I made a bit of a deal with myself at the start of the year that 2012 would be the year that I would get to bed at a reasonable hour. That I would get a bit of balance back in my bloggie life.
Mmmmmm.
The first quarter of the year is almost over.
One minute I was all salt-encrusted after a summer mini break and the next, it’s almost time for the Easter Bunny to bring me a dark chocolate Lindt Bunny (yes, he will 
).
If I were to issue myself a report card it was probably be one I’d be happy to show my parents.
On paper, things are GREAT.
- This week I unveiled Styling You’s makeover, something I’ve been planning since late last year.
- The number of people visiting Styling You continues to grow; as does the amount of time they stick around once they get here.
- I’ve been really fortunate to work with Big W and the autumn-winter launch of its Emerson label.
- It’s confirmed I’m going to be blogging for Maybelline at Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week in May (just sneaking that little announcement in!).
- And I’ve had an exciting, regular paid blogging gig over at Justb. Australia.
I look like the bloggie class goody two shoes, don’t I? The reality is my time management and productivity suck.
But I’m working on it. I really am.
My desk last night: looking a bit juggled like my lack of time management
I’ve re-jigged my business to reflect the reality that I’m a full-time blogger.
Freaky but true.
- I no longer see styling clients one-on-one – just through my online membership.
- I’ve almost got my bookwork sorted and ready to outsource on a monthly basis (numbers are not my thing – this is a huge relief).
- I’ve appointed a writer compiling Styling You’s online shopping finds – hello Jo-Anne Hui.
- I’ve appointed an admin assistant to help out with Styling You’s monthly competitions – hello Kristen Clark.
BUT. And it’s a big but.
I know I can’t continue on this crazy stay up late; then get up and do the school run blogging schedule.
So the next quarter of 2012 for me will be very much about working better on my time management.
I’ve actually been really inspired on this front by a number of the people interviewed in Problogger’s Blogwise ebook (Click here to view more details). We’re talking big, bloggers, HUGE. It was actually quite comforting reading their interviews and seeing that they too don’t have the magic formula for making it all work.
Here are the key ah-ha moments that I took from Blogwise:
Heather Armstrong (Dooce): “We block out a specific amount of time for writing and no one is allowed to talk to me during those blocks of time, so that I can be productive.”
Jeff Goins (goinswriter.com): “… I create an enjoyable context … (if I) have to do something I don’t want to do, I’m going to create the most enjoyable context possible. I’m going to listen to music, I’m gonna drink coffee, and I’m gonna sit down and I’m gonna do it, and I’m gonna set aside this much time to do it.”
Gretchen Rubin (Happiness-project.com): “To think about moving in the right direction is more helpful than thinking about hitting some goal.”
Leo Babauta (zenhabits.net): “(to know that what I’m doing is productive) I go basically by feeling. Does this feel right to me? Do I feel this is in line with the principles of my life …”
Matt Kepnes (Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site): “Productivity is getting all my writing done. (On) a good day, I’d be able to get all my writing done.”
Abby Larson (StyleMePretty.com): “We have family time – strict family time – from five until the kids go to bed.”
Brian Clark (Copyblogger.com): “… you really have to learn how to say no, and how to ignore things that aren’t critical in order to get done what needs to be done.”
Amy Porterfield (amyporterfield.com): “If you’re not meeting deadlines, if you’re not actually producing great work that’s getting great results, you have to look at that and think something is broken in your process here.”
Darren Rowse (problogger.net): “… if something is giving me energy, I’ll do it more. If something’s taking energy I question, ‘Is this worthwhile?’ “
Do any of these resonate with you? Do you have a good balance between your blog and your life? What tips have you learned along the way that help you to keep that balance and still be productive?
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