Earlier this winter, I succumbed to reading one too many blogging tip articles and decided that I needed a blogging schedule. Then I spent a few weeks beating myself up because making the schedule was taking up all my writing time and I still couldn’t seem to actually get ahead.

But, much like house cleaning, and cooking (and everything else about time management in my life!) I had to step back and give myself a little love and figure out a system that works with who I am. Which is not a Type A-perfectionist-organizer-scheduler-person! So I came up with a simple topical weekly calendar, not a post-by-post calendar, and a topical list of writing ideas for when I get stuck. Remember, your schedule is supposed to work for you, you don’t work for the schedule!

Since my method is so simple, I enjoy doing it on paper.

Here’s how I made my super simple yearly blogging calendar.

I made a list of the 5-10 things that I write about and grouped them into big categories: Farming, Family, Home, Faith, Crafting. Yes, there’s a lot of overlap, but in general that’s how my posts break down. (Remember, I’m a big picture girl!) I printed out 12 calendar months from Microsoft Word and then I just assigned my big topics to a day of the week based on a general match-up to our family life and the link parties I like to participate in. For example, Mondays and Fridays are assigned as Farm days. We usually work on the farm over the weekend so I usually have plenty of material and I have two farming and homesteading link-ups I love to join on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesdays are Family and Faith, Thursdays are Home and Faith, and Wednesdays are mostly Crafting.

My link up list, daily 7 to-do list, and post idea lists are perfect for those moments when I just can't. seem. to. focus.

I’m refining it as I feel the Lord re-shaping my overall vision for blogging since Titus 2:1. But it’s simple enough I don’t have to spend a lot of time on it, it meets my needs for looking ahead to plan reviews and guest posts or collaborate with other bloggers. And it gives me enough direction to write ahead–if I ever have the opportunity to get ahead!  I also keep a running list of post ideas grouped by those topics and a list of link ups I enjoy listed by days of the week.

So now I do have a blogging schedule (recent unannounced hiatus aside!) and I am learning to use (and love!) WordPress Editorial Calendar. AND…

I have a super fun collaboration with some Titus 2:1 friends to share with you starting next week!!

Beginning next Wednesday, June 13th Missional Mama, Our Good Life, Looking at Life CreativLEI, Walking in High Cotton (that’s me!), and The Daisyhead will be hosting the Family Connections Blog Hop!

Each week we’ll be posting about a different theme for summertime fun with your family. Our goal is to gather and share ideas and inspiration toward connecting with our spouses and children in an intentional and lasting way this summer.

 

Every Wednesday, from now until August 15th,  we invite you to link-up posts about the same theme or another idea of summertime family fun that you’d like to share. Feel free to link an older post as long as it is only linked once. We do ask that you include our button or a link back to us in your post if you join us. Link your blog post directly and keep your posts family friendly and on topic. {We reserve the rights to delete any links that do not follow these rules.}

The theme for June 13th will be Old Fashion Family Fun—hope to see you then!