This was originally posted in 2013, but just a reminder that we think you’ll love! …
“How do you balance blogging and family time?” – This is an important question for bloggers to consider, and it’s something that I think about a lot! I have two extraordinarily rambunctious toddlers on my hands, so my hands are already pretty full, before you add blogging to the mix. Learning how to balance blogging and family time is vital. I have been writing for years, but only recently made the switch to more professional blogging. Beauty Through Imperfection, and this site are now my part time jobs, and it is time consuming.
So how is it done? How does one juggle family life and a blogging business? Here are 8 ways to balance blogging and family time. .
- Keep a Blogging Schedule – Choose specific times of day to blog, and stick with it. Instead of just going online whenever you have a spare moment, wait until you will have an hour or two to spend online. I use nap time as blogging time, and I rarely do anything else during those 2 hours. When you know that you will be able to take time to blog at a certain time each week or day, it can help you resist trying to squeeze in a few moments online when you should be focusing your energies elsewhere.
- Intentional Time Away – As essential as it is to schedule blogging time, it is just as important to schedule time away from the computer. Set aside certain times of the day to have the internet turned off so that you can focus on family and housework without distraction.
- Let Go of Things You Can’t Control – Realize that there will be days when you don’t end up blogging and there will be days that your stats are lower than normal. These things happen. It’s not a reason to stress or obsess over your time, just flow with it! Remember that, at the end of the day, the love of family and love of God is far more important than the number of page views you received today, or the amount of money you were able to earn in a month. Don’t put more pressure on yourself than you are able to bear.
- Set Boundaries – A long time ago I made a personal rule for myself that I wouldn’t blog when I could be spending time with my husband, because I don’t want it to ever come between us. Most nights he goes to bed a good 2 hours before I do, so I’m able to sneak some blogging in there, but if he’s up for a board game or a movie at night, I will do that first every time. Blogging is my (part time) job, but it can never come before the most important task I’ve been given, caring for and loving on my family! There are a lot of nights that hubby wants to play one of his solo games, or read books, and I use that time to work on my blog as well, but if we could be having hubby-wifey time, that will always come first, regardless of how my stats may suffer for it.
- Be Honest With the Kids – Sometimes I have to work on my blog while the kids are awake, when I do I’m honest with them about what I’m doing. My son is 3, but he can understand when I say “Mama needs to work right now, and I will come play with you as soon as I’m done”. I make sure that I give them a lot of attention when I’m done and tell them how much I love them. I try not to work while they are awake, but sometimes it happens, and that’s okay! I feel like it’s a good thing for them to see me working sometimes, and to understand that I’m working because I love them, the same way Daddy does.
- Keep a Notebook Handy – I carry a notebook with me everywhere I go. I use it to jot down notes for future blog posts, and sometimes I will write out an entire post in my notebook! Then, when I have time at the computer I can just transfer content from my notebook to my computer. This is especially handy for nights when I’m feeling uninspired, but I need to get a post scheduled.
- Write, Write, Write! – Try to get more than one post done at a time. When I feel inspired to write I may draft 3 or 4 posts, and then go back and edit them when I’m not in a writing mood, but have some spare time to work. This way I write when I’m most passionate and I’m not forced to be creative when I’m too tired or just not in the mood. Remember! A post doesn’t have to be perfect when you draft it, just get your words down, and worry about perfecting them later.
- Divide Your Time – This goes with #7 but I thought it deserved it’s own mention. Some nights I sit and create images for several posts that I’ve already written, but they just need a Pinterest – worthy photo to complete them, other nights I edit and other nights I focus on writing! Sometimes I do all three in one sitting, but I think it is important to remember that you don’t have to do all three every time you sit down to work on the computer. Do what you are feeling interested in at the time, and you will enjoy your work a lot more.
How do you find balance between blogging and Family? Any tips to share?
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This is one of the hardest things about blogging-finding the right balance. I know that I personally still struggle with it and have had to tweak my plans almost every other day. I love your tips, especially the notebook one. I just wish my little ones would stop doodling all over it or if I could find the ones I hid from them, that would be nice to.
I think that everyone knows that a lot of trial and error goes along with finding that balance that is right for you and your family. And not to be discouraged when it takes weeks, or even months.
I completely agree! Such a great point to mention that it can take weeks or months for certain things!
Great tips! I am guilty of not having a regular blogging schedule. I’ve been blogging for a little over 5 months and I still can’t find the balance. Pinning this!
It definitely takes awhile to get a good groove going! Keep trying! 🙂
Hi There! These are interesting ways to rein in the “blogging crazies”. I took a few days off recently because I just felt overwhelmed. I should do it more often, as you suggested.
Nice to meet you today 🙂
Ceil
A few days off can do wonders to bring clarity and balance! 🙂 Glad you have found something that works for you!!!
I went half-time at work to spend time with my 3 year old, but I find at times that if I were to put a camera on myself, it would probably look like I’m not spending time with her, I’m merely sitting beside her. Thank you for these tips and the reminder that comes with them!
I completely understand, I have found myself in that position before too! The important thing is that you realize it, and can now take steps to set those boundaries so that you can fix it! 🙂
Great tips and good reminders. Thanks! Visiting from SDG.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting today!!!
This is great advice, Paula. I’m loving this new site!!
The thing I find difficult about getting a balance between family life and blogging is that things keep changing. I just sort out my schedule and then something changes – school holidays, bedtimes etc..
I know that I tend to end up getting buried in my work if I’m not careful and my prayer is to be more present for my family.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
Good to see you here Mel! 🙂 Glad you are enjoying the new site!
I agree, it is hard because things are constantly changing, but the nice thing is, blogging is a job/hobby that is easy to change as needed! It’s not like a 9-5 job that has to be worked around, you can work your life around blogging instead of the other way around, it’s a challenge at times, but it’s worth every bit of the challenges!
Paula – such great tips! Especially like the one about being honest with the kids when you must work while they’re awake. My son doesn’t always nap during the day, so sometimes I must write when he’s awake. But, I tell him that I’m working and he understands. What makes it hard is that he’s an only child… So he can’t just go play with his brothers and/or sisters.
Anyway… found this new site via Time-Warp Wife’s link up. Looks like you’ve got a good thing going here. Best of luck in your new venture!
So Happy to see you here Alana!!! 🙂 That’s nice that your son understands when you need to work, I bet that helps a lot!
Such good points about managing a blog and family!! 🙂
Thank you Margo, so glad you dropped by today 🙂
Good tips because blogging and balance family/life are a challenge. I try to follow quite a few of these, but sometimes I get a bit off balance.
Thanks for the reminders.
KC
We could all use a few reminders about balance from time to time! I’m glad these were helpful for you today!
Love this, thanks! I’ve quickly discovered the need for boundaries or I’d be on here all the time and for me it’s a hobby, not my calling. 🙂 –Kelsey
I am the same way! If it weren’t for boundaries I would probably be online 24/7 and that just isn’t okay 😉
Really great post! I’ve been considering the notebook idea, and now I think I’ll do it. I always forget my ideas by the time I sit down to write.
I’m the same way! My notebook helps so much!!!
This is a really timely post for me as I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed trying to find some balance and the ever-elusive margin in my life! Thanks for these tips! I will be prayerfully applying them to my life over the next few days.
So glad it was helpful! Finding balance is such a challenge!
I really enjoy this, I can see how blogging can take over and it’s good to be reminded of the need for balance in all things!
Wrenx
Great list! My tip is to wake up earlier than every one else. Once the kids stop taking naps, it is going to be harder to get a lot done while they are awake. Your tip about spending time with hubby is so wise and “spot on”.
Smart idea!!! I get up before the kids to work sometimes too. 🙂
This is exactly what I do. Wake up before anyone else and it’s amazing what you can get done. It’s great, other than having to be super quiet so that they stay asleep! =)
These are really good tips. First I am going to print these out and put them by my desk. Then, I am going to e-mail these to my sisters because I feel like often times we are too involved as bloggers or too involved in our other life. I usually can tell when I am being too good of a blogger. When my 3 year old comes over to the computer and says I need to be on Pinterest or write a blog post. On weeks where I have a big sewing project due I try and block out several hours if not several days to just be a momma and a wife.
aww so glad you enjoyed them! I hope they help you find the perfect balance for you and your family 🙂
I love this list, Paula! 🙂 As a newbie, I failed to realize how time-consuming blogging would really be! I still haven’t found that perfect time of day (I do my devotions during naptime), but that’s definitely something I’ll keep looking for. You have offered many practical suggestions here that will be very helpful. Thanks! I”ll be pinning this one. 🙂 Visiting you from the Desire to Inspire link-up today.
It is always a challenge finding a balance, especially at first! Just looking for balance and realizing that you need it will help a LOT 🙂
Thanks for sharing these great tips with the Thrive @ Home community!
I’m visiting from All Things Pretty. Thanks for sharing these tips! I’ve started back to my teaching job and have struggled with the balance of it all. I love the notebook idea and spending time with the hubby.
~Erin @ Erin’s 2 Cents
Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad the tips are going to work for you 🙂
Paula! I clicked over to read and had no idea it was you! What a great post with so many good ideas- especially the part about putting hubby above blogging. Some nights I just want to “get one more thing done” but I need to put him above the computer. 🙂 Good to “see” you again. 🙂
Haha welcome over Kelli!!! 🙂
Great advice. I to have 2 energetic toddlers. We are enjoying following you. Lawrie from Firefly Farm adventures.
how fun! 🙂 toddlers are the best! 😉
This is a great post! Thanks for this information! Pinning!
thanks for stopping by and for sharing!!!
I need to keep these tips in mind when my little one arrives! I imagine I won’t have much time for blogging in her first few months (or rather I will be too exhausted!) but I would like to be able to continue with it and find a nice balance between that, running my own handmade business, and motherhood. Thanks!
The exhaustion is definitely a tough obstacle for blogging in the first few months. Congrats on your little one!!!
I wanted to invite you to the Friday Flash Blog Party, the best linky in town! I hope you’ll join us and link up. Who knows. You may just get highlighted!
The party goes on ALL weekend.
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
http://www.thejennyevolution.com
Thanks Jenny!
Ah! I am so excited to find your blog and glean some awesome advice. Definitely following along to enjoy all you have to share 🙂
Thanks Becca, we are glad to have you here 🙂
This post was really helpful, especially for a new blogger like me who is really trying to figure out how to spend my time. Stopping by from the Cooking With Curls link party.
I love these tips! I even pinned this so I can refer back to it. I noticed I have a few things from you on my Pinterest boards :). I’m a new blogger and am really struggling with balance. I never imagined how much time it would require! Thanks for the help!
So glad this post helped you!!! It’s definitely a challenge finding balance, especially in the beginning!!!
I have been blogging since 2009, but only seriously in the last year. I must admit, I didn’t do so well with juggling my time and often spent too much time on the computer. I love your idea of keeping a schedule and plan to implement this during our school year. I had already decided that I would put more effort into only blogging when the kids are occupied. You know, like, not during homeschool…ahem!!! Thank you for the suggestions! Found your blog through A Mama’s Story link up!!! Have a blessed day!
Sounds like you already have a great idea for what will work well in your family! 🙂 Way to go Niki!!!
Great thoughts, especially number 6 – carrying a notebook with you. That’s one that I’ll be implementing for sure!
I also agree that blogging should never come between you and your family, but I also see that it’s important for the children to see you work, and to understand that there are a very few times that they cannot interrupt you.
I was remembering my own childhood, and how my mother went back to school when I was 11. Things were fine when she studied at home, but when she went back to work after graduation, the family began to unravel. I guess mom’s presence is so very important, even if she is a bit busy.
That’s for the great post!
My notebook helps me sooooo much! 🙂
This is a very timely post for me! I’m very behind on my blogging and struggling to balance everything! I have a hard time separating out my tasks and always feel like I must complete a post (including pinnable image) before I can stop … but this is SO time consuming! And with a 9 month old I can rarely get that much time in during a nap! I like the notebook idea too – I may have to do that more – or Evernote voice.
I’ve heard great things about Evernote, but I’ve never used it myself! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! Life with a 9 month old is constantly changing. 🙂
These are great tips. I struggle with the balance often. I also carry a notebook around just in case I have an unexpected few minutes to write or an idea strikes me. I love your tip about dividing your time. I need to do that more. Thanks for sharing these with the Mommy Brain Mixer this week.
Glad these were some helpful tips for you Nicolette! 🙂
Yes! I pinned this, because it’s all worth keeping in mind. I’ve been finding that I naturally end up dividing my time, write one day, create pin-worthy pictures the next, edit, and so on and so forth. However, I need to take the advice of numbers 2&4!!!!I need to work on that, a lot :-/
Thanks for this, Paula!
Peggy
Glad this was a help to you Peggy! That’s neat that you naturally divide your time like that! It can really help things flow quicker!
Yes it can! I didn’t think about it, until reading your post, that I did that! 😀
Subscribing from the I Gotta Try That link-up.
Excellent tips! Number 2 will be my biggest challenge. Number 6 is an inspiration to me. My writing goes in spurts. So if I rough draft several at one time, I’ll have material to work on even when the inspiration isn’t flowing or I just don’t feel like coming up with something new.
That is awesome advice Paula, and one of these days I will try and force myself to stick to a schedule! Luckily, my kids are grown so I don’t have that additional challenge. 🙂 Thank you so much for joining us and sharing at Best of the Weekend! Pinning to our party board, and we hope to see you again on Friday.
This is an awesome post Paula! Great tips! Luckily, my children are grown, actually one of the reasons I decided to start blogging. I had the extra time and needed to fill the time I used to spend being a fulltime Mom. Now blogging is a huge passion! Thank you for sharing at our TGIF Link Party at A Peek Into My Paradise. Your post will be featured at the TGIF Link Party this week!
Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Great post! Thanks for sharing on last weeks Thrifty Thursday!!
I have Featured your post on this weeks party, I hope you will continue to join us!
http://healthyhiggins.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-thursday-you-know-what-that-means.html
I feel a bit like a minority here…
Blogging dad’s face the same dilemma but we somehow feel like it’s more acceptable for us to walk away from the family in favor of writing. Not acceptable.
I try to get my writing/blogging down in the 5AM -7AM hours before the rest of the family awakens. Husbands and fathers MUST play more of an active role in the family for mom’s sanity and for the kids to have a positive, engaged male role model.
Thanks for posting. We all need a reminder of our priorities at times. Blogging should be AT LEAST third behind God and Family.
Absolutely WONDERFUL advice & well written too! Feel like I need to bookmark it to read over and over…reminding myself of your great advice! 🙂
I loved this post! It’s essential that we don’t lose track of what’s really important. I still at times struggle with these obstacles.
Great read!
Blessings!
howtotrainasuperhero.com
It is so easy to let time away from me when I start blogging/networking. I try to write 30 minutes a day whether it’s in my book journal or for the blog so that I can post more consistently. I would go weeks without blogging. I’m still trying to find the balance. These are great tips. I’m pinning to my blogging tips board on Pinterest.
These are great tips. I have found that I can get most of my writing and photography done while my son is awake and playing. Most of my crafting has to be done while my son is asleep, or he will try to “assist” (which, depending on the project can prove to be difficult, but I do try to involve him in some things and I suspect as he gets older this will increase). Also, editing photos and my blog posts where I need to be on my desktop and not my iPad has to be done during sleeping hours, whether that be nap time or after bedtime.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little research on this.
And he in fact bought me dinner simply because I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this issue here on your web
page.
Superb blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there
that I’m totally confused .. Any recommendations?
Appreciate it!
If you think you’ll keep up with your blog (most quit in 6 months) than go with the wordpress, but if you aren’t sure, just go with a freebie. I started out with the paid. 🙂
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Thank you for posting! Honestly, it is challenging to find the balance I try to get up early to do some blogging, but I hardly ever write posts in the morning. I have to find alone time later to write posts, but I love how you set time away from the computer, set priorities with your husband and kids, and then just allow some days where things don’t get done. Thanks for writing a real post about balance!!
Great Tips!
Oh bless your buns thanks you! I am new at this and feeling guilty when my boys say “all you ever do is play on the computer”. Which is funny cuase before I started blogging it was “you are always in your garage gym”. I love them dearly and love playing with them. I needed your post today…Thank You!!!
Our kids say that, too, but I have told them… “Mommy has to work. If you want me to get a job teaching again, I can, but then you will be in daycare. Today we went to the pool, played outside, played ‘Castle’ and made pictures. If you want to go to daycare, I won’t be able to do that stuff with you during the day, but its up to you. So, you pick- mommy works for a few hours, or you go to daycare all day. I’m fine with either.” I’m sure you can guess their answer! 😉
What are you going to do when they don’t take naps anymore? My daughter bluntly told me, I am not going to take a nap anymore when she was 3 1/2 and she didn’t. It only gets busier from there! Good luck!
Our older kids have quiet time where they can pick a show to watch. This works because they DONT watch TV before this time, so when it comes on, they are glued to it.
These are very practical and logical tips!
Really great tips – very practical! Quick question, how do you fold in social media time to increase blog traffic?
We both preschedule things on Facebook & just hop onto twitter when we can during the day.
This is such a good list and something that I’m working on especially right now as I adjust to having a third child. I really need to do better at #7. So often when I feel inspired I write a bit and then end up working at other things. I really need to “milk” that time for all it’s worth and save the other stuff for later. I think in the long run it would help me come out farther ahead.
Thanks for the tips- pinning it for future reference and so hopefully some other bloggers can benefit too!
I definitely need to work on this. Thanks for the reminder.
This is such a helpful reminder. I’ve been blogging for not quite 3 months, and the biggest thing I have learned is that it can be all-consuming! 🙂 Thanks for these helpful tips!
Really great tips, must read for every mommy blogger.
This is still a challenge for me to balance. I struggle with saying to my kids mommy has work to do but it’s important too.
These are some really great tips! I have started carrying around a notebook (or Google Keep on my phone) and it’s helped me jot down ideas. And there are also moments when I’m already at my computer and I’ll just open a Word doc with a few lines (a sentence, topic, whatever). The point is to always be prepared when the inspiration strikes 🙂
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This whole article is awesome. I love # 2,3,& 4