It’s time for my monthly kick up the bum post – I have come to the conclusion that after something wonderful happens I get a bit of an anti-climax moment where I feel a bit lost. The last 3 weeks have been amazing. First winning an award was just brilliant. Then Mothercare made me their VIP blogger and I got to meet Myleene Klass and Jools Oliver, and generally made to feel special (thank you Noella!). Then it was homeward bound to look after 2 kids on my own and I can’t help but feel a little bit frazzled and a bit…what next?! It’s time to get focused.
I don’t want to miss this opportunity to grow! I want to take these fabulous experiences, feel energised by them and build on them for new successes. And, this is how I believe I can get focused…
Ten Tips to get Focused
1. Be inspired
It’s easy for me to see fabulous people and think I will never achieve their level of success, forgetting that I don’t necessarily want that level of success. Sure, I’d like my own range of products some day (ala Myleene, Jools and Oh Joy!) but not necessarily all the crazy trappings that come with fame. So, I need to focus on what it is that I want in my life and be inspired by these fabulous people I have met to achieve it!
2. Be open to opportunities
…but also be willing to take some time about them. I’m terrible for getting overwhelmed quickly because I try to do it all at once. Not everything has to happen yesterday or even today! Keep your options open, keep in touch and trust your instincts. If it doesn’t happen soon, it’s probably because you don’t really want to do it!
3. Do your own PR
PR is so important, especially in this line of work as a blogger working on my own. And, this is something I’m not good at – I won an award but did I send the story to a single newspaper? No siree! Katie from Pouting in Heels is fabulous at all sorts of things, including PR, and I love her Top Ten PR Tips. It’s this kind of post that makes the huge task of “doing your own PR” feel much more manageable!
4. Look after yourself
When all is exciting and/or overwhelming, the first thing out the window is exercise. “The gym is too far away” “I don’t want to get cold or wet” “I’ve got too much to do”… etc. I find it relatively easy to eat healthily most of the time (although I drink waaaaaaay too much coffee/wine) but exercise? Not so much. The silly thing is that when I do exercise, I find it much easier to focus on what I need to do. It clears my head and I’m ready to get on with my work.
5. Get organised
My husband, Mike, is uber efficient and able to work methodically through his thoughts, so he often tells me I’m procrastinating when I write a list. I want to assure you that it’s not procrastination, it’s ESSENTIAL to my well-being. My brain has a scatter gun approach to life and at the end of a day without a list I can easily feel like I’ve not achieved anything! So I actually map out my day like a school timetable (this is embarrassing but I’m sharing below! – take the ‘run’ at 6am with a pinch of salt!) and each morning I write my to do list but prioritise 3 main ones. That way by the end of the day I know I have achieved the important stuff. Anything else is a bonus!
6. Be focused in your down time too
If you want to avoid burnout, you gots to have some down time! In my ‘timetable’ I’ve actually written in when I spend time with Mike and my Me-time! Sounds incredibly regimented but if I don’t there is a chance I won’t actually spend time with Mike as my evenings tend to get eaten up with work! Having my time mapped out like this gives me a focus – I must finish this now… Rather than what tends to happen which is I think I’ll do it tonight. No you wont, you’ve got a date with your hubby followed by a bath and a book! Waaaaaaay better for inspiration.
7. Don’t forget your friends
My mates are such a lovely source of inspiration and support but it’s so easy when you get busy to not make the time! From a well-being point of view, this is so important. How good does it feel to send a card and nice present on a birthday or drop a text to see how your mate is doing with their new baby? It keeps you grounded and gives a little kick of endorphins just when you need them.
8. Shut off from the world
I’m going to let you in on a secret. It’s kind of a biggy because it is so against the grain when it comes to blogging. When I started blogging I didn’t read any other blogs in my niche. I couldn’t because if I did, I would have been so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there that I would never have got started. So for 2 years I focused on what I was interested in, blogged from the heart, and grew my facebook community. This is not a recipe for quick success but it allowed me to develop my writing style and be happy within my own blogging skin. The same goes for me now when I know I need to get work done (like writing this post for example!) or need to think for a bit (even up to a few days!), I turn everything off and I get to it.
9. Reach out to the world
In the complete opposite to the point above, now I am confident in who I am and what I bring to the blogging world, I am trying to absorb as much as I can and meet as many bloggers as I can both in person and online. I am collaborating, hosting linkies, commenting, organising meet ups, and generally trying to reach out! It’s a lonely old business is blogging and although I like to be project driven and work independently, I also love working with others as a team! I just wish I had been ready to do it sooner…
10. Just get started…
You might not actually know where you want to go and what you want to be. I certainly didn’t when I started out! I decided I would just write what I was interested in and see what happened. If I had waited for that light bulb moment or my ‘niche’, I never would have got started! And, even now I’m not totally sure where I want to end up but if I don’t go with it, I might never find out – it’s the journey after all not the destination.
What do you think?
I hope you can take some inspiration from some of these points, I know we’re not all the same so what works for me may well not work for you! For example, I know I am competitive, impatient and a bit of a scatter brain (I’m not selling myself well here!), so these 10 tips are aimed to help me tame these weaknesses (which are actually also strengths if used right!) – maybe look at each point and re-jig it with your own strengths in mind?
I’d love to hear what you think helps you get focused!
Please do leave your ‘get focused’ tips in the comments or come and join the conversation on the Mums’ Days Facebook Page.
This is a great post with such great tips. Your blog and ‘brand’ are inspiring and I really do think you can achieve anything you set your mind to x
Oh thank you Donna xxx That’s such a lovely thing to hear! :’) xx
Great post huni. I did giggle when I saw Mike was in the diary! I know what you mean though! You are fab and I am so happy that you are my friend xxx
Big kisses lady xxx
Great post! Now if I didn’t look at other blogs I would miss great blogs like yours ha! I love your timetable, that is the sort of organisation I like!
x
Dude, that’s why I’m a div…! I’ve missed out on great friends and great blogs because I hid away. Now I know when it’s OK to shut off but I surely do a lot more reaching out too (not as much as I should mind!!) xxx
These are wonderful tips! Thank you for putting them up, they’re really useful!
Emma | frillsanddoodads.com
Pleasure Emma!! Thanks for sharing on Twitter too, I appreciate it xx Glad you found them useful – it was another one of those therapeutic posts 😉 but happy the ideas can maybe help others xx
Great post. I love writing lists and do it for a lot of things especially holidays and work. It really does focus the mind and give me a methodical way to work. I love friend time too. I definitely need to do that more often!
Really great post Hannah! Firstly massive congrats on all your recent successes, amazing news 🙂 i’m wholeheartedly agreeing with what you’ve said here (obvs) really love your organisational chart xxx #allaboutyou
Thank you lovely! Glad you can relate…and big up the grow up timetable!! I’ve a MUCH better day today and I think a lot of it is down to this post 🙂 Feel productive again! xxx
Some great tips there! I definitely agree about the exercising too, it’s always so hard to get going but when I do I alway feel so much better and refreshed to focus more 🙂 #AllAboutYou
It really is such a great tool. Removing myself from my office/prison can make all the difference to my productivity levels! And it doesn’t even have to be long 😉
Thanks for your comment Louise xxx
great post, some fab tips i love that your time table is colour coded as well hehe 😉
Got to be done or I’d never know where I was!! 😉 haha! xx
First of all, huge congratulations on your win! Secondly, fab list – love your chart, just the sort of thing I would do (except I’m currently not organised enough ;)). #allaboutyou
Gosh, don’t I know that – I have to make a real concerted effort to be organised as it just isn’t my natural state…and Mike would argue that even my efforts aren’t that good! 😉 Glad you could relate! xx
Love this!!! Some great tips here! The down time thing is so important, I mean so many times I end up on twitter or commenting on someone’s blogs, or checking my stats etc and I should be enjoying time with my husband….it’s crazy!!!
Well my darling, I have to tell you I absolutely ADORE this post. One of my favourites to date. I love the way in which you have kinda bared your soul yet shared what works for you and how you operate.
These are amazing tips, I agree with all of them (naturally) and I gotta tell you, I am obsessed with your spreadsheet! As one of the least organised people in the world I am going to give this a whirl. (Once I can find 5 mins to do it that is!)
Thank you so much for including me too, you’re a sweetheart and I just want to say, while you’re getting on doing stuff, don’t forget how incredible you are and how much you are achieving. You’re doing SO well. xxx
(Now get bloody cracking on your PR!!! *winks*) xxx
HA!!! yes my PR! Gosh, which bit of my spreadsheet would that fit in to?? Hehee 😉 thanks Katie xxx I’ll be honest and actually writing this post has helped me realise I need to take a minute or two to take a breath before I move on. No point being stressed, smell the roses!! xxxx
Congrats on winning your award! Awesome news! Loved this post, I love motivational tips. I try to plan the day before what I need to do the next day, or I’ll sit there faffing and finish the day realising I haven’t achieved anything. A whole week is my next goal…maybe!
A whole week?! that sounds pretty amazing 😉 xx Thanks Jess!
Ok, so this is going STRAIGHT onto the Mums Make Lists ‘Organisation’ Pinterest Board… love it! Particularly love the spreadsheet… am mildly addicted to excel…
Brilliant empowering post, my Mum got me a gorgeous planner and diary for my birthday so I’m getting even more organised! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
OMG I LOVE new planners! You lucky thing 🙂 Writing the first few pages of a new book is a bit daunting (!) but once you get going, it’s just amazing. I’m jealous now…although I did spend a good amount of time in paper chase getting my fill of new planners and notebooks today, so i think that’s kept it under wraps for a wee while! xxx
This has been a really good read for me because, as I’ve told Aby today, I feel like my head is all over the place since having Toby and I’m struggling to blog more than a couple of times a week, struggling to get on top of the housework, struggling to get back into shape, to eat, to relax…! I think I’ll get back to writing lists because they’ve always worked well for me in the past xx
Oh but please make sure you have LOADS of down time in your schedule too Hannah, it’s not easy with little babies and blogging is a grower not a shower – I have to remind myself everyday to take my time, think 3 years not 3 months (or weeks or days!!), and be consistent. If 2 blogs is all you can do now, that’s OK, don’t beat yourself up over it xxx
Very inspiring post! I also love a good to-do list, though your spreadsheet is so jam-packed! I know it must have to be when you blog every day though, can see why you have to be strict with yourself! #thelist
Definitely take it with a pinch of salt – I’m not THIS regimented but I like to have an idea of what is next. Plus a lot of the time, with Reuben for example, it’s not mapped out at all, so we can enjoy doing what we feel like (which is probably why we end up leaving at house only marginally before lunch on a Tuesday and Friday!) xx
This is one of the best posts ever! I’m so impressed by how organised you are; you have a spreadsheet! Brilliant! I definitely think that building a successful brand like you have requires dedication and just a little regimentation so well done you! I have THE BEST blogging intentions but something always scuppers them: this week- an ear infection (good excuse), last week- loads of telly (bad excuse). Reading this has inspired me to put my mind to it and just do it. No excuses! Fab post!
P.s. Congrats on the award!
Maria xx
Awesome Marie!! Thanks for your lovely compliments 🙂 and let me know how you get on!! hxx
Fab post – really helpful.
I’ve recently been writing a timetable for myself just like yours. I hope I will help me stay on top of things and spend time on the important things. 🙂
#TheList
Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx
Good to hear that Jenna! Great minds and all that 😉 xxx More than anything it’s great for making sure I have balance! I don’t have to, and mustn’t in fact, work EVERY night.
Lots of great tips here. I’m still getting used to managing my own time (albeit with a two year old boss to answer to) and fitting in everything I need/want to do. In some ways life was so much easier when I was teaching, though that was exhausting too! What I need to work on is being proactive in pushing myself to the next step – though I should probably work out exactly what that is first… xx
I can really relate to that Sophie – with so much to do, it’s hard to actually find the time to step back and think about what is is you’re actually striving for!! Making it a bit of a mission next week though…once I’ve done a few more deadlines 😉 xx
This is a very timely post for me. Focus was not my strong point this last week and this has inspired me to get my groove back. Thank you!
Great!! Glad to hear it Anne – Why wait until the new year to get your groove back 😉 xxx
Perfect timing, I really needed a post like this to read this week because I’m all over the place and really struggling to focus myself. So thanks!
Could do with one of those time tables. I know I have stuff to do, but I never seem to get it done, maybe a more rigid schedule would really help me achieve my daily tasks. Going to give it a go this week!x
I’m such a scatter brain that it can make me feel extremely out of control, like life is happening to me rather than me taking control. So although I’m not rigid with sticking with it – it does help me feel more in control to see it mapped out like this. I (in theory) wake up a bit more focused to get the house/dinner sorted because if I don’t do it then there isn’t really time to do it later! And making sure I have set time for Mike means that I am ALLOWED that time off and don’t have to be working all the time. You know?? Let me know how you get on Lauren! xx
I love your timetable. I really struggle with time management and I often feel like I’ve got nothing done all day. I do keep to-do lists but maybe a full on timetable would help!
HA! do it 🙂 I started by writing down all the things I needed to do and then tried to categorise them so I could work out exactly WHAT needed to go into my schedule. I regularly realise, especially since I’ve been working away a bit, that it’s not possible to stick to but it makes me feel safer just knowing it’s there! And at least it encourages me to do the washing up and put on a load of washing when I have my ‘house’ time – otherwise it would never get done! xx
Oooo hello! A really interesting post. I think we are quite similar actually. Perhaps you could be my life coach? 😉 Being a SAHM and a new blogger it can be difficult to make my own schedule sometimes but you seem to be doing a great job of it all. Also interesting what you said about reaching out to the world. I have chatted to many bloggers online but not met any in real life yet, would love to though. How did you start doing that?
Thanks for your lovely comment! Regarding meeting up with others, this time last year I tried to set up a get together with local bloggers – there were maybe 15 on the list and although everyone liked the idea in theory, only 3 of us actually got together for dinner. It was lovely and I still regularly see one of them! So, the aim for next year is to organise a monthly get together – no pressure to come but the more the merrier! It’s difficult when you have kids though – who can be arsed to then go out for dinner?! Actually if you make the effort though, it’s totally worth it 🙂 I would just tweet a few people in your area. Chances are there will be regular meet ups where you are! When I visited Brighton I met with Belle du Brighton and Hannah from Make Do and Push for a play date, which was lush! Just ask, bloggers aren’t likely to say no, we’re all lonely 😉 xxx
Thanks Hannah! Actually a week after writing my initial comment I was at my first PR event meeting lots of the local bloggers! Wrote about it on my blog, and it was great to meet so many in person including Belle du Brighton (our kids are the same age). I think a monthly get together that you’re organising will be great. There seems to be loads of bloggers around you too! And it’s great to get that interaction in person isn’t it. Ah you made me laugh, are all bloggers lonely? I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that 😉 Thanks for the tips! I’m sure it won’t be long till my next blogger meet up either 🙂
I try so hard to be organised but it just doesn’t work for me! I have so many lists in my head and if they do make it onto paper I either instantly forget or lose them. And my calendar always pings onto my phone and gets ignored!!! These are good tips though and ones i really need to follow 🙂 x x
Brilliant I love this, you have given me so many things to think about, and I loved Katie’s pr tips too. Thanks for this #allaboutyou
Great advice! You should be so proud of what you’ve achieved! Amazing! I agree with shutting yourself off – when I write a post I close twitter, FB and everything and type away until I’m done otherwise I am too distracted! Thanks for sharing. Jess xx
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