Tuesday 6 August 2013

Getting Organised: Fitting It All In


When I suggested as to whether I should put on a 'blog organisation' post the response was overwhelming. It seems lot's of us do have trouble fitting it all in with full time jobs, school or university and even y'know just having a social life it can be hard to find the right balance.

Whilst at University I really did take for granted all the spare time I had and looking back I wish I had used it more efficiently, although re-runs of Friends and One Tree Hill with leftover pizza did seem a good shout at the time. Now I've graduated and fully immersed in the 'real world' of early alarms and long days. Having an internship that works so closely with bloggers is a major plus but it certainly doesn't give me any extra time to blog for myself whilst I'm there but I'm lucky in the respect it can offer up inspiration. 

The real question for many of us is how do we juggle full time work or education whilst still maintaining a regular blog post schedule? Here are a few ways that I personally find helpful for in achieving my aim to post at least four times a week, you might want to grab a mug of tea and get comfortable...

I do love using apps like Evernote as it's so simple to use and I can take photo's and store them for inspiration as well as jotting down ideas on the go. However, you can't be a good ol' trusty notebook. I have one specifically for blogging and another for work and another for separate social occasions that aren't blogger events. I like to keep thing separate so that it doesn't get all jumbled up and confusing and I know which notebook to go to for what and so on. 

My blogging notebook consists of lists of products I've yet to review with dates needed for the post to be up if sent by a PR, as well as weekly set out schedules that list the posts I'm going to put up for the following week. I tend to sit down on a Saturday morning and go through my list of post ideas, pick which one's I'm ready to review or can photograph that weekend and then write down what's needed for that post. 
For example for a lipstick review I like to have photographs of me wearing the lipstick as well as product images so I can give a true representation of the shade. I find it best to pick one afternoon on either Saturday or Sunday to stock pile on photographs and get as many product images as possible so that all that then needs to be done is the typing up of the post, which is FAR easier than snapping away one post at a time. Picking one day of the weekend to dedicate to blogging may not be a popular choice for one but I find it gets a lot of the work done and drafted up and then you can enjoy the rest of the weekend and week without worrying about getting a post up.
I also jot down any great photography locations, beauty tips or products I want to try, any great blog posts I've read and any inspiration I may have. I've realised in doing so I've become a bit of a list-aholic but it really does help keep things clear and compartmentalised ready to go. I would recommend always keeping your notebook handy as you never know when an idea will crop up or a new product will be added to your list or wish list! 

'To Review' Drawer
Having a good beauty storage system has also made things a heck of a lot easier, I finally caved and bought the blogger cliché that is the IKEA Alex. Having separate drawers for facial products, lipsticks, skincare and body products makes grouping things together easier. They do say a tidy room a tidy mind and since clearing my dresser of all things cosmetic and housing it properly in the Alex I've felt a lot more motivated with all my beauty bumf easily accessible and categorised. Such a nerd! I also use one drawer specifically for products I need to review and any samples I receive which makes keeping track of what needs to be reviewed much easier.

App wise, I do recommend Evernote as I mentioned early, as well as Blogger which I've used to draft up a post whilst commuting in the morning. I also really love the bloglovin' app for catching up on my favourite blogs as well as seeing what posts are popular in the beauty and lifestyle categories. Ooh, and I couldn't put up this post without mentioning Tweetdeck or Hootsuite which are both great for scheduling tweets. I use tweetdeck to schedule blog post tweets around popular times of the day as well as some general chit chat so that I'm still socially active throughout the day without being glued to my social media outlets at work or out with friends.

So there you have it, not exactly anything miraculous but lists and dedication will be your best friends. Have a spare afternoon/evening? Use the longer daylight hours to get lot's of product photographs done and dusted. Lost for inspiration and ideas? Flick through the bloglovin' and pinterest apps in your lunch break and use evernote to keep any images or links handy and able to come back to.  I do think you have to be dedicated and dare I say it trade some of your social time at the weekends getting things done blog wise. That's the way I keep on top of things and don't have to stress about not having anything to blog about during the week, which has in the past put me off and I then get stuck in a rutt of not posting because 'it's too late' or 'I'm too tired'. 

I know this post is a bit lengthy so give yourself a pat on the back and let me know if you make it the whole way through so I can personally congratulate you in the comments! Phew! I really hope this helps make things a little bit easier for those on the go. Do you have any blog organisation tips and tricks?
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45 comments:

  1. This is very helpful, thank you so much! I'll have to try Evernote!


    xx
    Mere

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  2. I hope it helps you :) do, you'll love it! x

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  3. I've been meaning to get Evernote for ages now!

    Great post it has been really useful :)

    xo

    The Shelley Diaries

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  4. This was really helpful! I need to get a 'to blog' draw too, it would make life easier! :)xo

    http://901lovely.blogspot.co.uk/

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  5. It's free as well so definitely get it :) and aw I'm glad :) x

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  6. It has helped me out so much, definitely recommend if you can! x

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  7. Raffles_Bizarre6 August 2013 at 13:47

    Fab posts, such useful tips! I always struggle to blog when life gets busy.

    Raffles Bizarre Blog

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  8. This post is really helpful and blog organisation is definitely something I need to get better at! I'm starting my first full time job in a few weeks so I reckon I'll need to be organised if I want to keep on top of things! xx

    www.justlikeheavenblog.com

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  9. We all do, it's okay to take time off sometimes though! x

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  10. I find doing all my photographs in one go saves so much time! I get all the things I want to photograph and just bang out an hour of photographing them! Then when I need to post I can quickly get one done! Great tips :) X

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  11. It definitely is the easiest way, saves so much time! Thank you :) x

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  12. This post is so helpful, i do find that without some form of organization i can forget to so something and end up posting something later than i wanted. Thanks!

    x

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  13. I'm glad it helps :) xx

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  14. Loved the post! Really usefull - specially the apps :)

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  15. you are a nerd but I love you and your super organised mind

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  16. Rachael Dunderdale6 August 2013 at 15:11

    I've just got Evernote as my trusty Catch notes has just announced it is closing down this month. Don't know where I'd be without a note-taking app.

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  17. I absolutely love this post! I enjoy blogging a lot more when I am organised and therefore not stressed about doing it, so your tips are defintely going to come in handy xx

    Cupcakes
    And Cocaine

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  18. I always struggle with taking photographs for my blogs, especially with this crap weather descending on Seoul. I need to set up a light box, methinks!

    ♥ Sarah | HeySarahLee!

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  19. I'm definitely trying on getting more organised! I always write up tons of drafts, but never get a chance to post them! Everytime I try to be organized, it never works!

    The Craziest Paradigm - a 'lil bit of rust & stardust

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  20. Thank you for this post! I love organization posts and learned some new ideas from this one. :)

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  21. Lovely post, you have tons of really good ideas.

    Erin, xx

    http://strawcherry21.blogspot.co.uk/

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  22. I definitely agree that you should take lots of photos at once. It's the only way I can manage daily blogging. I didn't even know there was a blogger app... oops!

    Hayley

    Water Painted Dreams

    xxx

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  23. Apps are always so quick and easy to use and so much more helpful than people realise! x

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  24. thank you baby cakes

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  25. I know right?! x

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  26. I'm glad Chelsea, I'm exactly the same I get so stressy if I have no sort of plan! x

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  27. That's a good idea, I was also thinking of investing in one! x

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  28. Maybe limit yourself to fewer posts per week but make them better quality and then product more and more over time once you're used to the work intake! x

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  29. No problem Kris, I hope it helps! x

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  30. I'm glad you like it Erin, my fingers just started typing away and I couldn't stop ahha! x

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  31. I don't use the blogger app all that much but it can be handy for just drafting up the wording of a post, not so much for photo's! x

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  32. Great tips! I've recently started taking blogging more seriously and posting on a more regular basis and my note book has become my best friend! I always carry it with me so if something comes to mind I can quickly make a note. I made it all the way to the end of this post, and enjoyed every bit- I'm such an organisation nerd! :) x


    http://anna-blush.blogspot.com

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  33. A note pad and pen always comes in handy! Aw congrats to you for reading the whole thing!! xx

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  34. Good tips! This will help me a lot as I've just started blogging again. I have a new notebook, new pens and waiting for a a new blog layout to keep me motivated. Great post!
    Chloe xo
    http://beautyandthephotographer.blogspot.co.uk/

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  35. Such good tips!

    I'm like you - a listaholic! The idea of writing lists actually excites me... is that sad?
    Love your blog!
    Chloe x

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  36. This is really helpful. This is the one thing I struggle with. Juggling my blog life with my work life. I've been using blog go app it's a bit like the blogger app but it allows you to publish any comments too which I find helpful and allows you to add links, tweak the HTML if needed and resize pictures in your posts.

    Leanne | Topazstarz

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  37. You can do it :)! x

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  38. We're just nerds ;) and thank you lovely! x

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  39. Ooh I'll have to check that one out too! x

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  40. This is such a great help! I've been contemplating on starting a blog and I could get all the advice I can. Thanks again for this post!

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  41. How odd - I started my first ever blogging notebook last night. I guess that makes for an organised high five? I'm a stye blogger as opposed to a beauty one, so I keep all my un-reviewed items hooked on the back of my door, until they've been shot and can take their place in my wardrobe with my "normal" clothes, which is the equivalent of your to review drawer.

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  42. Thanks for posting this Lauren. Very useful. X

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  43. Very helpful, thank you very much! X


    http://byjimmy.wordpress.com

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  44. Thank you so much! This was so helpful and useful. I have only just recently started blogging, so this is so great, that I can be organised from the very beginning :)

    x

    http://emilyviennabeauty.blogspot.com.au/

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  45. I'm a list-oholic too. I feel they really keep me better on track. Never heard of Evernote...definitely need that now! <3


    xoxo
    Kelly
    www.dreaminlace.com

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hello lovelies! I read and try to reply to each and every comment and they really do make my day :)