think I have time to embrace it, but I have purposely created an empty space in my life so that I can think, play, spend time with my family and do justice Be.
What would I give up to accept?
There are only so many hours in a day, and accepting something new usually means giving up something else. (This is where having a team can come in handy, as sometimes I can give someone else on my team the opportunity to do a much better job than me.)
Does it bring me closer to my goals?
If the opportunity brings you closer to your goals, then this is definitely something you should consider. But if it takes you further from them, you should probably say “no” no matter how funny or interesting it is.
Will I learn something or meet someone who is useful?
I often ask myself this question when deciding whether or not to give a speech.
Will that give me energy?
Some activities (like making live video) give me a real boost of energy that lasts long after the event ends. And that’s when I become super productive. While I may have to spend a little time preparing, this is an overall productivity gain for me.
Will it make a difference to someone else?
While most of the questions I ask are about myself and my goals, I also firmly believe in helping others. This is what ProBlogger and Digital Photography School are all about.
Is it sustainable?
Yes, the opportunity could be fun and energize. But ultimately, if it’s not sustainable (e.g., profitable, enjoyable, fulfilling) then I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
While it would be great if we could take advantage of every opportunity, we just can’t. Therefore, we need to choose what works best for us, our goals and our lives.
How do you decide where to spend your blogging time? Let us know in the comments.
Photo by Emma Matthews digital content production on Unsplash.