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Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts

2009-06-24

What Crisis Management Mode Actually Looks Like

Pool Entrance
Image by Hamed Saber

Um. It's not pretty. (Unlike the lovely picture I've chosen for this post. I think I'm wishing I were there sometimes.)

I've been talking about crisis management mode here and here. And I'm definitely right in the middle of it. My baby isn't even here yet, but it is taking everything I've got just to get through the day. I'm waking many nights not being able to return to sleep. So, I'm very fatigued. Very.

A dear friend told me that perhaps even my last list was a little too ambitious. She told me to focus on "getting dressed and feeding and watering my family". Yes. I think she was right. As I have energy, I'm looking to other things as well, but I really don't have much energy.

So, right now, the house is often littered with random things. We've eaten eggs for dinner more times than I care to count. Laundry is in a little behind and what is clean is still in baskets. My husband is doing lots of dishes, and the meals we've had that weren't eggs, he prepared on the grill. (Bless that man.)

And blogging?

Ha!

That's about all I have to say about that.

To be honest, this has been really hard for me. I felt irresponsible and as though I were letting "someone" down. You know, the hordes of you who are tromping over here every day waiting with bated breath to read what I've written.

But I've come to realize (a bit painfully) that I may need to really step back from blogging even more than I had intentioned to when I anticipated baby coming. I don't plan to stop altogether. I love to write and I love to share what God has been teaching me. But this blog simply doesn't make the cut when it comes to my biggest priorities.

And that's OK.

Wow. What a burden lifted.

I am forever imposing burdens on myself that just don't need to be there. Doing things with a false sense of urgency.

When everything else falls away, there will be so little that really, really, really matters. And I want to focus on, and enjoy, what really matters.

I sincerely hope that those of you who stop by will continue to do so once in a while. Even if it means that there is a serious decline in fresh content. Of course, you could subscribe and then you wouldn't have to keep checking and you'd never miss a single captivating post. Hint, hint. Poke, poke.

But even if some of you move on to greener pastures and never visit again...that's OK. Can you tell I'm talking to myself?

Lord, thank you for the gift of family. For the blessings of children. Thank you for the opportunity of this season of life. Of nurturing, loving and teaching my little ones. May I never miss the "moments" that matter as I'm caught up in something far less important.

2009-06-10

Planning and Scheduling Blog Posts

Photobucket
Image by tanakawho

So, the week before last I took a vacation. Actually, it was a staycation. A much needed break. Not only did our family need some time to chill--I really needed some time away from the techno world. So, I unplugged. At least, moreso than I usually do.

But I still had a few blog posts pop up through the week. And this is where my Works For Me Wednesday tip comes in.

Planning and scheduling blog posts ahead of time.

Truly, I would never survive as a blogger if every day I had to sit down and come up with something new to write about. I just couldn't do it! So, here's what I do:

1. Anytime I get an idea for a blog post, I jot it down in my planner.

2. I keep a rough schedule for my blog posts at least a couple of months ahead of time.

3. When I have a spare moment, I write a rough outline for a blog post.

4. I gather all of my pictures a week at a time.

5. I usually have a theme for each day (Monday is my series post, Wednesday is WFMW, etc.).

6. Just about every Saturday, I write almost all of the blog posts for the coming week.

7. I schedule my posts in Blogger so that they post without me.


Voila!

This saves me so much time, energy and frustration! This might not work for everyone, but it totally and completely works for me!

Anybody else out there a pre-poster? Got any other tips to share for efficient blogging?