Ready To Up Your Game & Be More Productive?
Want to kick your productivity into high gear? Are your days just slipping by without being productive? A few simple tweaks can work wonders. Since becoming a blogger, I’ve picked up some invaluable tips that have completely transformed my work and productivity. From organising content schedules to learning new skills to being disciplined and finding the perfect tools for the job, there’s always a way to do more in less time.
If you’re new to the blogger industry, check out this Ultimate Guide to Starting A Travel Blog. Or, if you have already started making a travel blog and want to make it better, check out How To Make Your Blog The Best instead.
Get ready to work smarter, not harder! Here are my 10 steps to being more productive!
1. Get Up. Show Up. Be Productive.
This one might seem like a duh, of course, but it deserves the acknowledgement of an effort. Seriously, I’m so guilty of a late-start, late-finish lifestyle. I’d work so late that I would miss my mornings. However, watch the switch up when you wake up early and get work done. Seeing how much work you’ve completed by noon will make you feel so much more productive.
I like to be comfortable, so I typically wear home clothes, but if it helps you get ready as if you were heading into work, then do that! Showering when you wake up and preparing your mind for the day will instantly boost your motivation and productivity. This is harder than it sounds, and it takes discipline to stick to a routine and show up for yourself.
Get up. Show up!
2. Delegate Your Time
If you’re more disciplined, plan how to spend your time for the month. However, I find planning out day-to-day more suitable for me as I am a last-minute person, and who knows, I might be on a flight tomorrow!
I like to split my time into blocks, such as one- or two-hour blocks. I’d put a subject on each block to know what I would focus on for that hour. You don’t need to go into details; it’s just a rough idea. I usually figure out what I’m doing until about 6 pm, then go with whatever I feel like doing in the evening. Here’s an example of what a plan of mine would look like:
| 9 am. 2 hour. Begin a new blog. |
| 11:30 am. 2 hour. Make social media content for future – Pinterest, IG. |
| 2 pm. 1 hour. Clean up my website. |
| 3 pm. 1 hour. Revamp some old blogs or continue the morning new blog. |
| 4 pm. 1 hour. Grow social media or get distracted 🙂 |
| 5 pm. 1 hour. Learn something new for my website. |
3. Maximise (& Limit) Your Time On Social Media
Cutting back on social media can be a game-changer for productivity and mental well-being. Setting specific times to check your accounts and using apps that monitor and limit your usage free up hours each day for more meaningful activities.
For me, social media is a love/hate game. I hate how distracting it is, how fake online can be, how unrealistic and perfect everyone seems, and how everyone seems to be making a ton of cash online, leaving me feeling like I’m not doing enough. On the other hand, you CAN make cash using the internet, and that’s amazing; you can teach yourself so much with all the free resources out there – WOW, and the extra motivation you can get from being inspired by others. It’s one of those things. Yin and Yang.
However, setting time aside to focus on what you must do will help you reach your goals quickly. Embrace the balance and watch your productivity and motivation soar. So I try to spend no more than 20 minutes on social media (apart from setting aside a 1-hour block to grow my Instagram account). Do what you must and then move on to the next task.
I had to temporarily delete my TikTok account because one day I spent three hours scrolling, and it didn’t even feel like it! What a way to waste time! I’ve become much more disciplined since then, so I’ve restored it.
Try not to get caught up in scrolling on social media for too long
4. Help Yourself Be Productive With Content
Content is the most prominent aspect. Creating content for all your social media and your website can become overwhelming. Help yourself by trying to plan out when you’ll be posting content and on what platform, for example:
Every morning, except Saturday, I will try to create 3 Pinterest posts and 1 Instagram story. Then, I’ll try to post a new blog every Tuesday and Sunday. By the way, this is just an example to help – don’t get worked up if you don’t stick directly to your plan; it’s tough to be consistent forever, but try to stay as focused and disciplined as you can, as this will help you grow.
| Monday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story |
| Tuesday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story 1 x Blog Post |
| Wednesday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story |
| Thursday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story |
| Friday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story 1 x Blog Post |
| Saturday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story |
| Sunday: 3 x Pinterest 1 x IG story |
5. Switching Environments
Find your perfect work-only zone to supercharge your focus. When your brain links that spot with getting things done, you’ll be in the productivity fast lane. If the home isn’t cutting it for concentration, consider heading to the library or finding a quiet space to work for better motivation and focus.
I prefer working indoors, as being in a public space would distract me more. Knowing what works for you as a blogger, whether you switch it up once a week or change your working space, can help fuel that productivity.
Create a workspace that helps you be productive and motivated
6. Clearing Out & Organising
Setting aside a day or a few hours a week to clear out and organise your blogger bits and bobs is worth setting aside. Not only will it make your life sooo much easier when you’re looking for the content you want, but it’ll also save you time and help you feel more productive.
I’m setting aside 2 hours daily for the next month to clear out and organise my content. My phone has over 55,000 pieces of media, which I am now dividing into categories, like countries and social media bits. It’s been two weeks, and I’ve already seen how much better this is for me. I can find my content much faster; it is a game-changer as a blogger. Like my laptop, my files are all organised, and I feel much better!
Organising will save you time as a blogger
7. Editing In Batches
The quality of your images is super important. Think about when you’re scrolling through an Instagram or a website; if the visuals aren’t great, you’ll likely close the page. The same goes for your blogs. It’s essential to have eye-catching images to keep your audience entertained.
You’re likely to use 100s, if not 1000s, of pictures throughout your website, so editing in batches is a great way to be more productive and stay on schedule. CapCut is a popular video editing tool for creating IG and FB reels. I usually use Hypic to batch-edit my photo content for Instagram and my website.
8. Be Authentic
It’s easier to be authentic than to try to be someone you’re not. It’s easy to get caught up in social media and think everyone has a perfect life. Nobody is you, and that’s YOUR superpower. For better or worse, your creativity and mind are unlike any other. So embrace it, and work with yourself to create unique content that fits your style. I use Canva to create mine; you’ll find amazing templates and inspo there!
However, I’m not saying you shouldn’t inspire. I encourage you to check in with other bloggers in your industry from time to time and see what they’re doing. Sometimes, I’ve encountered bloggers who have sparked an idea for my website or a business idea. So, in small doses, have a nose around. But try not to compare yourself or think your art isn’t good because of it; use it to spark your productivity. We all have to start somewhere, and you will get there, too!
Make content that fits with who you are
9. Set Breaks
Burnout is real. It can happen in any job. You’ll usually have warning signs, such as getting frustrated, forming bad habits like missing out on sleep and meals, or feeling irritated. Maybe you’ve heard the saying before: prevention is better than cure. So, if you start to feel like you’re being worked up, it’s time to take a break.
I find myself needing to take a break every two weeks. I’ll have a weekend off when I do no FLY-related work or when I’m away on holiday. It is sometimes hard to let myself do this, especially when I feel like I have to do something all the time; otherwise, I feel like I’m wasting my time. You’ll feel more comfortable after the first few times as you settle into a routine. You’ll feel super productive again once you return to your blogger workload after a few days off, promise!
Make this a priority! Looking after yourself is key! Take as long as you need to recharge.
Take some downtime; it’ll do you some good!
10. Acknowledge Your Productivity
Some weeks may be better than others, but a weekly recap will show you’re trying. Before I started this weekly recap exercise, I would always get caught up on what I still needed to do and feel like I hadn’t been productive enough. This would put pressure on me and keep me from celebrating my achievements.
Think about how far you’ve come. Now, think about how proud you will be of all your hard work in 12 months. Small steps equal big changes. At the end of each week, give yourself ten minutes to recap your progress; you may be amazed by how much you accomplished. Doing this will help you acknowledge your productivity rather than fixate on how productive you need to be.
My hours of studying blogging-related resources. Just acknowledge how far you’ve come!
That’s A Wrap!
So there you have it: 10 steps to being more productive as a blogger! These steps have greatly helped me save time, stay disciplined, boost my productivity, and feel more motivated. Adjusting to new habits may take a little time, but I promise it’ll be worth your time. Good luck with it! <3
