There is a sense of panic throughout the blog-o-sphere this week. School is ending, summer is rapidly approaching and somehow, all of us “work at home parents” forgot about that.
Or at least, I did.
I have ONE WEEK of summer camp booked for our two girls.
Nothing for my 4.5 year old.
But, I am still confident that I will survive, and continue to create revenue to feed the family.
Check out my Summer Blogging Tips!
1. WRITE
Blogging is all about writing, and as we get busier, and we “have” to write, we sometimes forget what we were writing about before. I am going to take the summer months to write. Write more about me, and us, and about our life. I am going to write stories, and ebooks and all sorts of things that I can do with just a pen and paper. Instead of picking up a book, I am going to create my own.
Well, maybe not a “book” but definitely pages and pages of blog posts!
2. LIVE
I write better when I have something to write about, but as the work piles up, time to live and explore and participate gets reduced. With two months of “blank slate” ahead of me, I plan on getting my butt out of my office chair and exploring with my kiddo’s. From here will come the easy inspiration for the writing I need to do and have ahead of me.
My camera will be my sidearm as we explore and play the days away. Not only will I be able to maintain my blog over the months, but I will also be able to build a lasting photo journal of our lazy days for years to come.
3. CHANGE
I have written before on the need to diversify our income streams, and summer is a perfect example of WHY. Two months with kids surrounding me, and sunny days begging for play, and my “standard week” is just not going to happen. I reduce client calls and workshops and cancel most of my larger training projects. I turn inward, to my brain, my creativity and my family and refocus my efforts (and income lines) to things I can do with the kids around.
4. DON’T FIGHT IT
Summer should be a time for lazy days, and delicious moments. Don’t stress about “losing the edge” or feel a need to keep up or compete. Build a summer you love, and embrace the little moments and share THAT on your blog. Focus on writing good stuff, and getting visitors and building traffic. Find that beautiful life balance again and create moments to write about. Hopefully you have built a stable enough business to last over the next two months of “instability” and by giving yourself the chance to recharge you can leap back into the fray come september.
5. PLAN AHEAD
It might be too late this year, but next time spring rolls around make sure you have a plan for those summer months. I spent my may and june selling “big” projects. Big projects, that are done in committed time frames. I went creative and out of the box to create products that I could “blast off” in a solid day, but with the compensation that would last two weeks. My changes to my work schedule mean I need less child care, and have more time to play, and still bring in the same income.
So, start thinking ahead: What can you sell in May that will carry on through the summer? Reduce your “admin” hours in July and August by selling big packages, or creative products. Trust me, you will thank me!
Hubby and I sat down and spread our summer calendars out in front of us this morning. We shifted days, adapted to schedules and booked in ALOT of time to just play. By working together, and changing our routines, we may actually have a pretty awesome, productive and family focussed few months.