Blogging Routines

I'm curious - do you have a blog?  Do you have a set schedule for how and when you write?  What do you look for in a blog that you come back to?  

I started reading/following a few blogs a couple years ago (Soule Mama, The Pioneer Woman, and Simple Mom).   I really enjoyed keeping up with these blogs and seeing what these moms were doing, talking about and their outlook on life in general.  But I couldn't figure out how they could possibly find the time to blog amidst all the craziness of raising little kids.  Ha! 

When I started selling Shaklee, I decided to start a blog as a little creative outlet and as a place where customers could meet me and where we could exchange ideas.  My Clean Mama blog has become more than I ever intended it to be, but I really love the teaching aspect of blogging, the process and the creative outlet that it provides.

That being said, without a blogging routine, I think that blogging can overtake a person's life.  I don't want my kids to see a computer screen where my face should be and I don't want them to take 2nd or 3rd place to a spot in cyberspace.  So I have a blogging routine.  I try to get up a little before my kids, I check and answer emails and have a cup of coffee.  If there's a party that I'd like to link to, I take care of that.  When the kids get up, we eat breakfast and get started on our day.  Sometimes I'll check my email mid-morning if there's a lull in activity and the kids are actively engaged in another activity.  Both of my kids nap or have rest time from noon until 2 or 3 in the afternoon and that is my blogging and work time.  I take care of printable orders, Shaklee customers and I blog.  I have found that the best use of my blogging time is to have my blog posts written and ready to post at least a week in advance - I have "skeleton" (no pictures, a little content) posts started up to a month in advance.  When the kids get up I have worked,  relaxed and hopefully accomplished a few household tasks and a blog post or two.  In the evening, after the kids are in bed, I do a little follow-up work and try to be off the computer from 8pm on.

What are your blogging routines?  Any good tips?  Please share in the comments section!

Need a place to jot down your ideas?  I just added these in the printables shop if you're interested.

Here's a quick clean for your computer in honor of Blogging Routines:

Clear desk/workspace, turn off your monitor and take any paper out of  your printer.

Use canned air, Super Microfiber Window Cloth and Basic H2 - all-purpose or window/mirror formulation.

Lightly spray cloth with H2.

Wipe down all surfaces - printer, computer, computer mouse.

And now you are ready for your blogging routine.