For someone on the outside, being a full-time blogger might sound like a “low key”, or even a relaxing job. However, most people in this position know how much time, dedication, and tools it takes to succeed. You’ve probably also figured out by now that being a full-time blogger requires a dedicated workspace.
Having your own space can help to reduce distractions, especially if you work from home. It can keep you motivated, productive, and help you to find a better work-life balance.
But having a workspace is only half of the equation. How you set up and organize that space is just as important and having the right tools and resources at your disposal will make your job much easier.
Set Up Your Space for Success
Again, if you already have a designated office space somewhere in your home, you’re on the right track. You don’t even need to have a separate room, as long as it’s a quiet location within the home that allows you to stay focused. If you’re living in a small home or an apartment, you may have to get creative with your office space.
Try some of the following spots:
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- A small entryway
- A cleared-out closet
- Under the staircase
Whether you have an actual office perfectly designed by a luxury home builders or you’re just using a corner in your bedroom dedicated to your work, there are things you can do to make it a more functional workspace. One of the ways to do that is to make sure you have the right desk. An L-shaped desk can give you maximum space without taking up too much room, but you may want to consider a rolling desk if you’re “sharing” your workspace with a high-traffic area in the house, so you can put it away when it’s not in use.
Another great way to improve your workspace is with lighting. Ideally, you should be able to decorate your office the way you want, even if that means painting the walls an inspiring color. But, if you’re sharing your office space with another room in the house, you may have to settle for using the right lighting to stay motivated. Use natural light whenever possible or invest in cool lighting to create an energetic mood in your office. Research has shown that cool lighting can help you to feel more attentive and productive.
Productivity Boosters
Working from home is a dream come true for many people. It offers flexibility and the opportunity to be your own boss. However, there are some challenges, including:
- More distractions
- Increased loneliness
- More responsibilities
- Uncertainties and risks
- Dealing with difficult people (sponsors, commenters, etc.)
Whether you get easily distracted, overwhelmed, or stressed, there are plenty of ways your productivity can waver while working. Thankfully, there are also ways to help improve your productivity and motivation throughout the day.
It’s all about making choices to take care of yourself and avoid burn-out. Some easy ways to do that include taking frequent breaks, giving yourself a longer break for lunch, eating healthy snacks, and drinking plenty of water.
It’s also a good idea to get moving throughout the day. Get up and stretch frequently or use your breaks to have a “dance party” in your workspace. Music, on its own, can be incredibly motivating. Additionally, getting your blood flowing can boost your mood and improve your focus. If you have time, get outside for a walk. Being in nature is another natural mood and energy booster, and you’ll come back to your workspace feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Staying productive is all about making choices but making your job easier and working more efficiently is all about using the right tools. Productivity tools like e.ggtimer allow you to set a timer within your browser. This allows you to focus on whatever tasks you have to do, knowing you have a certain amount of time to get it done. It almost offers a gaming mindset as you try to stay honed in on your project to “beat the clock”.
Tools to Make Your Job Easier
Although there are plenty of ways to improve your productivity, motivation is an entirely different monster. When your full-time position involves creativity, such as blogging, motivation can be hard to come by. There might be times when you feel stuck or uninspired. There also might be times when you’re questioning the quality of your writing.
Thankfully, there are tools for just about all of these issues, thanks to the Internet. Some of the best ones to make your job easier daily include:
Grammarly
As one of the most popular editing tools available, Grammarly spots grammatical errors in your work and highlights them, making it easy to change things in seconds. It also offers synonym suggestions, so your writing doesn’t become redundant.
Hubspot’s Blog Topic Generator
If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, this blog topic generator can truly cause a lightbulb moment. Even if you don’t select a topic from the generator itself, it might spark other ideas that you hadn’t thought of before.
Hemingway
The Hemingway app is less about grammar and more about perfecting your writing style. Good writing should be easy to read. It should be enjoyable, and impactful to the reader. Hemingway highlights areas of your writing that could use improvement. It includes everything from changing prepositions to adjusting the reading level to make it more accessible to everyone.
BuzzSumo
This is a great tool if you have a blog and you’re trying to get noticed. BuzzSumo lets you know which types of content are trending right now. When you know the kind of content that is gaining traction across the web, you can cater your next post to fit that mold.
There are so many useful tools that can either be downloaded to your computer or used as online apps. Not only will they make work easier, but they can inspire your writing so you can deliver more quality content to your clients or your readers.
Wrapping Up
Full-time blogging isn’t as easy as some people think it is, but you already know that. So, do what you can to make it easier on yourself by having a dedicated, functional, and practical workspace. Doing so will enable your creativity to shine through your words!
