Finding Time to Write: The Struggle is Real

Posted on by Ilze

It’s not like I don’t have things to write about—I have plenty. The problem? Time. Between work, the household whirlwind, and just trying to keep up with life, blogging has started to feel like a juggling act I’m not quite mastering.

Today marks 115 straight days of blogging (can you believe that?!), but I’m realizing I might need to tweak my approach. These first few days back at work have been chaotic—crazy busy, leaving me barely enough energy to tackle the daily to-dos at home. It’s like the household sweeps me off my feet… but not in the romantic way! 😅

So, it’s time for a new plan. Maybe late nights? Shorter posts? A tighter schedule? I’m not sure yet, but one thing’s for sure: I love writing, and I’ll figure out a way to make it work.

Do you ever feel like there’s never enough time for the things you enjoy? How do you fit it all in? Let me know—I could use some tips!

Ilze

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31 thoughts on “Finding Time to Write: The Struggle is Real”

  1. Well, as you know, I’m retired, so I no longer have the daily grind of commuting to work, coming home to manage the household, and juggling kids’ needs—feeding them, helping with schoolwork, and supporting their hobbies.

    Of course, the key to staying afloat is making sure you keep your head above water—otherwise, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

    That’s why having a hobby, like photography and blogging, can be a lifesaver. It keeps you motivated and relaxed. Even retired people are always busy—at least, that’s what they say, right?

    But honestly, it’s true. I’m always needed somewhere for something, whether to help out with a project or lend a hand. There came a point where I found myself running in circles, and blogging felt like an uphill battle. I just couldn’t keep up.

    Then, I found my solution: my smartphone! I started using the voice recording feature to capture ideas while doing other things—shopping, running errands, or working on small tasks. I’ve even recorded full blog articles—rough drafts, of course.

    Turning those recordings into text is much easier now thanks to technology. I speak in Dutch, and my blogs are in English. While I know enough English to get by, I’m not fluent enough to write comfortably. That’s where AI steps in. It helps translate my spoken words and turns them into well-written articles.

    The beauty of it is that they’re still my words. All I have to do is review them and tweak a few things here and there. The tools are out there—why not use them to your advantage?

    Take care,
    Marc

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    1. Hi Marc,

      Thank you for sharing your approach—it’s always fascinating to hear how others manage their blogging journey! While recording isn’t quite my style, I completely agree about using tools to make things easier. I use Grammarly to polish up my English, and it’s been a great help for catching those little details.

      It’s amazing how technology can support creativity and allow us to share our thoughts more effectively.

      Take care,
      Ilze 😊

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    1. I usually get about 6 hours of sleep a night, starting my day at 6 AM and winding down around midnight. No wonder I feel tired all the time—though that’s just one of the reasons!

      I can’t wait to have my own room on the second floor. Then I’ll finally be able to head to bed at 9 PM and get some proper rest, even while everyone else is still up and about. 😊

      In the meantime, I’m making the most of our current living situation. I use AirPods with active noise cancellation when I need some quiet and even try to get everyone else settled before 9 PM—though that’s easier said than done!

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    1. Thank you so much for the encouragement—I really appreciate it! You’re absolutely right; taking it easy is key, and having a few posts ready ahead of time is a great idea. I’ll definitely keep that in mind!

      P.S. I have a feeling your much-anticipated post will be out this week! 😊

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            1. The number of people isn’t what matters most. If even one person finds value in what you share, that’s already meaningful. I’m that one person! If more people want to read it, that’s just a bonus. 😊

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  4. I can sure relate to this post. I blog rather sporadically, but I crave more time to escape into my fictional worlds with my fictional people. On weeks when I have long stretches at work and limited time to write I feel so anxious. Even when I’m not writing, my characters are there in my periphery, making observations. Their dialogue runs through my mind continually. I often find when I do sit down to write after a day or several of not having time, the next scene or chapter is right there, richer and more flavorful for having been left to simmer. I don’t know the answer to finding more time. My jigsaw puzzle has been sitting on the card table for a month waiting for me to have time to put it together. A baby blanket sits half finished by the chair. There is not enough time in the world for all I’d like to do. I enjoy your blog so much and even if you don’t post every day, or even every week, I will always want to pop in and see what’s new in your Latvian life 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing! I completely relate to the struggle of balancing everything—characters and ideas always seem to be waiting in the wings. I’m glad you enjoy my blog, and I truly appreciate your support, even if I don’t post often. Hoping you find some time for those projects soon! 😊

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  5. haha! you’re right…that way of getting swept of your feet is not romantic at all! 😀

    i have done blogging everyday as a test before opening up this current blog and I’ve discovered that a 2 post week or a 3 post week is the sweet spot for me to be able to juggle my priorities and have fun blogging and interacting. good luck on your quest and as always, i look forward to reading! Mike

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    1. I know that if I skip now, I’ll end up putting it off for another five years. My goal is to create a blog that I can look back on and truly enjoy in the future—one that showcases the progress of our house and the work we’ve done over the past five years. 🙂

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  8. Ilze, I don’t know how you have the time or energy to post every single day. What is it that you hope to accomplish with the daily post? Is your blog a form of journaling?

    I have the luxury of being retired. I have no one to answer to but myself, so I am content to post once a month. Sometimes, if I’ve got stuff to communicate, I may post once a week, but I hate to post more often than that. I’ve actually had to be selective about engaging with bloggers I follow. If they post daily, I start scrolling like I do with FB and BS. I read maybe every 5th or every 10th post of the daily crowd. I just don’t have time to read that much online.

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    1. Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I can totally understand how overwhelming daily posts can be, especially with everything else going on. For me, blogging has become a mix of journaling and sharing snippets of my life and thoughts. I enjoy the process of reflecting on the day, even if it’s just a small part of it. It’s a way for me to stay connected, and I do try to make it manageable, even if it means shorter posts at times. I completely agree with you about the time needed for engaging with blogs. It can be a fine balance between enjoying the content and keeping up with it all! It’s great that you’ve found a rhythm that works for you. 😊

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