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Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings in order to discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging (and some slightly more personal matters thrown in for good measure). While Heidi is on an extended hiatus, there are five of us who are hosting it and providing the questions. The current team is composed of Berls at Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life, Jen at That's What I'm Talking About, Karen at For What It's Worth, Linda at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Roberta at Offbeat YA. This week's question is...
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TIPS AND/OR TOOLS TO HELP KEEP YOUR BLOGGING (OR REAL LIFE) ORGANIZED?
I've been keeping a blogging AND a posting schedule (as in, using actual spreadsheets - the latter being just a list of the posts I hope to publish every month, while the former is an all-rounder) for a few years now, and the quality and reliability of my blogging has improved tremendously thanks to it. From the number of pages I mean to read per day to the drafts I plan to write and the posts I intend to put forth, everything goes there. With time, it evolved into a real-life planner of sorts (though still blog-centered) so that I always know if I have commitments that will prevent me from reading or blogging on a specific day. The downside of it is that I tend to overschedule (as in, plan too far ahead), which sometimes forces me to backtrack when life gets in the way...so I have to reschedule everything AND lose a lot of time that I could have spent blogging or reading LOL. But as a whole, this method is the only one that's guaranteed to keep me on track. Also, I LOVE to fill in spreadsheets...yep, I'm aware that I'm rare 😅 😜.
Well, that's it for now. Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to participate in the meme on a regular or semi-regular basis, and get emailed the prompt list? Just head over here and fill in Jen's form! (Of course, you can jump in anytime you like - you are under no obligation to actually do all the posts, or even most of them, just because you signed up, and you can remove yourself from the list at any time). And if you're interested in participating in a more casual manner, or only in commenting, here is the TMST prompt list for the rest of March:
- March 9th: Social media: love them or hate them? (a question I submitted)
- March 16th: Does blogging cut into your other hobbies/chores? (a question I submitted)
- March 23rd: How do you organize your bookshelves (real and virtual)?
- March 30th: Have you ever thought of quitting blogging? What made you reconsider the idea? (a question I submitted)
I'll be back on March 9th, of course 😉.
Now tell me something...do you have a secret recipe for staying on top of your blogging and/or your real life?
Yeah, I wish I could say I had a schedule, but most of the time I just plan to write a post every Wednesday, and I post something every Friday. I love how you plan with spreadsheets, that seems very efficient and a great way to stay organized. I can't say I love to fill in spreadsheets myself, but seeing an organized spreadsheet is very satisfying!
ReplyDeleteWe more or less post the same number of times per month, so I guess you're doing perfectly fine without a spreadsheet 😉. Me, I'd get lost...
DeleteI'm very envious of your planning and scheduling. It sounds like you have got your routine/habit just right. Looking at spreadsheets gives me a headache but I'm glad you love using them. The least I can do is write a list of what I might posts and write lots of drafts.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any tips or secrets for blogging or for real life. But I like to make lists of things I should or maybe do, that's really the only thing that makes my life easier. Of course, it would help if I actually do what's on the list but you know, there's always something to prevent us from doing any-something so.
Have a lovely day.
"The least I can do is write a list of what I might posts and write lots of drafts."
DeleteBut it works for you, doesn't it? so, no need to be envious 🙂.
"I like to make lists of things I should or maybe do, that's really the only thing that makes my life easier. Of course, it would help if I actually do what's on the list".
Ha! But at least you tried...
I don't think it's rare! At least with all my blogger peeps. I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't plan or use spreadsheets lol
ReplyDeleteKevin makes me spreadsheets and holds out hope but I just can't lol
I think it's great that you've found something that works for you.
I have order - it's just that it's super basic and doesn't make a whole lot of sense to anyone who sees it. I have a sticky note app on my computer and I list arc's that I need to read and then a review column with the date it needs to post by. I keep a notebook by tthe computer in case post ideas pop up but that's about ti.
I tried a spreadsheet to keep track of my reading last year but I sputtered out a few months alter and forgot to enter what I read.
I am hopeless.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
"I have order".
DeleteBut not law, right? 🤣 🤣 🤣
Seriously,I didn't expect you to have that "sticky note app" either, so I'm impressed! And poor Kevin - he should know better by now LOL.
I use a combination of spreadsheet and calendar. I like the month at a glance the calendar gives me
ReplyDeleteThat's SO helpful!
DeleteI LOVE spreadsheets! You are not alone. I do agree that it can be frustrating to reschedule - either because I don't read as fast as I planned, or a book release date changes, or SURPRISE! I didn't know a book was coming out that I wanted to read. It happens. I spend time every month looking at publisher catalogues to find out release dates. I've also gotten better at knowing my limits - so I tend to put wiggle room in my schedule.
ReplyDeleteYay! We should make a spreadsheet club! And you're very dedicated, looking at releases date. I catch wind of new books basically when they come out (well, not exactly, but when NG or EW or blogger friends list/mention them). Wiggle room...I tried...and failed. But I really need to learn to do that! Alas, I don't have your self control LOL.
DeleteWow you're more organized than me! :) I could probably use a little more of that planning! Although I did use to schedule posts ahead a lot and loved it. Got away from it for some reason...
ReplyDelete"I could probably use a little more of that planning!"
DeleteBelieve me, the way I do it, it's A LOT of job. Maybe a lighter version of it LOL.
I do have a schedule, but these days that is more for me to remember which books I am meant to review ;) It used to be color coordinated and everything, oh the days
ReplyDelete😂
DeleteUgh I wish I had your level of organization! I have always wanted to be one of those people who scheduled ahead, and if I could go back and change one thing in terms of blogging, it would have been to start out ahead, instead of behind (I literally started my blog the day before my son was born- so really terrible timing hah) because I have never, ever been able to catch up. And I suspect I never will!
ReplyDeleteAs it stands, my whole "plan" for blogging is.. try to stay above water, honestly. I was trying desperately to write reviews, but then I gave up and decided to blog hop so here I am! It's so much more fun to chat with you than do my own work! 😂
LOL. Reviews are wonderful...until you start to be too self-conscious about having to write one and they turn into a chore!
DeleteI remember reading your blog origin story! At least you are unique 😂 (I'm pretty sure you are!).
I blog ahead a lot. I have 3 months worth of posts ready to publish right now. I've said before that if something happens to me, my blog will jut keep spitting out posts for a while. lol
ReplyDeleteWow, 3 months? The best I can do is one LOL.
DeleteI love spreadsheets! I have three I use regularly for reading and blogging, so you're not alone lol.
ReplyDeleteThree? How come I only have two? I'm envious now LOL.
DeleteLol one for blog post schedule, one for review copies, one for books I've read.
DeleteHaha, thanks for solving the mystery!
DeleteI just use a editorial calendar plug in within wordpress and I ALWAYS have a note open on my laptop or my phone to write down ideas.
ReplyDeleteI googled the WP editorial calendar plug in, and it looks neat! You can even move posts around.
DeleteHow is it we've become the exact opposite? 😂😂😂 I'm pretty sure I used to be that spreadsheet/schedule blogger and you winged posts but now I'm winging posts, LOL.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, I do have a schedule of sorts and have a bullet journal with tasks (mostly not for blogging), but I usually just post and schedule when I feel like it. Although I've definitely jumped from Spreadsheets to a Trello board to an Airtable and then nothing at all but now I'm back to possibly using Airtable again.
HELLO YET AGAIN ROBERTA
"I'm pretty sure I used to be that spreadsheet/schedule blogger and you winged posts but now I'm winging posts, LOL."
DeleteYep! I used to be a winger until 2017. A world of good it did me 😂.
I didn't even know what Airtable was before I googled it LOL. Anyhow, schedules are great and all, but you have to be willing to follow them and/or able to make the time...alas, planning alone won't do the trick. Good luck! and yeah, HELLO 😂.