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I asked y’all what I should blog about tonight and I got two of the same questions over and over again, how I got my blog where it is AND a typical day in our house. So I figured those go hand in hand so I’ll chat about them both!
Blogging has been a labor of love for me for many years. I’ve blogged for about seven years, failed, failed and failed again and finally semi π figured it out with Positively Oakes almost three years ago. I think a lot of the time people don’t realize how much hard work goes into blogging. It took me a LOT of hard work, tears, fails and frustrations to be able to blog full time. Even now that I do, I work anywhere from 45-60 hours a week plus. With blogging, you don’t stop working–especially since I’m a lifestyle blogger and share my life, journey, favorites and everything in between. My job is pretty much 24/7 of picture taking, strategizing, brainstorming ideas, answering emails, balancing finances, phone meetings, editing, traveling, computer work and a whole lot more. So anyone who thinks that I just take pretty pictures all day and make money is far off. Ha!
Like I said it took me years to get here and I’m still not where I want to be. I don’t think any of us will ever be “where we want to be”, goals change and life happens which changes everything. I outreached, got told no (A LOT) and failed miserably. I think that’s really how it starts for a lot of us. I look back at some of my beginning stuff and almost get embarrassed, but then I have to remember we all start somewhere! My advice to anyone wanting or trying to start a blog–
1. PATIENCE. It’s not going to happen over night.
2. Be prepared to work. It’s not all free product, pretty pictures and doing whatever you want. I have a strict schedule and a babysitter for Blake most days.
3. Give it your all. Read every book, tip, trick and course you can on social media, blogging and whatever! Fill your brain with knowledge and don’t ever stop. I still take courses to this day!
4. Don’t compare. Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s the worst thing you can possibly do and it’s only going to set you up for failure. Focus on you, ONLY you and your successes and growth!
5. Ask for help. Don’t think you have to do it all! Ask for help, from other bloggers, family, whoever!
6. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Outreach, network and talk yourself up!
7. USE ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA!
Blogging is an art…and it takes a lot of work. I made an entire e-course on it and you can grab it here if you want.
Now, let’s talk about a typical day. My days are CRAZY from the minute I wake up to the second I go to bed I am going, going, going. It goes a little like this on the days Blake stays with me all day;
Blake likes to wake up pretty dang bright and early, like anytime between 6:30-7:15. So we’re up and ready to rock and roll everyday by 7:15 at the latest. We eat breakfast, I try to bust some emails out and Blake plays. Then around 9, she goes down for a morning nap. I rock her to sleep still (because well I’m forcing her to stay little ;)) and then I head to work while she naps. She usually takes like a 45 minute morning nap so things get a little chaotic. Then I spend the rest of the morning attempting to be a Mom and work. Ha! I wish you could just seeΒ us one day so you could see how comical it is. Blake is at the stage where she gets into everything..sooo it’s a really fun game of me trying to work, but really chasing her down before she eats all the dog food. π Eventually we make it to lunch and I always try to sit down with her and we eat lunch together. I try REALLY hard to spend as much one on one time with her as possible and this is one of those moments where it’s usually possible. I’ll whip up some lunch (like really healthy Mac & Cheese) and we have “girl talk” and chow down. After lunch she goes down for an afternoon nap and will (usually) sleep for a couple of hours. Those couple of hours are when this Mama BUSTS as much work as possible out (emails, posts, editing, calls, you name it and it’s probably happening during nap time). After she wakes up it’s usually around 3:30 and I’ll come downstairs and set up a little mini office with my laptop on the coffee table and Blake watches Mickey Mouse and eats a snack. We will do that, play and work in between until Daddy comes home. Once Marcus is home we eat dinner together, have a little family time and I jump back on work for my nightly post if I have one that night. Then I put her down for bed around 7:30-8 and of course rock her to sleep again, ha! (judge me) SHE HAS TO STAY LITTLE!! After she’s asleep I head back to work (work, work, work π it’s a good thing I love it!). I finish up whatever has to be done that day and then I try to check out with enough time left for Marcus and I to get some quality time together. Our quality time usually consists on TV and popcorn. Ha! We love our shows and homemade popcorn.
So there’s a look at my days. They’re crazy, chaotic and happen WAY too fast. I am HOPING (key word: hoping) to hire some help soon and then I can cut back and spend more time with baby girl and Marcus. But we will see when and if that happens. π
How do you Mamas balance it all!? Tell me, I want to hear your tips and tricks please!! Leave a comment below with your best advice.
xo,
Jess
Jenny says
Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s so nice to hear I’m not the only one just plugging along, but it’s amazing where plugging along for years has gotten you! Keep going! Also do you have any tips/courses you’d recommend for the kind of photography you do for your blog?
Jess Oakes says
Thank you!!! You’re so sweet π I have a post about my photography here: https://www.positivelyoakes.com/blog/2016/01/31/5318/ xx
Sarah Eggett says
i still don’t have it all figured out! π three years into this mom gig + 2 babes later!! but it seems like you have a pretty awesome routine goin on!!!!
Nicole says
Ah! This totally sounds like my day but with two toddlers. It makes me feel better that I’m not the only one squeezing in as much work as possible during the day and after bed time. β€οΈ
Hayley smolen says
I just started a blog and I never realized the work that goes into it until now! It takes a lot! I am a mom to 1 baby girl, work as an interior design assistant and started blogging. My days feel insane! Thanks for sharing!