I don’t know how people who work full-time and still manage to get several quality blog posts up every week. My hat is off to those of you who do that. My job is physically easy and mentally easy yet I’m still exhausted at the end of the day and don’t want to do anything but rest when I get home. I don’t have the mental energy to do any research for a blog post or to even think too much. The best I can do is just dump what is on the top of my head like I’m doing now.
There is only one more week at the job. I’m looking forward to having free time again. I’m hoping to make good use of it. This current job is very boring but it is easy and pays well so I’m hoping I’ll get future assignments at this job. My employers are very laid back and let us listen to music or podcasts while we’re working. And I manage to sneak in a little blog reading on my cell phone as well. I really shouldn’t be complaining about this job.
One of the reasons I’m so tired at the end of the day might be because I am so out of shape. I do plan on hiking again once my job is complete. This time I’m going to hike in Missouri. This will keep my cost down. Also, it will allow me to easily come home for a couple days if I want a break. I’ll post more details about this hike once I’m actually hiking.
For those bloggers out there who work full-time and still manage to regularly blog, how do you do it? I’d love to hear any tips or suggestions.
A boring job can drain you more than a mentally stimulating one. Several years ago I did telephone surveys. My shifts were normally only 4-6 hours, but it always felt like an eternity. I won’t forget the empty cubicle – we rarely used computers and instead used pencil and paper. I would doodle on my surveys, snap my coworkers with rubber bands, or poke holes in the side of the cubicle wall as I waited sometimes an hour before I dialed someone who was willing to go through a 30 minute survey about a topic I had zero interest in learning more about.
Maybe it is the boring part that is making me so tired.
I hope you are enjoying your trip. It looks like you still have time to get online and read blogs at least.
You should consider hiking the American Discovery Trail. The Missouri portion goes from St. Louis to Kansas City.
http://www.discoverytrail.org/states/missouri/index.html
The trail I plan on hiking is actually part of the American Discovery Trail. I won’t be hiking the entire ADT through Missouri though.
I put in about 2-2 hours a day, but considerably more on the weekends. Although I enjoy spending time blogging, I try to balance it with a personal life.
It is a good to have a balance. When I was working before I did usually try to get ahead on blogging during the weekends. With this job I usually work at least one day during the weekend and don’t feel like blogging then.
I don’t know how people do it either but then I’m an introvert and just want to hide after a long day at work. Half the time I write a blog post on my lunch break and email it to myself so I can post it later. That’s not an intelligent blog post either, that’s just my ramblings. I don’t know how I am ever going to transition to a different job because I don’t have the energy to work on anything after my day job.
You did manage to post everyday for a long time. From reading your blog I know you have had a lot going on in the last couple years so I definitely understand why you reduced your posting frequency. I hope your business is a success so you can move to part-time or quit.
Thanks, Andy. Ya, I was good about posting back then when I had interesting things to post about like running out of water and rattlesnakes, haha. Now I seem to be stuck in cleaning/organizing mode which doesn’t exactly inspire me to write. I got lazy about taking pictures too. My blog is much more interesting with pictures. I hope to get back to posting more often.
I would comment more on your blog but I read it at work and don’t comment at work. I made sure I came home and commented on this post because I can totally relate.
That is the same reason I don’t comment on blogs much. I do most of my blog reading on my phone which makes it too much of a hassle to comment.
I spend my days mentally thinking about what I’m going to write, so when I get home, it just flows! Plus, having a good schedule really helps – my job works every other weekend, but I get a weekday off, which is really really helpful!
Setting aside a time and then always using it for blogging would be helpful. I’ve only got one more week at work so the schedule will change soon.
I couldn’t write my own blog — plus write for others — plus do my ‘other’ job — without a schedule. Sometimes I must force myself to sit down and write…but once you start writing, even if it’s gibberish, eventually the words start kicking in, and you can write naturally. (Delete the gibberish later.)
I keep a notebook with ideas, and will also start an article (with links) and keep it in rough draft form, until I have time to write and polish it. Takes discipline. It’s especially difficult when I’m out of town on a gig for the ‘other’ job — in fact, I was late with everything this last week. But I did eventually get it all submitted reasonably on time.
Some writers force themselves to get it done by sitting down to the computer at the same time every morning — and not getting up for at least an hour. I don’t do that…probably should. But I do take the scheduling seriously.
It sounds like a routine or schedule is the way to go for getting stuff down. Now I just need to make myself set a schedule.
I guess it’s all about time management. Though I get busy most of the time, I still find time to have a little exercise and do some fun activities with my family.
Time management is key.
I just don’t blog when I don’t feel like it. Might not be the best for growth and such, but real life always takes precedence. But, I agree with everyone else. Make a detailed schedule, and set aside specific blogging time. Also, brainstorm and have ideas ready to go before you sit down to write. Preferably about something you care about. makes it much easier.
In general, I do only blog when I feel like it. That probably has kept my blog from growing as much as it could. I do still feel that there is a bare minimum I should do and lately I’ve not always even been doing that.