I used to be a workaholic, which meant I did my job not just efficiently, effectively, and productively but also going over and beyond expectations. It gave me a true sense of accomplishment. Extra-miling was one of my hobbies — sometimes I even brought my work at home to keep up or to be ahead.
I produced results. And by that, I meant awesome results that made my co-workers and I truly proud. It was a good scenario for me because it made me happy.
I have a weakness, though. When I develop new interests, they sometimes affect my priorities. These interests become diversions.
When I discovered blogging, it became my number one diversion and it interfered with my work.
I used to hone my technical skills.
Now I enjoy lurking in various websites.
I used to read books.
Now I prioritize blog-hopping and commenting in other blogs hoping to increase my site’s traffic.
I used to enjoy updating my school’s website.
Now it took a backseat because I prefer looking for themes and plugins to improve my blog.
Suddenly, I’m the man who can’t produce results. Because at the back of my head, I keep thinking my job can wait. I know I can always do it later.
Problem is, “later” never ever arrives because:
- I look for and think of something to blog about instead of focusing on the real work at hand.
- I check my site’s stats whenever I get the chance.
- I leave my email open and check it every time I go near my laptop.
- I visit social sites to learn more about blogging tips because I’m afraid to be left behind.
Other people love to malinger during work: extended coffee break, smoking, playing games online, shopping online, and many more. I know, because that’s what I’ve observed from others. Although I consider mine a lesser evil, it is still evil nonetheless, as far as my real work is concerned. Those activities I listed above are just a few examples of little things I insert during work. Little things that when combined, become a bad habit that holds back productivity.
And it has to stop now because that’s not the way I work. I am no fan of mediocrity.
There are reasons why I didn’t quit the 9-5 job (or 8-4 for me) for blogging. It’s because my day job is one of the biggest sources of my income and I enjoy it. Simply ignoring it means taking the risk of gradually losing it. And I can’t afford that. Without my job, this site will cease to exist.
This realization has led me to think that some things will simply have to be bumped down my to-do list. Since I enjoy blogging (or writing) and it makes me happy, I will continue to post and do the “blogging etiquette”, if they are within the boundaries of my priorities; or as long as I can do it while still producing results for my day job.
So how do I intend to do it?
Simple. Stop doing unnecessary things at work. It’s easier said than done, but that’s the responsibility that we all have to take. I’ll summarize it in two quick steps:
Step 1: Eliminate non-related activities during work hours - gradually, then completely. In this case, blogging has to be dropped from my 8-4 schedule.
Step 2: Every night, spend 1.5 to 2 hours at the most (not necessarily consecutive) for diversions. Since blogging is on the top of the list, I will have to settle doing it at night or when I get home. It includes “blog-rolling”, stats checking, commenting, social networking, and the like. I feel I have already built a connection with other bloggers and I don’t want to lose that. My presence will definitely still be felt. Doing Step 2, I will not have to worry about blogging during work hours.
In simple words, I just have to be more disciplined to live more happily.
How about you, do your diversions interfere with your work? If so, what do you plan to do to remain productive?
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Great post that describes my own situation too close
Add to it working on developing my business and providing customer support to existing customers and it mounts up quickly …
Thanks for sharing,
Alex
Thanks for a great post. That sound like me. I love blogging, even doth I am in the early stages. I check my states all the time and my comments.
Great and informative post!
I can see how blogging could get in the way of a 9-to-5 job, luckily though, don’t have that problem (yet). What’s saved me from the scenarios you outlined above is the fact that I blog about stuff related to my job. I work in customer service in retail and I blog about Consumer Etiquette. So, my work and my blogging kinda go hand in hand. =)
I’m addicted to staying on top of my blog, be it research, stats, comments and commenting, etc. But, I have found a solution to prevent it from interfering with my work. Quite simply, I use my mobile phone for all of the above. (Actually I do about 90% of my blogging related tasks from my phone, such as writing this comment.)
This is where being connected all the time on the move comes in real handy. Email, RSS feeds, stats, even social networking, it’s all mobile. This way I can stay up to date on my coffee breaks, and on the commute to and from work. I also carry a little notebook in my pocket for whenever something to blog about comes to mind.
Guess the key to juggling work and blogging comes from finding that golden balance, something that everyone must find if they want to do both and still be productive in both. So good luck to anyone who reads this on finding your balance! (hint: the one that brings in the largest income and has the biggest impact on your future comes first…)
I also had this problem for a while. I’d write two or three blogs from work (when I was a computer programmer) and then write another at home. It was alright during those slow days when there was no work to do and no server to maintain, but it did get in the way when a priority job came down the pipe.
Luckily, it’s no longer a problem as I’ve moved over to a different career … one which doesn’t involve computers very often. So now when I’m at work, I’m at work. That said, I still write posts during breaks
I think this is a small problem that we all face at one time or another. Hopefully nobody will lose their job over it, though.
I think you have made good decisions. It doesn’t really relate to me since I am retired. It is a major hobby for me and a great way to relax I find. I do check my email first thing. The housework can always be put off another day, no one will notice. I have made more friends blogging than I have in the village, probably because it is easier via the internet than going visiting, which I don’t like doing, especially when it is very cold, actually that is true any time of the year. I also find blogging allows a deeper relationship faster than the social chit chat that I find so boring. I could easily become an addict, if I am not already one.
That’s some tough honesty you’re sharing with us. I understand it completely, though, as I’m sure most other bloggers do.
I try to do all of my blogging before work (I go in an hour early because I can miss traffic and use that extra time to blog) and I blog on breaks and lunch. I do monitor email and RSS and things, though, so if something comes up I’ll jump on and blog or respond…
I think what has been good for me is the fact that I’m not micromanaged and I’m still able to get more work done than anyone else in the office…(wonder what that says about everyone else).
It’s tough. Good luck.
Hi Saedel, i thought you wrote this post to summarize my daily life while reading it
I think you are writing very good and you can earn your life by blogging if you make it your first priority in your life. In terms of content creating, why not inviting some guest bloggers to contribute ? I am sure there are a lot of good bloggers who are out of this world and willing to discover Planet Saedel 
@Alex and @Ann,
Thanks for the comments! I’m glad both of you were able to relate.
@Jani Helle
Thanks for your inputs! That’s a wonderful solution. I’m also addicted to my site, but I think I have to follow your advice. I’ll also have to use my multi-tasking abilities to find the balance. By the way, if it’s not too personal to ask, is it too expensive to connect everything to a mobile phone? Do you have an article in your blog about it?
@Jason
Anyway, while I plan not to insert blogging activities during work hours, I still intend to do it like you do – during breaks. I guess there’s nothing wrong with that. 
Thanks for stopping by. I work as a Computer Teacher at a Catholic School, so imagine the busy-ness in that world.
@Vic
Hi Vic! Nice to see you back from vacation! Thanks for the support, and I agree with you regarding building friendship via internet. My first online friends are from a basketball forum, and believe it or not, the relationship that we built was incredible! We are like a big online family. I met them when I went back to the Philippines about 3 years ago, and like I expected, they’re all fantastic in person!
@Jason A Clark
Thanks for the comment, and yup, it’s tough. Like I said I’m a computer teacher at a Catholic School, so I monitor everything when I get a chance (ie. Switching classrooms). I guess I can still do that during breaks but I’ll blog-roll when I get home.
@Mert
It’s just that I have a lot of backlog at work that I have to prioritize. I already love my blog and I would just be punishing myself if I discontinue blogging. Re: hosting guest bloggers: I never thought of that before. I think it’s a good idea. What I thought of was, me “guest posting” to another blog. I’ve been invited once, but I’ll have to settle my work first before doing that. Just to have a peace of mind.
Wow, Mert, thanks for the kind words! I just want to make sure that I’m not leaving this site
Thank you so much for your transparent view on discipline. I agree, it takes not just discipline to know you’re making progress and reaching your online marketing goals. I find there are three other sisters to discipline that must be considered in having that balanced, focused, and productive type of days we all crave. The other three are determination, desire, and the courage to make decisions. Discipline is the most challenging of all and is why I responded to your post, because you point out discipline is what seperates success from maybe not feeling so successful. When you are discipllined you are in integrity with yourself and when you are accountable to what you signed up for, whatever that may be? Your confidence starts to soar.
Thanks for the enlightement this Thanksgiving weeekend.
www.jerryhart.com
I’ve been trying lately to get my blogging - along with other interests and things I HAVE to do every day prioritized and organized. So far, it’s not all down to a science but I’m old, habits die hard too however, I’ve not given up on this so will keep trying to figure out a reasonable system for myself!
i am the same way when it comes to my profession in architectural project management. i have to say that i simply divide my time between my profession and my business; being an entrepreneur is really important to me. i figure there is enough time in the day to do both. my mentality is literally to work ’round the clock. the only time i do not work is when i am out of town to visit my girlfriend; i give that time to her. and once i resume bodybuilding early-next year, i will be dividing up my time between the gym, the office, and dinner table, but as always, i will make it work for me.
marcus
marcuslangford.com
saedel,
it’s good that you realize it so soon. sometimes i myself get the pressure of having to produce blogs just for the sake of blogging…good thing my blog title still reminds me not to take it seriously - “Killing Time…” is just what it is supposed to be.
i don’t do blog at work. i stay focus…well, most of the time. i do my blogs and other internet stuffs at home.
work is work. blog is blog. these two shouldn’t compete with each other and besides as you mentioned that without the income, the site will stop to exist.
keep up the good work, but keep the money coming - i.e, keep the day job.
@saedel
Setting up everything blog related to be manageable from a mobile phone is technically free, as the only things you’d pay for are a flat-rate mobile data plan and the phone itself.
I’ve got an unlimited mobile data plan of 384kb/sec for 10 euros a month (I live in Finland) and I can also use wifi when available to access the net.
For email I use Gmail, but every other email client also offers either POP or IMAP to push email to mobile devices.
Most blog platforms have some sort of mobile client or site to use, or plugins. I’m just starting out so I’m still with wordpress.com, which has a mobile site for stats and posting.
And as for the actual device, I’m using the Nokia N95, and I’m also purchasing the Nokia N810. Pretty much any highend mobile phone will work for mobile blogging, just gotta make sure it supports fast speed internet, wifi, and push email (and has adequate RAM). A good keypad and nimble thumbs helps too, or a bluetooth keyboard.
I don’t have a blog post on this yet, but thanks for the great idea! I’ll get to work on it as soon as I can and I’ll post the link here when it’s done. (Christmas time in Retail is pretty hectic to say the least, so it might take a few weeks…) =)
@Jerry
Thanks for the insightful comments – words to live by. Hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving!
@Jeni
You and Vic are older and wiser, and I tend to listen and respect your opinion rather than give suggestions. By the way, I enjoyed your latest post! 
Hi Jeni, To be honest, I don’t know how to respond to your comment
@Marcus
Hey Marcus, wow, you’re a busy man! Take it easy, bro!
@Cris
I also intend to monetize my blog, like what Mert suggested, although my main priority right now is my day job.
Thanks pare.
@Jani
Thanks for coming back. I’ll be waiting for your post, it sounds useful and interesting so please feel free to put your link here.
I’m pretty much like Vic Grace - retired -so theoretically, my time is all my own. However, it really isn’t because I babysit my two little grandchildren, plus I do the bulk of the cooking here for my daughter, son-in-law and their children -occasionally (maybe once or twice a week, my son may be here for supper too). I have tons of craft projects I would like to make, several books I’ve been reading (two for over a couple of years that I have yet to finish), in addition to research I started about 2-3 years ago for a history I would like to write about our local community and all of those have been frequently pushed aside due to the call of the chair and computer and blogging! So I do need to prioritize my time a bit better here!
Very good article. It sounds like a lot of us have the same issues! I have had to make choices on checking email, etc. myself. We must remember to use our powers only for good, and turn away from the dark side