8 Tips for Finding Time to Blog

Don’t hate me for saying this, but blogging can be fun! Before you go rolling your eyes and mutter some bitter response about how not everybody has time to keep up a blog, let me explain. Theoretically you should be blogging about something you’re passionate about, and what could be more fun that putting your passion down on virtual paper and sharing it with everyone?

Whether you’re a recreational blogger writing about your favorite hobby, or a business owner who blogs because ‘it’s the right thing to do,’ once you adjust to the initial time constraints, I promise you’ll start to look forward to writing your next post. Here are 8 strategies to help you find time to fit blogging into your busy schedule.

1. When Inspiration Strikes, Take Advantage

If you’re distracted by something or just not feeling inspired to write, no matter how hard you try, the words won’t flow easily. When you sit down to write your blog and you don’t get more than a sentence out in the first ten minutes, take that as a sign that now is not the best time to write. Go take care of whatever it is that’s distracting you and come back later. On the other hand, if a light bulb goes off during your favorite TV show, press that DVR button and take advantage of the moment.

2. Early Bird Vs. The Midnight Oil

Experiment with writing at different times of the day to figure out when you do your best work. Perhaps writing first thing in the morning is best for you when your mind is fresh and you are free of distractions. Some people may prefer to collect thoughts throughout the day and put them down on paper at the end of the day. Maybe writing over your lunch break gives you a nice break from human interaction and a release from the hectic happenings going on around you. Once you figure out what time of day is generally guaranteed to get you into your writing rhythm, reserve a 20-minute slot for writing at that time everyday.

3. Have Ideas in the Pipeline

It’s easy to waste a lot of time staring at a blank screen trying to think of something to write about. Keeping a log of ideas and topics to write about will ensure that you can sit down at any given time and choose from your list of topics. Keep the list somewhere that is easily accessible such as your phone or mobile device that you have with you at all times.

4. Give Yourself a Break

Completing a blog post from start to finish in one sitting is both daunting and unnecessary. The thought of it could be the very thing discouraging you from blogging in the first place. The mindset that we have to block off a two-hour window in our schedule to write the blog is just not realistic. Try breaking up your writing into 15 to 30 minute segments and fit it in when you can. The average person doesn’t stay completely focused for much longer than that anyway, so any time spent writing beyond that will not be your most efficient use of time.

5. Multi-task

Chances are you have activities throughout the day that don’t require all of your brain power. Use time spent on these activities to brainstorm or mentally organize your thoughts for your blog post. For example, your commute to work or even your workout could double as a brainstorming session for your next blog post. Just make sure to jot down some notes after words so you don’t forget all of your brilliant ideas.

6. Write First, Ask Questions Later

Anything is better than nothing. That’s my theory when it comes to writing. At least the first draft anyway. Practice writing really fast and don’t get hung up on the quality of your grammar, formatting, or even your ideas. If you write first in this stream-of-conscious style, you’ll find that a lot of good ideas come out, amidst some not so good ones. But that’s what editing is for.

7. Eliminate Distractions

According to research from the Gallup Management Journal it takes 23 minutes on average to get back to work after being interrupted. If you’ve blocked off some time to work on the blog, make sure you are free of potential interruptions by closing out of your e-mail and any Internet browsers you may be tempted by.

8. Make Use of Curated Content

If you don’t have time to write a blog post from scratch this week, be resourceful and look for blog material in presentations or articles you’ve already written for a different purpose. You may have to change the format or even the tone slightly to fit with the theme of your blog, but chances are what you had to say in your presentation is still relevant to your blog audience.

There are a million excuses for not keeping up with your blog, but lack of time sure is a common one. Especially for business owners or professionals who have a hard enough time just finishing all of their regular job duties in a day. Well hopefully these tips will help you free up some time to dedicate to your well-deserving blog.