I think it is about time to introduce you to someone...err...something very special. Meet my blog planner, aka the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. Let me clarify...this is the best blog organization tool that has ever happened to me.
I used to have dreams of being a more organized blogger (isn't that a normal dream?) but all my previous attempts did not work out too well. Sure, I sometimes scheduled things in advance/wrote down good ideas but I did not have a consistent method of keeping up to date and once in a while I would find myself scrambling to think of something blog worthy. I probably shouldn't admit that, right? ;)
Well, as soon as I saw this little beauty with the whole month laid out on one page with lots of writing space for each day I knew that my blog dreams were about to come true. It is a 2012 calendar but it actually started in December 2011 and I couldn't wait to start filling it with ideas.
I have found that seeing the whole month at a glance is absolutely essential for me to be able to stay on top of things. I used my new little friend for the whole month of December and it has made blogging even more enjoyable for me than it already was. There is a section along the side/bottom for Notes and Things to Remember that I use to jot down things I want to blog about, ideas for DIYs, as well as little reminders for other blog related things that I don't want to slip my mind. My mind can be pretty slippery at times and it has been so helpful to be able to write down anything that pops into my head.
Planning what I want to post about has been helping me to be more productive. This is very important to me now that I am working from home. I want to maximize every minute! When I look at my planner I see what I want to post about on certain days and I can make sure that I have all of the appropriate projects done/photos taken with plenty of time. Also, I can work on multiple posts at once or pick and choose what I feel like working on that day. Scheduling my DIY posts in advance has actually been the most helpful thing to make sure I complete them. I love making things and this is helping me set aside the time to do so.
An added bonus to being more organized is that it makes me more creative. When I am not worrying about what I am going to blog about that day my mind has more time to wander. I think of my best ideas when I just let my mind wander. I make sure that I always have some way to record my ideas and then I make sure I transfer them to my blog planner.
In case you can't tell, I really love my blog planner. I am planning on making myself one just like it for next year. The only problem with this one is that it is not that cute so when I make my own I will fix that.
Do you have some way of staying organized blog or otherwise that you love?
♥elycia
thats what i need!hahah:)
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I just sat down today to write out a monthly blog schedule! I find I've got so many different types of post I want to do, that by planning out all the recurring ones, I can make sure I don't let them fall by the wayside :)
ReplyDeleteI've always scheduled ahead, so I'm hoping this will be the next step in getting organised... only 3 years after I started.. ;D
what a great idea :)!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a big fan of lists, schedules, plannings, calendars etc. :) I find it reassuring to write down everything. It makes me feel like I know where I'm going, I won't forget anything, and I can use my brain for something else more internesting!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed, you really work on your blog professionnally! A very good reason to come back everyday :)
have a nice day and see you tomorrow^^
I may have to adopt this idea! Thankyou for sharing xo
ReplyDeleteI may have to adopt this idea! Thankyou for sharing xo
ReplyDeleteI love lists and schedules. I actually use a WordPress plugin for my blog scheduling. I blogged about it here: http://eef-etc.com/2011/scheduling-posts-wordpress-calendar-plugin/
ReplyDeleteI just create a draft with the title of what I want to blog about, and then when I get what I need to write the blog post, I just edit the draft. I like this better than a paper calendar which I used to use, since sometimes I wouldn't get whatever I needed to get completed finished before the post was supposed to go up--or I would change my mind about what I wanted to blog about, and then I would have a page full of scribbles! I might just change my mind too much though...
I find it really hard to think of things to blog about (probably why my blog just stops for months on end :s) maybe if I use something like this it may help...
ReplyDeletehi elycia - i am allison, a returning blogger after a hiatus, who has been reading your blog for a while.
ReplyDeletethis is such a great idea! although i have resulted to keeping my blog a pressure free zone and that i will write when i want to...which means if i made a calendar i would feel so obliged to stick with it! but if i keep it up, this would be a great way to stay organized!
thanks for sharing.
allison
I used to have a month-view one, this year I got a free weekly one from college but it is just not the same!! Target used to have one for $1 but I did not see it this year... I really am determined to find a good month view one again!! It does help so much. Planners all the way. It's the only way I can keep track of things without worrying about forgetting them.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I went with the Laurel Denise planner that has the month/days combined in one view for myself this year and it's helping immensely! I have different colored pens -- one for blogging, one for freelance work, one for wedding-planning, and one just for personal/life stuff. As digital as I can be at times, I still love pen & paper to-do lists and calendars!
ReplyDelete- Mandi (www.lifeinbeta.com)
I'm dedicated to putting more focus on my hobbies this year, blogging included. I love this idea to keep it all organized!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great post!! I always have trouble keeping up with all my ideas and plans and usually forget all about them once I sit down to start blogging. It takes all guess-work/pressure off. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletexx Ashleigh
www.ashflynn.blogspot.com
I love this! I actually just sat down yesterday to try to write down some sort of organization plan for my blog, but sorted of floundered. This would be perfect for me! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. Right now I whenever I have an idea I just go ahead and make an unpublished post and work on it from there, which is getting to be very cluttered and confusing. I may have to adopt this method of your as well! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttp://ricracheartattack.squarespace.com/
That's such a great idea! I have been blogging off and on for years, but am really trying to make a go of it this time and be more organized and such; this will help immensely I'm sure :)
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I made my own notebook, but I want one with a planner theme. I really like this and I definitely think having a planner helps!
ReplyDeleteI love planning out posts using a monthly calendar, though I tend to use iCal on my Mac, since I tend to move things around A LOT. It makes it so much easier to see what's coming up though, I don't know how I would survive without it!
ReplyDeleteI love planning blogs just the same. lately i've been scheduling them weekly but it's just not as convenient as monthly - i'm going to look for a little book like yours so i can schedule for weeks at a time! :) xo
ReplyDeletethats awesome and looks super helpful!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! I have a notebook for lists that I make, with ideas and plans and all that, but the idea of an entire month laid out is really appealing.... !!
ReplyDeletexo
http://kittysnooks.blogspot.com/
I do the same thing, except I print out a calendar and paste it into my commonplace book. =] I definitely need a space for notes, though! I think I'll start doing that...
ReplyDeleteI've also made my January calendar available to print. ;) http://ohkayciara.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-calendar-menu-printables.html
babe, you are a genius. I'm going to have to try this.
ReplyDeletethank you for your tips! i like your month at a glance tip best. i am just starting a blog schedule (this new year) and so all the tips i can get, help! :) thanks miss
ReplyDeleteI'm very much in need of one of these!!! I usually try to keep my posts spontaneous, but it would help to have somethings laid out. I have lots of great ideas that I should post, but most of the time it just slips my mind and then I don't have that great of a post planned. You will be my inspiration to get a great planner for my blog!! =]
ReplyDeletexo.
These are all really compelling arguments for being pro-blog-planner! I especially like the notion that being well organised leads to a clear mind which, in turn, leads to a creative mind! Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteI use a cute pink comp book. I too just recently started but its amazing! I started in nov. I made a calendar page in there for each month so I can write out my plan on the days. I also journal in there and have a section for etsy and for sketching. I made cute tabs for the sections. I works nice having everything in one spot that I always have with me and has really helped me creatively to be able to sketch in it daily. To always have a spot for ideas even if they are not good ones! maybe I will make a post about my book also!
ReplyDeletewonderful! i am an off again on again planner planner. i am addicted to planners which is an enormous problem b/c i just need to stick 1, write down my ideas and go. like you said i find notes, pieces of paper, plans stuck in my head waiting to be put in 1 place. thanks for the motivation!
ReplyDeletethat's how i plan mine too :) i LOVE it!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! so helpful to new bloggers like me and the girls! -melisa
ReplyDeleteHey Elycia...
ReplyDeletewhat a great tip, thanks! So simple and yet why didn't I think of it before? x
I bought a weekly planner this year for the same reason! :D So far I've been pretty lazy though and have mostly been filling in what I'm posting after the fact lol :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always trying to plan my blogging to make it less haphazard but don't get anywhere. To be honest though, I have always thought you planned love elycia this thoroughly, not that you just started!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea, I think I am going to get started on that right away!
ReplyDeletewhat a great tool. need to think about that as well. thanks. (:
ReplyDeleteGreat post! So many helpful hints and words of advice.
ReplyDeletehttp://shannonhearts.blogspot.com
Woah great idea. I think I'm going to have to use something like this to get organised for my blog :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
This is a great post! Thank you so much. As a beginning blogger, I need all the help I can get. =)
ReplyDelete<3 Bailey
http://sweetblackmagic.blogspot.com/
p.s. Your blog is one of my favorites!
this is so great, thank you so much, and not only for blogging i'm kind of messy!
ReplyDeleteI SO need to start doing this!! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletehehe I love finding people who get as excited about things like this as me! I have a dodo pad which I schedule everything in and I have a silly amount of love for it! xxx
ReplyDeleteLove this! I just bought my own monthly planner to help me schedule my blog posts. I always enjoy seeing how other people organize their lives.
ReplyDeleteI totally need to do that too. organizing can save butts! and I really don't have a lot of time these days, what with finals coming up and working extra hours and trying to go to the gym on a daily basis.. yeah, crazy. so I'll try to find a good monthly planner, thanks for inspiring me :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your idea! :D
ReplyDeleteExactly what I need!
ReplyDeletehttp://captainbubblegum.blogspot.com/