Last updated on November 29th, 2018 at 11:24 am
Ever wonder what a part-time blogger works on before they start their freelancing gig?
As you know, I started this blog to move away from the freelancing world. My goal is to create more passive income with affiliate marketing and my own products and advertising.
I am tired of trading hours for dollars. However, as a part-time blogger, I don’t have a lot of extra time.
There are still clients that expect me to manage and work on their WordPress blog. Don’t forget to check out my limited WordPress services on my blog.
Unfortunately, I am not at a point in my blog where I can tell them that I can’t afford to do any more work for them. That’s why I am a part-time blogger right now.
I know that many bloggers are in the same shoes as I am. Maybe you’re working a 9-5 job and don’t have a lot of extra time to devote to your blog.
I know how hard it can be to try to grow your blog on a part-time schedule.
So I figured why not share a day in my life as a part-time blogger. Hopefully, it can help inspire you to keep working towards your blogging goals.
Day in the Life of a Part-Time Blogger and Freelancer
5:00 am – 6:00 am: I always start my days early as I am more productive early in the morning. The minute I get up, I make myself a cup of coffee.
We have a Keurig and I love the McCafe K-Cups. I drink 2 cups of coffee while I take care of my morning duties.
After making my cup of coffee, I’ll wake up my iMac and start visiting other bloggers blogs and spend time commenting.
6:00 am – 7:00 am: I’m ready for my second cup of coffee. This is when I’ll spend time writing a brand new blog post on my local host using Desktop Server.
Desktop Server has allowed me to set up WordPress locally and I use this to write my posts.
During this hour, I’ll also prepare some breakfast for myself. I can’t skip breakfast, it’s an important part of my day.
I’ve also realized that I accomplish more when I do eat breakfast.
8:00 am – 10:00 am: My belly is full and I’ve already gotten 2 hours worth of work in, so now it’s time to take a little break.
This is the time that I usually spend time on my personal development and quiet time.
During this time, I also manage to get a 5-mile walk in. During my walks, I love listening to podcasts. I’ve really gotten addicted to the ProBlogger Podcasts.
I just invested in the Fitbit Surge to help me improve my health.
I’ve never been overweight. However, with me sitting and standing in front of my computer, I want to make sure that I am taking care of my health.
10:00 am – 11:00 am: I’ll try focus on blog promotion and reaching out for some possible guest posting opportunities.
I’ve been using SEO Spyglass to help me find the backlinks of sites that I follow. This has definitely made it easier for me to find guest posting opportunities.
As you know, I am focused on improving my Pinterest marketing. I am using the Pinning Perfect course to help me improve it. One of the things that I’ve been doing is trying to improve the images on my blog.
I haven’t really re-done a lot of the images, but I plan to in the near future.
11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Unfortunately, I do not work on my blog during these hours. My duties usually consist of working for clients.
If I don’t have client work, then I will work on something for my blog. There’s always something to be done.
I am in the process of setting up a new website for one of my clients. He needs a new food truck site.
Hopefully, it won’t take too long to complete.
Putting My Computer to Sleep
I’ve made it a point to put my computer to sleep around 5:00 pm. As a blogger, there’s always something that we can be working on or doing.
However, I know that blogging is a marathon, not a sprint.
When I first started, I was working on my blog 12 plus hours every day.
I would work late at night and then get up early in the morning and start again.
Eventually, my neck and shoulders really started hurting.
So now, I refuse to put my health at risk just to grow my blog. It’s going to take some time to grow my blog, I know it won’t happen overnight.
As long as I keep working on it every day, it will grow.
The only way that it won’t grow is if I neglect it or quit. Which I don’t plan on doing 🙂
My Freelancing Business
Since I am a WordPress freelancer, I don’t really have set hours. However, since setting this schedule for myself, I am more productive.
When I am working my freelancing business, I do not work on my blog. In the past, I tried to do both at the same time, only to realize that I was never getting anything done.
I used to be a big believer in multitasking.
However, since reading so many blogs and working on my business, I realize that multitasking just hurts me.
So now when I am working on something, I focus 100% on the task at hand.
My Biggest Blogging Challenge
My Type-A personality has a hard time turning off the computer. I always think that I should be doing something to help me grow my blog.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that I am less stressed now and have more free time on my hands.
My neck and shoulders no longer hurt.
However, I still have a hard time of letting go and relaxing. I am getting better and am continually working on my personal development.
This seems to be helping and I don’t plan on going back to working on my blog 12 hours per day.
I’ve noticed that when I am not working on my blog, I am still focused on my blog. I’ll spend time thinking about what I want to do for my blog the next day.
I’ve been blogging for about 10 months and I just started working on promotion the last 5 months. One of the biggest mistakes I made, is waiting too long to start the promotion.
I shared my blogging duties with you before. I am always tweaking my duties according to what’s working and what isn’t.
Not Set In Stone
We all know that life happens and things are subject to change. In a perfect life, I would be able to work my schedule without deviating.
But life happens and I have to be able to adapt.
No worries, I still find time to fit in my blogging duties. Since I am moving away from my freelancing business, I always work on my blog before I do any client work.
After all, growing my own blog is more important than any client work.
If you’re ready to start your own blog, go for it! Since starting my blog, I work a lot of hours, but, I love it.
It’s nice to wake up in the morning excited to work on building my own business. My blog still has a long way to go to be able to support me full-time, but I am working on it every day.
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What does your typical day look like? Let me know, I love reading how people are fitting in their blogging work into their busy lives.
Hello Susan,
Great tips over here 🙂
I loved how you said “blogging is a marathon, not a sprint”
Its good to track your daily life style, one can do adjust some from your routine.
Blogging too extremely can led us to some health issues, as your said, I too focus some eyes problem and spine, sitting all the
long at my laptop, when I was first started all these stuff.
Thanks for the share.
Shantanu.
Hi Shantanu,
Sorry to hear that you’re having health issues. It’s not good and unfortunately, won’t help us reach our blogging goals faster.
I hope you feel better soon and these tips help you take better care of yourself.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day 🙂
Susan
Hello Susan,
Great Post. I also had some health related issues like eye and neck problem in my early days of blogging. So, I have started taking few minutes break to rest my body and for refreshing myself. After completing my graduation, I have chosen blogging as my full-time business and give 100% to it. I actually have made my daily schedule to make my blogging easy. I am regularly doing some exercise and yoga to keep my body fit and prevent any health ailments.
Exercise and Yoga really helps me to keep my self fresh and healthy to do my blogging tasks. Thanks for writing this great post.
Enjoy your Day 🙂
Vishwajeet
Hi Vishwajeet,
Glad to hear that you’re a full-time blogger. I’ve heard about people using Yoga to help them keep their body limber and pain free.
I’ll definitely have to consider starting it.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day 🙂
Susan
Hi Susan, your schedule started just like mine except I start around 4 or 5 a.m. on most mornings before I had to day job at 8 a.m. I too have Keurig and start that first then turn on my laptop. I too have 2 cups of coffee before 8.
I’ve been laxing on the walking til this week- I recently realized I gained about 7 lbs from last year and have to make time for some exercise. I too have a fitbit, love it!
I try not to put too much pressure on myself to write big posts all the time. I try to write at least 500-800 words per day for my own blog or on others. I’m a regular contributor at 2 places and am trying to expand that. I also do my own social media and other part time blogging jobs.
I think as long as you enjoy what you are doing you will be able to continue to do it and get better. I know I’ve learned from many mistakes over the years and I love sharing about them with others.
I hope to become full time so I can travel and write and blog from anywhere at anytime 🙂
Have a great rest of the weekend Susan.
Hi Lisa,
It’s funny to hear that our schedules and routines are pretty similar. I love my Fitbit and I understand about gaining weight.
I actually just got back from a 12 day vacation at Siesta Keys, FL and I am scared to get on the scale 🙂
My vacation will be over on Tuesday and then it’s back to walking 5-6 miles per day.
I have no doubt that you’ll reach your goal of becoming a full-time blogger so you can travel.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day 🙂
Susan
I always love seeing these! As a freelancer it can often feel very lonely. I love to know others do al ot of the same things I do, and some that are different.
I used to be a big fan of multi tasking too! However as of last year I went from having 4 (yes FOUR) monitors on my desk to just my laptop and one extra monitor which I use sparingly. I keep all my windows maximized so multi tasking is not really possible.
Those 5 mile walks are awesome! I used to do this a lot more but recently have not been. Thanks for motivating me to get back into it!
Appreciate you sharing your day,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Freelancing and blogging can be very lonely. I’ve never had 4 monitors, can’t imagine it. I am guilty of having several windows open at once.
The 5 mile walks definitely help and make me feel a whole lot better. Glad to hear you’re going to get back into it.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day 🙂
Susan