As a work-at-home mom blogger, being online constantly comes with the territory. But setting aside offline work time every day is essential to the success of your blog.
Let’s face it, it’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of the online world. And while being online is necessary as a blogger, it’s also crucial to have time to work offline.
How working offline helps you become a better blogger
Offline Work Time allows you to:
Eliminate Distractions
It cuts out the big ones like email, social media and instant messaging (especially on Facebook…I still struggle with this at times). And while all these things are necessary for bloggers, it’s so easy for them to become time-wasters.
Focus your time on what is going to propel you forward, and set strict time limits for the things that can easily become time wasters. I do recommend you set aside time for learning, as long as you keep it in control.
Do More Work in Less Time
With distractions being eliminated, you’re able to focus on the task at hand and get it accomplished quicker. Without the constant starting and stopping that distractions produce, working on a project for two hours means you will actually have a two full hours of work time. You’ll be amazed at what you can get done! Setting aside time to work offline can be crucial to making sure you’re spending enough time on the right activities to grow your blog, like creating content.
Writing offline is wonderful. Although it is necessary to jump on to do research or grab a link or two, I find that if I just give myself time to write and then go back later to look up information, I’m much more productive. Having that online window open means the temptation to jump on and get distracted down a rabbit hole is more likely to happen (and usually does!). So for me, I’m able to get more writing done in less time when I’m offline.
Focus on Being Uniquely Creative
When we’re online, we’re constantly looking at what others are doing and comparing ourselves. We look at what tools they’re using and wonder how we can replicate their success.
And while this is good, can also be limiting.
Sure, finding someone who is doing the things you want to do and then learning from them is one of the best ways to become successful.
But think about it. In every situation, someone had to be first.
Someone had to get creative all on their own to come up with a new idea (whether it be a blog, course, ebook, certain way of doing things, etc.)
And if all you ever do is follow other people and try to do things exactly as they are, you’re missing out on allowing yourself to be totally and uniquely creative! You have ideas and thoughts that no one else does. Even if your ideas are similar to someone else’s, you have a unique voice that the world needs to hear.
Some of my best ideas have come when I’m simply sitting at my kitchen table with a blank notebook and a pencil. Not researching or not looking at what someone else is doing. Just sitting alone with my thoughts and ideas. Give yourself time and permission to let your creativity loose!
Being online can be overwhelming at times, there’s so much info out there. Setting aside time to work offline is essential to the creative process as well as blogging success. Do you set aside offline work time every day? We’d love to hear what works for you, please leave us a comment below.
Photography: Shutter Speed