It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for almost four years. My blog has always been a balancing act with a full-time job, including some internal role changes and moving to a new company a year ago. As tough as it’s been, it’s also incredibly rewarding.
It has not always been easy balancing the two, as blogging is incredibly time-consuming and a very real career on its own! But I’ve found a balance that works (for me) and learned a lot along the way on how to manage it all. I wanted to share my experience because I know there are a lot of other people doing the same (juggling a “side hustle” or multiple side projects with their 9 to 5 jobs) and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. From how I schedule my shoots to tools and resources you should invest in (whether it’s doing outreach to brands using cold call email or a scheduling tool for your social media accounts)
Since I started my blog I’ve watched so many girls make the transition from working full time to being a full-time blogger. I’ve also met countless others who dived straight in without any hesitation. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be – you just have to figure out what works for you.
Part Time Blogger Tips
+ Prioritize
This is the most important thing by far. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. As much as I wish I could do it all (aka have my cake and eat it too), the reality is I can only do so much in a day without completely sacrificing sleep and burning out completely. Personally, I have always prioritized my career first. Blogging is a priority as well, but only after I finish everything in the office.
If I do plan on working on my blog during the week, it happens in the morning before I leave for the office or in the evening, typically after 8pm. On the weekends I try to make a very targeted plan of attack and tackle high priority blog items (shoots, campaigns, and writing blog posts), typically at the expense of social plans. I don’t do this every week, but making lists and prioritizing the 1 or 2 things that have to get done every day makes it feel much more manageable than trying to handle an overly ambitious to-do list. Then there are days, and even weeks, that the blog ends up on the back burner. I try not to beat myself up over it and be too hard on myself.
Working full time and blogging is not for everyone but it’s what works for me
Having your own blog or side project is such a wonderful outlet and the skills you learn through building something on your own are transferable to anything you choose to do next.
I know a lot of girls thinking about starting a blog have a clear goal of making it their full time job and make money blogging. If that is your vision, by all means make a plan and prioritize the steps that it will take you to get there! If you work full time but want to make the transition to working for yourself as a blogger, it will take extra work and sacrifice, but it is totally doable if you stay laser focused and constantly remind yourself of your goal.
+ Schedule time to write regularly
Even though many bloggers don’t even have a website anymore, writing has always been important to me. I’m a firm believer that you only get better at a task if you dedicate time and focus to improving. It’s an easy thing to let fall to the wayside, but blocking in my calendar to write, even if it is only in 20 minute increments, makes a huge difference in helping me push content out on my page. Even if the internet says blogs are dead, I beg to differ – search engines are still key, and I’ve seen my traffic to my blog grow consistently over the past few years.
+ Be efficient at shoots
Because I cannot shoot every day or at the drop of a hat, preparation is everything. Efficiency is of the upmost importance when it comes to content creation if you are working full time – I like to batch my looks and create mood boards and shot lists in advance of shoots so I make sure I do not miss anything and can meet campaign requirements and deadlines. If deadlines are tight I make sure to communicate dates and expectations in advance – brands understand that not everyone is a full time blogger or works from home and has the flexibility to shoot anytime.
+ Spend time on your blog every day
Whether your goal is to be a full time blogger or not, this is very important. The most well intentioned goals won’t be met if you do not dedicate time towards reaching them! Inaction is one of my absolute biggest pet peeves. Spending time, even if it’s just a little, on your blog every day will pay off in dividends. It can be hard to stay motivated to shoot content, post on social media, edit photos, and write blog posts when you are already juggling so many other things. But if you commit even 15 minutes a day to a small tasks or research, you will see growth and success over time. You can absolutely monetize your blog over time; reading up on affiliate marketing and other social media platforms is still productive over the long run.
+ Collaborate with other bloggers
If you are looking to grow, networking and collaboration is a great way to do so. I saw tremendous growth when I was attending events regularly and meeting other girls. Over time I made friends in the industry as well – it is always worth investing in yourself and network.t
+ Outsource important tasks
I highly recommend doing this! As much as I would love to do everything myself, I have to prioritize (see the first point above) where I spend my time. For example, one very time-consuming piece I often outsource is photography. I would much rather invest my time and money on a good photographer who understands my vision and can shoot efficiently, than spend all weekend taking photos and editing them less well. This doesn’t mean I don’t think creative direction and photography are important – they so are! – but if you are pressed for time, I encourage thinking of various tasks that may be better to outsource.
+ Put yourself first
Again, it is important to practice self love and self care. At the end of the day, you are no good for anything if you are completely burned out and miserable. If I am exhausted after work or not feeling super social, I will not attend events. Now that I am in busy mode at work, I RSVP “no” from the get go often. I also will try to only have plans 2 nights during the week so I can save time for myself. If I know I have a busy week of work, I will schedule shoots and campaign deadlines later. Burning the candle at both ends is not sustainable. I’ve learned over time that it simply isn’t possible to say “yes” to everything. It all comes down to prioritization and your goals.
+ Don’t be afraid to ask or pay for help!
When it comes to being efficient, at some point you have to outsource some tasks. It’s not about working harder, but smarter. Invest in your mental health and business by identifying areas you don’t love doing (whether it’s graphic design, video editing, etc.) and outsource it! As your side hustle grows, you’ll also want to start paying for some tools to make things easier on yourself. If you’re an e-comm business, investing in good email marketing is key. Maybe you want to do outreach to promote yourself or your product. The key is to identify your weak areas and find someone who does them well so you can free up time to do what you’re best at.
Any other girls balancing a full time job and a blog or side hustle? What does “balance” look like for you?
Outfit is from Princess Polly – check out their site for the cutest stuff!
