“How do you manage to have a blog while you have a full time job, a boyfriend, mother to call every day, cook your own meals and able to study?”
Every single day, someone will pop this question. I absolutely agree that it’s really not easy to juggle all of it in one single sitting – it takes serious planning or else you’ll go crazy.
I honestly believe that when something makes you happy, you have to do more of it. If it brings you new challenges, you have to take it and move. And if something is really important to you, you’ll find time even if it’s impossible to have time.
I have a full time job and a whole lot more stuff to do. But, when I started getting serious in blogging I realized that I need to have a direction or else, I’m just wasting my time and money.
How To Manage A Blog With A Full Time Job
Whether you are blogging for hobby or planning to make it your full time job in the future, you have to have a solid plan and a made up mind.
Blogging can take up so much of your time so you have to make sure you spend every minute wisely. Here are some tips that I can personally attest to be effective.
PLAN OUT
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Have you every heard of that? This is so true in blogging. When I started I just want to write, to keep things out of my chest so I can breath.
I usually do this when I am out from my full time job, I seriously made my blog an online diary that time.
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Then one day, I was browsing my Linked In profile when my former boss sent me a message saying that he read some of my blog posts and he thinks that instead of pulling off bitterness I can make it informative, enjoyable, alive and pretty.
That struck me like a lighting bulb. He was right! So, I started planning out. I started setting small achievable goals day by day.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Until when do you plan to blog?
- How can you grow your blog?
TRY OUT STRATEGY
When you’ve made up your mind and ready to make a commitment to your blog, it’s time to make a move and level up. To make this step fruitful, you have to ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What knowledge do I need to make it successful?
- How much time can I allot to this and how often?
- How does it make me feel?
It is important to answer these questions wholeheartedly because if you are just lying to yourself? Stop it. Blogging is just a waste of your time. It’s like getting a degree, if you want to have a successful blog you gotta make it work.
Download my free checklist of blog post ideas to help you brainstorm
PRIORITY CHECK
You have to make room for the other things that surrounds you – like family, your special someone and of course, your blog. So how can you do this without losing your mind?
- Grab a calendar (physical or app based) – write down the events that is important to you and your family (i.e. anniversaries, birthdays, vacation etc) this is important so you would know how many time can you allot to blogging
- Office tasks – this is where the challenge begins! You cannot control the pile of work at the office but most certainly you have some “break time” when you can snooze in with your blog. I personally check my blog or write down some posts during lunch break or when I get really itchy to write I do it in meetings (sorry, boss!)
TIME ATTACK
Say for example you’ve decided that alright, I have “2 hours every Wednesday and Friday” where I can work on my blog. That is amazing. Now, you need to be extra productive so be sure you utilize your time.
What you can do is:
- Research topics while your on a bus, taxi or train going to work.
- Write drafts while eating lunch
- Finalize the post once your on your way home “this means to re-read many times, critic your own work, make it your best piece!”
- Hit publish once ready – you can challenge yourself to make it a point to publish in a same time every time. This will help you to stay on track.
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SCHEDULE & AUTOMATE
If thinking of a post takes time, every blogger would agree that PROMOTION takes more time. Want to be a successful blogger? Work your butts off, baby!
Here’s the trick, you cannot spend time on every social media at the same time and expect a HUGE LEAP on traffic – that’s not how it works. Believe me, I failed many times in promotion like crazy doll!
Choose two of your most beloved social networks “those you honestly enjoy” and where your audience hangs out and focus on them. Say for example you love Facebook and Instagram, what you can do is:
- Analyze the content – what content is most shared? liked?
- What could be better? look for improvement on your posts
- What tools can I use for me to save time while growing my blog?
- Is this social media giving me results?
I use Tailwind for Pinterest, Here’s a 1 Month Trial that you can use.
And for sending emails, I use Convertkit.
CONNECT
It’s easy to get caught up in blogging and just write posts then promote them and go back to sleep. For sure I know how that feels.
But you have to keep in mind that you have audience, readers and fellow bloggers (which by the way are real people) to connect with.
Blogging is such a powerful way to make new friends and loyal readers! Connect with them on social media, help out, seek advice and ask for help.
Download my free guide of blog post ideas to help you brainstorm
MAINTAIN
Your blog is not just about writing posts, promoting to social media or connecting with others. It needs maintenance. What do I mean?
- Your domain name, when will it expire? Take note of it.
- Your hosting, was it good so far? Check that.
- Do you back up your blog? Try Updraft Plus it’s what I use and it’s been amazing.
- Do you update old posts? Don’t let gems hide on the cave.
- Do you revamp your blog look? Keep things interesting but clean to navigate easily.
MONETIZE
Once you hit your “goal in numbers” and have a full confidence, take on the next leap of faith and monetize. There are a lot of ways, you can sign up for Google Adsense or check on some AdNetworks like BlogHer, Nuffnang, Affiliate Marketing all that good stuff. You can even sell your own products.
Are you a blogger with a full time job?
If you need help managing your blog? Get my very own cheatsheets, templates, guides and workbooks that helped me keep my sanity and grow my blogging business.
Karate and Caviar
I usually do lots of blogging orga etc at the weekend, mostly on a Saturday morning. I head out to a pretty coffee place and get started. This is usually lots of fun too and sets the perfect weekend mood 🙂
Patricia A. Go
Thanks for the great tips! Not only do I work FT, but I also am involved with my church. Sometimes blogging often enough is a challenge for me, but since I’ve experienced so much over the last few years I have wanted to write like I never have before!
Janica Khemlani
Hey Pat, thanks for reading! I so relate to you girl, I also have commitments to church and it’s REALLY challenging to get things done plus a full time job! ???? I hope you downloaded the Planner it will be helpful for you ????
Iman Brooks
This is great not only do I work full time I am a single mother. Needless to say it has been a juggling act to try and keep my blog up and running. Great tips.
Janica Khemlani
Hi Iman, I cannot imagine how hard it is for you. I mean juggling all the mom duties and work and keep up your blog is just wow! I’m happy that this post helped you 🙂
Jennifer
Wonderful and honest advice. I’ve been at my blog 8 months or so, and after driving full speed ahead, I have hit a loss of steam. I am hoping I find it again, and soon.
Janica Khemlani
Uh gir, it’s really a challenge to keep up with a blog especially when a 9-5 eats up all your energy.
Lauren Norton
This is so great! I was so excited when I saw this on the Blogging with Heart group! I just started my first full-time social-media/blogging job and I am already struggling to keep up with my personal blog. I have to write content for and promote two blogs now! AH! This Christmas holiday will be spent planning my personal blog, Glitter & Grandeur, and you totally inspired me to stick to that plan. I previously had school, and three part-time jobs in addition to my blog but I only had to come up with content for my blog. My creative juices are tired. 😛 I can’t wait to plan ahead and save some energy later on.
Janica Khemlani
OMG! Having one blog drives me nuts and another blog? whoop! Such a busy gal 😀 Let me know if you need more tips 🙂 Love that you find these useful 😀
Ellie Maple Syrup & Teacups
YES!! I have a full time job and truthfully I don’t earn a cent from my blogging but I’m working towards that. I find that having a schedule for posting really helps, I post 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7am and that works for me, it’s definitely good to have that schedule. I’ve not worked out the scheduling social media posts yet but I’ll have to check that out! Awesome tips, definitely going to have to utilize these.
Ellie
http://www.maplesyrupandteacups.blogspot.com
Janica Khemlani
Hey Ellie! I’m so overwhelmed with the social media thing too haha! It’s really a challenge to be honest, but you know what? That’s OK because YOU GOT THIS!
Emily Bendler
Love love love!! These tips are essential!! I work full time, have 2 young kids, am in grad school, teach dance, and blog. Definitely couldn’t do it without utilizing these ideas!!
Janica Khemlani
Hi Emily, YOU are such a busy mama! So proud of you juggling everything – I couldn’t imagine how tired you are every single day.So happy you find these tips helpful! 🙂
Sara
I love this! Not only do I work full time, but I also am working on growing my own business that is separate from my blog. And I just started a part time job. I have two key things that help me manage everything: My planner and my weekly meal prep!
Janica Khemlani
Hey Sara! I feel you so much dear, the prep meal thing helps A TON right? And I’m so obsessed with planners (brrrr.. I have 6 of them for everything)
Sarah Jean
I like the “Time attack” finding a few hours you know you can work on your blog and then getting it done!
Janica Khemlani
Yes! And its so so so important to be really intentional about it or else you won’t get anything done! Happy you liked the post :*
Robin
This is so helpful! I very much agree with the theme of paying attention to the parts of the process that you enjoy–that’s such important information that we’re used to tuning out, but you can use it to your advantage to make sure that you don’t burn out over time. Also, I’ve also found that the trick to blogging full-time on top of a full-time job is utilizing your downtime to your advantage–my one-hour train rides to and from work are my dedicated social media/promotion time! Great tips, thank you 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Hey Robin! First off, your name is fantastic I love it! I so agree with taking advantage of transportation time (esp when traffic hits) we’re smart hustlers baby!
Robin
Thank you so much! 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Most welcome 🙂
Monique Diplock
Wow! These are some great tips!!! I am free at the moment as I’ve had a lot of personal stuff this year, but when i go back to studying next year, These will be very helpful, I’m going to book mark this so i can put it in my journal! Thanks for Sharing!
Janica Khemlani
Hi Monique! So happy you find these tips useful 🙂 Let me know of you need more tips!
Online Business Tips Roundup September 21, 2016 • Julia Atkinson's Blog
[…] http://beautyandcherries.com/blog-full-time-job/ […]
SuperHealthyCooking
“Failing to plan is planning to fail!” Never heard but this is so true! I am a big ‘planner’ … so much so… sometimes I overplan 😀 Thank for sharing 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Hello SuperHealthyCooking! I totally AGREE with you! Sometimes I even OVER REACT! HAHAHA! Love that you share to me your thoughts! <3
Sabrina Tanner
Thank you so much for sharing these tips. I am a blogger who works a full time job and it can seriously get overwhelming from time to time! But the tips you shared really help you to keep you on track! I will have to implement a few of the tips you mentioned to get even better at it!
Janica Khemlani
YAY! So happy the post was helpful Sabrina! Let me know if you need more tips I’ll help as much as I can 🙂
Rima Trew
Janica, thanks so much for the links to all these blogging books. It is a real eye opener, I never realized there was so much advice available out there. I shall have to start reading. I hope I’ve got enough time left to write my blog!
Janica Khemlani
Hello Rima! No worries I love helping out! Don’t hesitate to shoot me an email I’ll help as much as I can <3 My advise is, if you want to read – focus on 1 book then schedule your blogging routine so you will not get crazy juggling both 🙂
Dorothy Mae C. Torretijo
Thank you for sharing us this kind of knowledge. Scheduling helps me a lot. I really adore your posts. Keep posting!
Janica Khemlani
Ohhh that is so sweet!!! Thank you dear I appreciate it so much ???
Lovely del Mundo
I can totally relate to this! <3
Janica Khemlani
The struggle is real Lovely! Lol! Let’s keep blogging 🙂
Lovely del Mundo
— I have a longer msg for you janica.. :)—
Hello there, Janica!
I find your blog so organized, creative and practical. It was a good thing to drop by your blog. It feels like I am reading a self – help book too.
My name is Lovely. I am behind-the-scenes in WORDS and RHTHM blog. This coming December is the 6th blogversary of Words and Rhythm. I am still blogging in wordpress which I find really convenient than self-hosting. However, I want to do something more for my blog. I like to change the layout / theme. I would like to hear some suggestion from you since I learned you are doing web designing. You may check out my website right now : http://www.thelovelyrhythm.com. I just want a third person to be an eye on how can I improve the blog theme/style that is appropriate on what blog I do like Movie/Anime/Book Reviews, Personal Blogs and Travel Photo Blog.
I want to ask something about Pinterest too. How can it help me increase my blog traffic? How do you find pinterest in terms of connecting your blog to it? I am planning to have one. Another thing, my domain name is about to expire. Can I just renew my http://www.thelovelyrhythm.com because I don’t want to change it. >..<
I hope you can drop by my blog too if you have time. Thanks in advance and God Bless.
Blogger Lovely
Blog : http://www.thelovelyrhythm.com
Twitter: @thelovelyrhythm
Janica Khemlani
Hi Lovely!
I just replied to your message on my Facebook Page 🙂
Don’t worry – I’ll help you out!
Charm Gamboa
This is what I need, thank you for the tips. It’s really hard having a full timejob then events happens on a weekday. I really don’t know how to decide on those things. I’ll share this to my blogger friends 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Thank you Charm! I am really glad this post was useful for you.
Janica Khemlani
Yup yup agree!
Berlin Domingo
This makes me wanna share this post to my blogger friend who now holds a fulltime job. A nice read, your post is very helpful either for neophytes or seasoned ones. They are full of tips which are written in easy to understand terms or lingo. Thanks for this.
Janica Khemlani
Ohhh thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 So happy you find it helpful 🙂
Yogo Cream
Your post is really helpful for budding bloggers and those with a full time job. I had a difficult time previously in maintaining our blog especially when I had a work load from office. I decided last June to resign my work wherein I became a free man just this July. Some may say that I did a crazy thing. However, I believe in our blog and our potential to be successful in it. I want to grab the opportunities that we’ve missed because we’re busy with our work. Well, I’ll still be working again soon, but not in a corporate setting. I want to do business so I can handle my time. -Me-An Clemente
Janica Khemlani
Wow! I am so happy for you! Don’t mind those people who’s saying negative stuff. Bloggng is really something that can pay off all your hardwork esp if full time
Sriparna Susan
This is exactly what I’m dealing with, everyday, recently. But planning doesn’t work all the time for me as my job is very tricky 🙁
I’m still trying to figure out on a lot. Thank you for some of your tips!
Janica Khemlani
I feel you dear! I even find it EXTRA Struggle esp when deadlines to office comes. But, we love to write so we give time to it 🙂
Sriparna Susan
Will you please comment on my post from #121? I don;t see you’ve done that…
Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag
I agree that scheduling helps a lot. This is true not just in blogging but in any endeavor, business or hobby. But knowing your reasons for blogging will help one stick to the schedule better. Of course, there are times when blogging will have to take a back seat when more important things in our lives happen. 🙂 Because in the end, we need to live meaningful and happy lives first, so we can have something beautiful to write on our blogs. 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Correct! Knowing your purpose makes blogging and even LIFE worth risking for. I also take sometime away from this blog esp when times I get so overwhelmed.
Jessica
I always adore people who could juggle these things successfully. I am a full time student with some side-jobs but I don’t own a site; I am a contributor on a travel blog which also demands a certain number of posts and promotions. A strict time management is one of the keys! These are all great points and tips. 🙂
Janica Khemlani
I would love to see your articles. Can you also write for us? I am looking for contributors 🙂 Happy you liked the post 🙂
Jen Louise Larracas
Wow thank you for sharing us the knowledge about this. Your article is absolutely helpful most especially to those who are really passionate in blogging, and yet wants to manage time even though they have a full time work/
Janica Khemlani
Thank you Jen for your feedback on this post! I appreciate it. Happy you find it helpful 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Thanks Jen :))
veethee dixit
omg!! your words are soooo encouraging.. working full time can be really exhausting, but as a passionate blogger i always take out time for writing.. your tips are definitely gonna help a lot of bloggers! ?
Janica Khemlani
Oh dear you made me so happy! Thank you so much for your kind words and I feel every struggle of wanting to write like a mad woman Ha-ha! Appreciate you reading this post 🙂
Carola
I work fulltime as well. And do a lot of overwork (at home) as well. But my working on my website truly makes me happy. I try to spend as much time on it as possible. I agree, it’s not just the writing, but merely promoting is taking time. But I like that as well. And we maintain our website with 3 people. So that helps!
Janica Khemlani
AGREE with you Carol! There is really something about writing that makes me happy (not to mention that working full time can be really stressful) so having a blog, somehow takes the stress away! Happy you liked the article 🙂
Abby
I work full time and am studying for a degree as well as blog. I try to blog 3-5 times a week but won’t be too upset if I miss that amount of posts per week. I am trying to find balance but do feel that I’ll have two or three great weeks where I feel on top of things and then a week or two of just holding my head above water! It takes a lot to balance and still have fun.
XoXo One Stiletto At A Time
Janica Khemlani
Hi Abby, thank you so much for reading! I agree with you it’s really challenging to find balance. Sometimes I even feel like I’m so exhausted I cannot even think of a blog post idea! XD By the way, your blog is awesome!
Ann
I love reading your post, everything you say “I’m that kind of gurl” I also do havea full-time job sometimes night shift, and i need to keep up also in my blog. I’m very passionate in my blogging and i know that soon enough it will pay-off. hehe. I always make plans, the thing that you said like in a train or bus going home or work. I do that when I’m in a bus going to work i started planning what to do in my next post also with my instagram. And in my day-off i always make sure to do a photoshoot atleast 1 outfit shoot. So on and so forth, my comment is getting longer. LOL! it’s really hard but seeing my blog that is progressing from a scrap to something pretty is worth the effort. ^^ totally love your post
http://www.itsbeyondimaginations.blogspot.com
Janica Khemlani
Hey Ann! So happy you loved it! I also do blogging work on weekends LOL! It’s really overwhelming sometimes but let’s just hope that it will soon pay off! 🙂
Lydia Kulterer
Hi! i started blogging one year ago. i worked 40 h for a newspaper and build up my blog. it took so much time to blog and work – so i quit my job for blogging. now I write my own blog (a fitness blog for women about butt exercises ;)) i have now 17500 reader/month and found some companies who need my help. now i write all day long 🙂
it’s german but check it out: http://www.pouebungen.com http://www.webpunks.co http://www.leuchtturm-coworking.at
greetings from austria 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Hi Lydia! I’m so happy for you!!! I hope one day I can do that, full time in blogging! Sounds really exciting to me 🙂 I will definitely check your blog I want some booty too! LOL . Happy you liked the post 🙂
Denise Of Pa (A Tattoo On His
Love this! Blogging is difficult when you work fulltime hours, care for a family and have to share a computer. The thing that takes the most of my time is actually finding and preparing the photos. I have my go-to places for photos but it still takes a great deal of time.
Janica Khemlani
Hi Denise, I would agree with you 100%! And it makes sense to really spend time on photos I do that as well LoL. I love using canva, what do you use?
Kelila Fuller
Great post. I’m struggling at the moment, guess I’m having writers block possibly he work is definitely playing a part. Thanks for your tips I’ll definitely be trying them x
Janica Khemlani
Thank you Kelila! Happy you find it useful 🙂
Denver Nario
Hi Nica!
I manage my blog at dawn when everybody is still asleep. Wake up at 4:50am and do blogging up to 6:20am. That’s an extra 10 hours in a week.
Nice post!
I’m going to try out the buffer and hootsuit! Haha!
Janica
Hey Denver, I envy your “paggising ng maaga!” haha! Happy you liked the post 🙂
Janica Khemlani
Hi Denver, happy you liked it! Yes try to automate your promotion it does helps 🙂 Btw, I admire your dedication as you wake up early! great job!
Denver Nario
Btw, on top of waking up early, I also have an 8-5 job like you. Manage our laundry business after the day job (2 branches) with my wife. And take care of our 2 year old son when we get home. I guess I found my passion. If you’re happy, you’ll find time for it. And with buffer, I think I’m gonna free up a few more minutes out of my day. Lol!
Janica
Oh wow that is amazing! More family time 🙂 Congrats with your business. Hey, what’s your blog? gimme the link I want to have a look. 🙂