For most of us, evenings are the only time we can commit to our side hustle. During the day time we might have work, school or other activities that make it impossible to find time for our blogs, Instagrams and YouTube channels. I know that for me, after a long day of school and homework, I don’t have the energy to invest into my blog. Sometimes I just flop on the sofa and sleep. Although that’s totally okay, and the education system puts too much pressure on young people, you still sometimes need to get stuff done. It’s not that I don’t have the motivation to blog, it’s that I don’t feel prepared to take on the mammoth task of writing a post or responding to emails. In those cases, I use these five tips to keep me on track.

Turn Off Your Phone!

Usually my phone will be powered off as I complete homework, but in the odd case that it isn’t, I will always turn it off before doing some blogging. In conjunction with this, I will also close down all of my Safari tabs. If you have an iPad – or any other device connected to social media – turn that off as well. In some cases you will need your device to complete blogging tasks (replying to comments, writing Instagram captions) but where you can, do it from the laptop. It makes you approach every task with a more professional outlook, which I find very helpful.

Write A To-Do List

Hear me out here, because you’ve probably heard this one countless times. Sometimes a list in my bullet journal feels overwhelming, so I like to break it down into manageable parts on a sticky note or alternative piece of paper. A task on my to-do list may be ‘write a blog post’, but on the sticky note I will make a detailed plan so I have a structure to the post. This usually consists of five points – which I then adapt on. Write yourself a mini to-do list, breaking down a bulkier task. I promise you it works every time!

Get Some Fresh Air

For some of you, this may not be possible. In that case, just open your window and let the air circulate through. Unless, of course, you’re living in a toxic air space. Then don’t listen to a word I say!

After writing a to-do list, I like to go for a short 30 minute walk. No music, no podcasts, just thinking through and action plan for the task I need to complete. You could call this procrastination, but it helps bring a new perspective to my work. I might have sat through 2 hours of homework, and I just need to stretch my legs. I can’t be sat at the same desk all evening. In winter it gets dark super fast, therefore this idea is impractical. In that case I’ll do a short yoga or meditation. It sounds so fancy to say that – but yes I regularly do yoga!

Perform A Ritual

Don’t get hasty, I don’t mean magic spells! Before I get started on blog work, I always perform a ritual to get me in the mood. For me this is opening my window, cleaning my room and getting a glass of water. It’s nothing special, but after completing that series of events I feel ready to take on my previously thought out to-do list. It will differ from person to person but here are some ideas: make a cup of tea, read a chapter of your book, tidy away your school things, complete a meditation. My school work ritual is making a cup of tea and obtaining a snack of two crackers. Try it!

Just Do It

I know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s the only way you’ll ever complete something. Just do it; get started on the task! I will always need to have a few energising moments after school, before I start blogging. Everyone needs a break, that’s a given. You can’t expect yourself to sit at a desk for 5 hours without once getting up. But your creative outlet is your passion. If you need motivation to do it, it’s probably not the right thing for you.

These self-help posts are some of my favourites to plan and write out. Do you enjoy them? Most importantly, are they helpful? I know productivity is a bit of taboo topic. You cannot be productive all the time, and you need breaks to keep your mind creative. However, during lockdown, I found myself giving up too soon. My evenings were spent watching hours of Doctor Who, not moving much and resulting in feeling just a bit ugh. Therefore I started implementing tips like these to keep me on track. Self-worth should not be measured by productivity. But then again, you only live once and you must make the most of your time on this earth. Key word: balance. Your definition of balance is in constant flux, which makes it hard to define. But effort is never wasted when it comes to self-care. 

Which of these tips are you going to use? Do you have any tips to be productive after a long and tiring day?

Let’s make the comment section a bubble of advice, so we can help those who are finding it difficult to find time post-work for their hustles. And as always, let me know what’s occurring in your life at the moment. You have no idea how much I love chatting with you all.

catherine x

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