Being a full-time blogger means I can work from home, look after my little ones, build my online portfolio, and make some money while doing it. Me taking the leap of faith, and going pro, has been the best decision I have ever made for my career, and I am extremely happy, doing what I do. However, some days are harder than others, and I find that I struggle to get anything done on those days. Days like when I find it extremely hard to get the words down, days when I struggle with photographing and editing pictures to be used, days when samples do not turn up as promised or scheduled, or days when my overdue invoices are not paid.
As you can imagine, being a solopreneur is hard. There is no one to share the workload with, celebrate success or to blame when a collaboration goes wrong. Everything rests solely on my shoulders, and sometimes it could be overwhelming. The beauty about being a pro blogger, with my experience so far, is that for every bad day, there are 10 good days coming up. Good days like when my DA jumps from 31 – 34 (this happened yesterday), when a brand refuses to pay for a review post but then contacts me, and decides to pay the amount I requested for after a month of no communication (this happened so weeks ago), or when I receive samples I wasn’t expecting, and they turn out to be great (this happens all the time).
I love blogging, I love being a girl boss, and I won’t change any of it for the world. However on bad days, I like to step away from my blog for a bit and refuel. Here are 5 ways I go about doing that –
Read
I love reading and writing. I can do both for hours, but If I was asked to pick one over the other, I would pick reading. You cannot be a great writer, if you are not a great reader, and I need to be able to write, but you can be a great reader, without being a great writer, if that makes any sense. I am currently reading the book – #Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso, and I am loving it. I also love discovering and reading other blogs, I like to read about what my favourite bloggers are up to.
Sleep
Quality sleep usually puts me in a great mood. Regardless of how the previous day went, once I have a good night sleep, I wake up feeling good, and ready to smash the day!
Inspirational Quotes
Inspirational quotes always get me fired up, so I dig them out on bad days. Here are a few that rock my boat:
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” – Brain Clark.
“Blogging is a conversation, not a code.” – Mike Butcher.
“Making money from blogging requires you to do only two things: drive a lot traffic, then maximize the income from that traffic.” – John Chow.
“The currency of blogging is authenticity and trust.” – Jason Calacanis.
“A well-maintained blog establishes your authority in a niche by showcasing your knowledge and dedication to the topic” – Penelope Trunk.
Go Though My Blog Archives
On bad days, I like to go through my blog archives and believe my own hype. This renews my confidence and refuels my motivation/passion for what I do best. Going through my blog archives takes me down memory lane, and I love reminiscing to see how far I have come.
Go Shopping
When all of the above fails, I go shopping, lol.
Do you blog full-time or part-time? How do you refuel your motivation for your passion?
I blog part time, it’s always been more of a side project for me. When I’m lacking the motivation I usually take time away to recharge, like you by reading or even scrap booking and reading food magazines. These give me ideas for recipes as well as blog layouts etc. Congrats on FT blogging 🙂
Ah nice. Thanks x
I feel like you. I love being boss lady of my blog>
It feels so good x
I blog part-time at the minute alongside my full time job. I’d love to go full-time but it’s such a big risk!
Yea it is a massive risk but the choice was made for me x
I blog part-time and it is hard work ontop on my full time job. I love shopping when all else fails lol
Yea shopping always puts me in a good mood x
I also have a file full of general motivational quotes that come in useful for me and others in the work I do. They are great. There is always something that speaks to me. Hard to pick a favourite as they all speak differently to me at different times. The favourite of the moment would probably be ”the master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried-yoda” and ”when all else fails, like you, shopping works” LOL
Ah that is a great quote. For you to be a master, you must have been an expert at failing xo
I guess its full time. Im at home all day and I post once a day so seems like it. But my blog is quite new so there arn’t things like the stress of invoices yet.
Ah sounds good Cassandra xo
Shopping is definitely what works for me 😉 It gives me inspiration on new posts as well x
Yea it does for me too x
Really nice Stella and you are doing great.
I understand those bad days too.
Currently, I blog almost full time. Maybe full time in the future & brand ch out to other things.
Well done.
XO
Ah great. Thanks hun xo
Great post! I’m a newbie and part time blogger but my goal is to be full time. I love those inspirational quotes. I keep seeing that book….I may need to get it!
You should Marsha. It is an amazing book x
I blog when my health allows me, I have to admit I don’t know what I would do without it as an outlet. x
Yea I will be lost my blog x
I blog as a hobby and absolutely love it, I like to have posts written in advance so I have time to interact with others and comment on other posts x
Yea me too x
Too right that shopping beats everything. I am completely the same as you I prefer reading and could sit there for hours and hours reading x
I love reading. I could read for hours.
I try my best to blog full time but recently since i became pregnant I have found it hard to keep on top of things
Yea sometimes life takes over just like with any other job/hobby.
I rarely blog these days but love being in control!
It feels so good being in control x
I love how you have your own ways of staying motivated and inspired. I am a full-time blogger and I do tend to lose focus sometimes.
Don’t we all Liz x
Blogging is really hard work and I admire your dedication to keep it going despite challenges involved! Having enough sleep is definitely something I need to work on for that extra energy!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.com
I admire your hard work too. Love your blog xo
My motivation is that blogging allows me to be a full time mom to Joe, I never miss any school event, and can take him and pick him up each day. It’s worth the long hours for that.
Yes the flexibility is so worth it xo
I admire you so much for going pro. Blogging is my job, which I fit in part time whilst looking after my little ones. I’d love to make so much more of it though. I just need more time!
Thanks Ali. I guess the time will come as the kids get older x
Girl boss momtrepreneur 🙂 I’m quite lucky that I’m part time volunteering and my parents are supporting me to do that at the moment but when I finish my qualification I’ll be working full-time, I don’t know If I’ll have time to continue blogging. I hope so, Other wise it’s five years of a passion just gone!
Wow I hope you continue blogging, I love your blog x
You are so right about sleep and I really need to get more of it so that I can be on top form and in a great mood too! xxx
Nothing like a good night sleep.
Blogging is such hard work and I don’t have a full time job and all my time goes into my blog but would love to do it full time one day!
Yea it is a great career I think.
I always try to make sure I take time for myself or take a break when I need to otherwise I can find I lose my motivation when it comes to blogging x
Yea same here x
I want to blog full time but unfortunately I am not earning enough to pay the bills so I am doing other jobs on the side. I want to read Girl Boss I am glad you recommend it.
It is a fab book Ana x
Being a blogger is a pretty awesome career. I blog full time but I also have a small shop job – my getting out of the house and speaking with folk face to face job.
Ah great to have an job by the side that takes you out of the house x
Well done on taking the leap to going solo! It takes guts to do that so well done. I am blogging part time/working part time and also building my own business on the side. I recently decided to focus the direction of my blog on providing advice and guidance to parents (usually mums) that are struggling to decide whether to go back working after they’ve had a child/ren. Now that decision for most of us is financial and what I am hoping to achieve is to provide inspiration, showing some of the routes others have taken to make work life and baby work for them. I am doing that by sharing interviews and features from fellow parents. I would love to interview you for that if you see the value in that too. Thanks Pea x
Thanks Pea. It is so scary sometimes I won’t lie. I will like you to interview me. Please email the questions over x
Blog and associated freelance work full time. Every time I have to go on the tube in rush hour I am reminded how much I love my job and being freelance.
Ah great. Nice to meet a fellow freelancer x
Fabulous tips! I don’t know if I will ever get to the point of having blogging as a career… I just enjoy doing it 🙂
Yea that is all that matters. As long as you enjoy it.
Definitely challenging and needs a lot of discipline. Great inspiring tips you compiled! 🙂
Yea discipline is a must. Not a job for everyone x
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