Time to blog

On Laura's guest post, a reader (Henry) commented: I really respect people with blogs and how they have something creative to write and asks:

Reader question: How do you find the time to take pictures and blog?

What a great question, Henry. I'd like to answer your question right now and then leave it open for my fellow bloggers to chime-in in the comments too!

Finding time to take pictures

Luckily for me, I don't necessarily need (though I like) photos to accompany my posts, unless I'm talking about photography, of course ;). Nevertheless, I make an effort to take photos at least once a week. My camera sits on the console table in the living room and is always at-the-ready. Whenever our son and I go outside, for a walk or to the playground, I always bring my camera too.

Most of the time, I tailor posts around the photos I take. Maybe I'll talk about an activity our son is really interested (or not interested) at the time. Maybe I'll talk about the relationship our son has with our puppy, which I do often (see 1, 2, and 3)!

Sometimes, I know we'll be going somewhere where there's going to be photo-ops and remember to bring my camera. Though my phone had to suffice on a recent trip when I left my charged battery in the charger at home. Here's some pictures taken at the National Aquarium (Baltimore) and at the Please Touch Museum (Phila).

Lastly, I may have an idea for a blog post and set-out to take pictures for it…though I can't think of any particular posts where I did that...

So to answer your question, I don't "find" time to take photos. For me, I just take them and use them when appropriate. If you post your own photos, check out Amberr's list of web resources for free-to-use images (with credit, of course).

Finding time to blog

No matter what a blogger does full-time or where a blogger works full-time -- stay-at-home mom/dad, work-from-home, full-time blogger, work-outside-the-home blogger, etc. -- I think I can safely say that finding time to blog is difficult and requires balance and/or sacrifice.

For me, I draft a lot of posts after our son goes to bed. But I have to balance that time (after he goes to bed) with going to the gym, doing house chores, editing photos, spending time with the hubby, and oh, sleeping. It's a busy life, but I enjoy blogging so much that I don't see it as a burden. It's ME time.

As for responding to readers' comments, which for me is just as important as writing, I do that whenever I check my email. And I type fast ;), so it's moot point :P.

My unsolicited advice to a new blogger

Not that he asked, but I'm going to offer some advice to alleviate some fears about starting a blog. It's ok not to post every day. I choose to post every day, except for Saturday, but only because for the past two years, my posting was erratic. I wanted to make a change. Also, quality is better than quantity. Many other bloggers have said this already. And, start off slow and build-up your posting with time. I like how Laura responded to Henry's question on her guest post: I didn't think I would have much to post, but I find that I'm always grabbing my camera because everything I do I now see as a possible blog post! Give it a try - you will find that you have more to talk about than you think. Lastly, making time to blog is one thing, but you also have to remember to make time to build a community of readers. Unfortunately, blogging ISN'T write it, and they will come.

Ok, now YOUR turn:

How do you find time to take photos (if applicable) and blog?

Show some love. Leave a comment below and I'll definitely respond!
Feel free to leave critiques on my blog or photos!
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Originally posted at expandng.com - Time to blog