This is a sponsored post in partnership with HBO. All opinions are 100% mine.
A lot of people ask me how I manage to balance school, blogging, and a personal life. And the answer is that it’s not always easy. I’ve had to say a no to a lot of events with friends or be glued to my phone during family gatherings to make sure my posts were published correctly. Now that it’s the holidays, it’s even harder to feel like I have a grip on everything. Blogging has become more than a side-hustle for me and I can’t always just let it go for other projects. I have a few tips on how to stay sane and make sure that you can not only do it all but do it well.
I have the hardest time making sure I’m organized with my schedule. Whether it’s my blog or school, something is always going on! I have planners, apps, and daily reminders set to make sure I’m staying up-to-date with all of the content I have to create for my blog. Additionally, it’s important for me to always keep school first. While it’s more fun to create gift collages for the holidays, I force myself to rank exams and studying as a priority in every list.
Buffer, Planoly, and Tailwind are my secret weapons when it comes to publishing content. I use Buffer to schedule my tweets, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts. Planoly is an app and official Instagram partner that allows you plan out your feed. It’s so helpful when you have a lot of new content coming and want to space it out accordingly. They even have a feature that reminds you to post. Finally, Tailwind allows me to publish pins 24/7 and finds other pins I might like! I usually schedule my posts on the weekends so I don’t have to worry about a lot of social media during the week!
Just like when retail stores add extra associates during the holidays, don’t be afraid to reach out to find another set of hands! Q4 is a busy time for every business. Balancing finals on top of your side-hustle is no joke. Don’t be fooled by the influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers. It’s impossible to be able to keep up with their entire brand by themselves. I’ve reached out to friends to collaborate, guest post, and help me with content so my focus can be wherever I need it to be this season.
There’s a reason your “side-hustle” is on the side. While deadlines are important, make sure you set up your to-do list by projects. If an assignment or blog campaign is going to take longer than the other, factor that into your planning.
The MOST important tip of all! The holidays are supposed to be full of good times and great memories. Make sure you take a moment for yourself to relax and practice self-care. One of my favorite ways to destress is to use HBO Now and be inspired by fellow #girlbosses like Issa Rae and Carrie Bradshaw. Well, let’s be real. I’m probably more of a Miranda-type. There’s nothing better than curling up with your favorite TV show. With unlimited access from HBO Now and HBO GO, you can fall in love with the characters over and over again. As an added bonus students get exclusive offers through HBO Now and can even check if their campus has free HBO GO!
If you’re also having a hard time balancing everything, you’re not alone! Feel free to comment below and share your favorite way to de-stress.
P.S. On November 18, 2017, Jon Stewart will host Night of Too Many Stars on HBO, a live event benefiting NEXT for Autism. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will come together to perform, all in an effort to raise awareness and funds for autism programs. Join the cause and you could be in the room with too many stars, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden, by sharing a photo of the “too many” in your life. Too many shoes, too many laughs, too many shows to catch up on? Let HBO know on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtags #NightOfTooManyStars and #Contest.
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