Real talk: being a book blogger is hard. If you add working full-time, part-time, being a student, being at home and more, book blogging gets even harder. Why, you ask? Well, simply because book blogging takes time.
A whole lot of time slipping through your fingers as you type blog posts, so many hours gone by where you can’t work on your blog because you just can’t. There’s so much to do in a day and, unless someone knows a secret to make it last over 24 hours or to, like, not sleep…we can’t do it all.
It’s something I’m having such a hard time accepting, even more now. After 6 years of blogging, my life has changed so much and my time dedicated to blogging has shrunk along with it, too.
It makes me sad. It makes me sad that I can’t manage my time as much or as well as before, but maybe it’s just because, life. It’s just because sometimes I can’t do it all.
I can’t help trying, though, because I love blogging. No matter what’s happening, I find myself turning back to it more often than not because I just love it so much. And you know, when you love something, you do your best to make time and room for it in your life, too.
So here goes. I thought I’d share some of my time management tips that have worked out okay for me all these years. They’re not foolproof and they’re not perfect, they might be obvious or not, but well. I thought I’d give you a peek at how I organize myself with blogging as a whole, so… here goes.
My time management tips for bloggers
Divide, dedicate and find your own time to blog
I think that the toughest thing, when it comes to blogging… or doing anything, really, is to find the time for it.
Blogging isn’t something you can fit in between two classes or quickly go through between lunch breaks. Well, some tasks can actually be fit into these small spaces in your life, but if you’re writing blog posts, that takes a lot of time. If you’re anything like me, it can take DAYS.
It’s time you need to find and to fit into your own schedule.
Full disclaimer here: I’m working full time, 5 days out of 7 in the week and I can’t take my work hours to work on my blog because, well, that’s kind of frowned upon. I find my time to blog in between these hours, in between everything else you need to do in life like eat and sleep and, you know, basic things to function as a human being, and in between other things I like to do as well, like read, watch tv shows, write when I manage to find the time, too.
I think what matters here is to say that you don’t need to find the time: you need to take it.
More often than not, when it comes to certain things or certain hobbies, I’m not taking the time and I hate myself for it. Somehow, with blogging, I find and take the time I need for it.
I’m dividing my blogging time in phases, even more lately depending on what matters to me the most. Lately, it’s writing blog posts and creating content, so when I’m taking time to blog, creating new posts is my priority. I’m also dividing my time depending on the minutes, hours or days I have in front of me. On a weekend with not much happening, I know I have a couple hours, so I can think and create content, because that takes me a couple hours minimum. On a working day evening, I sometimes have a handful of minutes, so I can take them to do small tasks like answer to comments. Trying to fit in content creation on a Monday evening is useless and will just make me mad at myself for not making it.
I feel guilty, because I’m not taking as much time to blog hop as I used to. I feel bad (even if I feel better mentally) because I’m not being on social media as much. As my time shrink and expand, so do my priorities when it comes to blogging. Lately, I’m trying to see it that way: above the guilt of not being able to do it all, I’m trying to focus, with the time I have, on what makes me the happiest.
3 things to remember here :
- Don’t find the time to blog, take it.
- Divide your time by tasks: fit each of them accordingly into your schedule.
- Remember your priorities: if you’re only able to grasp a handful of minutes here and there, do what matters the most to you and what makes you happy, rather than what you think you’re supposed to be doing.
☂️ Related blog post: How much time do I spend blogging?
Find the right blogging tools…for you
When it comes to blogging, having the right tools can do wonders for you and really help you manage your time better, too.
If you have the right blogging host, you can gain so much time. Time you’d spend wondering where the heck your issue is and panicking and searching for hours a solution to an issue you don’t have.
If you have the right blogging platform and plugins, you can gain SO. MUCH. TIME. It can make blogging running so smoothly, too.
If you have the right tools to make your graphics, if you’re using the right tools to organize your blogging schedule and more, you’ll gain a lot.
Some blogging tools I recommend:
- Lyrical Host is the kindest web host ever. They helped me move my website from WordPress.com seamlessly and are always quick and kind to answer any of my technical-related questions. I know I’m saving A LOT of time with them (and, let’s face it, A LOT of anxiety) knowing they have my back and will take good care of my blog.
- Canva has been a huge help when it comes to creating graphics quickly and seamlessly. I created templates for each of my type of blog posts (well…my sister did. She’s a queen) and it’s so quick and easy to create graphics with them. And it’s free.
- The Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin by Nose Graze is an incredible investment and I just love using it. It makes me gain so much time when it comes to writing book reviews.
- When it comes to scheduling, planning my ARCs reading and more, I used Google Sheets a lot and now am trying to turn to Notion. It’s a great tool even if it’s a bit overwhelming at first. I recommend reading May @ Forever & Everly’s blog post for inspiration as well as Mathieu’s blog post on Notion.
Schedule, plan and organize your blogging
Let’s be honest: I wouldn’t be blogging if the scheduling function did not exist. I wouldn’t be blogging either if I didn’t have it in me to plan things out and organize myself a little bit, too.
With blogging NOT being what I do full time, I can’t afford NOT to be organized. If I don’t have things planned out, if I can’t schedule blog posts, my blogging would be a M E S S and so would I.
The thing is, with blogging: you need to have a plan.
I know, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to schedule their posts. It’s not everyone’s idea of blogging to plan everything out and that’s okay. I’m not here to tell you you should schedule your blog posts, if that doesn’t work out for you. As long as you organize your blogging the way it fits you, that’s what matters.
My advice is this:
- Try planning things out. Schedule blog posts ahead of time, writing them ahead of time, planning your ideas. Do it as it comes when you take time to sit down and write. See what fits you best and where you feel the less overwhelmed and the happiest. Now, that’s the rhythm you should follow.
☂️ Related blog post: Do you need to have a blogging schedule ?
Keep ideas and inspirations close by, always
The best thing I ever did for my blogging was writing down every little tiny idea I ever had someplace. Whether it’s on my phone, on a document on my computer or in a notebook, I write it. No matter the idea, no matter how little or big it is, I write it.
Knowing that, when I get to create new content, I have a list of ideas I can take or inspire myself from is a huge time saver. It’s also a huge inspiration saver, too, because let’s face it, we’re not machines and sometimes, we just can’t figure out what we should or want to write about.
I stay inspired and gain some time with this, but also with the community. Being surrounded by so many incredible people, blog hopping and sharing comments, discussions and more, inspires me so much. Interacting keeps me inspired to be in this community, too.
My advice to keep the inspiration alive:
- Write everything down.
- Read a lot. Books, other blogs, your own content. You never know where a new idea might hit you.
☂️ Related blog post: How to: find new ideas and inspiration to blog
Take time for you, too
I feel like spending time away and spending time doing nothing is a waste of time. Sometimes, you need it, though and yes, before you ask, this is a time management tip, too.
Your worth isn’t determined by your productivity, in blogging or anywhere else. I need to remember that.
Take time for you, too. For your inspiration to come back, for your ideas to flow, for you to feel and be happy at what you love. Sometimes, no matter how much you want to make time for everything, you just can’t.
It’s okay. You eventually will. Be kind to yourself, first and always.
Other great blog posts to read about time management and blogging :
- Kate @ Your Tita Kate writes about how to balance blogging and working from home
- The team at The Quiet Pond shared an incredible feature filled with book bloggers’ testimonies about balancing blogging and life
- Nandini @ Unputdownable Books wrote about balancing blogging and life.
☂️ Read on my book blogging resources page everything you need to know about book blogging!
This blog post contains affiliate links. Buying from them will not cost you any extra and will help me cover the costs of book blogging and help me continue blogging. You will find more info on my privacy policy and disclaimer pages.
📌 Pin my top 5 time management tips on Pinterest!
How do you fit blogging into your daily schedule? Do you find yourself prioritizing some tasks over others? Do you have any tips, or any tools you use you’d like to share? Let me know!
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Okay … can we first just appreciate the Friends GIFs?? Love it. And I love this post. Being a blogger is HARD! I didn’t know about that plug-in so I might have to look into that. I tried Notion but I got confused, so I use Trello (for now … I plan to try Notion again eventually). I also like the phrase TAKE TIME rather than MAKE TIME. I need to start writing my ideas down again. I do in Trello but I miss writing in my journal. I’m planning to start that again soon 🥰 REALLY loved this post
Ahhh thank you so much!! So happy you enjoyed this post 🥰
200% agree, blogging is hard and sometimes it’s a bit tough to organize yourself. I hope you’ll try Notion, it’s been tough at first, but once you get the hang of it it’s great! 🥰
Thank you so much!!
This is cool! My current system is draft/plan over the weekend or the day before the post is supposed to go up, and then finalizing it on the publication date. It’s not perfect and can be stressful, but I think it comes down to my distrust of the scheduling button (sometimes it posts on time and sometimes it doesn’t, which is strange and not always convenient). Thank you for writing this!
Ahh thank you! 🥰 I’m amazed that you can finalize it all on publication day, I could never do that ahah too much stress. I like it all to be scheduled and ready beforehand and not do things on the last minute, but I get that. It can be so stressful and annoying when it doesn’t schedule as planned!
Thank you so much for your sweet words! 🥰
i loved reading this post, marie!! i struggle with time-management in literally all aspects of my life, not just book blogging!! i’m also a huge procrastinator, and very very often leave things for the last minute!! this post was super helpful to read!! thank you for all the wonderful tips 💗💗
Ahh thank you so much, I’m so happy this could be helpful to you!! 🥰
This is such an amazing post! I feel like I really needed to read this right now. I’ve definitely been struggling with time management and blogging for the past couple of months, and since I started my new blog fairly recently I’m quite disappointed in myself that I haven’t managed to be more productive recently. I’m hoping with the new year my work will start to calm down (I’m a postwoman so its been crazy since COVID started, and has been even worse coming up to Christmas) and then I can start finding a proper blogging routine. I definitely want to start scheduling ahead more, and I might have to look into Notion, as I’ve seen a lot of people recommending that recently!
I’m so glad that this could be helpful to you <3 I so get struggling with productivity, it has been happening to me a lot these past few months and sometimes it's tough to really get organized and to prioritize the right things, too. I hope you'll be able to find your own routine soon and that it'll work out well for you <3
It’s impossible for me to plan everything with 2 yr old kid in house and husband working from home so I keep it real simple. I try to publish post before 1 p.m. and I read most of the posts once my post is up and around dinner time. Scheduling doesn’t work for me and my posts are not planned but my reading for a month is planned and stick to it. What helps me most is I I write review as soon as I finish the book and then only I start reading another book. I might post it later but it’s always ready whenever I wish to post it.
I’m glad that not scheduling is working out alright for you! I really couldn’t do it without scheduling ahah I admire you so much. And yay for planning your reading month, that’s so great!! 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
Love this!! I can’t believe I didn’t realize forever ago that publishing blog posts can be split into little bits I work on over several days. I used to just say, “Well, I’ve got way too much homework, so I guess I won’t post anything this week,” because I didn’t have the time to write, edit, format, find pictures, create graphics, post, and publicize all at the same time. These are excellent reminders!
Oh yes I get that, I used to think that way, too. Now taking it day by day and little by little really helps me in organizing myself better! 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment, Kate! <3
Fantastic post, Marie. I relate to so many of the things you say! 🥰
Blogging does take a lot of time, and time flies. I’m usually quite organised with it (scheduling posts etc) but I could certainly be more efficient. I love blog hopping too, but it’s been more difficult to find time lately. These tips are super helpful!
Oh thank you, so happy you enjoyed this! <3 Time really flies indeed and it's tough to do it all, no matter how much we want to. It can be so frustrating!
I'm so happy this can be a little helpful, thank you so much <3
My blog would be dead without the scheduling function! *lol* I always need to write my blog posts in advance because otherwise I’d never be able to keep my blog running. Work, my kid and lots of other things are keeping me way too busy so it’s good I can write them when I have time. XD
Okay but same I just wouldn’t be able to blog without scheduling 😂😂 I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
Ah this is a fantastic post. And just what I needed to hear. After getting a full-time job, I felt like time was slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t find the right moment to keep up blogging. But I’ve been doing a little better lately. Finally realized I won’t ever have the same amount of time I had while I was in school or working a part-time so I have to adjust and plan and take the time when needed to post and explore the blogging community. Takes practice and patience. Thanks so much for sharing this! Makes me feel a whole lot better haha <3
It really takes practice and patience, that’s for sure! It’s a different rhythm you need to adapt to, but if you love it,you can make a bit of time for it to fit into your schedule <3
I'm glad this made you feel a bit better and I hope you're finding your new pace okay! <3
I feel this so much. True story, I started my blog the day before I had my son (he’s my second child) and I mean, I don’t recommend that hah. But the hard truth is that I have NEVER really had a ton of free time to do blogging stuff, since like, newborn and toddler from the start hah. But then becoming a single parent (and without the whole “send the kids to the other parent”, that is not part of the equation) and going back to work full time,… it’s been a LOT. There are many days when I am surprised that I am still at it, honestly!
But I think it’s because of what you said- TAKING the time. If I didn’t force myself to find a place in my schedule, it would never, ever happen. And like you, I definitely don’t have the same amount of time to devote to it (though the pandemic helped a bit ha), so some things have to go on the back burner. I finish a post one day, then spend the next blog hopping, etc etc. It isn’t easy but I think it IS important that we take the time to do things we find fulfilling!
Also FULLY agree about using tools to help! Ashley’s UBB plugin is an actual lifesaver! She singlehandedly saved the sanity of half the blogosphere, honestly! Awesome post as always, Marie!
I completely get that. There are moments where you just can’t do it all because it’s physically impossible ahah. Even in those times, I believe that we can catch some moments here and there and make a little place for it in our schedule if we love it so much. It is so, so important, yes, to take time for the things we love the most.
Thank you so much, Shannon! <3
“Your worth isn’t determined by your productivity”
All of this ^^^ I struggled for years to unlearn this, still do because there are moments where I feel like I’m failing just because I’ve done lots in a day. I tend to blog hop when I have the energy nowadays, since I want to be meaningful when I engage with the posts that often means I don’t blog hop for a while then am suddenly mass catching up on things. With content creation I do it when I have inspiration too, although I’m more likely to write posts during the weekend as I’m not running on low energy as much then. Throughout the week my day is just split with work and work placement so I don’t have time during the week to do much unless I manage to get myself up early, since I’m drained when I get back home.
Scheduling is my lifesaver but also I like being able to just work on things at my pace now, like I know it’s pretty slow and I’m not putting up as much as content as I used to or that I’d like to. But that’s alright cause I know the content I do end up putting up is content I love, even if it takes weeks/months to see the light of day. My bullet journal is also a huge help for organising my life and integrating the blogging aspects into my life without it taking over my life. If I end up being inactive on my blog, I’m still pretty active on social media so if people follow me on socials they still get some content from me which is nice I guess? I always love seeing what my blogging friends are up to hehe.
Wonderful post as always Marie <3
I’m still trying to unlearn this, to be honest. I still feel like I should do MORE always and be productive, but sometimes we need to learn to… just be, for a while. And it’s okay, too, it’s important, even. I need to print that in my mind always, but it doesn’t always stick.
I think that’s so great! What matters the most is putting up content you’re proud of and love, even if it takes you a long time. Quality over quantity, always, it’s always best to do things you’re proud of! <3
Thank you so, so much, Clo! <3 <3
“Your worth isn’t determined by your productivity, in blogging or anywhere else.”
Great tips! I find managing my time to fit in all my hobbies – including my blog – a lot harder now that I’m working full time.
I 200% get that, it’s tough to find the right balance… or any balance at all when you’re working full time. I hope these tips will help a bit <3
Great post, this was just what I needed to read right now as I have been really struggling to fit blogging into my life and will definitely be given these tips a go 💜
Oh I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling lately, I really hope these tips will help you a bit <3 sending you all the love <3
Ahh.. this post has come at such a perfect time and it was really helpful to read. I can definitely relate to taking days to write posts and feeling guilty about blog hopping or other aspects of blogging that I don’t get around to that much. I really loved when you said, “if you’re only able to grasp a handful of minutes here and there, do what matters the most to you and what makes you happy, rather than what you think you’re supposed to be doing.” As it makes you feel happy to focus on what you love. I think it can be easy to feel slightly pressured with needing to do certain things, but it isn’t always the best way to do things.
Yesss… the schedule function is so handy !! This was such a good, needed read. Thank you for writing this !! <3
Oh I’m so, so happy this could be helpful to you, Sophie <3 It's really tough sometimes and I feel that pressure WAY too much every day, too. In the end, it's important to focus on doing what makes you the happiest, that's the only way you won't get burned out <3
Thank you, Sophie <3 I hope you're well <3
Oh this was the perfect post for me to read today, the first day in almost two weeks that I’ve had time to sit down and catch up on blog things. You’d think after almost three years of doing this, I’d have figured out how to manage my time with blogging, but nope, still learning new things every day.
I love your advice of prioritizing what matters most and what makes you happiest—definitely going to be keeping that in mind going forward! I also have a very long list of half-baked ideas that I return to whenever I need inspiration, and it’s helped me more times than I can count. And YES, reading other blogs and interacting with the community is always inspiring! 😀
Thanks for these wonderful tips, Marie! <3
I’m so happy you enjoyed this post, Margaret, thank you so much <3
There's just so much I want to do and prioritize and I'm always struggling at picking between things. In the end, I'm trying my best to pick what I feel like doing the most, otherwise I know I'll get mad at myself and will just burn out easily, too.
Thank you so much!! <3
i love this post, marie!! i’ve definitely been struggling to fit blogging into the chaos of my life — it’s hard to create a habit again but i couldn’t agree more that we have to actually be proactive and find the time rather than just sit back and let it come to us! <3
Oh thank you so much love <3 I so get that, it's tough to figure out a rhythm sometimes, but if we love it, we can do our best to make some room for it <3
I love all of your tips! It’s really hard to be a consistent blogger, but I also found that planning and scheduling is a life saver! I plan my posts in Notion, which is so useful, I have three categories: not started, in progress and completed, which is super handy!
Oh thank you, Morgan! It really is tough, but planning can help a whole lot. I don’t know what I’d do without it, honestly, haha. <3
Ok so I have to start doing this because I find myself scrolling and not actually using the Internet with intention! This article helps A LOT. I have a 2021 notebook with some post ideas already planned out, but I think maybe adding certain times when I know I’ll have time would be helpful. I also have a few e-ARCs on my tbr, so maybe setting up time for that will help, too.
I really hope that you’ll find a way to organize yourself and that it will help you with blogging, too! The moment I set a plan, I managed to work better and just feel better about my blogging, too 🙂
thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
Marie, every time I come back to blogging, I stumble on one of your posts that inspires me to give it my best shot and make it something fun and not a burden. I get so bogged down in life and I haven’t ever been great about prioritizing my blog… but then I get so negative toward myself that I end up putting off my comeback because I feel ashamed of taking time away. What you pointed out so well in this post is that everybody works differently, and we have to find what works for us as individuals. Because if we only try to do blogging the way we feel it’s supposed to be done… well, we’ll probably burn out. I especially appreciate what you said about not making time, but taking it. I’m constantly re-prioritizing in so many areas of life, but when I do self-reflect, I miss writing posts and talking to other bloggers and being part of a community of readers. So…here I am, haha. Thanks for being such an inspiration <3
CHRISTINE 🥺🥺🥺 It’s so, so good to hear from you and this just made my entire week ahh, thank you 🥺 I’m so happy this could be helpful to you. I think it’s so easy to get caught up in a whole “I need to do things this way”, but there’s no golden rule. What matters is doing it the way you enjoy it and that’s it, really. 🙂
I hope you’ll come back to blogging and will focus on the things you love! <3 and thank you 🥺🥺🥺
Omg queen COMING THROUGH WITH THIS POST!!! I’m so excited that you posted this because I’ve been trying to come up with a better system as I’m terrible at time management. This is so so helpful Marie. I 1000% agree with taking the time, because I tend to just write posts whenever I have a spare moment, and it’s usually then when I’m most productive. Love youuuuu <3<3<3
Oh thank you SO much, I’m so happy this could be helpful, thank you <3 It's so tough to find the right way to manage your time (if there even is any haha). Thank you!! <3
I agree that notion is a bit overwhelming at first, but now I love it and I can’t do without it. I will definitely be looking at the links that you have shared as well. Another wonderful post, thank you!
I’m so happy you’re enjoying Notion! It can be so useful.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Loved reading this post and as someone who recently took a 2 month blogging break I can definitely say that balancing blogging and life (school life especially for me) is hard! These tips were really useful and I definitely need to implement planning my blog into my life more. I plan every other aspect of my life but blogging is never an aspect I’ve planned? I guess because I do see it as a hobby but I still think planning would help me to be more organised with it! 2021 is the year I’m playing around with how I plan (combining digital planning (Notion!!) with my bullet journal so it’ll be good to work blogging into that plan.
Oh thank you so much! I’m really happy this could be useful. It’s so tough sometimes to balance between blogging and life and it’s hard to find the right plan that works for you. Sometimes mine doesn’t even work out either haha, it can be so frustrating.
I hope you’ll find your right balance, sending you all the love <3
What would be your best advice to someone who wants to become a full time blogger but struggles with living in an unsupportive place? (and can’t exactly move out yet)
Hi! I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I am not the best person to come to for this, I am not a full time blogger at all. All I could say is to give yourself attainable goals, little by little, research how you’d like to earn from this and the best ways you can, try it out and see how it goes. <3 Wishing you the best of luck! <3
Thank you so much for this amazing post! I feel like I’ve been neglecting my blog a lot this year, but after reading this it reminded me it’s so important I take time for myself too. 😄✨
YES! You always come first, no matter what <3 I'm so happy this post could be helpful <3
I’m always impressed by people who are organized and have actual plans and stuff. I’m much more of a seat-of-my-pants type blogger. But I do still work hard to make time for blogging because I love it!
As long as you make time for what you love, that’s the most important thing 🙂
Thank you!! <3
Thank you for this post. I am better with time management at work than I am with my site. This has helped me put some things into a much better perspective. With that being said, it will take me some time to get better at this but I am determined to get better. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the things that has worked for you.
It takes a little bit of time to make it all work out and… well, sometimes life gets in the way and there’s nothing you can do about it ahah. But I’m certain you’ll find what works out best for you! 🙂
Thank you so, so much for reading! 🙂
Great tips, Marie! 🙂 I definitely need to get better at time management when it comes to blogging, especially this year now that I am working again. I really want to try to be around more this year as I haven’t really been the last couple years.
Oh thank you Ashley! <3 I'm right here with you on that, I've been kind of absent lately on the blog hopping front with everything else. It's hard to manage it all sometimes! :(