What keeps you healthy, organized and inspired when it comes to blogging? Here are 14 tips every blogger can use to improve their business, as well as their body, mind, and spirit.
That title caught your eye, didn’t it?
Well it’s definitely one that is needing discussion in our fast paced, dream big, passion pursuing world. I asked Danielle to guest post for me so I could stay sane while traveling. The funny thing is, she spoke right to my heart. I feel like I am in a good balance now, but we all have our moments of dullness and burnout, right? So let’s talk about how to avoid that by keeping organized and inspired!
Welcome Danielle!
When it comes to blogging, it can feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions. Write more posts, create beautiful imagery, comment on blogs, respond to readers, answer affiliate emails, don’t forget to promote on social media! Learn about SEO, stay on top of current trends. You get the idea. Remember when you thought starting a blog would be easy and fun?
Despite being overwhelming at times, it can definitely still be fun.
I’ve put together 14 tips that every blogger can use to improve their business.
These blogging tips will keep you organized and less stressed when it comes to managing your blog.
4 Health Tips to Keep Your SanityÂ
- Schedule in down time. Disconnecting is the most important (but often hardest) part.
- Get your blood flowing every day. Set an alarm to break at least every hour. Stretch. Take a walk outside. Go to the gym. Whatever works best for you.
- Stay hydrated and limit sugar and foods that make you drowsy.
- Take your lunch break. Get a change of scenery. Turn your phone off. This is important whether you have a day job and blog part time or are focused 100% on your blog or online business.
Remember, when you feel your best, you’ll do your best.
10 Business Tips to Stay Organized + Inspired
- Keep a notepad (or use an app) with all your ideas so you never run out of things to write about. Inspiration tends to strike at the most inopportune times, like while you’re driving or in the shower. For those times, I rely on Evernote and voice-to-text.
- Listen to your readers and directly ask them what they want.
- Remove social media alerts from your phone, or remove the apps completely. Set a reminder to check social media twice a day.
- Limit multi-tasking. Make a to-do list and focus on doing a few items a day really well, instead of marking off as many as possible without 100% attention.
- Set hours for your workday. If you have clients, set boundaries for contacting you.
- Set up a content schedule so you can quickly mark off what you need to do for each post, such as:
- Outline post
- write post
- add photos
- add alt text to photos
- optimize post for search engines
- add internal links to related posts
- add a click to tweet
- schedule post
- create and schedule post for Facebook, three tweets,
- add to Pinterest
- set up and schedule email newsletter
- submit to stumbleupon
- respond to comments
- Overwhelmed just looking at that list? Get help when you can. Offer an internship, ask for guest posts, hire a VA or have a family member help.
- Keep a list of guest posts you’ve done and guest posts you’d like to do.
- Keep a list of affiliates/brands you work with and how much you’re making. Every few months reconsider which ones are worth your time and effort.
- Evaluate your blog every few months in general. What’s working? What’s not working? What’s cluttering up your design and distracting from your content?
What keeps you healthy, organized and inspired when it comes to blogging? Share your tips in the comments!
xoxo
Danielle.
Holistic Health + Business Coach
Thanks so much Danielle! I am honored to have you INSPIRE us today! We always learn from you and your passions.
Cheers!
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Awesome post! Sometimes I get over-whelmed when I feel like I should write about something but don’t WANT to write about it.. but when I sit down, it’s just easy to pound out!!
These are great tips, especially the sanity ones. I learned those the hard way a few years back. It was a tough lesson, but so worth it in the long run.
Wonderful tips! I definitely need to take off my social media notifications. They distract me all the time.
Everything I have read from Danielle has been really helpful. There’s some things on that list that I do, but many more that I need to make time for. I am really bad about being glued to the computer once I get on. I teach 2 gym classes starting at 6 am, then take the one at 830, then head home and start on blog work for the unforeseeable future. I need to break things up and get moving during the day so I don’t get burnt out!
Aw, thank you, Erin! I’m so glad that my posts have been helpful. Breaking things up is definitely a good idea. I set my Fitbit alarm to go off every hour during the day so I can stretch and get my blood moving.
Love these! I’d be absolutely LOST if I didn’t have my “system”. It took me a couple years to figure it out, but hallelujah! I figured it out 😀
I never use StumbleUpon and need to be better about Pinterest.
Love all of these tips! They aren’t the usual ones but so many great ones. It’s so important for downtime. I actually did remove all alerts from social media on my phone and it’s sooo helpful!
i agree! I needed these more than she knows. LOL!
So glad I could be of help Lindsay. I’m here any time you need me 🙂
Great tips! I love all your posts on blogging – hope you’re having an amazing time in NZ
So great! I need to get better at sitting down and writing and scheduling posts.
WOW!!!! Such a great list and slightly overwhelming :). I feel like I have not even scratched the surface in all things blogging….but I LOVE it and love all the wonderful people that I have met through it 🙂
Blogging should always be fun, but I know I wanted to make a blog to make connections and, really, just talk to people. I think THIS is what makes blogging have to be more of a business-centered type of thing if you really just want to make friendships!
Great tips, Danielle! I just started my blog (http://pathtotri.com) 6 weeks ago and I quickly found out how important organization is!
that’s awesome Eric! congrats!
I’m such a chronic list maker (honestly could not function without them!) and so I really appreciate that beauty of a list right there! It gives me goosebumps just thinking of the productivity… I guess everyone has there own way of doing things, but I like to chop and change things fairly regularly.
Totally forgot about Stumbleupon – really need to get back on that bandwagon!
i’m a sticky note junky. LOL!
I think scheduling downtime is such an important tip. I don’t do enough of this! I can’t wait till the spring when it’s easier to get outside for breaks! I love the content schedule idea, I’m certainly going to start implementing that in my daily life!!
same here. working on it!
What a great post!! Can someone do all that for me!!! 🙂
i think we all need an assistant haha
Loved this post, Danielle!
I agree that having a schedule/system makes it so much easier to stay on top of blog work and not get overwhelmed in the process. I’m constantly building a list of ideas for posts, pinning/curating content for other posts, and looking at areas for improvement.
One of the things I’ve learned to do is to give myself a set amount of time to write a post. I can be a perfectionist, which means I’ll take as long as I give myself to get things just right. But by setting a time limit, I’ve become more efficient and don’t fall victim to the endless hours of being in front of the screen.
Yes, I can definitely relate! I haven’t set a time limit for writing blog posts, but I think I’ll start doing that.
Great outline! So many steps when you spell them all out, no wonder why I’m crazy! I’m still way too seat of the pants with the way I handle my blog and that creates stress I don’t need.
Loving the crap out of this post! Especially the tips about social media. It’s so easy to get sucked in and feel like you’re not doing “enough” on each social media channel. One of my big overall blogging goals for the year is to relax and be okay with not getting every little thing done that I feel like I should do every day to be a successful blogger. So far I’m much happier and my blog is still growing!
you and me both friend. xxoo
Hi Lindsay and Danielle, I agree that you should set boundaries for your blogging life, because you have to HAVE and ENJOY a real life too. Great tips!
so agree! and I”m so working on that balance.. haha 6 years later.
I LOVED reading this post. Great tips! I’ve been experiencing the “get up and move every hour” tip…because last week I found myself sitting with freezing-cold feet and three hours had gone by. YIKES! Hope you’re having fun on your trip, keep posting pics to IG!!
These are such great tips! I don’t let my social media apps inform me of updates. I check them on my own time. I do need to limit the checking and taking longer breaks. It is so hard to do this, when things start going in the right direction, but it is NECESSARY. Love this guest post! XOXO
Multi-tasking is a seriously dangerous myth. You can multi-task the minor things (taking out the trash while going to check the mail), but not your serious work. It’s best done with 100% of your attention!
So true! I hadn’t even realized the focus I was wasting (“switching cost” I think it’s called) until the past 2 years or so. And I’ll admit, I still often find myself multi-tasking, but I just try to be mindful of what I’m working on and cut out as many distractions as I can.
Loved reading this, mostly because that really long list of what a blog post requires, reminds me that everyone is in the same boat! Often, I will think I am almost done, but all the linking and promoting is still left. Live and learn. Excited to use more of these tips. Thanks for always keeping things fresh, Lindsay. Great guest poster! Uh…post-er? lol
Wowzer- this could not have landed in my inbox on a better day. I am exhausted after taking three days off to take my children to Disneyland. When I returned home, my inbox was flooded with things to do. I had 5 sponsored posts due in one week, and I hadn’t even unpacked or pulled the sticky cotton candy off of my car windows. Deep breath- read this post, apply some of these tips and carry on.. thank you Danielle. Linds, I hope you are relaxing and as far away from work as you can get. Enjoy every second, savor every new sight, smell and sound- you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Cheers!
you and me both friend. one step at a time
I’m so glad it was helpful, Lisa! You’re exactly right…deep breath! Make a list, then just do what you can. The time with your family is sacred and important, so don’t let your inbox take away from that 🙂
Love this! Everyone needs a lunch break and change of scenery. It’s so critical to refreshing the mind in order to get back to work with a clearer head.
WHAT A GOOD POST!!!!!!!!
My level of disorganization right now almost makes me embarrassed to even read this.
LOL! ditto
haha! It’s an ongoing battle. I can’t say each day of blogging is perfect for me (far from it!) but I try to pull myself back in and focus. I’m obviously a list-maker, so that’s helped the most.
Such great tips! Blogging can feel like you’re juggling so many things at once…I’m all about streamlining things to make them simpler.
Awesome tips – thanks so much! You know what – I never really thought about all I did with my posts till I read that list – I really need to work on making lists and being more organized!
completely agree on removing social media alerts. i stopped alerts a few months ago and not having my attention constantly pulled from what i’m doing has made my days feel so much less frantic.
Definitely great tips. I need to get back to submitting to StumbleUpon. I used to be really good about that but I haven’t for a long time
Love all this advice in one nice, neat package! And it was a great reminder that I need to break one really bad habit–working through lunch. I don’t even sit down–just stand there eating and working. Time to use that as a mental/moving break instead.
same! working on that, always
I love this list! I definitely utilize my phone notepad for when inspiration strikes!
VERY helpful! Thanks for the list about being organized as a blogger. I sometimes mess up as I do things out of order, and I need to stop that, this is a great post to refer back to! Thank you both! Nice to “meet” you Danielle!
haha i always mess up
Nice to “meet” you too, Tina! I’m glad you found it helpful! It’s an ongoing battle, of course, trying to stay organized and focused with a blog.
I keep telling myself that blogging is still supposed to be fun when I get overwhelmed with keeping up with stuff.
Great post!!
so true!
Awesome tips lady! I’ve actually gotten a lot better at managing my time with the blog. I look back a year and it’s crazy how far I’ve come from being all over the place or at least feeling that way.
yes, i can so relate!
These are great tips! I struggle with taking time away from the internet and social media. Whenever I am bored or have down time I find myself scrolling through instagram or Facebook. I also really need to work on getting a better schedule going. Lately I have felt like I’m all over the place!
I’m not great with setting boundaries and scheduling time off. These are all things I need to start doing actually to stay organized. It’s so easy to just be all over the place, especially when my life as a mom is that way too.
Oh yes! I don’t have children yet, but I can image that adds a whole new level to balancing all of this! I admire anyone doing it.
HELLS YES to number four
monotasking for the win
always.
This was such a mindset shift for me! Multi-tasking is always praised, but monotasking is where the real work gets done 🙂
Such great tips- Thanks so much for sharing, Linds! Off to take notes…
i’ve engraved this list on my forearm! LOL!
Wonderful tips!! Learning and growing + I need to print and put these up where I can see them and be reminded – thanks!!
Great post!
Best tip for me – “remove social media alerts from your phone.” Yes, yes and yes.I am doing this now.
I need these tips! I too need to create more of a schedule for myself when it comes to blogging because otherwise, I end up wasting so much time and getting distracted by social media when I’m supposedly scheduling posts, etc.
Great tips! I need more of a real schedule. I am all over the place and it makes me crazy! I don’t get emails from twitter which is nice, but then often I forget to thank people for sharing my stuff and then I feel bad. Back to that implementing that schedule! Ha