It’s been four years since I decided to start my blogging journey as a student. It took me a lot of time to process everything.
As I always say, writing was not really my passion, but I am still surprised, even now, that I write on the internet and earn money on the side.
I wouldn’t write now if it were not for the money.
It was not an easy journey to earn my first dollar by writing. I was afraid it would be a huge responsibility for me as a student — taking a difficult degree at university while juggling my blogging business.
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I had to deal with several difficulties, such as scheduling and time management.
Have you ever felt like chasing your dreams as a blogger, but it seems like your full-time activity (studying in school or working) is stopping you?
I still have to prioritize my school, after all.
At first, I felt stressed. I had a lot of activities and assignments, but I also wanted to write and publish a post on my website so I wouldn’t break my consistent publishing schedule.
I needed to work so I could earn money. I needed to write because it was part of my system.
I thought I could do it — I made a schedule, focusing more on writing instead of studying.
I ended up not focusing on my schoolwork and not earning well because my posts weren’t quality content.
Also read:How Do You Stay Motivated in Writing?
It affected my school grades and productivity. I was overwhelmed with my schedule, and it only affected me negatively.
Considering that I also use social media for leisure (yes, I am guilty and aware of this), sometimes it feels inevitable.
I tried deleting the apps that distracted me, but I still ended up downloading them so I could consume content (unproductively).
One day, I watched a video on YouTube about productivity. I completely forgot the channel, but it was about how to boost your productivity.
The creator said, ironically, we look for ways to boost our productivity by watching those kinds of videos; nothing will happen if you just keep watching and don’t make a move or take action.
From that day, I decided to change my routine. I had to balance my blogging and studies while completely ignoring distractions in the background.
I created a writing routine schedule that keeps me productive every day. Now, I work depending on my school activities.
My work productivity depends on my school activities.
If I have a lot of schoolwork on a specific day, I might skip writing, but I will keep engaging with my friends online.
This way, I still show up and stay consistent to build my connection with them.
Here’s my writing schedule...
Most days, I set aside 4–5 hours to work on my blog. I write, edit, and post all of the content to the platforms I use.
I also schedule them based on the time slots I find effective.
Then, the rest of the day is for my school and friends. When I take short breaks, I use the opportunity to consume my friends’ content online and engage with some of them.
This writing schedule has helped me a lot to balance my writing career and school.
Surprisingly, I find it fun and not as stressful compared to before, when I had no schedule and felt overwhelmed.
Furthermore, it is also important to learn to prioritize what is important and what is not.
Have you ever chosen writing and working on your blog over attending a party or event invitation from a friend?
If yes, you are one step ahead of other bloggers.
I remember a time when some of my friends asked me if I would go with them for a drink, but I already had a schedule for that day to write and publish on my website.
So, I said no and declined their invitation.
The main point is that you have to learn how to say no in these kinds of situations.
I’m telling you, it is better to work for yourself on something that will bring good long-term results than to seek instant gratification.
To achieve this, you have to prioritize writing over unproductive and unnecessary activities.
Our time is limited, and for me, the phrase “time is gold” is absolutely true. You can’t bring back time, so you have to spend it wisely.
Overall, writing has helped me a lot, especially with my studies. You see, I never liked writing, but over time, I learned to love it.
It has had a huge impact on me, especially when writing my research papers, assignments, and essays.
It also helps me become more productive. Sometimes, I write about productivity tips, and from my research, I try to apply them to my life.
I learned that everything goes well when I do, so I continue to implement them.
Over time, you will learn to embrace both blogging and studying. Find the balance between them, and don’t treat writing as your work but as a fun hobby alongside your studies.