I blog as well as work full-time in science education, so a lot of people have asked me how I stay organised and motivated, so I thought Iβd share my process today in a slightly different sort of blog post. Some other bloggers like Tracy of Fanserviced-B have documented how they distribute their time, and Cat of Snow White and the Asian Pear did a Twitter poll on what takes up bloggersβ time. A lot of it is not actually writing posts.
If I had to work out how much time I spent on things each week, itβd be something like:
- 10 hours actively researching (this is higher than most bloggers since I read journal articles and textbooks for my style of content)
- 15 hours passively researching (beauty forums, other peopleβs blog posts and feeds)
- 5 hours actually writing and formatting
- 2 hours for photography and photo editing
- 3 hours answering emails
- 1 hour replying to blog comments
- 7 hours making content for social media and replying to comments
This seems like an overestimation, but I assure you it isnβt β I had to track this for my accountant recently! Of course, a lot of this is enjoyable and doesnβt actually feel like work, and the vast majority fits in around other things. This is partly why I spend so much time on it even though it doesnβt make financial sense, as my accountant often points out. Iβm working on making myself more efficient and more accountable for my time. With the addition of my YouTube channel, Iβve stolen some time from each of these for writing scripts, and filming and editing. Iβve also been writing an eBook guide to Basic Skincare Guide as well. Itβs full-on!
How do I fit all this in? A massive amount of organisation (and not having much of a life). Iβve managed to take the whole thing more seriously over the past year and have developed a bunch of systems that work well for me.
My Organisational Style
Iβm more of an aspirational organiser than someone whoβs actually a natural. When I start any system Iβm meticulous and everything looks gorgeous, but after a few weeks things start to slip up. I am not one of those people with a beautiful planner with washi tape and stamps and perfect handwriting and appointments that never change. I burn through organisational methods unless theyβre foolproof! I also tend to forget things unless theyβre right in front of me, and Iβm easily demotivated and turn into a procrastination puddle.
So my criteria are:
- Low effort
- Reminds me of current tasks
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Make me feel like Iβm getting shit done so I stay motivated
Physical Notebook
I have a physical notebook that I use to organise my life. I carry it around everywhere. Itβs like a bullet journal but more focused on tasks and getting stuff done, rather than a keepsake.
It has my to-do lists, blog post ideas, video workflow, and meeting notes, which I index using plastic sticky flags. Iβve also been using it for random things like food shopping lists, eBook formatting notes, and planning big tasks like Christmas lunch.
Iβm currently using a spiral-bound notebook with a grid format, similar to this one. Iβve found that spiral notebooks are the best for me.
- Ticking things off makes me feel achievement-y (Criterion 4)
- I can rip out pages once theyβre done so I feel a sense of accomplishment with the physical act of ripping stuff out (Criterion 4)
- This also stops old things distracting me from current things (Criterion 2)
- If Iβm almost done with a page of tasks Iβll copy the last few tasks onto a new page, which refreshes them in my mind (Criterion 2 again).
- It isnβt all that aesthetically pleasing, but that also makes it pretty low effort (Criterion 1) because I donβt worry about making it look pretty.
Hereβs a photo of an actual page from my notebook β I considered writing a new page for it and making it look neat, but that would defeat the purpose of this postβ¦
Iβve tried digital lists and apps like Google Keep but I lost track of things easily, and Iβd ignore stuff for months.
I also have an identical notebook for my day job. Each week I copy over unfinished tasks from the previous week to the new week. Iβve been doing this for a couple years now and it works great β the only problem is that I sometimes mix up the notebooks, but Iβve solved this by colouring the sides of the work notebook bright orange.
Cheap Lightweight Laptop
I bought a $400 Dell laptop at the beginning of the year (this one, but red and without a touchscreen), and Iβm kicking myself that I didnβt do it sooner. Itβs light enough to carry around, cheap enough that I donβt worry all the time about scratches or losing it, but it feels like itβs increased my productivity twenty-fold!
I used to type blog posts on my phone, but I work much faster with a physical keyboard and big screen, and this starts up fast enough that I can squeeze in blog time easily. I have a one hour train commute to work so itβs great to be able to utilise that time effectively! This hits Criterion 4 (getting stuff done) out of the park.
This awesomely durable and cheap backpack has also been a great purchase ($20) so my back doesnβt end up twisted from carrying it around all the time.
Google Docs
I draft all my posts and videos in Google Docs. If I come up with a blog post idea, or I see a link I want to discuss, I paste it into a Google Doc to deal with later (Criterion 1). I have Google Docs on both my phone and my laptop so I can work on things on my phone when I canβt get my laptop out. It also works offline if you set it up properly, and doesnβt use too much data if you connect your phone hotspot to your laptop. Itβs also searchable and autosaves.
The list of documents started getting a bit too long, which was great for Criterion 4 but terrible for Criterion 2, so Iβve been organising them into folders via Google Drive, though I wish there was a tagging system built into Docs!
Monthly Planner
I used to use a pretty monthly planner from Ardium, a Korean brand, but this year Iβve switched to paper printouts since I kept forgetting to carry the diary around with me anyway. My co-IFHHer and graphic design whiz Rose turned my ugly calendar design into a pretty printable on my other blog (Criterion 3).
- Once my posts are in Google Docs and are mostly written, I write the post topic on a paper sticky flag and stick it to my monthly planner.
- If I know when I want to post, I stick it to the date, and if it isnβt scheduled yet, it lives on the side.
- Once the post is up, I write it on the planner and throw out the flag.
Monthly planners let me see everything easily (Criterion 2), and because I reschedule things endlessly the sticky flags keep things looking tidy and are easy to reposition (Criterion 1 and 3). Writing down finished posts and throwing away the flag makes me feel accomplished (Criterion 4).
Weekend To-Do List
My weekend is Sunday and Monday, so every Friday/Saturday I print out a double sided Daily To-Do List/Planner and start filling it in with all the stuff I have to do. I fill in the To-Do list first, then populate the planner with tasks and estimated times. Iβm trialling moving this to my notebook at the moment.
This is what it looks like fresh β as I discover that things need more time, the time blocking part ends up a lot messier!
Again, Rose turned this into a pretty printable Daily Planner. As usual, it keeps my stuff laid out nicely (Criterion 2), and I use different colours every week so it looks pretty (Criterion 3). I like ticking the finished tasks off (Criterion 4).
Google Calendar
If thereβs something I urgently need to do, or if it comes to mind while I donβt have my notebook handy, I stick it into Google Calendar. Then when the reminder comes up I put it into my notebook, or just snooze it. This is really just to deal with Criterion 1 when my notebook is buried at the bottom of my bag or if I canβt find a pen.
Staying Motivated
This is a big issue for me! I have a pretty short attention span, so Iβve had to create lots of systems for myself. But Iβve actually found that Iβm way more productive now with a full-time job than when I was having my post-PhD gap year and lazing around in Switzerland with no other commitments!
I think itβs because Iβm forced to squeeze most of my blog work into a very short weekend. I personally need deadlines to whip my ass in gear. I have this completely pseudosciencey theory that itβs an inevitable result of evolution β my ancestors were really good at running away from predators, so I need to create modern day βpredatorsβ to get anything done.
Iβve found a combination of these things helpful:
Pomodoro Technique
Chunking tasks down into 25 minute blocks with scheduled breaks. I wrote a longer post on how I use the Pomodoro Technique on my other blog, my favourite browser-based version is Marinara Timer.
Revising my to-do list the night before
Having a list means I donβt have to try to remember all the stuff I have to do β I have a terrible memory!
Switching it up / βproductive procrastinationβ
I like to engross myself in a task, but I find it quite hard to get started sometimes. Sometimes Iβll also drag my feet and take FOREVER to finish a painful but important task, but if it isnβt as urgent Iβll be super productive.
Thatβs where βproductive procrastinationβ comes in β Iβll procrastinate by doing the second most urgent thing on my to-do list, then rush and finish the most urgent thing near the deadline. That way, when itβs time to do the second thing, itβs already mostly done!
Caffeine + theanine
Iβm a pharmacology nerd thanks to my PhD, so I get really into my supplements!
Caffeine and theanine is a popular βnootropicβ brain-boosting combo thatβs naturally found in tea. There are a few studies that found that the combination of the two increased attention and focus. Iβve found that it works quite well for me (or perhaps itβs an effective placebo?).
I donβt drink much caffeine during the week (a couple cups of oolong tea per day with about 25 mg caffeine per cup), then on weekends when I want to get stuff done Iβll take 200 mg theanine with 100 mg caffeine (similar to the caffeine in a cup of coffee). Theanine is relaxing, so it smooths out caffeine jitters for me. I use Allmax Caffeine Tablets (Amazon, iHerb) which are easy to break apart. I used to take Jarrow Theanine capsules (Amazon, iHerb), but now I cap my own from powder. Iβm currently using Nootropics Depot powder and Now Foods β0β capsules (Amazon, iHerb) which fit 200 mg nicely.
Refocusing on my goals
I had a bit of an existential crisis last year, but I found my way out by focusing on the core things that make me feel like my life has purpose: being creative, and educating people with my knowledge. Whenever I feel burnt out, I check how the things Iβm doing day-to-day are related to these two core principles, and cut off anything that doesnβt fit.
Everyoneβs core principles are different so donβt try to apply mine to your life β but if youβre feeling burnt out, I highly recommend taking some time to work out what all the things that make you feel alive and purposeful have in common, and focusing on those.
Do you use any of these techniques? What works for you? What other questions do you have about me and my blogging process? Let me know!
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This is fantastic – I’m always a fan of meta/productivity posts – and reminds me that I need to stop lazing around, too. I’m really similar re: needing deadlines and failing at being organised with anything that requires too much effort! My bullet journal is becoming pretty ragged, so perhaps I’ll experiment with making separate sections too?
I 100% relate to productive procrastination and focusing on what’s truly important in the long run. Probably my two favourite takeaways of this brilliant post. π Keep up the good work and thank you for helping make skincare science that much more accessible!
Argh when I was having my post-PhD “gap year” I used to do more work on days when I actually had to go to work, than when I had to whole day off! Ridiculous lazing around.
Thank you so much!
Such wonderful ways to stay organised! I’ll probably incorporate some of these into my routine! Thanks for sharing!
Love,
Olga from Myme
Thank you! I loved reading about your bullet journal π
Wow, what a great post! I like the idea of the monthly printables – I have a calendar, but it lives on my desk at work, which is not nearly as useful for the weekends when I’m trying to figure out what I need to do the following week!
I have a work calendar as well but tbh I mostly use it to check which week it is in our work term… I always want to refer to things at work when I’m at home! For important events where I have to physically be somewhere, I use Google Calendar π
This is a really interesting post. Your blog always has something different from other people’s, it’s such a breath of fresh air. All those hours and hours of work really do pay off, so thanks!
Thank you! π
This was such a great read. Thanks for sharing! It’s great to see how others operate and always reassuring to see that others get distracted as easily as I do! ?
Hahaha! I am so easily distracted it’s embarrassing.
I use daily/weekly and monthly to do lists and have an Excel sheet for my blog content. That way I see everything at once and can reschedule as many times as I want to.
Oh, and I drink a ton of tea whenever I work.
I was using a Wordpress editorial calendar plug-in but Wordpress is so clunky for my phone and I am like 90% phone-based – the Excel sheet sounds like a good system!
Tea is amazing π
This was a super cool post, and I really liked seeing what all goes into how you work here!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it, it was nice writing about something different!
I loved everything about this post! While reading this I was nodding my head and deeply sighed because it gave me a sense of relief that Iβm not crazy ???. I have very similar organization systems like you and have been trying to find more ways to streamline my workload for more efficiency but they all seem to work in harmony with one another ??. I love the sticky note on the planner idea so Iβll be incorporating that. Thank you youβre the best!
I’d love to see your systems! I’m always looking for new ideas too, it’s also nice for me to hear that mine aren’t too over the top! π
Fantastic post – very insightful. I’m a wee bit (ok a lot) older than you and I grew up before computers (hard to imagine, right?). My first planning system was the Franklin Planner (now Franklin Covey after merging with Steven Covey in 1997) which started in 1984. All the principles you speak of are incorporated into that system. They even had a course on how to use it, which I took! Until then, I muddled through. The planners evolved beautifully over the years – I still prefer paper planning; but my work is forcing me to be electronic and I don’t find electronic task planners as satisfying. My point – this system to those who don’t have a “Rose” and don’t want to take the time to fine tune thier own system; you can start from Franklin, find out what works for you. There’s also a software version for those who don’t want to lug around paper.
With age comes wisdom (something good at least to go with the crinkles), enjoy life, don’t pack so much into it that it passes you by. Somewhere along the line, we have convinced ourselves that we need to be 100% productive and anything else is waste. Not true! Creativity comes from a calm mind. I take glory now in just sitting around doing nothing; it’s freeing and it’s enlightening.
I hope this doesn’t sound like a lecture! I spent so many years doing doing doing and never realized the beauty of just being. But we are all on different paths in our life’s journey.
I love your posts, I admire your education and that you share your knowledge in such a unique way through your blog! I don’t post much but I visit it at least every other day, if not every day! Science is near and dear to me and the fact you spend so much time research is evident in your blogs. Well done, lady!
That planner looks great! Thanks for the rec π
I try to make sure I have time to chill out (probably should’ve mentioned that haha!) but sometimes I get overly excited about new projects and go full throttle.
Thank you!
Impressive Michelle. You do good work!
hello. So that’s how you do it!
You’re a super woman, Michelle.
What a post. I am really enjoying your all post. Thanks