Around this time last year, I was in a little bit of a blogging funk. I was unmotivated and uninspired, and I had way fewer scheduled posts than I normally do. Fast forward to this year, and again I feel like I'm falling behind in my blogging. This time, though, it's not because of feeling burned out. Now, my biggest issue is time.
There is so much that goes into blogging, and lately I never feel like I have enough time to do it all. I'm not sure why that is - even though I started a new job, my schedule is still the same. I have my husband and house to take care of, but that's not new, either! I think a lot of it comes down to priorities and how much time each individual task takes to do:
- Blog hopping - I feel like this is a super-important part of being a member of the book blogging community. I follow well over 100 blogs (is this normal? how many do you follow?) so everyday there are dozens of new posts to look at. I try to comment on as many as I can, and I think this is what's taking up the biggest part of my blogging time.
- Prepping my own blog posts - This is where I seem to be struggling a bit. I need to be spending more time working on my own blog, but I tend to blog-hop first, and then whatever time I have left, I work on my own. Inevitably, I run out of time and keep putting things off.
- Replying to comments on my own blog - I feel bad that this is a lower priority, because I really do love and appreciate all your comments! It might take a couple days, but eventually I do respond to all of them.
- Reading - If I don't read, then I have nothing to blog about, so I definitely have to make time for that! Since I've been doing more mini-reviews, it feels like I need to read even more, because I usually put two of those into one review post.
So, fellow bloggers, how do you do it all? How do you allocate and manage your blogging time? What is your top priority when blogging? And how many blogs do you follow?
This post really speaks to me, especially at this time of year when my free time is practically non-existent. All of the items you mentioned are my priorities as well and I think prepping my own posts is my biggest struggle right now too. For the first 6-8 weeks of the year, I was getting all of my posts for each week done on the weekend and I loved that because it left me so much more time during the week for blog hopping and reading. Then work got busy, I got tired, and it kind of all fell apart and now everything is last minute. I hope to get back to the weekend prep after April 15th, but right now the struggle is real, lol.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! My sister is in the same boat, although she's not a blogger, but she does have to manage her reading time while also dealing with tax season!
DeleteI always feel like I need to be scheduling out farther and farther ahead, and if I don't have stuff started for the next month, I feel behind.
I think we all struggle with these issues. I have cut back on my posts for a while and don't see that changing in the near future. I've been busy with other things and trying to focus more on my walking and physical activity. I don't follow as many blogs as I used to and will likely not comment as much in upcoming days. I think that we have to do what works for us at a particular time. I've found that bloggers I've been in contact with for years do the same and will stick with me.
ReplyDeleteI miss your posts, but I totally get it. And with the weather getting nicer soon, we'll be doing more outdoor things on the weekend, which will also cut into my blogging time. I agree, though, it's a fluid thing, and I should kind of just go with how I'm feeling.
DeleteI follow over 1000 blogs on Bloglovin’. I think I have a problem. Whenever the site suggests a book blog, I follow it. I only read a tiny fraction of them every day, though. I also struggle to keep up with blogging. I blog hop every morning and work on my own posts every night. I read before bed. I’m really tired all the time because of the blog.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
1000???!!! Oh, my. That would stress me out. I blog hop in the morning, too, but I'd have to get up an hour earlier to get through it all and then be able to work on my stuff at night. It's hard!
DeleteI follow 114 blogs, but I don't read every notice every day. If the headline is about politics, for example, I pass. I'm more interested in the reading and writing posts. Most of the time, my comments on other people's blogs don't need a response, so I don't click the "notify me of new comments" box, which helps keep my inbox at a minimum.
ReplyDeleteAs for my own blogging, I post about every 2 weeks, so I don't have to carve out as much time as more frequent bloggers.
I agree, I definitely don't read every post, but it does take time to go through them all.
DeleteI think I can be too strict about my schedule sometimes. I feel like I have to post 3-4 times a week, but it takes a lot of time. I should just let some weeks go.
Honestly, I can't keep up. I'm not posting regularly, I'm not getting reviews written, and I'm not visiting blogs as much as I used to. Partly it's my increased use of social media (as my blog), which takes up additional time. Partly it's burnout. Partly it's that I'm busier with my freelance work. And partly it's that I also have other things I like to do -- like knit and spin.
ReplyDeleteI follow more blogs than I can keep up with, so my visiting is based on a) reciprocity -- if someone comments on my blog, I try to visit theirs; and b) when/if I have time, I skim through posts on my Bloglovin feed and read the posts I'm most interested in. That's usually reviews of books that interest me, discussion posts on topics of interest, and some memes, like Sunday Post and Top Ten Tuesday.
I've realized that I'm never going to be a blogger with a ton of followers, and truthfully, I'm OK with that. I have some friends I've made through blogging, and I enjoy keeping up with them. But I'm not going to sacrifice my health or my real life for my blog.
I totally agree, I will also never be a big blog. Sometimes that feels like a bummer, but most of the time, I'm fine with it. I love the group I've found.
DeleteReviews are a big problem for me right now. They generally take the most time to write, so I just keep putting them off. And then I start forgetting stuff, which just makes it harder... It's a vicious cycle!
And I agree, I love to blog, but there's lots of other things I enjoy doing, too, so I need to make time for everything.
I relate so hard to this. I have the hardest time juggling everything. I wish I didn't have to sleep so I'd have more time! Blog hopping, blogging, reading, bookstagram, replying, emailing publishers, and then I'm a stay at home mom, so laundry, cooking, running errands, spending time with my family.
ReplyDeleteI'm exhausted! But it's totally worth it.
Anyone know how I can just NOT sleep?
Ash @ JennRenee Read
Haha, I wish I could get by on less sleep, but I need it! Right now I should be folding laundry and cleaning bathrooms, but of course, I'd rather blog!
DeleteI follow like a billion blogs, but I don't visit them all every day. I have a core group, who I visit more than others, but then there are ones I only go to, when I am interested in the post. I do all my posts on the weekend and write my reviews as I finish the book (that's my goal anyhow). It makes it very manageable for me. The weekend is really catch up time. I try to reply and comment during the week, but I don't get to them all. I am usually a day behind in replying, and I try to visit day specific memes on the day they are posted. I refuse to give up my reading time though. The mornings, my commute, and one hour each night before bed are for reading.
ReplyDeleteI try to write my reviews right after I finish reading, but that doesn't always happen! I only have one sitting on my review pile right now, so that's good for me!
DeleteI try to get to most of my commenting during the week, although I tend to leave review posts to read until the weekend, when I can devote more time to really reading them. I feel like I have more reading time now, because of my lunch hour.
For me motivation and energy are bigger issues than time, but I get it. I think bloghopping is what takes most of my time too, but honestly all of it takes time! Non-bloggers don't realize how much time it takes just to make a post. So I don't have advice, I just kinda do whatever and try not to let myself fall too behind on anything!
ReplyDeleteMotivation is a big one for me, too. Although, I need to just let go a bit and not be so rigid in my scheduling, I think.
DeleteAh, after almost 10 years of blogging, I still haven't found my balance! I also follow over a hundred blogs. I have more and more comments, I like to answer each, and then my policy is to try to visit each blog that leaves a comment on mine, and try to leave a comment there myself. So it does take time.
ReplyDeleteThese days, because I'm so busy on week-ends with church, I have a semi Monday off, so that day, I try to write reviews and schedule a bit of my week.
I like the idea of devoting one day a week to my own posts. I think that would help me feel like I was getting more accomplished, instead of just bits and pieces on random days.
DeleteI forgot, because of work, I do all my reading in the evenings, after super. And I listen to audiobooks as soon as I'm busy with house chores, cleaning, cooking, and the like
ReplyDeleteAudiobooks are so great for multitasking!
DeleteThis is such an amazing discussion post, Angela! For me, blog hopping and prepping blog posts takes the majority of my time. Although, I really need to get better at blog hopping! You're so good about doing it - I need to do more ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Amy!
DeleteBlog hopping does take so much time, but reading other people's posts is what got me into blogging in the first place, so I love it! Aww, thank you!
I am a non-blogger, but I have to say I am so impressed and amazed by what you all put together. I can't imagine even coming up with half the stuff you write about. It takes serious dedication and commitment. You work so hard at it, but also let it be fun and take breaks when you need to!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you! I am still having a lot of fun with it, but I'm taking a little break now and will probably take another later in the year.
DeleteI have trouble prepping my own blog posts, too. So often I wait until the last minute to write them. Really need to change that.
ReplyDeleteIf I come up with any good strategies, I'll let you know!
Thank you, Lydia!
DeleteI am terrible with responding to comments left on my blog - like really bad, but that is because I am hopping over to their blog to see their recent posts, or doing my school stuff. 90% of them I read tho so I know you have left me a comment. I spend a lot of time prepping posts and responding to others. It is very time consuming, so I do what I can when I can do it. I hope everyone forgives me when it takes me a while to get to them.
ReplyDeleteMary
From your posts, I know how super-busy you are with school and your family, so I am so impressed by how many posts you are able to get out!
DeleteSo my short answer to this is BADLY. But it's been a year of change, changing priorities and general upheaval in my life! I'm finally starting to find that I'm making a bit of time again for blogging this year and I hope I continue to do so. My biggest priority, like you is blog hopping. At the moment I haven't managed to get around to all the blogs that I do follow (which is according to bloglovin' more than 200 blogs although I have to admit it desperately needs a cleanout). I've only been circulating to those that have commented on my blog in about the last 6 months or so and then keeping to that sort of perpetuating cycle because I've been behind for just THAT LONG. Anyways, when I'm finally caught up a bit I will be bloghopping more with a new strategy! I'm trying to migrate to Feedly as I think that it works a little better for me on my mobile device and if I can bloghop from there whenever I have a few spare minutes I feel like I will be 1000% a better bloghopper. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyways! I do need to work on managing my blogging and hopefully I'll have more on this in the near future.
It's definitely understandable that you have other things going on, other priorities, but I'm glad you're coming back!
DeleteIt's so hard when I haven't blog-hopped in awhile, it feels overwhelming to go through all the posts!