Something that I get quite a few questions on is how I structure my blogging to fit my life. A lot of other bloggers are also employed at a corporate job, as well as trying to stay on top of a blogging schedule, and usually balancing social life and family. It’s a lot.

So, full disclosure, I work a typical 40-hour week at an office job. I consider it to be somewhat high-stress, but certainly not as much as other jobs. I also don’t have any kids, but I do have a high-maintenance dog. She’s been particularly high maintenance over the past few days as well.

It starts with ideas. I keep a notebook in my purse, any time something strikes me as being an idea to blog about. Once I have the idea, it's time for pictures.

Pictures, mostly due to the limited daylight hours we have right now, must be taken during the weekends. I work all the hours that the sun is out, so I can’t take natural-light photos for my blog. Because of this, I need to have a good plan of what I need. Usually I try to do this on Saturdays…. plan, and take all my photos. I will also then write and schedule the post for Monday. This is really the only part of the plan that I manage consistently.

I am fortunate in some ways that Charles works a very different set of hours than I do. I take advantage of when he’s gone, and use that time to do my blogging. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with him, but the time he’s gone, I try to be productive on things for me so that I can be more present when he’s not working.

Now that I’ve started paying attention to my own work cycle, it has been much easier to work ahead. I’ll admit…a lot of my blogging gets done late a night, in front of a TV, usually with a pile of dishes in the sink that must wait for another time.

The real secret though…is Charles. Charles is the most supportive of this blog. He offers to proofread my posts, and he’s the one doing those dishes that are piling up. I’m not saying that to have a steady blogging routine, you need a super-boyfriend, but it does help to surround yourself with people who are supportive and willing to be sympathetic when you’re busy. Beyond just people to support you in general, also find a group of people to inspire you. I join blogger and Instagram groups that are locally based, but if there isn’t anyone local, connect to other content creators online that you admire and that inspire you to do better.

I hope that some shred of this is helpful. It’s hard to have a side hustle, even if it’s something that you really love. It starts to feel worth it as the view counts start to inch higher.

Good luck 😊