The following is a guest post by Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. BFS covers spending, savings, and the fun stuff along the way.
I didn’t understand the saying “Time is Money” better than when I started blogging. I make money blogging via ads. Those ads pay more to popular sites.
You become popular by writing something interesting and getting people to take a peek. Getting a name out there takes time. Therein lies the rub.
Here are the Top 7 Ways of Budgeting My Time:
1. To-Do Lists – I have a paper list on my bedroom end table where I write all the stuff I need to get done. As I actually accomplish any of it, I cross it off at the end of the day. The list gets pretty long as I add stuff to it without accomplishing much. Luckily, a few things grow less important with time, so I can cross some stuff off just by caring less, hahaha.
2. Schedule – 2-3 times a week, I go through my to-do list and write the big things I need to get done in on my calendar in my purse. I check that calendar every day. Events like birthday parties will happen one way or another, but reminding myself to renew ad contracts that have reached the end of their terms is all on me. I’ve never met an advertiser that would remind me that it is time for them to pay again…
3. Prioritize – I occasionally over schedule myself and have to take a step back. Just recently, I had to admit that I didn’t have time to do book reviews and balance everything else. Sometimes you just can’t do everything and priorities help. The things on my list that involve friends and family are put first but are closely followed by anything that has to do with money. 🙂
4. Review – I look over my monthly schedule every week to make sure I am accomplishing what needs to be done and haven’t scheduled myself into insanity. Some weeks look so hectic that I even schedule myself some down hours the following weekend just so my head doesn’t explode. Of course, life usually laughs at my “down hours” but it is a solid attempt.
5. Multi-Task – I almost always have my iPod with me or some paper, so any time I am waiting for something, I either listen to another part of an audio book or write something for one of my blogs. I also make lists of groceries I need to buy or things I may have forgotten to add to my to-do list at home. Kay Lynn may have written her Life List in one of these free times that pop up. My husband teases me that I only carry a purse to carry the paper that I usually never look at again…oh well…
6. Take Advantage of Free Time – If there is ever a few hours at work in between assignments or a lazy afternoon at home on the weekends, I try to type up as many posts as possible. When I wrote this, it was my 4th post of the day. Most people seem to blanch a little at that, but I find my writing is usually better when I do it in bulk. It’s like I am in the zone.
7. Be Realistic – I know that I cannot write every day because I do have other priorities that pop up. I also know that just checking email every day takes about 1 hour and I may not have that hour to spare. Sometimes, I just can’t get to it and have to admit to myself that maybe a 24 hour turnaround just isn’t always possible. I try not to create insane expectations for myself. Realistic expectations can be the difference between a positive mindset and absolute depression.
How do you budget your time? Do you have the same problem I do sometimes – your schedule runs you rather than the other way around?
Image courtesy of Jon Sullivan
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{ 12 comments }
I have to have a schedule and to-do list. Life still gets in a way. Sometimes I take notes mentally and tell myself what needs to be done. I noticed that when I started blogging my life became more structured because I stick better to my schedule.
That’s funny since my schedule has gone ape-crazy since starting BFS. 🙂 To-Do lists are life savers…
Aloysa, that’s interesting that blogging helped you manage time better. It does make my free time more structured, but it’s definitely been dominated by blog activities.
Isn’t crossing something off a to-do list like the best thing ever?
You are incredibly organized and hard-working, which is probably why you are so successful. I am more free-flowing. Probably because I have more spare time during the day than you do. Once I start working though, that is going to change. I often find I am more productive under pressure.
Regarding writing, I have to write when the inspiration hits me. For instance, today I was writing an email to someone and a thought struck me. I ran and wrote a new post about it and then went back to my email. I hope my coworkers are patient when I drop off conference calls to write. 🙂
Hahaha, I can actually picture you leaving the conference call phone and typing away, lol. I find that the busier I am, the more organized I am. When I have a lot of free time, I hardly get anything done…
I get hit with inspiration at work sometimes. I just jot down my thoughts quickly and stick it in my purse for when I get home. No time to blog at work!
To stick to schedules the only thing I need is stop being lazy and stay on my toes to complete the task on time.
Credit Cards, yes sometimes laziness does get in the way. My big problem is the dozen tv shows I love to watch now that they’re back on.
It seems like I’ve lost some of my organizational skills once I had kids. Does childbirth give you brain damage?
I have a bad memory so I love lists. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Hehehe. I’m 27 and haven’t had kids and my mind is already going. You are so right, I would forget half the stuff I need to do if it wasn’t for my lists…
I think anything that messes with your hormones causes memory problems. Fortunately, it returns to normal (or near normal) once things settle down. I speak from experience….
That is actually very good to know! Thanks!
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