A lot of bloggers have commented on how consistent I have been with my blog despite being a busy blogger. This is usually mentioned in parallel with the acknowledgment that I have a child and a full-time job. What I find intriguing is that behind the scenes, that is not what it looks like at all. I have my lazy days. There are times when I don’t write anything for weeks. There are also times that I don’t sign into WordPress for days. What you are all seeing isn’t consistency on my part, it is planning.
Since this is a question that I get asked a lot, I thought I would address it in a post. I did write about how I’m juggling blogging with a full-time job before. But now that the lockdown restrictions are less severe, it’s about time to update you on what I do to keep the blog going.

Write when the inspiration hits
When I feel inspired, I quickly jot down a few ideas or write a full post. At times when I’m working, I take a 5-minute break to just write down as much as I can. The reason for interrupting my daily activities for a small session is because your writing will differ depending on what mood you’re in. If I’m feeling particularly frustrated about something and want to write about it, I do it right then. It makes no sense to wait till I’m in a good mood to do so because the post just won’t flow.
By the same token, it is often a good idea to write your posts in advance and then read them on a different day before posting. This allows you to spot any grammatical errors, or to pick up on the tone of your post. I have tried writing things when I am not inspired and it didn’t end well. If I’m being honest, I have many unused drafts that I don’t care to ever revisit for this specific reason!
A successful busy blogger writes in bulk
This is something that I do not take lightly and you shouldn’t either. When the writing mood comes about, milk it to the absolute last drop. This is so that you don’t feel obliged to write on other days. Writing is something I enjoy doing specifically for this reason. By writing in bulk, I am referring to the act of writing as many different posts or ideas as possible. Not necessarily writing long posts that may as well be research papers. Of course, you can do that too if it’s your cup of tea.
When you write in bulk, you give yourself that freedom to live your life. And you can still keep your blog up to date. I generally like to complete my drafts before I move on, to something else. But it is also nice to know that I have many half-written posts that I can touch up if ever I do run out of scheduled content.
Write about things you know
When it comes to selecting a niche, I wouldn’t recommend writing about things you aren’t too familiar with. Especially if you lead a busy lifestyle! Writing about what I know or am currently experiencing makes it so much easier to spend fifteen to twenty minutes per blog post. Of course, that doesn’t include editing time.
A lot of successful bloggers tend to add their own flavour to their posts. This is what makes each blog special and unique despite the similarity in topics. As an example, let’s take two lifestyle bloggers covering the exact same topic. By adding their own personal experiences, you get to experience the topic from a different perspective. I’m not saying you need to write a personal diary. But adding a bit of context to what you’re saying makes the content more relatable. It also makes it so much easier to get your posts written.
Don’t prioritise your blog over your life
I’m not entirely sure what the psychology is behind feeling like you have to do something, or doing it because you want to. For me, knowing that something is a choice makes it so much easier to do. I know that many people blog because they want to earn a separate income and thus need to put in the extra work. But that doesn’t mean you should ever lose sleep over it. You also shouldn’t feel like your life is getting in the way of blogging. If that’s how you feel, then it is probably the other way around!
When I am finding it difficult to fit blogging into my daily routine, I often just skip it altogether. There is always time to write a thing or two if you get creative. I mean, five minutes on the toilet can actually give your the basic outline of a post! And let’s face it, we always have our phones on us. So fitting it in here and there around everything else can actually have a better effect than sitting for hours on end writing. At least it does for me.
Use Grammarly especially if you are a busy blogger
This one is bittersweet… I didn’t initially use this for my writing, but cannot live without it anymore. A few other bloggers had recommended Grammarly to me but my ego was just too big to accept it. I assumed that I could write, edit, proof-read and restructure my posts without external assistance. One fine day, I finally decided to give this Grammarly thing a try, and I have not looked back since. It’s so nice to write and immediately see any errors I have made. And then to be able to see what tone my posts appear to have – golden! As a busy blogger, I’ve learned to take any free help I can get. So please don’t sleep on Grammarly. Try it out!
What are some ways you juggle blogging with your daily activities? If you are a busy blogger, do you find it difficult to keep up with a posting schedule?
These are excellent tips!!! Can I reblog this?
Thanks hun. Yes please 😊
“because your writing will differ depending on what mood you’re in” YES —I need to write in bulk to avoid writing posts I am not feeling.
Grammarly is a God-Send🙌🏽🙌🏽 Thank you for those tips —they are SO helpful😘😘 xx
Love Grammarly too, but don’t use it enough.
As long as you know it’s there 😉 You’re doing fine without it though!
There’s an old saying “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” I’ve found that to be very true in many aspects of life. The busier my life is, the more productive I am. When I’m bored and at a loose end, I have a hard time finding motivation to do anything.
I am guilty of sometimes obsessing over the “perfect” image for a blog post or a pin. I’m sure people pumping out 50 pins a day don’t do that. There’s another great saying “Done is better than perfect”.
I’ll just leave it at that!
I’ll have to check out grammarly! Thanks for the tip.
You’re welcome 😅
Wonderful advice Shelly – I must admit I struggle with the balance between a full time job and father of two. Your advice about writing when the inspiration hits is spot on. I try to do the same. Problem is if I don’t finish within a certain amount of time it never gets done. I have countless brilliant half finished posts. I would add that finishing is very important.
Write first drafts without editing. Just write. I’ll then return to the draft another day to edit and polish. That makes writing much easier.
Ahhh that’s a good point! 😅 thanks for that input. I think I need to put it to good use 😂
You’re welcome! It was a total game changer for me! Made the writing process much easier. I didn’t realize how much I was trying to edit and I wrote until I started training myself not to. Lol.
I’m a huge fan of Grammarly. I find routines help me too. 😀
That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing, Rachel 😊
Great tips. Thanks
“A successful busy blogger writes in bulk and when the inspiration hits!”
Thanks for reading!
Great tips, Shelly! You did not hold back nor lie, because inspiration comes everywhere, especially when you can’t do anything else, i.e. on the toilet or in the shower or bath. I have recorded several blog posts when I’ve kept my apple watch on during a shower. Oh, and Grammarly is my writing BFF too!
Thanks Toni 💖
You recorded the blog posts on your watch? OMG why have I never thought of doing that! Thanks for the tip 😅
If inspiration is hitting before I hop in the shower, then I keep my watch on and talk until I get it all out. Lol. You’re welcome!
It is very helpful. Thanks a lot, dear 🙂.
Thanks for reading! 😊
I must say, the work that you put into your blog is really admirable. It has progressed so much and continues to do so. All these tips are really working out!
Awesome tips! I definitely write “in bulk” as you say. Sometimes when I get in the writing mood I just want to keep writing and churning out content. I often have to remind myself to slow down because no one wants to read that many from me lol
I’ve heard of Grammarly, of course but never used it. My pride wouldn’t allow me too. I’ve always been fairly decent in the subject of English at school so it slightly offensive for me to even think of using it. lol 🙂
Hahah girl don’t ever stop writing if you’re in the mood. Unless of course you need to feed your kids or sleep. Use the scheduler, and you’ll essentially have content for daaaaaayyys!
My pride didn’t allow me to either, but it’s definitely great for saving time 😅
Excellent post. Recently I resumed to work full time. And I am Mom too. This balancing everything is surely gonna take sometime soon 😀
Thank you so much! 😁 It’s tough but not impossible~ hand in there and just keep shifting things around until it works for you!
I have been debating getting Grammarly for awhile now! Also, as a novelist I have long heard the advice write what you know. If you don’t understand it, your readers probably won’t either.
Do it do it!!! And you are so right about that… no one has the time to try and decipher a book 😅
awesome post jampaked with good tips. Nice job Shelly.
Is grammarly an ap and you use with WP when writing your post or on Google docs before?
Thanks Cindy 🙂 Grammarly is an app but you don’t open it. As you type your posts on wordpress, it automatically highlights all the issues and offers suggestions. It will also autocorrect any tyops. Kind of like typing in word but online 🙂
Awesome Shelly.
This sounds like a writers dream, thanks.
So if you don’t open it how do you get word press to do that?
🙏🙏🙏🙏
No clue how it works, but I think once you’ve signed in and give it the permissions to access your web browser, it automatically just opens?
Ok thanks.. I’ll give it a whirl!!!
Such great tips. I use to write while commuting to and from work, when I was working and Grammarly is a life-saver. Now that I finally have a job again, I have to prioritise my blogging schedule to suit. Thanks for the lovely tips. Read this post in good timing. 😊
Awesome! I’m glad you’re finding ways to make it work 😁 if it gets too hard, write on the loo 🙈
Lol. True..use gap times wisely.
I am finding it really hard to bulk write!! so yes need to concentrate on that. Also you are so right about the inspiration. I have great ideas at awkward times of day- that I don’t jot down, and then it goes! gone. I no longer have the passion for it because it no longer has the passion i had at the time.
hahah yeah… so you gotta make sure you carry something with you at all times. Do you get inspiration when you bake?
I completely zone out when I bake. I forget time… ( But aware of my cup of tea😉) it’s my passion, full concentration ♥️
wow that tea must be made of gold!
Write on bulk… That’s my take home. Thanks, Shelly, you rock! 🤗😘
Thanks hun!
Yep
Great points in this blog.
Typing posts in bulk
Writing down all ideas
Knowing to prioritise
Plan, plan , plan
Thanks for reading and sharing your views, hun!
I always forget about Grammarly! That is such a great idea. Will definitely try it out. Thanks for the tips 😀
https://mariameetskorea.com
Yay I’m glad to bring some value to your day 🙂 Thansk for reading!
Love your blog! I saw that you were interviewed by Pooja as well and got really excited as someone who is super new to the idea of blogging for others to read. We have a lot in common so thank you for your amazing perspective and guidance. Will definitely be following 🙂
Thanks so much for this hun, I really appreciate it! I’ll be slow to it (work things) but will def check out your blog too 💖
I also do most of the things you have shared. I love to milk my writing mood to last drop then I schedule the content and then go back to lazying around. Great piece.
Hahahah that’s one way to put it! Thanks for reading and for spamming me with love 💖💖💖
I particularly love the idea of writing in bulk when the mood hits. I did this before Christmas I was able to write about 30 posts in a week and that covered me for all of Blogmas and the weeks leading up to December, but in that same time I was buying a house and have been working on that and since then, I’ve just been grinding out one at a time the day before I publish to keep my consistency, I’ve not managed to hit a rythm since, but when I do, I’m gonna write plenty!
Thanks for the great tips!
Jack
https://jackbamford.com
I absolutely loved this especially writing in bulk, that is a life saver! I also love Grammarly it has helped me out many times, I am by far a professional so having those helpful apps that keep you on the straight and narrow are a life saver!
Thanks for reading Lisa! It’s really a lifesaver when we have busy jobs to deal with 😅