Experiment #2: We Need Batches! (Day 8: Blogging)

As I mentioned in my Week One Update, I found myself scrambling to blog on a few mornings when I hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep. In addition, I truly want to avoid dividing my loyalties by losing focus or allowing myself to rush through posts. How can I reconcile my need for regular blogging and regular sleep? Blog in batches!

Step 1: Brainstorming

The easiest thing to batch is ideas. I started by setting up a draft post in which I created an ongoing list of experiment ideas, and another in which I listed post topics by day. If I ever forget what I want to write, or if I am struggling with making a decision, it is easy to refer back to my lists for reminders.

Step 2: Information Gathering

Reserve some time each week to do online or other research for upcoming blog posts. Copy-Paste any relevant links to resources in the aforementioned draft post, for easy access, later. You can do the same thing with any images, videos, or sound files you plan to embed in your posts. (This is the one thing I struggle to do, as I am concerned with finding both free and legal pics to add to my posts. It can be tiring and time-consuming to do so. I think that I will be more likely to include more media snippets if I get used to batching research and posting, though.)

Step 3: Write in Batches

Now that you have freed up some extra minutes with previous batching tasks, you should have more time to dedicate to focused writing. I genuinely enjoy writing first thing in the morning, while I sip my coffee and nibble on breakfast. Still, it can be hard to wake up early each morning, and you may not be able to blog on a daily basis if you are traveling. It could be easier to pre-write for an extended period of time, when it is available to you. Sunday afternoons are nice and lazy for me, so I'm starting to batch my blog posts, today.

Step 4: Schedule Your Posts

At this point, most blogging platforms allow you to store your posts and schedule them to appear at regular intervals in the future. Then, you can spend your mornings engaged in other things: promoting your blog, free-writing, creativity exercises, physical exercises, job-hunting, research, homework...your choices are nearly limitless.

Estimated time saved:

I honestly don't expect to save any time by batching blog posts, but I do expect to avoid a few other potential negatives: lack of focus, lateness to work, missed posts, etc.