Even Busy Parents CAN Steemit! - More ways to Fit it ALL in!

in steemit •  7 years ago 

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I published a post about a month ago sharing my schedule as a busy stay at home mom and homeschool teacher. I shared some of the things that helped me stay sane and how I fit in time for blogging. If you missed that post you can read it HERE!

I had such a great response and feedback that I wanted to extend that post with more ideas and ways that busy parents can keep up with their Steemit blogs.

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Choose Your Blog Topics

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One thing I have found to be very helpful is picking the topics I want to blog about ahead of time. Actually, when I first joined Steemit I wrote down the parts of my life I wanted to share with the world. What do I want my blog to be based on? What message do I want to share? What topics am I knowledgeable in? What topics am I passionate about? You should answer these questions to figure out the basis of your blog content. This step will save you a lot of time!

Once I know the topics I will blog about I jot down ideas and thoughts whenever they come to me about those topics. If I’m out and about with my family and I see an opportunity to take a photo that relates to one of my topics, I take advantage of that. For instance if I will be blogging about nature and I see a beautiful plant, I’m getting that shot! I may not use that photo in my very next nature blog but I’ll have it on file to use when I need it. If you gather up things like this early on, before you know it you’ll have a full post ready to write up when you have the time.

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Create A Blog Schedule

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Some people have the luxury of creating a blog post everyday. In the beginning I tried doing just that and got burnt out pretty quickly. I couldn’t look at what everyone else was doing but I had to plan a realistic schedule that I could stick by. So I took that list of topics and spread them out throughout the week.

I went from blogging everyday to every other day. Currently my goal is to blog at least three times a week. I set goals to blog on certain days but the way my life runs it’s very unpredictable. So if I planned to write on Tuesday but have a fussy and needy toddler all day, I will move my writing to Wednesday. Either way I already have my topics planned out so I just write and publish them on the next available day.

Some days when I don’t have time to create a post, I’ll just curate other’s posts and comment on them! I really enjoy doing this because I get to relax as I read my fellow Steemians posts and show them some love by giving them encouragement and positive feedback. This is the time where I can get to know new Steemians and welcome them to the community as well.

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Take Advantage of Free Moments

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One things for sure as a busy parent there are not a lot of free moments in my day. When I do find them I take full advantage and use some of that time to work on my posts. For example when I’m in the kitchen preparing a meal there are several times where I am waiting for a component to finish cooking. As I wait I grab my phone and work on my posts. Or when I know I’ll be in the restroom for awhile, I make progress on my posts. When my chores are done and the kids are engaged in their own activities I sneak away and work.

If you can write bit by bit and prepare your photos here and there before long you’ll have enough pieces put together to publish a finished article. You don’t have to wait until you have an hour or two to blog, but you can do it in intervals. When you have growing children, so many tasks and responsibilities you have to find other ways to make time to blog. Some people find it too difficult to fit the time in and they decide to give it up. I work hard at fitting it all in because this is what I love to do and this is one of my go to outlets that helps me relax and unwind.

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What are some ways you fit it all in?

All photos are from pixabay.

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This is called a content strategy and a must if you want to get anywhere on social media. Thanks for sharing yours. It definitely helps you to stay on track when you know what you’re writing about.

Ahhhhh, there’s a name for it!! Thank you for sharing that with me :D

Yes it really does help you stay on track! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting~

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Thank you!!!

Very helpful insights!! Thanks so much @crosheille!!

I’m so glad you found them helpful! Thanks so much~ 😊

Planning your work, and executing is the mantra for success....Writing good post is the demand that everyone is trying and many doing their best. good advice @crosheille

Absolutely! Thanks so much for chiming in @steemflow!

Good advice @crosheille, especially scheduling activities.

I tend to base a lot of my posts on photographs because I can refer to them and as I'm always photographing things to me it's a question of finding a specific angle...

Thank you!! If I didn’t schedule my activities they wouldn’t get done :D

That’s awesome! I tend to do the same thing with my photos!!! Thanks for your input!

I'm a parent too and I used to blog everyday when I first got started in steemit, but like you said, I got burnt out pretty quickly.

Nowadays I only blog when I have something to share, but thanks for the tip. I guess I need to get organized and shoot for something more realistic like 3 posts a week.

This seems to be what a lot of parents go through. I’m glad you changed your approach so you wouldn’t keep getting burnt out.

When I run out of post ideas I too only share when something comes to me. It’s always good to make those goals even if you don’t get to them. At least you’ll have something to shoot for ;) Thanks for reading and for your input~

Thanks for sharing @crosheille. It does take a lot of discipline to keep to a writing/posting schedule. Really like the last tip. Is there a certain app you use on your phone when writing your post in between household tasks?

It’s my pleasure! Thanks you for reading! Yes it really does take discipline to keep up a posting schedule.

I just use the Notes application that was already installed on my iPhone! Once the post is completed I just copy and past directly here and make changes as necessary.

Ah nice. Thanks for sharing. Notes is great. Personally I use Evernote. Really helps if you want to categorize your posts. And I like to edit my notes on multiple devices, which makes it quite handy.

Oh yes I love Evernote too! I haven’t used it in quite sometime but I’m sure it’s good for post writing :D. Good point about being able to edit your notes on multiple devices...I just might have to revisit it :) Thanks ~

Hey @crosheille I like the day just for curating and commenting. Something for me to think about. Yes really tough with small children and working full time!

And running a discord. You ladies are amazing ;)

Haaa!! Oh yes!!!! Can’t forget about that fact! You are just as amazing Mama!!! 💕

@metzli You are too!! Thanks for being such a wonderful blessing to the team!

Hey @khimgoh!!! Awesome! You really should give it a try. It helps you keep up with others better and stress less on trying to cram in posts when you don’t have the time :D

Thanks for visiting~

Great ideas. I used to write daily as well. Now I am hopeful to get in about 3-4 posts a week and try to spread it out. I found that when I was writing daily, I would sometimes get 20 comments on a post and then I would have to figure out a time to respond and power to upvote. So now if I respond multiple days and only post a few, it works out better. :)

The community building aspect does become more difficult when you are posting more. It’s almost like you have to have a higher SP to be able to blog more.

Yes very true @metzli!

I soooo totally understand that point. It’s so true because not only do you have to comment back to the comments on your post but you may have other responses from comments you left on others posts! Taking time to respond needs it’s own schedule lol!! I like that you take multiple days to respond. That’s my problem, I try to do it all at once but it’s starting to get to the point where I have no choice but to spread that out too.

Thanks so much for your input and feedback...I needed that ;)

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Thank you!

Thanks for sharing your strategy, @croscheille! You are definitely being very organized about this. Explains how you are able to post so diligently with all that's on your plate.

I have trouble with this time allocation as well - it seems like I can never quite fit reliable time in. Sometimes an issue will be that I want to do research before stating something or writing it out and the research takes the spare time I was using to post (which is where my Family Protection history project is right now - bound in research). There are also things like getting involved with the Writer's Block folks which I'd love to do but just can't find time for - that might be something that could fit in if I were more deliberate about scheduling.

It is my pleasure! Yes if I didn’t organize or take the time to plan you all would not see me around Steemit as much.

Are there lighter topics you can do that won’t call for tons of research? Like for instance you can do a post based on some photos you have taken or something you already have knowledge about that won’t take up a lot of your time. You could schedule to do 2 posts that require research and 2 posts that don’t. This is why I like to do photo challenges or other competitions from time to time because they don’t require as much and it gives me a break from the extensive writing.

Yes, there are other topics. I'm having to do them rather than let the blog sit quiet too long even though that's the project I'd like to get done. I accepted the 7 Day Positivity Challenge just to force myself to think of something lighter to work on every day for one week.

My impulse is always that I need to finish one project before starting another, rather than having a bunch open at once. So it goes against the grain a bit to have a few things going at once on Steemit, but it seems the only real way to be able to maintain some good content provision.

I definitely understand that. It would be hard shifting in that direction especially since you are used to getting one thing done at a time.

With Steemit, I tend to write down the things I will blog about and as the posts comes to life in my mind I write it out. I could start on one post but get multiple ideas for another. So I find myself switching back and forth and I just publish the ones that get done first.

I agree. You do have to take that approach with Steemit, having a few things on the table you’re working on. It’s so fast paced that before you know it you look up and the week is almost over. That’s great that you are starting to get into some of the challenges ;)

amazing post my parent will be glad to hear that thanks for the tips

Thanks for reading :)

Thank you for sharing this @crosheille. I like the idea to "Create A Blog Schedule". I totally agree that having a goal, in this case, to blog at least 3 times a day, whichever day that is possible will make it feasible and achievable. AND you won't stress yourself out too much. I guess, if it is something we care about, we have to make the effort, even if it is a few minutes a day.

Sure @marblely! Yes having a goal will definitely make it more achievable! Exactly, even a few minutes a day is progress ;)

Thanks for your feedback~

I like that you put days aside to comment and curate, I think I’m going to adopt that.

Today I’m taking the time to visit the people I follow, and see what they’re up to. That’s why I’m here!

I also like your tip about keeping a folder of pictures and future possible posts. You’re right, when you do them like that, they do kind of write themselves.

That’s awesome @metzli! I think you’ll find it is a good strategy to go by. I love seeing what others are up to!

Yep! Keeping a file of pictures gives you ideas on what to write about!!! I’m so glad you read, thanks so much for stopping by~ 🌸

I should try to use this content strategy as time is an issue for me as well. Thanks for sharing yours!

I hope it helps if you give it a try!! Thanks so much for reading! 😊

Great post. You are talking about a lot of the struggles I am working through.

I need to finally take the time to get my content calendar in line. Thanks for the great reminder.

Thank you @sumatranate! I sure hope you can and that it helps you to stay organized!!! 😀 It was my pleasure~

I like the weekly "calendar of Steemit activity"! It's like my weekly chore rotation. Think I'll steal it because I definitely need days dedicated to curating!

Me too! But it’s not stealing! We’re borrowing her building block 😘

Exactly @metzli!! It’s all about building each other up and helping one another along the way!! 😘😘

Yes exactly! I try to balance with a rotation from week to week of all the topics I enjoy writing about. Have at it my friend!! 😃 It really helps to set aside days just to curate. We’re giving back to the community, we’re keeping up with our fellow Steemians and it’s less stressful than trying to have a post published everyday. 👌🏽😉

This is brilliant! I love your weekly planning! I have been on freewrites almost everyday and I so miss writing long. It is true that every moment counts and capitalizing on them will churn out a post. I always love your posts, @crosheille and now your dedication even when you are heavily expecting! :) Love your spirit, mama!

Awww thanks so much @happycrazycon!!! You are so sweet and supportive and I love that about you!! You’re always so encouraging! 🤗

Yes taking advantage of every moment brings progress!! If I didn’t plan I wouldn’t be able to write most of my posts. I am so glad you enjoy reading them, that means a lot~ 💕

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Thank you so much for the upvote and feature! 😃

I love your idea of planning ahead. Balance in my lofe is something I sruggle with for sure. I try to multitask!

If I didn’t plan ahead a lot of things wouldn’t get done. Growing up I watched my mom plan out everything so I adapted that from her...it really helps :)

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Thank you @movement19!! 😃

I would like you to know that this piece didn't only help the parent 😀. This is something I usually do especially concerning needleworkmonday because I dont like to miss it and some other few outlets but I've also learnt here the need to create a space to check out other steemians and make new friends. A 'realistic schedule' will definitely do the trick. There is not a time I look up your post that I don't learnt something. Definitely a plus in joining Steemit☺☺
This is how my notes looks like but I'm gonna start making organised ones soonest!
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Oh wow thanks for sharing this with me!! I am so glad you were able to take something with you from this post that will help you. Planning is so good and so very helpful at staying organized!

I have learned so much being apart of this plattform too :)

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