Lately, especially since I started this new blog, I have found that I can never strike the balance between making content, commenting on other peoples content and “researching” in order to gather information in order to make content. Like many types of blogging, in order to blog about books, you need to read them! I have found that over the past few weeks that I can’t have my cake and eat it when it comes to my blog and posting. I either post and comment everyday or I read loads of books and only post once in a whole week. Not there is anything wrong with that, however I only work a few hours each day so I have no excuse!
The fact of the matter is, if I don’t read, as a book blog I will run out of content. I can comment on news all I like but I won’t be doing the things what I actually want to do. Commenting can take me anything from 30 minuets to a few hours. It is one of my favourite parts but it takes the longest. By the time I actually sit down to read, I am ready for bed!
So today, I had a brainwave. I decided to dedicate certain days to blogging and others to reading. The Blogger scheduling system never worked for me for some reason so a review would en up being posted a few days late or early. However with WordPress it is so much easier to schedule posts by time and date. Basically I have made a proper time table. A bit like the one I have in my sidebar.
Monday: Blogging (comments and scheduling posts)
Tuesday: Reading
Wednesday: Blogging (comments and scheduling posts)
Thursday: Reading
Friday: Reading
Saturday: Reading/updating GR shelves
Sunday: Blogging (comments and scheduling posts)
Sometimes this won’t work and some days I will need to log on to add something to a linky (ie Feature and Follow Posts). I feel incredibly babyish writing a post like this. To be perfectly honest I don’t have the willpower, self-discipline or time to do both in equal measure on the same day. I was thinking one week on and one week off (blogging + scheduling and then reading the other) but that would be a little too much I think. Also I would miss it!
Off the back of this, I would love to find out how all of you strike a balance when it comes to blogging your own posts and commenting on others? Or do you just go with the flow and hope for the best?
Disclaimer: This is not me moaning. This is a loved hobby of mine. If anything, I am just sharing my lack of discipline ;D
The Shelf Diaries... 
Honestly, if I start clicking about on the internet, that’s my evening lost! I try and squeeze a bit of blog visiting in during quiet bits at work and after posting a review. But with a new relationship going on, my reading time has really dwindled, so I’m trying to concentrate on that right now. It *is* hard to strike a balance. Makes me want to become a film blogger or something 😉
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I know! I would love to get more serious with blogging. I also get where you are coming from when it gets to clicking around. Honestly sometimes I can be lost in my twitter feed for a couple of hours! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Ellie! xx
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Good luck with your schedule! To some extent, I already do that. Friday/Saturday are binge reading days. Sunday is a blogging day where I write posts and do most of the “prep” so posts are scheduled and ready for the week. Then, during the week I comment and read as I see fit. Having a co-blogger helps to some extent, but it’s really about finding what works for you. 🙂
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Thank you! It seems to be working out at the minute! Maybe the days will change when I go back to work but for now it is good 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! and glad that you routine is working! xxx
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I completely understand how you feel! I had a sort of schedule like this but I’ve found that I really can’t stick to it with all my uni work. When I’m at home I have a bit more order, but even then I’m supposed to be reading uni content so kfjghkfjdhg. Great post! I don’t think this counts as ‘moaning’ at all ;p
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I am going back to uni in September so we shall see how that one goes! 🙂 Damn, so much uni content! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by chick, glad to know I am not alone! xxx
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I think it’s high time for me to do something like this, too, considering I have the same dilemma as yours. There is just so many stuff I need to do in a single day, and it feels daunting having to read, blog, and comment on other people’s blog, and that’s not counting the real life stuff I deal with everyday. Thanks for your thoughts; you’re definitely not alone!
Faye at The Social Potato Reviews
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I am glad I am not the only one! It is not like I don’t want to do any of the above things, it is just by the time I have finished I don’t have time and I need to go to bed! :3 xxx
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts 🙂 xx
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I try not to overthink things and just juggle online with real life. Reading books is the main chunk, followed by reading other blogs. Then, if there is time left over & I have something to add, I will comment on a post I have read, or write my own posts. At the very least, I’ll ‘like’ a post so the blogger knows I read it. Mostly, i don’t stick to a set schedule since this is just for fun for me.
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I try to do that 🙂 It is still all fun for me but I have found that it is one or the other when it comes to blogging and reading. I need to sort out a timetable! 🙂 thanks for stopping by! xxx
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Took me about two months to get into a good flow or blogging /other work ratio. I think we need to find out what works for us.
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I really do. This seems to be working so far but I am only 3 days in. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by! xxx
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I hope your new schedule will work well for you! I usually try and catch up on reviews and reading on my days off or on insomnia nights and then I check other blogs and comment on them everyday while I check Twitter, Facebook and my e-mail! Scheduling posts is a life saver for sure!
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I hope so too. Today is a blogging day so I am already doing well ;D
I think email will be my downfall since that goes straight through to my phone so I will know when something is happening! 🙂 Scheduling is a life saver! I have about 10 posts scheduled so if I drop off I should be okay :’) xxx
Thanks for sharing and stopping by! 🙂 xxx
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