I don’t know about you, but I have not met a blogger who has a lot of free time. In fact, as I travel through blogosphere, I’m beginning to believe bloggers are over achievers – trying to do it all, and do it good.
Needless to say, the issue of time is often written about in blog posts and/or comments as bloggers struggle to find more.
Today’s Lesson
Although we’ve discussed how to make more of our time in the past, I feel this is a topic worth discussing further.
So, what can we do to give us more time to blog? To visit other sites? To set up additional blogs? To work behind the scenes? Or to join and participate in social networks like Twitter, Facebook or StumbleUpon?
Here are five options I’ve come up with:
- Cut back on posting
One thing we often read is we need to make the Google bots happy and publish fresh content daily.
Although daily posts will show those pesky Google bots our blog is alive and well, what we’re not taking into consideration is our readers. Will they have time to visit us daily and read our latest post? Chances are, they won’t. Soon our best work is buried in our archives and few have had a chance to read it.
- Limit the time spent on social media/networking sites
Networking on sites like Twitter or Facebook is a great way to connect with other bloggers and possibly drive up our traffic numbers, however, if we’re not careful, a planned 15 minute visit can easily turn into an hour. If this is an issue for you, try setting a timer.
- Make blog visiting/commenting time two-fold
As discussed in the comments of the He Said, She Said, They Said post, many bloggers don’t go back to check for a response to their comment until they visit the blog the next time. By using this technique it will allow us more time for other blogging activities, or life.
- Use the post-date feature
I don’t know if other blog platforms have this feature, but WordPress does. When we’re feeling creative, we can write more than one post and schedule them to publish at a later date. Not only will this relieve the stress of “what to post next”, but in the event life calls and we don’t have time to construct a post, we’ll have one (or more) ready to go.
- Utilize outsourcing
Many of us do try to do it all, but for each of us there is probably a part of blogging that keeps us beating our head against the wall. Instead of wasting precious time struggling with the parts of blogging that frustrate us, we can hire an expert. This will not only save us time, but we’ll know it is done right.
Okay class, now it’s your turn.
Today’s Assignment
Which part of blogging uses up most of your time?
What are your favorite time saving tips for blogging?
Raise you hand and share your thoughts.
~Barbara.
Photo Credits: Clock by wan fauzan
Stress relief poster by: ©aius
Hi Barbara
As always your post made me think, teach, which hardly ever happened when I was at school BTW.
The most time goes in writing my blog post and I only write one a week. I tried to write more but I must not be a natural writer because I could not create 3 per week. Now I share the blog with Ann-Marie and that is so much fun, good for both of us and the blog.
It is common sense really not to post too much, if I am honest and look how I relate to too many postings on other blogs, I can see that I too cannot keep up with the reading, so I relaxed about not posting too often. Thanks for validating this for me.
And congrats to George, I am going over.
.-= Check out Wilma Ham´s awesome post: Who Am I? =-.
Thank you for your kind words, Wilma.
Having a co-author is another great way to save time, and you and Ann Mare make a wonderful team. I don’t think too many bloggers think of sharing their blog with another, so I commend you on your the originality of your brilliant idea.
Which part takes up most of my time? Reading what other people posted, I think. My solution: skip more posts. What I’ve also done is pushing myself to read faster and it seems to work. Though I didn’t test it out, I think I am reading faster than before. I guess you can make some improvements in reading speed if you just consciously push it.
.-= Check out Kelvin Kao´s awesome post: Why Old People Take Cruises (Blame Hemingway) =-.
Hi Kelvin,
Like you, I find I read slow. Although we could skim people’s posts, I hate to do that when I know they put so much time into them. Making a conscious effort to read faster is a great idea. I’ll have to try that.
I cut down on blogs I read drastically. I actually unsubscribed from all blogs I followed and visited each I wanted to read directly. Whichever blog I frequently visit, I subscribe to. My 150+ feed subscription went down to around 30 – which is quite manageable. Even now, I keep an eye on blogs I read. If I find myself skipping a lot of posts, I unsubscribe. I know I can always add it again if I want to.
.-= Check out Avani Mehta´s awesome post: Release People Of Expectations, Let Them Be =-.
Hi Avani,
That’s a fantastic idea – when the reader gets so full, empty it out and start over.
In the past I marked everything as read, which helped – but not for long as all of my favorite bloggers kept cranking out the posts.
I would like to start outsourcing some of my content, but I’m not quite there yet. My guess is about 2 years. When my audience is so large and thirsty for more work happiness that I need help. 😉
When I had my first child I cut back from three times a week to two times. It helped me adjust to the hectic life with a baby. After a month I went back to three times a week.
.-= Check out Karl Staib – Work Happy Now´s awesome post: Wine Company is Buzzing about Work Happy Now =-.
Hi Karl,
I wondered how you kept up with your blog when the baby arrived. Now I know. Cutting back on posts does give us time for other priorities, and your new little one is definitely at the top.
Congratulations again on being a new daddy.
I, as Kevin, would say reading my friends’ blogs takes up most of my time.
My time-saving tip is to not go soliciting new blog readers by flitting from new blog to new blog and leaving comments, but concentrating on writing better, more universally oriented posts to possibly be Stumbled for a larger audience.
.-= Check out Jannie Funster´s awesome post: Post-Vacation Contemplation =-.
Hi Jannie,
That’s true. We can spend countless hours visiting other blogs. And with so many great ones out there, we tend to want to read them all.
Like you said, spending more time concentrating on what we’re publishing gives us a greater opportunity to not only have our posts Stumbled, but if we’re using SEO (search engine optimization), to be found by the search engines. Then, with the time we have left, we can use visiting our cyber friends.
It took me a while to finally get this but, something that has helped me most is to have several, 3 to 5, drafts going at the same time.
Sometimes it’s nothing more than just the title, other times it’s a 1500 word draft. Either way I don’t spend so much time beating my brain up trying to just write on one subject for an entire sitting, which may be an hour. I can sit a look over the drafts and if something strikes me about any of them, I’ll continue a thought or start a completely new thought on that subject until I’ve drained it. Then I may write something on another draft. If i’m lucky I can get a hundred or so words on 2 or 3 drafts.
Then, every other day I’m trying to post. On posting days I can finish a post fairly easily and I also have more time to edit that post.
So far, multiple post drafts, and posting less frequently has really helped me and boosted my “production” so to speak. Can’t believe I didn’t figure this out sooner.
.-= Check out scott´s awesome post: Changing Forms =-.
Hi Scott,
That’s a great idea. Like you said, some days when we think we’re going to post on a certain topic, it’s not resonating with us. So, having multiple drafts, on a variety of subjects, would give us more to draw from and possibly unlease writer’s block, as well.
I definitely do #4 – I write in batches, but not just when I feel creative – I spend 2-3 hours each day writing 5-7 posts, for clients and for my own blog. Alternating between writing and other activities such as checking email or social media wastes time, in my opinion.
.-= Check out Vered – Blogger for Hire´s awesome post: Visiting Vancouver =-.
Hi Vered,
Staying focused definitely helps. I do agree if we jump between writing, social networking and checking email, our train of concentration can easily be broken and we may end up getting nothing accomplished.
Good stuff. I’m a fan of getting results.
I think when it comes to results, there are a few things you can do:
– do less
– change your pace / energy (use more power hours)
– improve your technique (some techniques are thousands of times more powerful)
– batch and focus
– cut the overhead
I think the most important thing is timeboxing. Treat time like a budget and decide how much to spend. Once you set this limit, it forces you to do less until your improve your technique. As you improve your technique, you can bite off more.
If you always throw time at the problem, you never have to really improve and you don’t have a good way to test the impact of different techniques.
.-= Check out J.D. Meier´s awesome post: Motivation and Technique =-.
Thank you J.D.,
I can always count on your to share fabulous time saving tips. I like your idea of improving our techniques. Too often we get hung up on doing something a certain way, not realizing there’s other options.
You’ve mentioned the time boxing idea before and although I don’t have it perfected, I find when I do that, I become more efficient.
What’s that saying, “time is money”?
I think working in batches is critical to be able to manage your time effectively. Reading in batches does not work so well because by the time you comment, everybody else has already been there…
But it’s better than nothing
.-= Check out Miguel de Luis´s awesome post: "Oh dulce JesúsTe compasión de míTu flor marchita" =-.
Hi Miguel,
That’s true. If we write in batches we do use our time more effectively. As for commenting in batches, I have a tendency to do that, and even though I’m often “late for the party”, I leave a comment anyway.
Like you said, it’s better than nothing. 🙂
Hi Barbara – I’ve stopped using my Reader – like Avani – I was getting too stressed when I saw new posts popping up in it – especially as I had a Reader gadget on my iGoogle so I saw the new posts every time I went to Google! (which is about a thousand times a day)
Now I have a list I tick off of blogs I visit each time I do a post (hmm – this is my second visit to you this post cycle). I rarely do “cold commenting” – they NEVER return a comment (my blog’s too weird). I just return comments people leave on mine.
.-= Check out Robin´s awesome post: Birds Returning, Returning Birds =-.
Hi Robin,
Like you, I have also stopped using my reader. As you mentioned, seeing how many unread posts are there is overwhelming. Fortunately at 1000 they just show 1000+, so that’s where mine sits. 🙂
Having a list of blogs to visit is an easy way to stay on top of things. I like your idea of keeping it simple.
Be flexible. That’s my advice.
There are times when I can do everything I want to do in the blogosphere but there are plenty when I simply do not have that luxury.
I like to prewrite posts in MS Word and then choose which one I want to post every day.
I cut down to three posts a week and stopped my Teaching Tip Tuesday feature for the summer. But now that series is back up and I want to start doing four posts a week and taking Wednesdays off. But perhaps I could take Mondays and Wednesdays off and keep it a three posts. Still thinking about that.
I think a schedule is important for our internet habits, not only for posting but also for reading.
For instance, I like to go through my reader with breakfast every morning. If I have extra time throughout the day, then great, I can catch up on posts I didn’t have time to read. Otherwise, I need to skim them quickly so that they get marked as read. It’s not perfect but it works.
.-= Check out Chase March´s awesome post: My Summer Reading List =-.
Hi Chase,
I do agree having a schedule can be a huge benefit. Not only does it give us a blueprint to follow, but it can help to keep us focused on the tasks at hand.
And then as you said, if we find we have some extra time during the day, we can visit more blogs, work behind the scenes, or maybe do nothing. 🙂
Good topic Barbara and I think it all comes down to purpose and perspective. First why are you blogging? For what purpose and are you meeting that objective? Blogging is simply one option in an overall marketing strategy. It’s the most connective and personal task but all the same it serves to connect me with others who also care now about connecting their link between authenticity and abundance. That’s become my new mission so all of my online efforts serve that mission.
I also attempt to put as much of what JD says in action. He really knows his stuff when it comes to managing resources and getting results.
.-= Check out Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s awesome post: Ring The Authentic Bell And Win The Big Prize =-.
Thank you Tom,
I like how you shared to “stay focused” on our purpose. With it being so easy to get distracted when we’re writing and/or partaking in visiting other blogs or social networking, if we can concentrate our efforts on why we’re blogging, the chances of wasting time is minimized.
I’m like Robin. I’ve just stopped using a reader and now rely on the rolling blogroll on my blog. Blogs with new posts get popped up to the top of the list. One of my favourite features of Blogger. Truly. I swear it’s much easier and less stressful than seeing all of those new posts I suddenly feel pressed to read.
And I’ve pruned too. I now have just about 50 blogs on there, and if I find that I’m letting posts pass, I remove that blog.
I think I’m going to have to implement the timer thing for my Twitter and Facebook time. I hadn’t thought of doing that before. Great tip, Barbara. Thanks.
.-= Check out Nenette´s awesome post: back to civilization =-.
You’re welcome Nenette,
You know, I’ve seen that feature on Blogger, but didn’t know how it worked. That’s a great way to follow favorite blogs.
And the timer – it does work well. I set the timer on my oven and if I don’t shut it off, it beeps every 30 seconds or so. Since I have to get up to turn it off, that makes for a good reminder to get off Twitter.
I guess I’ll be the odd duck in class and state that I need to do more, not less, where blogging is concerned. Too often, my actual blogging is what suffers when clients and kids get out of hand.
Now that my little darlings are back in school (and out of my hair for 6 hours a day) I am shifting things around to allow for more regular blogging (I hope!) JD’s point about power hours is well taken – and now I’m working on maximizing the overlap in my power hours and the hours I’m alone in the house, as well as shifting my schedule (and hopefully, affecting my internal clock a bit) around to have more of that power time overlap the alone time.
.-= Check out Suzanne @ vAssistant Services´s awesome post: What’s Keeping You from Blogging? =-.
Hi Suzanne,
I wouldn’t go so far as to call you an odd duck, but your problem does appear to be the opposite of most. 🙂
The ideas shared here are all great ones to pick from, and J.D.’s time boxing is superb. Combine those with Tom’s idea of having a purpose and in no time you should be right on track.
Keep me posted.
I use the postdate feature on a regular basis on my blogs. I’ll often write a week’s worth of blogs and schedule them for future dates. It really helps those days when I just cannot wrap my mind around writing something.
One other thing I’ve started doing is bookmarking my comments on Delicious with the tag blogcomments, so I can go back and followup on comments I’ve made. That way, if someone replies to my comment, I can go back and keep the conversation growing.
I’ve also started categorizing blogs in my google reader. I have my must reads that I read every day. The others I read if I have time, but I can easily mark them read with an easy conscience. That way I get the ones that I consider blog work always read and commented on.
.-= Check out Jodith´s awesome post: Dealing With Difficult Customers: The Basics =-.
Hi Jodith,
That post date feature is great, isn’t it?
You mentioned bookmarking posts/comments in Delicious. Oddly enough, someone else mentioned that on an earlier post just the other day. Although that isn’t something I’ve tried, it sounds like a great way to stay abreast on conversations.
Barbara,
Another very very thought out topic.
In my little experience of blogging..i have noticed that i wasted a lot of time trying to stress about writing everyday. I love to write…but sometimes when life calls…you have to leave it. Since then…i have tried many different methods to post without stress…the only one that has worked for me is writing a line or two with the heading of the post…as soon as the idea pops in my head. Then when i do really have the time i go and elaborate on the post. And i have made up my mind 2-3 posts a week only.No pressure.
Secondly i totally stopped using my reader…like Avani and Robin..it was stressing me out…whenever i opened it…200 sometimes 300 posts I havent read and the guilty conscience that came with it..Now i just go to the blogs i love….in my own time.
I think the more i stressed about the time factor..the more difficult it became…The point i stopped stressing and taking it easy…it just fell into the schedule.
.-= Check out Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s awesome post: As You Think =-.
Thank you Zeenat,
I’m happy to hear you have found your blogging rhythm. What you experienced is not that uncommon for new bloggers. We want to do it all, and before we know it, all of our free time is spent in front of our computer due to self created stress and guilt.
Blogging is suppose to be fun. It sounds like you have now found that balance where you can enjoy each aspect of it.
HI Barbara…its all thanks to your very informative blog posts that i have been able to find my rhythm and enjoy blogging. The tips and tricks in your posts have helped immensely.
Thank you and thank God for your awesome blog.
.-= Check out Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s awesome post: Peace&Happiness{Inspirational Quote of the Week} =-.
Interestingly enough I am trying to cut down on my posting in order to develop better balance in my life. I post at least once daily but I post date all the time. Of course the subject of my blog allows a little more planning than some others. Unless there is something major breaking my RT posting is non existent. Between the job and the husband and the kids there’s just no way.
I also have to agree with an earlier commenter who talked about drafts. I have dozens of things in my draft folder from links for further investigation to mostly finished posts.
Thanks for the blog, I always find it interesting.
.-= Check out Aftercancer´s awesome post: Bladder cancer news =-.
You’re welcome Aftercancer,
Cutting back on posting is a great way to not only find that balance, but to also have more time for other blogging activities, or life. Plus, for those who read your blog regularly, it gives them a little break, too.
And yes, having those partially written drafts is a great way to have something to fall back on when we have writers block or can act as a reminder of ideas to research when time permits.
GREAT post. Blogging is definitely one of the most time consuming things I’ve ever done and I think most of it comes from reading/posting on other people’s blogs. I’ve noticed that other people don’t always post on other’s blogs but I really enjoy doing it (even if it DOES take up a lot of time!).
.-= Check out Positively Present´s awesome post: how to be beautiful from the outside in =-.
Thank you Dani,
I know you’re VERY active in blogosphere (I see you all over the place – 🙂 ) Visiting so many blogs can eat up a lot of time, but from your comment it sounds like it’s something that brings you joy.
You’re right. Some bloggers don’t reciprocate. Usually that’s due to their own set of priorities (and probably time, too).
To save time, I rely on Google Reader a lot. I have this bloated list of blogs that I read and I keep adding to it everyday – and pruning the list at the same time.
Why Google Reader? It’s got awesome new features now. I can “like”, “star” and “send to” the post to my social media sites favorites, thus promoting the post among my friends there. If the post slays me I’d visit the blog and leave a comment. But I can’t do that every time – time is a limited resource. My only problem is if the blog author is not too social media savvy – he/she might not know I’d been “good” to him or her by promoting the post. lols.
Writing in batches as suggested by other readers here is very good advice. Something I have yet to incorporate in my blogging routine – and I will. 🙂
.-= Check out jan geronimo´s awesome post: Come to the Dark Side… =-.
Hi Jan,
I’m happy to hear Google Reader is working well for you. I didn’t know you could promote a post from there.
I like the part where you said your non-savvy social media friends may not know you’re promoting their work as I know you have Tweeted some of my posts and the only reason I knew was because I was on TweetDeck the same time as you. My problem is if someone doesn’t use the @BSwafford, and uses Blogging Without A Blog, unless I do a search, I can easily miss those tweets.
With that said, if I missed you promoting my posts, I say a belated “Thank You”. 🙂
Hi Barbara .. I’m posting this before looking to read through the comments, so hope I’m not repeating too many things etc ..
Hi Barbara .. and from your previous post .. (using Notepad – which helps me .. as I come from the ark of life .. and notepad didn’t exist!)
First – do your own blog
2nd reply to your own comments (perhaps all in one go – if ‘lots’)
3. Reading the answer to your previous comment, when you go to the new post – that could save time.
4. If the post resonates (as Wilma said) then comment, otherwise don’t
5. The Avatar – is a good way to identify people – so if like me you haven’t got one to help others .. we should look to get one.
6a) Another thing I realised re my own blog .. now I comment on Jan’s blogspot – commenting must be a pain (for which sorry to all who read this!) – so that’s something I need to address.
6b) I see you’ve added thread commenting on your blog ..which makes the reply easier to read
7. Preparing and having a small stock of posts – so the pressure is off ..
8. Dot’s idea re a widget notifier .. it’ll come or it’s there I guess
9. Carla’s idea (is the one I was looking for!!) of saving the post to delicious – not sure how that works, but the idea sank into that soggy mass in my head, for exploration later on!!
I think I’m out .. I obviously need to address a few things re my own blog and I’m not sure how things completely work, which obviously would educate me as to saving you, the readers, some time ..
For the future ..
Thanks .. time saving = a necessity – we work out what we can each do ..
All the best -Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
.-= Check out Hilary´s awesome post: Hounslow Heath, Powder Mills, Flying Machines … =-.
Hi Barbara .. picking up on peoples’ comments is helping me .. so I just thought I’d drop my notes here ..
1. Focus
2. Schedule
3. Use a notebook .. I have notes in all directions & I must get organised that way .. because I then waste time going back and trying to find what I was looking for – as I know it’s on that person’s blog .. but where!? in my notebook it would be there – left ‘open’ to be dealt with.
4. I have to say I use a list of blogs to go to .. I think I will unsubscribe (saving time) – but
5. Nenette’s idea of the blog roll seems good .. & is in Blogger – see how much I know!
6. Jodith has elaborated on Carla’s idea re the Delicious time saver – I must check.
7. Jodith I see has started categorizing her blogs, another organisational tool – Google Reader has some good features apparently .. from this naive blogger!
8. Jodith .. post date feature: another good pointer for being prepared
9. Taking Jan Geronimo’s comments .. There’s such a mix of us out there – some knowledgeable about the internet, some fairly, and some just not – a topic for another post perhaps .. how do we know if the blog has an internet savvy author? & another one the advantages, disadvantages between Blogger, WP and a straight web site blog?
Oh dear .. too much .. thanks Barbara .. interesting post on time –
Thanks – Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
.-= Check out Hilary´s awesome post: Hounslow Heath, Powder Mills, Flying Machines … =-.
Hi Hilary,
There is a lot of great ideas here, aren’t there?
I’m with you. By focusing we can say time. With blogging or being online, it’s so easy to get side tracked; before we know it, many hours can pass.
One thing I really like about listening to how others do it is that we can tweak our own ideas, add some, take some away and find what works best for us.
Like Avani and Robin, I have unsubscribed from many blogs. I just could not keep up with my rss feeds. Work in other areas have been keeping me extremely busy and I had to cut down on the number of posts to one per week.
.-= Check out Evelyn Lim´s awesome post: Create Powerfully In Pictures =-.
Hi Evelyn,
It can be tough to keep up with all of the blogs we want to – whether in our reader, blogroll or other.
When life gets busy, often the best thing we can do is cut back on our publishing schedule.
sigh. in the beginning, we seem to find the time and neglect other things, but as life around us continues, if we spend too much time on blogging activities, opportunities can pass us by. time that we could have spent with family wasted. now i do love my blogging, it’s my time, but i have to put a limit on how much time i devote to any hobby. i should not just sit at the computer and come what may. i should have a purpose, not just aimless surfing or social networking. like right now i just opened my reader and screamed and thought wow, i can’t keep up with every post, but i set aside a few minutes out of my cleaning schedule to read and comment on blogs. when my time is up, i go back to cleaning.
writing takes up a lot of time, but that’s okay because i rather wait for a better idea or thought to surface before i hit publish.
time saving tips? do a little every day. sit at the computer with a purpose in mind. two-fold purpose, as mentioned. i guess if one must tweet, if they can do so from a mobile device while waiting in line, that might save some computer time.
enjoyed the post.
.-= Check out Natural´s awesome post: Herstory In the Making =-.
Hi Natural,
That’s true. Opportunities can pass us by if we spend too much time blogging, aimlessly surfing online and or not watching how much time we devote to this “hobby”.
I really like your idea of tweeting while waiting in line. It would not only help to keep out name “out there”, but would make the wait time go by faster as well.
I feel blessed to have as much time as I do, since my blog list keeps growing. I could spend two hours each morning reading & commenting on the ones I love.
In my mind, I enjoy posting just twice a week (and that was scaled back from five when I first started blogging two years ago). It’s easier for me to come up with fresh content (and I use Zeenat’s method, too – when inspiration hits, I write down the first few lines and go back to finish it later). It also takes the onus off the readers. I know that personally I appreciate bloggers who only post once or twice a week. I want to read and comment on all of it, but now that I’m following 20 or so blogs, it’s getting harder!
As always, I appreciated reading what you had to say, as well as the comments.
.-= Check out Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s awesome post: What Do You Know About Love? =-.
Thank you Megan,
I hear you. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could read everything our blogger friends publish? And comment on all of it, too?
Ditto to Zeenat’s method of jotting down ideas when the inspiration hits. Just a line or two is enough to remind us later of where we want to take the topic.
Barbara,
Of course there is always the tried and true method of:
Sleep Less!!!
Heck, you can get by on 5 hours, right? Nobody said this blogging thing was easy!
And as a bonus, once you collapse from exhaustion, most hospitals now have wifi! Coolio, just think of how much you can get done while you’re in bed, having staff to bring you food, bedpans and the like!
Actually, I do my blog reading and commenting in blocks. I’ll set aside a chunk of time and do as much as I can during that time period. I’ll not look at my email or Twitter and just go to the blogs I need to.
Cheers!
George
.-= Check out Tumblemoose´s awesome post: Books on Fire, Now it Just Takes a Keystroke =-.
Oh George, you’re funny.
But yes, sleep less is an option – not one that would work well for me as I get cranky if I don’t get enough sleep, but for some, maybe.
Reading blogs by using a block of time is actually a very efficient way to do it. And having Twitter and our emails turned off (or ignored) will keep us focused, thus increasing our productivity.
Wow Barbara I am glad I started here reading today…I used up my drafts folder while away in the UK….so the blog would stay active, then I came back like a spurt only to have contractors arrive and need the electricity off and on for the solar panels, which I am writing about on my other blog…and then a big surprise, kiddo #2 came home for 2 days rest before more school – and I just stopped doing everything to play.
I need to re-evaluate what I am doing – and having a few days off from posting has given me a new lease on life…I was starting to feel guilty when I saw this post title. How would I ever catch up?
I am finding that when I can let go of confusion and enjoy something that pops up…I always have perfect timing or the timing becomes perfect…
I am laughing more these days…
and doing JD and Tom Volkar’s good suggested assignments – they work!
Life just gets better and time is more fun 🙂
.-= Check out Patricia´s awesome post: Some More Sand in the City Pictures – 2009 =-.
Hi Patricia,
If you liked the advice JD and Tom provided in this lesson, you’ll enjoy the next post, as well. 🙂
I love what you said about enjoying what pops up and how you always have the perfect timing or the timing becomes perfect.
We have more fun and life does get better, doesn’t it?
Hi Barbara – This was a good post to come back to after being gone a week. I post-dated one entry on another of our blogs, but PassingThru has lain dormant.
This morning I found that I could delete all blog posts older than one week on my reader. Bliss! I also have them categorized and have added the “next post” feature so I can scan the headline and delete at will. You’re right about the 1000+ tracker. So far I’ve dealt with about 400 in the space of 20 minutes. When I get to the biggest category, I may delete everything that’s older than one day.
My attitude toward time and doing it all: Jonathan Fields recently wrote a post about how on a group vacation, one of the children asked why he couldn’t ever stop working. He explored the joy that he gets from what he does and the integration his pursuits have in his life. To Jonathan, work is something that happens wherever he is, whatever he is doing. Pete and I have tried to incorporate that concept since we started PassingThru. And we haven’t worried too much about what we should be doing in terms of schedules, frequency, etc. (Well, I haven’t anyway, haha)
Jonathan refers to his “creative jones,” indicating that he misses writing and thinking if he suspends it. Marrying your avocation with your vocation to me seems very natural. It precludes one from having to take from one thing for another in a doomed effort to achieve “balance.”
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Hi Betsy,
I hope you had a good vacation. Taking time off is important for all of us.
I like the story you shared about Jonathan Fields. You’re right/he’s right. It is more natural to marry our life and work instead of trying to keep them separate.
Hello Barbara. The thing you mentioned that has worked best for me is cutting back on not only frequency, but lengths, of posting. I have several blogs and do freelance work, as well. I felt that the drive to keep up daily postings of a certain length was burning out not only myself, but probably my readers, as well.
I also guage my readers to a certain extent by myself as a reader. I enjoy so many of the blogs by others, but began skimming the longest posts and skipping some of the dailys altogether! So, if something tires or drives me away as a reader, the same probably holds true for those who read my blogs.
As always, wonderful post.
Karen
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Thank you Karen,
What a great way to look at it. When we put ourselves in our readers shoes, we begin to see the whole picture. Although we tend to put more pressure on ourselves, our readers aren’t. So, by cutting back on posts and shortening them, it becomes a win-win.
The Facebook and twitter thing is a issue with me as I always try to make the stay on these sites a little but I end up wasting 1 hr or more on the site which is really annoying.
Sometime the timer thing you said sounds odd but I think at present this is the best thing which can help me out utilizing my time thanks for it 🙂
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Hi Ravi,
I know exactly what you’re saying. Going on Twitter or Facebook gets to be so much fun, before we know it, a great deal of time has passed. The timer actually works very well, not just for that, but for how much time we spend online, as well.
Like they say, “time flies when you’re having fun”. 🙂