Are you struggling to get out a post every week? Do you want to blog more than once a week but can’t find time to bang out your post? If so, you aren’t alone because most bloggers struggle with this question.
Over the last 7 months, I’ve ramped up my blogging big time. I’ve gone from writing once a month to weekly. Soon, I will be moving to daily posts. At first, this scared the beejesus out of me since I’m time-starved like most people. But even with 3 little boys and a full-time day-job among other stuff, I realized that I still have more than enough time to blog.
Sounds crazy right?
Well,here’s a list of tricks that I’ve used to consistently kick out decent content . Take a look and see if these will work for you…
Give These 7 Time Management Ninja Tips a Whirl
1. Get Up Earlier:
Over 30 days, I gradually moved my wake up time up by 90 minutes. The extra time in the morning allows me to grab a cup of coffee and kick out a 300-500 word post. Why 90 minutes? Well, I always build in a bit of a fudge factor in my goals. 90 minutes gives me 30 minutes to hit the snooze button!
2. Go to Bed an Hour Later
Pick one night that you can hit the sack an hour later. Use this time to either write or outline a blog post. I’m naturally a night owl, so this works great for me. The key here is to write when you have the most creative energy. If you burn the midnight oil then write then. If you are charged up in the morning then use the extra hour at night to outline a few posts for your morning writing session.
3. Record Posts During Your Commute
If you have a daily commute then buy yourself an inexpensive digital recorder and tape your posts. I like to ask myself a question, and then answer it on the way to work. I act like I’m giving a phone interview! It’s super easy to do and will give you some great posts that sound natural and authentic. Now all you have to do is transcribe your recording and clean up the post. Easy.
4. Write over Your Lunch Hour
This is one of my favorite times to write. Grab a quick-lunch and write flat-out for 30-45 minutes. You don’t have to do this everyday, but you’ll find that this is a great way to sneak in a blog post. This is also a good compromise for folks who love their beauty sleep.
5. Write Shorter Posts
Sacrilege right? I know that social media paparazzi considers 2000 words to be the minimum for a serious blog post. I think this is bologna. I’ve seen 300 – 700 word posts kick some serious “content is king” butt. Your goal should be helpful not long. Writing shorter posts help you to write quality posts more often.
6. Write in Spurts (weekend marathons)
Set aside time on the weekends to write 2-3 posts at a time. Just relax, grab your favorite beverage, put on your headphones and rock out a few short zingers. Don’t worry about quality – just get your creative juices flowing. You’ll find that you’ll quickly pump out some quality work in no time flat.
7. Timed Writing
I’ve discovered that having too much time is as wasteful as having NO time at all. For some reason, most people do better when they have a deadline looming. If you suspect that you are a thrill junkie, then set an egg timer for 33 minutes and start writing. Push yourself to finish your post in the time allotted. When the timer rings – you’re done. You’ll be be shocked by how much you’ll write.
Even if you use just a few of these suggestions you can easily ramp up your blog posting to a few times a week – easy. You’ll find, like I did, that time isn’t the problem. The real problem is getting started.
Am I Full of It?
Do you think you can pull this off? What is your biggest obstacle to finding time to blog?
About Stanford
You forgot one that can change everything.
“Write in the bathroom”
leave the phone, bring a pad. you can get all your planning for the week done in… ahem… one sitting. Plus, it’s quiet and people won’t bother you (usually).
Like the timed writing ideas. One thing I’ve found it to take more time to release content, and lets me write more. I keep a folder of files for ideas (each as a document that I can add to). I may just capture links to begin with. Then I have a folder called “Ready”I leave these to rest. That lets me decide “Should that be one post or two”. Like you say – short posts.That can double my output. And make for clearer more consumable content.
Finally I move them to “done” on publishing. Still work in progress
Ooh great ideas. I like #7 because I usually take up to 2 hours or more for a single post. However I wonder if I’ll be happy with the result if I do it in only a quarter of the time.. I’ll give it a shot though
These are some great tips. Recording my notes for a blog post may also turn into an audio post for me as I experiment with different forms of media on my blog. I will defintely use these & pass them on!
I definitely feel like my blogging has lacked since having kids. I also find that I go in spurts, where I feel really “on” and funny and I have a lot to say. I struggle with the times where I can’t find anything to say. Scary, because I never shut up.
Great tips! I know my biggest problem is when I start writing I am online & i also start checking my facebook & tweeting away & reading this & doing that. Ahh its like I need a block button for everything but the blog post I am writing.
Writing shorter posts would solve a LOT of problems for us out here reading them too : ) I rarely write over 700 words.
I think my best time-saver is closing out distractions and scheduling time to blog instead of mkig it an after-thought. Take it seriously. Commit. Do it.
Thanks Stanford.
Stanford, Good stuff!
Glad I found your post! Will pass along!
I especially like the timed writing. Having timed limits to your writing can do wonders to drive your creativity and productivity.
Craig (@TMNinja)
Hi Stanford. I’m new to your site. Great job! I work full time and am in the midst of starting up 3 part time online companies, for which I will begin a blog shortly. Your 7 tips will help me in this regard, as I was wondering when/where I could find the time. The creative part is not the issue…time is. Your suggestions are solid.
My biggest obstacle is simply getting in my own way.
I love to write, and I am passionate about what I write. But I find myself all-too-often saying, “I will write as soon as I….” (: Tweet, empty the dishwasher, catch up on email, script a video, pick up the kids from school, etc.)
I am terrible at sitting down and simply focusing on one piece without interrupting myself. I’m mostly all over the place: write, send an email, write, read an email, write, tweet, write, watch a video, write, read a book, write, get coffee, write, .
I do ultimately do finish my pieces. I do meet my self-imposed publishing schedule. I think my posts are written fairly effectively. I just wish I’d let go of my resistance and embrace the writer in me rather than avoiding her!
Stanford, you raise some good points in your post. I’ve never considered “Timed Writing” before. I am going to give it a try!
Now excuse me while I go fold some laundry…
Da*n that was good… Thanks for the spoof!
Waking up earlier is definitely great advice. I’ve found that most of my inspiration comes early in the morning when things are quiet and my mind is rested.
Nice quick list with some good tips. My creative time to write is after the day is done. I try and write 300 words, which usually turns out to be longer. Getting up earlier won’t work for me, but recording my thoughts while I take my walk might prove productive. Thanks for that tip.
Yep, get one of those mini moleskins from Barnes & Noble and jot down post ideas then flesh ‘em out when you do your 300 word sprint.
Great stuff- started doing most of it once I was writing regularly. I find that writing something and coming back is always great too
you still owe me the one that explains how to do all this when you have kids!
Ok, I’ll fess up – Mrs. Pushing is amazing and keeps the kiddies out of my hair when I do my weekend writing marathons!
Your dusty earth mother find is RIGHT ON
My biggest problem is that I’m a freelance writer and I spend the entire day in front of my computer and my head starts to burst after a while. Maybe I’ll try the tape recorder method. Thanks, dude.
The quiet of the early morning is my answer to the time crunch. Life’s inevitable distractions aren’t as much of a concern in the wee hours of the day, so I write with only my thoughts as an obstacle.
I think the key, and where you’ve hit that proverbial nail on its head, is being open to shifting daily schedule as needed to accommodate your most productive block of time to write. For me it’s early; for others it may be nights or during breaks.
Being a productive writer is more about embracing the schedule and routines that work for you and not forcing it.
Charley over at Productive Flourishing suggests mapping the trends around your most productive/creative and unproductive timeframes and prioritizing creative tasks during times of heightened productivity. It’s helped me a ton knowing that from 530-9ish, I’m on fire.
Thanks Stanford, love the post.
Glad you liked the post. That gem you dropped from Charlie is awesome – stop back and leave a link yo!
Yes Standford,
I totally agree to the last one. Since I’ve started dedicating almost all my time to blogging (and other website related stuff) I’m finding I’m reading your blog instead. Jokes, but it is certainly easy to loose yourself in a big block of time, and produce very little.
I’ve only recently started with timing my work, and it has helped massively.
Short posts – Seth Godin is doing it, and I think he’s done alright with that
right?
Umm…Seth Godin is a freak of nature. Chris Brogan comes close too
Here’s what I’ve found, the more you plan – the shorter and better your posts turn out to be. Crazy talk right? But true…short posts written on a whim always leaves me shoutin’ “Where’s the beef!”
This is an area of struggle for me as well. Very early morning is best, followed by evenings. I love the ability to schedule posts ahead of time. That lets me get planned posts out and I can fill in with off-the-cuff posts.
I’m a big fan of pre-scheduling posts too. You should check out the editorial calendar plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/editorial-calendar/
Totally on board! I have staerted to get up earlier to prepare posts, which KILLS me as I am the king of night owls, and much to my frustration have found it works brilliantly.
I then stay up late a night or two per week to polish them off and schedule them. Husband doesnt notice, freaks the dogs out because am padding around the house at 2 AM, but man I get stuff done!
My biggest distraction is checking email and my social media sites. If I can just open a Word Doc and avoid the internet it may be the answer for me. I am going to try the timed writings – that is a good one!
I had to train myself over time to work in 30 – 45 minute spurts without interruption. I reward myself with email and social media during scheduled breaks (that’s sick I know). Try an old-fashioned egg timer – it does wonders
Stanford, I’m a big fan of using a digital recorder for blog posts. I use mine to record ideas for future posts, and also to outline what I’ll put in my next post. The digital recorder is also great for capturing business ideas and the occasional to-do I forgot to put in my daily planner. I also dictate notes from Third Tribe Marketing and other audios that I listen to while driving.
One caution about sleep: make sure you get enough. Being chronically tired reduces the ability to do quality writing quickly, and it also depresses the immune system, which makes it more likely you’ll get sick.
heh – I’ll sleep when I’m dead
Seriously good point. As with everything, don’t push anything that isn’t healthy for you.
I can pull off staying up one, two and even three hours later than bedtime, but I can never pull off waking 90 minutes earlier.
I find my biggest blogging challenge is sticking to a regular posting schedule. Lots of distractions.