Hi all, I thought I’d share some tips on how to continue doing the things you love even with a 9-5. Often, we dedicate most of our days towards work and then it gets difficult as you muster up the energy to take that workout class or start that blog/podcast/passion project you’ve always dreamed of.

I’m here to tell you, you CAN and you will.

I won’t even front. I started my first FT job back in 2016 at the VA around the same time I launched my blog. I remember launching it randomly on a Friday night when I had nothing else to do. I still had the WordPress.com blog and was looking up tips on Pinterest on whether I should transfer on over to WordPress.org, where you’d have more control (highly recommend!). First things first, I’ve always enjoyed writing. I grew up with a blogspot, a tumblr, and even a Xanga (super ancient history!). I wish I still had those to document. They were like mini mood-boards with a sprinkle of diary entries and life hacks by 12/15-year-old me at the time. Little did I know I was in it for the long run.

I’m not sure what prompted me to start The Shaz Diaries, but I had just graduated with my B.S. in Public Health. I knew I wanted to do more with my life than simply work. So I googled “lifestyle bloggers SoCal” and stumbled upon The Skinny Confidential, who was based in San Diego at the time. Reading her posts and being in love with her brand inspired me to seek more with my online presence. I read all of her blog posts, her “about me” section, downloaded her app when it was available. A fire sparked inside of me (literally!) and I remember wanting to work on design and creating content all the time. I would work on posts and stayed up late until 2am to edit bc at the time, I was interviewing for jobs still! I was pursuing my passion without a care in the world… and of course while still applying to jobs.

Once I started working, I knew I had to set aside time for my blog. My routine has been similar throughout the years as far as activities go. I would go to work, head to the gym, and blog away. Social activities were sprinkled in here and there, but they were mainly for weekends.

What pushed me to work on my blog was my excitement for it. I had the belief that I could do something with it, plus I enjoy writing and sharing things with the online community. I bought one e-book and one Pinterest course to get me more acquainted. I threw myself in school mode and hoped to execute what others have already succeeded in doing.

But days aren’t always so pretty. There are days where I’d feel overworked and stressed out. How can I balance work, gym, blogging, social activities, dating, and family time while leaving room for unforeseen circumstances?

The day blogging seemed like a CHORE to me was the day I knew I hit rock bottom and needed a mental timeout… and it’s OKAY to call T.O. on life sometimes.

Blogging to me was always a passion of mine, something I truly wanted to do. Once that “want” turned into “need,” I had to shift my priorities. I took a step back to re-evaluate. I focused on the GRE and grad school apps… and had writer’s block. This was the first time I simply did not know what to write about. Imagine that – a blank page staring back at you waiting for you to type.

My advice for those looking to do more outside of a 9-5?

GET & STAY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PASSION PROJECT

Make a vision board. Scribble thoughts & dreams daily. Have a constant reminder of your “WHY.” Don’t overdo yourself. Stick to 7 major things for the day, nothing more. Batch a bunch of posts/videos/content at once rather than sprinkling in a bit here and there. Whatever you do, make sure you set time aside for the things you love bc that is a crucial component to who you are. It keeps you sane. Right now, I write mainly on weekends or whenever I’m inspired to do so. I batch my photos within one two-hour block on the weekends and then try to think of captions/stories to share on my socials. It’s a lot of thinking and planning involved, but being organized with colorful pens is super helpful.

MIX YOUR ROUTINE UP

Surely your life cannot be consumed by budgets or reports ONLY. Mix things up. Sign up for workout classes you LOVE.  I recently went back to the gym this week post-surgery. I waited the full 6 weeks, and even so, I’m not where I left off in early Jan. However, I do love lifting weights and have found my love for it again after being in a rut. Every now and then though, I sign up for a fun workout class or two to be re-motivated and be held accountable.

BLOCK DISTRACTIONS

My next piece of advice is to learn to block distractions. I’m not saying cancel plans with friends, but ask yourself if a certain activity is steering you towards the direction you aspire to go. I think this is so important. I’ve had to shift a few plans a couple of times but for good reason. My “me time” is valuable to me, and the truth is, I genuinely enjoy my own company.

LEARN TO BE STILL

I was listening to The TSC Podcast and I learned all about the importance of stillness. I know we’ve been preached on this topic one too many times, but we’re constantly on GO mode. Take the time to just sit still or at least let your mind be. Every morning, I try to incorporate the morning pages where you just wake up and word vomit all over your journal. Brain dump, basically? Then, I drink my celery juice and listen to a podcast. I personally love self-development podcasts in the morning, but lately I’ve been mixing it up. I listen to ones about blogging, being finance-savvy, etc.

SIDE HUSTLE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER

Having an accountability partner helps as well. You can schedule “Passion Project” hour with someone! Go to your local coffee shop, exchange ideas, collaborate, etc. You can also do this at home or via Google Hangout or Zoom. I love being inspired by the people around me while also staying true to my personal brand. It’s important to separate inspiration vs imitation. Some ways to meet others could be searching your local hashtag or finding a local meetup! I met one of my very good friends through an LA blogging network/meetup! Be inspired, but don’t feel inclined to copy someone else’s vibes just bc you see success in it. Make sure your “WHY” is written somewhere where you can see it every single day to remind you of your purpose.

CONTINUOUSLY LEARN / GROW

This basically ties up some of the other tips, but I’m a huge supporter to continuously grow and learn. I’ve been using SkillShare lately and bookmarking videos into different sections (“blogging,” “business,” “writing,” etc). I made it a goal to take one class each week since it’s what works best for my schedule right now. Most videos are 20-mins on average, but they all vary! Educating myself is a driving force on my journey, so this is a non-negotiable.

Alright, that’s it! Hope this helps 🙂 Let me know what passion projects you’re interested in starting!

And remember, the industry is never too saturated. Who cares if there are 100,000,000+ bloggers or YouTubers? We get caught up in numbers too much that we sometimes lose simply by not trying. Don’t let fear be a driving force of where you’d like to go next.

Cheering you on always,