I have been blogging for about 8 years now, but I have only been serious and semi-regular about it for a little over 2 years. I think my main struggle is consistency. It’s a huge challenge to get regular posts up when you are a busy wife, mom and work. If you are a blogger, I’m almost certain you are nodding your head in agreement.
Now that summer is winding down, I am making a big effort to get on a schedule and be more productive with my blog. Time-management has always been an area I struggle with, but I think I am making strides to win the battle. There have been a few specific tools that have been a huge help, so today I am sharing my favorite productivity tools for bloggers.
A Bluetooth Keyboard
I saw this suggestion in an essential oil based business group, and it has been life-changing for me. This wireless keyboard was only $10 off of Amazon and small enough I can throw it into my purse. What do I use it for? I pair it with my phone, and suddenly I am a writing machine. Whether I am in between clients at work, waiting at the doctor’s office, or just too lazy to get up and get my computer I can write on a full-sized keyboard. This has skyrocketed my productivity and utilized all those little pockets of time that would have been spent scrolling through Facebook or reading a magazine.
A Folding Phone Case
This phone case goes along with the bluetooth keyboard. This makes it easier for me to prop my phone up and see the screen while I am typing. It also serves a second purpose – since I can close the cover, I am not as distracted when I am working. I can mute the sound on my phone, close the cover, and work without being distracted by every Facebook notification or text that pops up.
Erin Condren Perpetual Calendar
These perpetual calendars are intended to be used to jot down birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates that don’t change from year to year. That way you can just transfer the perpetual calendar to your new planner every year and not lose the information. They are included with every Lifeplanner purchase, but I never used them, so I had several just sitting in a drawer. I have been struggling to find a functional editorial calendar, so I decided to try one of these. I absolutely love it! I write down a working post title or idea beside the correct date, then mark it with an “s” when I have the post scheduled. I love the compact size of this, so I can slip it in my planner, or just leave it in my desk at home.
Using an editorial calendar that works has gotten me on track and helped me to hit my goal of posting 5 times a week. I use erasable pens so I can move posts around as I pick up sponsored opportunities, or change my mind. I was overcomplicating a calendar, so keeping it this simple has made a huge improvement in my productivity. Click here to get $10 off your first Erin Condren purchase!
Abundance Essential Oil
The sense of smell is a lot more powerful than people often give it credit for. I don’t think that diffusing certain essential oils will have some hocus pocus effect, but I do think that certain scents can effect certain attitudes and behaviors that either drive or inhibit our work. A new favorite oil of mine is Abundance. Young Living says that Abundance “combines oils such as Orange and Ginger, which were used by ancient cultures to attract prosperity and magnify joy and peace.” Joy and prosperity are exactly the things I want to permeate my work environment! Good things have happened since I started my Abundance regimen, and now as soon as a catch a whiff of it, my brain is ready to get to work.
I hope my new productivity tools for blogger give you some inspiration! Blogging can easily take over your life and overlap a lot of time management boundaries if you aren’t intentional about it, so making our work time more productive is vital to a happy and successful.
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