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It’s kind of funny to me that I up and decided to write a post on how to blog efficiently, especially since I didn’t post but once last week. Ha! While I do get a lot of things done, other things usually are simultaneously slipping through the cracks. But, I have found some tools that are very helpful for me and I thought I’d share them with you!

Some of these can be applied to anyone who works from home and is trying to be productive!

 1. Have a designated office space.

For the first year of blogging, I mostly blogged from my couch. At one point I made my dining room my “office”, but it was too out in the middle of the house. I needed a room where I could close the door if needed. And I could walk away and keep my work in the room.

It’s hard to work from home, but this set-up helps a ton. I find that I am so much more productive when I am in my designated space and not sitting in front of the TV.

When we moved into this house 2 years ago, I started with my office in the guest room. And now it’s there again. The set-up works perfectly for my needs and I love having my desk look out the window. I’m hoping to makeover this room this year. The inspiration board is in the works! But until then, be sure to check out my Pinterest board for more office inspiration. 🙂

Follow The Turquoise Home’s board Office on Pinterest.

2. Use a great planner. I have two.

The Daily Designer by Whitney English – Even thought I don’t plan out each and every single hourly increment in my Daily Designer, I still use it to plan out my day. I’ve found that I get less overwhelmed by the to-do list in my head when I write it down. And I tend to remember to do the things I need to do when I’ve emptied out the extra contents and have allowed myself to think again. LOVE it!

{Note: the monthly tabs don’t come with The Day Designer. I bought them from Emily Ley’s shop** and applied them myself.}

I adore the “daily gratitude” section, and where I can jot down what I plan for dinner. If nothing else, it just makes me think about it before 5 o’clock. And this helps me to remember to set out chicken to thaw or other ingredients that need to be prepped in advance.

Blogger Planner from Mama Miss – I love this second blogging planner because it helps me keep my social media management under control. Well, as under control as it can possibly be. As a blogger, social media can just be plain crazy. So, I love the “daily blog maintenance” page. It’s better than just trying to keep track of it all in my head. I also think having a schedule and plan will help me someday when I hire an assistant to do it all for me. 🙂 I can just train her in my system and she can take over. Fingers-crossed!

When you click on the blogger planner link above, Melissa will tell you all about how to download the printable and get it bound at Staples. {She is a genius, and suggests adding a clear sheet over the daily maintenance page. That way you can check off every item each day and then wipe it clean for tomorrow!} I followed her instructions and for less than $15, I had a beautiful blog planner that I love!

3. Create office hours.

It was hard for me to set office hours when I blogged from the couch or the dining room. The lines were too blurred between home and work life. And for a while when this was just a hobby, that was OK, I guess. But now I must schedule my time behind the computer screen. Otherwise it has the potential to take over every hour of my day.

My normal weekly work schedule looks like this:
During preschool: 9:30-12:45 {two days a week}
Nap times: 2-5 {Don’t be jealous because I have a three-year-old who is the greatest napper ever!}
Night: 9-midnight {In the past I would frequently work until 3 in the morning, but I’ve decided that sleep and my health is more important than almost any blog post.}

Weekly total: 36.5 hours

Now, I don’t always work constantly during those times. I’ll get up and make lunch or dinner, or change out a load of laundry.

A lot of my time while Miss A is in preschool is spent shopping for projects or buying home decor items. It’s so much easier to accomplish while she’s not with me. 🙂 I work on most of my projects and take photos of them during the nap time hours, since I have to be at home and the outdoor light is pretty good. And then I write and edit photos in the evening.

4. Have pretty organization.

I know pretty may seem trivial to some, but to me it is a necessity! If I’m going to stay organized, it’s going to need to be cute. Can I get an amen??

I need pops of color to keep me smiling and being productive. I fell in love with the See Jane Work line at Office Depot. They have so many pretty products, I kind of want them all!

Their decorative file folders are one of my favorite products. I keep a handful on my desk for every-day filing. In The Turquoise Home file, I’ll toss bank statements, receipts or contracts, just to keep them in one place. And about once a month I’ll go through and actually log them into the computer, scan them or even file in my larger file folder. It’s a great way to keep the piles off my desk or kitchen counter. I also have folders labeled “to pay,” “to file,” and “to do.”

The pretty floral pen cup holds my favorite pink poppin pens. {Say that ten times fast.} And their fabulous inbox trays keep me knowing what’s coming and what’s going.

Organizing is so much more fun when it’s pretty!

5. Bonus Tip

And if you’re like me, then you need a little extra reminder that it’s not about perfection.** {P.S. It’s hard to take a picture of gold foil. Just in case you were wondering.}

Final Thoughts

I by no means have it all figured out. Like I said above, there’s always something falling through the cracks at any given moment, but these four tips are what helps me attempt to keep it all straight. There are days and weeks when I take a nap during Miss A’s nap time. Or I go meet a friend for coffee during preschool. That’s one thing I love about this job {that is so much fun and doesn’t feel like work}! I am my own boss and I make my own schedule. 🙂

Do you have an tips for being an efficient blogger or telecommuter? Please share!!

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**The items from Emily Ley are so cute. Find them in her shop: Notepads, Art Prints, Simplified Planners and accessories.