blogging with a full-time job Archives

How I Integrate Life, Work, and Blogging

A while back, I asked my Instagram followers about the things they want me to share more about. A couple of people asked about how I balance blogging/IG with work and life. Great question, and I finally have an answer.

Before I give you a taste of my secret sauce, let me share a bit of background information for anyone who’s new around here…

I’m a full-time working mom to a two-year-old little boy who’s the light of my life. I’m married to the love of my life, and the three of us live in Chicago. I work for a global professional services firm on the Global People and Culture team as a senior project manager (in a nutshell). I’ve been with my current organization for over seven years and have worked in Miami, St. Petersburg (100% from home), and now Chicago.

In terms of this blog, I started it in January 2011 kind of on a whim. I had been reading healthy living blogs for a year leading up to this point and finally decided to start my own when my best friend posed the question, “Why not you?”

MIS started as a healthy living blogpodge (lol!). It’s definitely evolved over the years as my life has changed. I’d now characterize it as a motherhood lifestyle blog that covers all my passions and interests. Vague? Sure, but that’s part of my secret sauce!

Some of you may also follow me on Instagram where I share stories, ideas, etc. as well. That’s another platform that I love sharing, connecting, and engaging on. I’ve had an account since 2012 but started using it a little differently about two years ago when I became a mom.

Ok, so that’s that! Now for my secret sauce.

First and foremost, writing, connecting, engaging, and building a community is something I’m VERY passionate about. It’s the sole reason why I’ve been able to keep going for so long. If you’re not deeply passionate about what you’re sharing, if you don’t believe in what you’re saying/sharing, if you’re not authentic about it, you won’t be able to stick to it long term. Period. With that being said, sometimes this means that you write and share about a variety of topics (MIS is truly a blogpodge!). I know they say that to succeed with blogging, you have to have a niche, but I know myself, and if I only focused on one area of my life, MIS would’ve died a slow death years ago. Do YOU!
If you’re not motivated or are lacking passion, don’t write. People can tell when you’re half-assing it. Also, giving yourself the gift of time and living your life usually helps increase creativity.
I used to have a detailed content calendar. Then I became a mom. I know this works really well for some people, but not for me (at least not right now). Now, I try to plan my content out a week at a time…if that. Sometimes it’s just an idea that comes up and I write about it. Sometimes it’s something I’ve deliberately plugged in for the week.
Capture your ideas as they come to you. I have random blog ideas in my blogging notebook, my notes app, and my email. This helps make time for the actual content creation/writing.
I use a lot of my ‘free’ time to draft posts. Early morning, lunchtime, nap time, nights, etc. Thankfully, after nine years, the ideas and words come to me fairly quickly/easily. I formulate all of my posts in my head, capture as much as I can when I can, and then edit and share.
80% good is good enough for me. For example, some people focus on pictures. For me, I focus on my words and the depth of my content. Some people do both well, but that’s not me. I know this and don’t beat myself up for it and then procrastinate because my pictures aren’t great. This ultimately gives me more time to focus on what’s important to me…writing and engaging.
And finally, have boundaries. Family/life will always come first for me. Then work and then blogging. This can be all consuming, especially when you love the blogging/IG world, but I constantly remind myself that this blog is a very special hobby. Absolutely nothing will not fall apart if I don’t share or keep up with this space!

I hope this answers the question that was posed. There’s no perfect formula or way to balance the things that you love and are passionate about. At the end of the day, you just have to do and be you. 😊

Your turn – how do you integrate life and your passions (doesn’t have to be blogging)?

Present FULL Mama Talks About Being a Social Media Inbetweener

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Hello! I’m cross-posting with the beautiful Present FULL Mama today. We’re talking about being inbetweeners in the social media world. Wondering what that is? Well, read on and also give Archana a follow on Instagram!

Also, if you’re interested in reading my thoughts about the topic, check out Archana’s blog.

Ok, take it away, A…

I chose to be an inbetweener because there’s no pressure to be anyone but me. I trust the process of growing my following organically and feel blessed that I have the option, as influencing is not a source of income for me.

I got started in social media when I chose to be a stay at home mom for 8 months, when my second child was about ` years old. I know not the typical time one decides to stop working, but I really wanted to be present in a different way for my children. Simultaneously, I really craved a way to connect with the world in a supportive nature. Let’s be real- as much as I wanted to support others, I needed that support through finding connection with others. Plus, I thought it could be fun to share my process of becoming a licensed therapist as a woman of color and a mother because there ain’t nothing like real life to put theories to a test, am I right? .

My main message through the social media world is around authenticity. Of course, there are textbooks and countless amounts of material to share how you can live a more authentic life, but I wanted to honor that process and show how it’s not a linear one. Each one of us has a unique story and each one of us deserve to have our own process, and for me that includes the love for the arts, spirituality, embracing the badass woman power and all that it entails – so yes that means my feed will contain the raw messy photos along with the creative staged ones because both versions are sides of me. And through sharing this, maybe others will try on to be present, real, and authentic while living a conscious life. Start where you are, come as you are as I always say.

More often than not, I love to share about mental wellness through an integrative lens and share the tools that I have been formally and currently trained in that I truly value. That is, you can guarantee I apply such interventions in the therapy room and personally. Oh but another thing about me- I am no expert on your life. Nope, you’ve got the answers within you for you- trust that.

In terms of making time for all this, I feel blessed to be able to work part-time and stay fulfilled that way. It’s a juggling act and a skill I’m trying to hone, because my ego will play games with me, inviting me to the motherhood battlefield of guilt. Some weeks, I’m better at posting, some weeks not so much. But I share what feels right and I always ask myself, “Does this bring me joy or satisfy my creative juices?” And when it does, I post.

If you end up following me, you should know that I’m an open book. I thrive on vulnerability and authenticity because I’m addicted to internal growth, and just perhaps I inspire someone in the process.

What else is there to know about me? Well, I’m having another baby? =)

Okay but if you want to be an inbetweener too, just be you and put yourself out there. If you believe in your message, it will shine, and others will see it. Be real. Try not to attach your self-worth to how many followers or likes you have. Ask yourself, “When I reach a certain number of followers, what will that achieve for me?” Another suggestion, blog for you, not for anyone else, even if that means no one reads it or likes it or comments. Do it for you and chances are you will feel deeply satisfied.

Thank you, Archana, for this fun collaboration. I loved reading your perspective and am so thankful to have you as a fellow inbetweener with me on this crazy social media journey!

My Inner Shakti’s Growing Up

written by Parita 10 Comments

It’s been almost FIVE years since I created MIS! 5 YEARS! This little blog of mine is a full blown kid. Unfortunately, aside from writing regular blog posts and trying my best to stay active in the social media scene, I haven’t done much to facilitate it’s growth. Sure, there’s been a few amazing partnerships and some cool opportunities, but I’ve honestly just let this space be what it is and that’s been good enough.

So you can imagine my reaction when Vishnu asked what I want out of this site. Ummm…whaaaa?? I told him that it’s just a hobby blog for now and that I’m having fun! But that wasn’t a good enough answer. He asked me what I meant by “for now,” and why I have ads, use affiliate marketing, etc. if it’s just for fun. He also asked what my longer term plans are and what I’m doing to help them become a reality one day. I pushed back at first, but then when I was alone, I thought about his questions.

What do I want for MIS?

I honestly don’t have a concrete answer to that question. I know that for now (there I go again!) it will be something I pursue in my spare time. But at the same time, I also know that it’s something I want to put more time and effort into.

I jotted down notes and ideas while flying to Chicago this past weekend. My main goals for MIS center around growth and writing for external sites (still mapping this out). I also thought through my personal rules/principles. First and foremost, MIS will always be an authentic, real, genuine space. More than anything else, this means the most to me. Based on what I’ve read recently, I know it’s possible to grow blogs using targeted strategies and tools. But I don’t want to go down that path. I want MIS’ growth and development to be more organic.

As far as content is concerned, I have no plans to change my focus. If anything, I’ll be adding some more stuff to the mix! I seriously should’ve named this blog My Inner Organized Chaos!

Again, none of the above is concrete. I could very well find that as much as I want to spend time here, my attention is needed elsewhere. Good thing I’m a long term thinker!

However, the one concrete thing happening in the next month or so is that MIS is getting a facelift!

Over the last five years, everything but my current header, has been all me. I’ve done 99% of the design/backend work myself. And while it’s been a great learning experience, I’ve made some major mistakes! I lost all of my subscribers…twice. I also deleted the Jetpack plugin recently because I was having issues and couldn’t get it to reinstall. This means all of the WordPress.com features I love/am used to no longer work. Ahhh…such a mess!

Needless to say, I’m outsourcing this redesign. Aside from providing input and approving stuff, I’ll have nothing to do with it…a very good thing! My #1 goal is to give MIS a modern/fresh/easier to navigate look and feel. MIS will also be mobile friendly going forward, which is super important because more and more of my readers use mobile devices. So please bear with me as we clean things up around here.

And just for fun, let’s take a look at past designs of MIS I found using Wayback Machine…

My very first design!

I kept this look for a while. The header was actually a word cloud that Vishnu created for me. It didn’t show up for some reason, but I remember loving it!

This was the design I went with next because I wanted a white background and something a little more grown up.

If you’re wondering why I’m sharing all of this it’s because 1. I personally love it when bloggers share their thought process around blogging and 2. I believe that as readers of this blog you deserve to know what’s happening and coming next and 3. It’s exciting and fun!

My Inner Shakti’s growing up, and I hope you stick around to see what’s next!

Bloggers, how long have you been blogging? Readers, how long have you been reading blogs?

Blogging with an 8-5

written by Parita 25 Comments

When I started my blog back in January 2011, I had big dreams for it. I really really thought that myinnershakti would turn into a full-time gig for me. I’m not kidding. I wish I were.

Reality kicked in when I quickly learned how hard it is to build up a readership and write quality content multiple times a day. After doing a little bit of research, I also learned that blogging would never bring home the kind of money my full-time job does. It was a short-lived dream.

However, I obviously continued to blog as a hobby. I love how my blog connects me to like minded people, allows me to share my life with friends, family and random strangers, and is completely, 100% mine. But it’s not always easy finding the balance between my work, personal life, and blog. My mindset around blogging has completely changed from when I first started, and over the past year and a half, I’ve realized that it is possible to maintain a blog and ensure that your career is not in jeopardy…you just have to be somewhat “strategic” about it.

Here are a few things I’ve picked up along the way…

1. You don’t have to post multiple times a day or even every day. I am a firm believer that quality content is the heart and soul of a good blog. And if blogging is truly a hobby for you, don’t kill yourself trying to come up with things to write about. You don’t have time for that, especially since your blog is not your main money maker. Posting a few times a week is plenty. People will still read, leave comments, and try to build a relationship with you. Trust me on this one.

2. It’s probably a good thing to focus most of your posts in a general blogging “genre,” but you shouldn’t restrict yourself too much. For example, I like to think of myself as a healthy living blogger. However, my blog is NOT about “what I ate today” and “what I did at the gym today.” My philosophy is that healthy living goes beyond nutrition and exercise, it’s about life and all that it encompasses – friends, family, fashion, makeup, movies, books, food…everything! By not solely focusing on a very particular topic, I have created a space for myself to write about most anything. Always remember, this is YOUR blog – write about what makes YOU happy.

3. Keep a notebook with you to jot down ideas as they come. Because I don’t ever write about the same thing over and over again, I find that by maintaining a list of possible blog topics helps me a lot. I have both a small notebook in my purse and a sticky note widget on my desktop that I use to organize my thoughts. The notebook really helps when you’re waiting for an appointment or stuck at the airport and inspiration hits. Those ideas are usually my best, and I want to capture them before I forget.

4. Don’t blog while at work, unless you’ve had a discussion about it with your manager or supervisor. I hope this one is common sense. It’s not worth losing your job over. Trust me. I work in HR.

5. Don’t compare yourself to others who are able to dedicate more time to their blogs. The comparison game never works. If this is truly a hobby, treat it as such. Write good, quality content when you can, and always remember, the internet will always be around (knock on wood). Your blog isn’t going anywhere and neither are your readers.

And other than that, just remember to have fun. The day your blog turns into more of a chore than anything else, you probably need to reevaluate. And I hate to sound like a broken record, but if this is truly a hobby, it should bring happiness to your life.

I’m sure there are a lot of other “tips and tricks” out there for bloggers with an 8-5, but these stand out in my mind.

Are you an 8-5er with a blog? What are some of your tips?

How I Integrate Life, Work, and Blogging

Present FULL Mama Talks About Being a Social Media Inbetweener

My Inner Shakti’s Growing Up

Blogging with an 8-5

categories

Archives

Top Posts!

Follow me on Instagram!