Wondering how you will manage blogging with a newborn? This post is for you!
I started blogging seriously about three years ago. At that point, I had 4 children ranging in age from 3 to 9. I fit my blogging schedule around homeschooling and naptime, which were pretty routine from day to day. I was able to map out my days and plan my work times in large chunks because of the routine.
However, our fifth child, born in 2016, brought with him a whole new set of challenges. I found myself on bedrest for months before the delivery, which not only affected our homeschool, but also my ability to keep up with my blog and other work obligations. I quickly found myself overwhelmed and unprepared for taking the time off I desired after delivery.
However, with baby number six arriving in May, I was determined to have a plan in place this time. Whether delivering naturally, by induction or c-section, the arrival of your precious little one will come…eventually. If you’re like me, you plan everything out for your hospital stay – from babysitters, what to pack in the bag, your birth plan. But what about your blog? Your business?
Some bloggers choose to take a sabbatical and just enjoy the newness of motherhood and time with their family. And that’s fine – it’s a plan and one I completely understand. But some bloggers want to know their traffic won’t take a dip, which is possible but only with some planning.
5 Tips for Blogging with a Newborn
Have an editorial calendar – I am a planner by nature but, I am constantly adjusting and rearranging them to fit my needs at the time. However, when planning posts for after delivery, I suggest having a minimum of 2-3 months planned and ready to go. Whether you plan to continue with your usual posting schedule or scale back a bit, map out all the posts you want written and scheduled to post during your maternity leave.
Make a plan – After you have your editorial calendar set, now you need to make a plan. There are several ways to approach this step, but my favorite is to total up the number of posts you need and divide them out by the number of days or weeks you have until the baby arrives.
Invite Guest Posts – If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of writing all the posts you will need to sustain your “regular” schedule, why not invite some guest posts. You could do a series or just ask them to fill in where possible, to help give you a little reprieve from the pressure. Guest posts are also a great way to bring new eyes to your blog, which can only bring more traffic.
Hire a VA – Whether you plan to take off two weeks or two months (or more), a good VA is worth their weight in gold! I have a VA that regularly manages my Pinterest account, but for this delivery and maternity leave, I have hired one to oversee one of my blogs completely. Knowing that someone is going to be there to answer questions and make sure everything runs smoothly, will allow me to fully enjoy my newborn.
Give yourself grace – As the old saying goes, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” No matter how much planning you do, life happens. The last few weeks of any pregnancy can be difficult and uncomfortable, at best. It can be difficult to sit, let alone concentrate. In the end, you have to do what you can and leave the rest.
Whether your first or sixth, having a newborn baby is a wonderful and amazing feeling. And being prepared is wonderful and can give you peace of mind while you’re snuggling your new little one. But planning is only part of it and in the end, you have to do what is right for you and your family.
