Since school is just right around the corner for me (at the moment that you’re read this, my first day of school probably just ended), I know I should step up my game this year and fix up a new blogging style/schedule.
Last year I blogged extremely sporadically because of school, and this year I really want to not let you guys down and continue spreading my awesomeness in a timely manner.
So, let’s talk about finding a balance between school/reading/blogging. Here are the two simple steps I took to organizing my schedule:
1.) Answer the tough time management questions. Particularly:
- How much reading/blogging time can I squeeze into my day? (For me: About two hours a day for both together… Not two hours each.)
- Is that time enough for me to read in a leisurely manner? Is that enough time for me to give out good blogging content? (For me: It’s enough time to read without getting stressed, but it’s not enough time to churn out good content and be active in the blogosphere.)
- Are there days when I’m not busy/don’t have any homework? (For me: Yes! Homework is pretty much dead to me on Wednesday and Saturday nights.)
2.) Draw a conclusion.
So what I plan to do now is to just keep doing homework like usual (boo!) with an hour or two saved up for pleasure reading daily. On Wednesday and Saturday nights–I go blog crazy. I’ll draft and schedule enough posts until my next available day, and I’ll leave a shit ton of comments while I’m able. There’s roughly five hours for me to do this, which I can probably accomplish if I push myself.
Basically the point of this post is to tell you guys that I will be busy. I’ll probably only be a living soul in the blogosphere on Wednesday and Saturday nights. I’ll probably squeeze in some blogging time on Thursdays and Sundays too, but I don’t know.
I’m really hoping this new “schedule” works out for me. I want to have time to focus on studies, reading and blogging without giving any of them up.
Do you have a blogging schedule? How did you come up with it if you did?
…
About Aimee
Aimee loves being a little bookworm (okay–she doesn’t like being little). She also loves chocolates and sweets but is freaked out by the thought of possibly getting diabetes.
I Adork You 
It took me a while to get into a habit balancing things, but now it works pretty well! I subscribe to blogs by email, so I comment that way (and also through Comment Luv – I visit people’s most recent posts). That’s just whenever they pop up in my inbox. On Friday night/Saturday I write ALL my posts for the next week, and then it’s done. Most of the time I read before I go to bed, so that’s not much of an issue :)
GOOD LUCK GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU <3
LikeLike
I’m sure the actual commenting around will be the thing that takes up most of my time, so I can probably only do that twice or thrice a week. D:
Thanks love! <3
LikeLike
Ha, yes, I have a very strict blogging schedule that would take a long time to explain in a comment! It’s really hard to balance real life, reading and blogging in a day, that’s for sure! Good luck with the new schedule!
LikeLike
Definitely! Especially since I spend half of my day in school…
LikeLike
These tips are awesome! I am also having a tough time balancing work and my social media activities… I feel like I’m always tired by the end of the day. However, I came up with a game plan and hopefully it’ll work.
LikeLike
I totally understand! Sometimes I just fall right asleep when I come back home from school. I hope your new schedule works for you! :)
LikeLike
Hope your first day went well! I love your organized approach to solving this for yourself. I can certainly relate — I started my first year of college last year, and people were lucky to see me blogging a few times a month, and reading for pleasure was kinda out of the picture. :/ I really need to find my own plan of attack next year. Whenever I said to myself that I could do it after homework, there just wasn’t any time after hw or I was too tired. The only plan I’ve made is to only bring my kindle next year because I don’t have the time or space for a lot of physical books!
LikeLike
Thanks, Lina! it was mostly okay. :) Kindles are EXTREMELY helpful. I wouldn’t want to bring them to school with me since they could get stolen, but I approve if you live in a dorm. :) Good luck next year, girl!
LikeLike
Best of luck with it! Unfortunately for me, I have no idea how I’m gonna fit everything in. It’s not that I’m incredibly busy, it just gets hard to blog when I know there are assignments waiting for me. I’m trying to still make time for it though. It’s a hobby I like and I want to keep it! :D
LikeLike
That’s why I only plan to blog when there are no classes the next day. ;) Good luck, Laura! I’m sure you can find a schedule that fits you. :)
LikeLike
Good plan! I hope it works out okay for you and nothing gets too overwhelming. I don’t have a set schedule, though it might be good if I did. I’m trying to schedule as much as I can this summer so that I’m a bit ahead by the time school starts again …plus staying ahead in the summer is good too because I have a lot of other, random things going on (and I work!).
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Thanks, Lauren! :) I didn’t have a schedule last year which is why I failed at blogging… When it’s summer I don’t really schedule because I know I can write up a post at anytime of the day, but yes, other things can get in the way so it’s best to be prepared. :)
LikeLike
Ahhh, school. Hope you had/have a great first day. Sometimes they’re the toughest!
I’m not at school anymore, but during my last year things were rushed and stressful, and I found blogging difficult. In saying that — I still found myself having blog posts up every day. (Almost.) So the best piece of advice I could possibly give is to maximise your free time. What little that may be. And also scheduling posts ahead of date is REALLY helpful.
Good luck! :)
LikeLike
It was not too great… I wanted to strangle everyone already. ;P But that’s just me…
Whoa, you are a superhero, girl. :) I have a really tiny amount of free time on weekdays–our school’s main goal is to give us as much homework as physically possible.
LikeLike
Haha I think that’s every school main goal ;)
LikeLike
LOL. I don’t understand how all of my cousins *don’t* have any homework. D:
LikeLike
I don’t have lot of activities outside of reading & stuff I usually do so I dedicate most of the time on that. Plus, it’s also relaxing to me despite doing all the responsibilities I need to do. But yes, being organized balance out all your activities.
LikeLike
Schoolwork is going to take up a lot of my time, so I definitely need to balance everything out. Reading can be relaxing, but sometimes I just need a long nap after school!
LikeLike
I totally understand! I’m taking two summer classes and the Biology class is KILLING ME!! I barely have time to do anything, read or blog and I hate it because I feel like I’m slacking with the blog :(
LikeLike
Biology/chemistry/physics/SCIENCE… NO. D: I hate feeling like I’m slacking off too. D:
LikeLike
I totally understand how hard it can be to read and blog with a busy life. Sometimes impossible. And finding time to be active on social media and comment on others’ blogs is even tougher. Some days I do great, others not so much. You can only do what you can do. Not worth the pressure. Good luck with the busy-ness!! <3
LikeLike
I totally agree! You can take a few minutes to an hour of your time to write up a post, but being active on social media will eat up all of your time.
LikeLike
It can be really tricky to find a balance for blogging/reading when real life gets busy. For me, I usually tried to hit up my favorite blogs and posts all in one day, even if that meant comment-bombing some favorites XD and then I’d leave the rest of my free time open for reading and writing up reviews and posts. It ALWAYS helped if I could dedicate one day (a week or a month even) to schedule posts in advance on my blog, so then the biggest bit of the work was done with and I could just finalize and relax when the time came to post. I hope you find a system that works well for you and it’s totally understandable if you’re around less sometimes. We’ll still be here when you get back :) x
LikeLike
Scheduling has been extremely helpful for me recently! :) Thanks so much lovely. <3
LikeLike
I know how you feel! I work full-time and I have three kids. I usually end up with maybe three hours a day for blogging/reading so it gets really hard. I had a co-blogger before and doing it all by myself is very hard. I try to comment in about five blogs and then move to something else. I scan my email and reply to the most important first. I’ve also cut back in blog tours for the next few months.
Let me know if you find the secret!
LikeLike
Agh, I totally don’t know how I’ll handle my time when I finally work (which is thankfully still years away). I’ve cut back on blog tours too, and I don’t respond to emails unless they’re urgent. :(
LikeLike
It’s always hard for me to find time to blog (not because I’m extremely busy, which I’m not but because I’m lazy and love netflix too much) so once a month or something I like to sit down for two or three days and write and schedule posts for the up coming month. This way I don’t feel pressured to write reviews on time and I can write them as I’ve read them and schedule them for a few weeks away – it’s a great stress/anxiety relief for me when I don’t have to write posts and post them right when they’ve been written because I don’t always feel that they’re good quality that way.
LikeLike
There are times when I’m just not in the mood to blog, and when those happen I tend to not have any posts prepared in advance–eep! I’ve definitely been scheduling a lot more recently though. :)
LikeLike
With school blogging and reading is tough for me too. A lot of the times when I am done reading a book I will immediately write a book and schedule a review. Weekends are pretty free for me so I will usually put up some posts or schedule some posts then. I think in general how often I blog is dependent on my schedule and my free time and whether I want to spend my free time reading or blogging.
LikeLike
It’s really hard to find a balance between reading or blogging. Most of the time I wish I had two pairs of eyes so I can do both at the same time!
LikeLike
I don’t have school but I have kids and man is it hard to find time! I literally just squeeze it all in when I can. I had a couple of nights where my husband was away and the kids went to bed early and I caught up on reviews and scheduled a lot of posts. When I have that happen I feel better. I hope your schedule works for you!
LikeLike
Thanks Grace! I don’t know how blogging moms do it–work, blogging and KIDS. Definitely a tough one.
LikeLike
This was good to read! My schedule is about to change drastically. So its nice to see how you break it down.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jessica! :)
LikeLike
Would you like some help with finishing that title? Because it looks a little bit bare to me. Hmmm… HOW ABOUT Finding Time to Blog With a Busy Schedule…IS NOT POSSIBLE? Hehe, I’m obviously kidding, but that’s what I feel like right now-especially when I have schoolwork and extracurriculars to balance. I think making a new schedule that focuses on “marathoning” certain activities on certain days is a great idea. I really like having big chunks of time to work on something, so like you, that works really well for me as well.
LikeLike
HA. That works too! XD I’m sure that’ll be me once we get further into the school year–especially during the fourth quarter when we’ll have our batch play, and a bajillion projects per subject. Marathoning books/blogging = perfect.
LikeLike
Don’t worry about it Aimee, I completely understand your busy schedule, I haven’t been the best of bloggers recently either, just leaving comments here and there when I can, but I do really want to try and get on top of scheduling posts, I always leave it until last minute!
LikeLike
Same here! I’ve been getting a bit better at it… I usually have two or three posts scheduled. :)
LikeLike
Oh, my blogging schedule is sporadic. For some weird reason, I ALWAYS manage to adapt to my ever changing work schedule and throw in blogging. I don’t even know how aside from the fact I schedule posts at least a week ahead of time, sometimes months ahead of time (which occurs during this time of the year). O_O
It’s actually harder since I don’t have internet at home – I rely on putting it in after school during the school year, and convincing/negotiating with my mom during the summer to go to the library. My excuse of getting books seems to work a lot (I DO read them). :p
But hey, life takes a priority – we’ll still be here when you’re back and available. ^_^
LikeLike
WHOA GIRL. I can only manage to write three posts in advance because my attention span cannot handle weeks/months worth of scheduled posts. xD
Ah, having no Internet is definitely tough. What’s worse for me is that WordPress is blocked in our school library. Apparently it’s too “social media.”
LikeLike
I understand how you feel…sorta. I’m still in middle school so the amount of homework isn’t too bad. Somedays I have like a page of math homework then I’m done. Somedays I legit have no time to draft and read. Since I have so much time on a day to day basis, I will usually draft tomorrow’s post and hopefully get some other day’s posts done. I like my schedule because I get so distracted when posting and it legit takes me an hour to draft, edit, and schedule a Waiting on Wednesday. (Which is a ridiculous amount of time…) Hopefully I can work something out once in high school. Going to enjoy all the free time I have since I have it! XD
~Kaitlin
LikeLike
Sometimes I need to do nothing, and sometimes I need to do EVERYTHING. D:
WoW posts take a lot of time! (It takes me FOREVER to even pick an underrated book to feature, haha.)
YES GIRL. Good luck when you get to high school!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Schedule? Nuh-uh, and I feel ashamed of that, since I’m always really organised. How do I organise myself, then? I usually go on blogging on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays if I have time. If I finished a book and I review it, I schedule it for some day.
P.S.: Boo for school.
LikeLike
I used to *not* schedule, but I’ve discovered that it’s incredibly handy, haha.
YES BOO TIMES A HUNDRED.
LikeLike
I mean, schedule reviews, yes; but leave an specific hour of the day for the blog, no, because I don’t have enough time. :/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have just returned to blogging because last year was so busy for me and life was blegh. I’m now returning and trying to figure out what is best for me, at the moment I am taking advantage of it being the summer holidays and scheduling as much as possible for the future
LikeLike
Ah, welcome back! :) Definitely take advantage of the summer season!
LikeLike
The “goal is to blog 3 days a week and to always be 2 or 3 blogs ahead. That said, the goal is only reached about 50% of the time. The ability to scheduling post, like you mentioned, is a busy girl’s best friend!
LikeLike
My goal is to blog at least 5 posts in a week… Whoops. I try to have at least 2-3 posts scheduled at all times as well. ;)
LikeLike
I get up and go to bed early so I find I have lots of time to read.
I use blogging as my reward for doing my work and as a stress reliever. The program I am in now is mostly just studying for tests and when I study I use a 40 minute studying, 15 minute break cycle. During those breaks I write a post, read blogs or read a chapter or two from my books. I also don’t do school work after 9pm so that’s when I do most of my blogging before I go to bed (10pm). I’m really good about scheduling posts so I usually have the next month planned the month before and that relieves my blogging stress.
Good luck with school! Don’t be too hard on yourself! I think your plan is great but don’t be afraid to change it if you don’t think it is working. School goes so much better if you allow yourself to have some time to relax :)
LikeLike
Your schedule is so clean, girl! I am jealous. I don’t trust myself to take breaks when I study because I’ll get distracted and a 15 minute break will turn into an hour-long one eventually!
Thanks so much! <3
LikeLike
Oh, it’s clean in theory but it gets messy in practice! haha Sometimes “just one chapter” turns into five BUT it helps me concentrate afterwards.
I have a really short attention span when it comes to school work–it’s the only thing I can’t read for hours at a time so I have to break it up or else I go cRaZy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No blogging schedules for me but I feel you on being busy as school starts, Aimee. I’m pretty scared about how even more sporadic my blogging will be this year because I’ll be having hospital duty for my coursework and it’s gonna make my schedule crazier for sure. You however have got your blogging system covered so you’re going to do just fine! And you’ve been blogging so much over the summer so I think it’s okay if you slow down. :)
LikeLike
Oh that’s so awesome, Hazel! (The hospital duty, not the sporadic blogging… Eep. But I’m sure you’ll manage!) Thanks, Hazel! :)
LikeLike
School first then fun:)! I dont have a schedule, probably should but don’t. lol. I just try to spend a few hours every week and get my stuff all written up and ready to go. It rarely works out perfectly but it works for me.
LikeLike
Ha! (I’d like to say it’s the other way around, but alas…) I used to not have a schedule, but I really feel like one would be useful now. :)
LikeLike
Those are really good tips! Thanks! I have a lot of trouble finding a working schedule for me because I’m a full-time student (40+h/week) and have a part-time job in the weekends (+/-7h/week). When I come home at night I’m so tired that I sometimes can’t even read let alone write a good post for my blog. I don’t have set days for blogging but I think it’s best if I try and fix that because blogging just brings me so much joy!
LikeLike
It’s 40-50 hours a week for me too! :( I don’t have a job though, which is a small mercy. I feel you though–sometimes when I get home I just head straight to my room, lock up and go to sleep until dinner. D: Same! I don’t want to give up on blogging. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t stop blogging! I just started… xD It would be a waste if I don’t push through since I’ve wanted to start this blog years ago! :)
LikeLike
My scheduling skill is monumental (read: sarcasm). But I hope things work out for the better for you, Aimee! School is a killer sometimes but, just, make the most out of it. You can maybe work on reading during breaks? If that’s fine with you. Coz some people I know can read in 15-minute pockets and that’s seriously impossible for me.
LikeLike
Thanks, Shelumiel! Unfortunately breaks are only 10 minutes and I use that time to catch up with friends from other sections. And yes–I hate being cut off from reading so suddenly!
LikeLike
I have the messiest schedule everrrrrr. On a school day, I make sure I do all of my work beforehand so I can blog or read until whatever time I’m supposed to sleep. It’s hard balancing everything at once but I constantly remind myself that I am a student before a blogger. :)
LikeLike
LOL, it *was* (hopefully past tense) the opposite for me: blog and reading first, whatever with homework. xD I really hope I can change that. :) You’re awesome, Miguel!
LikeLike
Do what works for you and your schedule. If you post less, so be it. Your followers will see when there is something new and pop over no matter how often.
LikeLike
Thanks, Suzi!
LikeLike
I didn’t think blogging with school would be that hard until I started taking extra summer courses for pharmaceuticals and now I have no time to read or binge watch anime because I’m constantly studying! >.< I like your idea of having a blogging schedule though I almost always stray away from those things (there are not enough incentives!! Know any good ones apart from the obvious getting your stuff done on time? haha). Time management is one of life's biggest problems, especially for the procrastinators
LikeLike
Haha–I totally get you, Ju! XD I used to be extremely scared of scheduling, but now I’m okay with it. ;)
LikeLike
I have a horrible time balancing both. I used to be better at it but in the past year or so, it’s gone pretty much downhill. I attempt to post three times a week but it never works out and I end up just posting sporadically and randomly. I need to get better at balancing work, socialization, and blogging (reading is the easiest thing- I read during my breaks at work and usually a bit before bed).
LikeLike
Finding a blogging schedule that fits YOU is definitely difficult. This time last year I was posting probably twice a week, and at random days. >_<
LikeLike
Definitely! I try to do Mon/Wed/Fri and usually stick to those dates, but it might end up being one or two of those days a week rather than all three. And I do think that my sporadic nature is hurting my blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh how I feel your pain! The struggle is so, so real. I have no real schedule, but it basically ends up like this: Put kid 2 to bed at like, 9:00. Start responding to comments or hastily throwing a post together. Get interrupted when kid 1 needs a Berenstain Bears story and bed, which usually takes about 30 minutes. Get distracted by Twitter. Around 12 I TRY to be done with blogging, but I usually am not, like now, it is almost 2 and I am still commenting and such. (Though, blame that on kid 1, she was having a middle of the night meltdown!) Then, I tell myself I MUST stop reading by 4… which generally turns into 5. I have a terrible time falling asleep anyway, so it doesn’t matter ;) Then, kid 2 is up around 8 for food. I take care of them all day, by myself, which leaves zero time to do ANY blogging or reading soooo… repeat ;) Good luck, I really hope you can find a balance that works for you! And if you do… maybe let me in on the secret ;)
LikeLike
I am not prepared to have kids, haha! Whoa to reading until 5 and waking up at 8… That’s insane! You’re a superhero, Shannon. ;)
LikeLike
I must say, I’m very impressed you can make such a good schedule that you will more than likely stick to. I need a schedule but I never stick to them! I try, I try very hard, but I’m way too good at procrastinating and yeah, I suck. Haha. I’ve been super busy which means instead of trying to make time for blogging and reading I just complain about how I don’t have time for those things! Your post has inspired me though, I will try once again to make of coherent schedule and follow it!
P.s. Good luck with school! =)
LikeLike
I KNOW. That’s basically the story of my life, haha. I’m *hoping* this schedule works for me, but it’ll probably only last a few weeks. xD Good luck to us, Shay! Thank you!
LikeLike
Even if your schedule doesn’t work out, don’t push yourself so hard! Your education is still very important, and so is rest. I don’t mind your sporadic posts at all!
LikeLike
That’s definitely true! Thanks, Shannelle!
LikeLike
This sounds like a great plan, Aimee! Good luck in balancing everything!
LikeLike
Thank you! <3
LikeLike
Ahaha my schedule is crazy. I am working three jobs, have basketball training twice a week and also run Kidzchurch on Sunday’s as a leader. That, alongside homework (homework rains from the heavens in our school. There is always something you can be doing) makes it hard to find time. Luckily I am one of those people who sleep for max 6 hours so that helps somewhat. I read while I do my daily schedule, like eating or brushing teeth etc. And blogging I have about an hour for, which I spend sparingly :p
LikeLike
Whoa, you are a superhero, Oliva! I would probably die if I had to do that much stuff in a day, haha. :)
LikeLike
I picked the literal worst time period to start a blog – Freshman year of highschool.
Why I suddenly decided to make a blog the year that my sleep schedule goes to shit and my homework piles on, I have no clue because I had been contemplating starting one the entire summer. So as a result, a lot of unintentional hiatuses and very, very sporadic posting. I’m hoping to build up a three month backup of posts over the summer which is going to be a lot of writing and reading on my part but I have like a month and a half so it’s… possible… right?
LikeLike
LOL. xD I blogged before Freshman year started for me, but once I got there my blogging turned 1000x more sporadic than I would’ve liked! >_<
LikeLiked by 1 person