Help Me… Social Media is Trying to Take my Life!!
Social Media is an important part of my daily routine. Since I started adding Social Media to my Daily Schedule I’ve seen an increase in daily traffic, incoming links, sales on my Preschool Curriculum eCommerce site and I’ve met the most amazing, brilliant people that enjoy the same interests as I do.
It sounds wonderful, right? Well, up until last Friday I would have said an energetic, “YES!!” Now, I’m not so sure.
Last Friday I was comparing what my goals were for that week and what I actually accomplished. I was horrified to see that I fell short on many of my goals for that week. For me, that rarely happens. I am ridiculously structured. I need to be… I run a business out of my home while taking care of three children. Schedules and "To-Do" Lists are what helps keep my crazy busy life a bit more sane. So, when I saw my list having tons of items not crossed off I was determined to see where all of my time was going. This is what I came up with:
The following times aren’t exact, but gives you a rough idea of the time I spend doing particular daily duties.
7:30 am
- Get up and start getting my 5 year old ready for School and make sure my 11 year old is awake and getting himself ready for school.
8:30 am
- Feed 4 year old Breakfast.
- Check email
- Print off ABC Home Preschool orders for the last 24 hours
- Process all Credit Card transactions
- Email Customers with their ship dates.
9:30 am
- Use my Feed Reader to check out the new Posts on my Favorite Blogs
- Stumble and Sphinn posts appropriately.
- Comment on any Posts that I feel I can contribute to.
- Bookmark posts to come back to later.
10:30 am
- Check out what’s new on Sphinn. Sphinn items I find interesting
- Stumble and/or Bookmark items I find interesting from Sphinn.
- Comment on Sphinn items.
- Check what’s new on FaceBook. Respond to FaceBook messages and Notifications.
11:30 am
- Quick Stop at MyBlogLog to see who stopped by my Profile
- Reply to Messages
- Quick Thank-you emails for Stopping by.
- Check what pages StumbleUpon friends sent me to check out…. Respond to each.
12:30 pm
- Lunch for 4 year old and myself.
- Work-out and Shower.
2:30 pm
- Finish Writing a Post for one of my Blogs
4:00 - 9:00 pm
- Dinner, Homework and Family Time (Trust me, this time is not a break…. I’m sure you Mommies and Daddies know what I’m talking about.)
9:00 pm
- Begin online research on the next days post.
- Make Notes on the direction I want to go with post and any outbound links I want to use
10:30 pm
- Process orders for ABC Home Preschool
- Package Orders for tomorrow’s shipment
12:00 am
- Go through Feed Reader once again
- Make Posts and Comments on other Blogs
- Sphinn / Stumble Posts
- Go thru Sphinn once again
- Stumble a bit
- Try to finish catching up on emails
Bedtime is between 1 am and 3 am. Lately it is closer to 3 am.
Keep in mind a few things about the above generalized schedule:
- Nowhere did I mention any interaction or quality time with my children. I have a 4 year old who spends his days with me. So, the work I mentioned above is done around my time with him during the day.
- I mentioned nothing about extracurricular activities for my children which happens at least 3 times a week in which I also attend.
- In addition to this blog I have many other sites that I work on.
- On a daily basis I speak and / or chat with the people I network with online. This must be squeezed into my daily schedule.
- Daily tweaks and article writing for my static websites
The above schedule was just to give you a very rough idea of how my basic work day goes. And, how much time, at a minimum, I work on Social Media. My plate was full before Social Media entered my life. Today my plate is over flowing. I love Social Media I just need to learn how to manage my time with it better.
If I attempt to keep going at this pace with a schedule like this I’m sure Social Media will take my life. I am determined to come up with a Time Management Plan for Social Media that works for me. As it is something that is not only working for my business, but that I love very much.
During my research in the past couple of days I came across three wonderful posts that offer some time management skills when it comes to Social Media.
- My
Half Hour Social Networking Plan - In this three part series Kevin Palmer
gives us the details of his 30 minute Social Networking Plan. Kevine breaks
his plan down into three posts 1. The
First Ten Minutes 2.
The Second Ten Minutes 3. The
Final Ten Minutes
- The
10-Minute Daily Guide to Building Your Social Media Profile - Ben Yoskovitz
offers some of his amazing Time Management Tips for Social Networking.
- 7 Ways to Own Social Media Before it Owns You - Brian Wallace explains that Instead of suffering from social media overload, look at a few other disciplines and tips for help.
So, please…. please Help Me!! Social Media is trying to take my life…. Do you have any suggestions? I would love to hear them.
Technorati Tags:social media, time management, social networking
23 Responses to “Help Me… Social Media is Trying to Take my Life!!”
By Kat French on Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
I’m glad it’s not just me and my poor organizationally-challenged brain that’s struggling to keep up with social media and the rest of my workload/life.
I had a moment yesterday when I realized I was in danger of becoming so “interconnected” that if all my various social media identities crossed paths at once, I’d create a wormhole in the web…
By Maki on Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for sharing, Shana.
I guess the best way to do this is to figure out which social media service gives you the most ROI and cut out the ones that tend to be time-sinks.
As a marketer, I spend the most time on social news sites like Digg + Reddit because they help me to grow my websites or serve potential clients the best. You’ll also get to develop the skills of writing good headlines as well.
Some communities need constant engagement to understand them properly while others don’t. Twitter, Mybloglog, Facebook, Stumble and Sphinn and sites that are good for networking but they are easy to master/understand so I wouldn’t spend too much time on them.
The articles you linked to are good but they focus on too many things within a short span of time. Sometimes you don’t need to do so much.
Take the time you spend on them and explore other social media channels for traffic/attention. You might find something else that fits.
By Mark Pilatowski on Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Excellent article and a reminder that I need to look at how I spend my time. I am afraid th actually look at my daily routine like that because it would look very similar with a few of my clients social networking sites thrown in for good measure.
By Patti Fousek on Nov 14, 2007 | Reply
Wow. I just realized I’m a slacker.
From what you’ve posted, I think you’re managing your time quite well. If only I could be as structured. I tend to get stuck in a cycle where I read posts way more than commenting or posting - which obviously isn’t working. Seriously, I can read posts on Sphinn for hours and not get anything else done.
By Risa on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Hi Shana, nice to meet you. I was at the IMNY Charity Party in NY a few weeks ago. If I knew you then, I would have liked to say, “hello.” I am a web designer and work-at-home mom, too, with 3 kids, 3,6 & 8. Although my tasks are different, my schedule is similar (as I type this now at 12:30 am). It’s funny that you’re writing about how social media is taking over your life - I need to get social media into my life. It’s non-existent, yet I understand that it is so important. Maybe soon I’ll be commiserating with you, although I can’t imagine at all how I can fit one more thing into my schedule. There’s so much I HAD to get done today for one of my own sites, I should stay up to 3 am…ah but my husband misses me. I like your writing style and look forward to reading you more.
By SexySEO on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
and you are still alive?!
By Lee on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Your schedule sounds a lot like mine. The 1 to 3 am bedtimes are not bad it is the 7:30am wake ups by the kids that get you. The one thing I have found that helps is to take a whole day away from the computer once a week and be with the family. That kind of pace will burn you out fast.
By Shana Albert on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
To all that I left me such wonderful comments I am so sorry that I took so long to reply…. I have a 4 and a 5 year old home with a stomach virus. I’m going CRAZY here trying to keep up.
@Kat - yes, yes… that is exactly what I’m saying. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
@Maki - You never fail to offer amazing suggestions. I will give that a try… makes complete sense.
@Mark - I’m so glad you enjoyed the article…. stop by anytime.
@Patti - You are not a slacker, I’m sure. The schedule I showed you in my post is just to give you an idea… some days I can’t seem to pull myself away from Sphinn, but force myself too. I fall terribly behind at times and have to make up for it.
@Risa - That is so cool that you were at the same Charity Event in NYC. I would have loved to meet you too. It is tough to have children and a career. It’s never easy no matter what type of profession you are in. Let me know when you are ready to add Social Media into your life… I would be more than happy to help.
@SexySEO - Barely. Hanging on by the skin of my teeth (what a stupid saying, huh?!)
@Lee - a day away from the computer is what I need, for sure. I’m aware…. sometimes it is so difficult to turn the darn thing off.
By Sam Freedoms Internet Marketing Controversy Blog on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the look into another “net victims” world. Very touching.
But best be careful. If your 4yr old accidentally tries to explain to strangers that mommy “stumbles” and “sphinns” all day long, you might find yourself in a substance recovery program. ;p
Thanks again for the peek inside,
Sam
By Shana Albert on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
@Sam - So true, Sam. Frankly, I wouldn’t doubt that Social Media is my “substance”. If it wasn’t for the fact that I need to pull myself away from the computer for the sake of my children it might not be so bad that I be admitted to a “Social Media Recovery Program”.
Thanks for stopping by, Sam.
By Sam Freedoms Internet Marketing Controversy Blog on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
Let me know if you take the plunge. It might inspire me to go, too.
By Shana Albert on Nov 15, 2007 | Reply
@Sam - I sure will, Sam.
By mike b - geeks on Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
~My Schedule~
Wake up 6:29am (PST) –> 9:29am (EST)
SPINN and STUMBLE 1 minute before Shana wakes up and begins!!!!
Muuuwwwaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!
By Shana Albert on Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
@Mike b - you freakin crack me up!! When will you learn to use your powers for good and not evil?!
By ttrujillo@supernerdio.com on Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Social media is hard to keep up with!!! I am going to check out that 30 min. plan.
By ses5909 on Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
oh how I can relate to this! I am supposed to getting some things accomplished right now, but here I am…leaving a comment on your blog!
By Shana Albert on Nov 25, 2007 | Reply
@ttrujillo@supernerdio.com - Let me know what you think of the 30 min. plan.
@ses5909 - Yeah, I hear ya…. The story of my life!!
By speed yeoh on Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
I think the 30 minute plan is wonderful. I have never setting the schedule. I follow my desire where I want to go.
By Mariobox on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
Shana:
Great post. I think you are trying to do too much on any given day. When you go to the gym, they recommend that you work on your upper body one day, and the lower body on another day.
Then, they also recommend to rest for a day or two.
Try applying the same logic to your schedule. Instead of researching posts, writing posts, reading blogs, bookmarking pages (and sometimes doing some of this activities twice a day!) try splitting them up: write posts one day, bookmark pages another day, research posts another day, etc. And then, set aside one full day to do nothing related to the web.
The world is not going to come to an end: your blogs won’t disappear, your audience is not going to go away, nobody is going to get upset if you don’t stumble or digg some pages, etc.
Slow down a bit or you’re going to get sick.
By Josh Hall on Dec 7, 2007 | Reply
4 hours of sleep?? OMG. I’d die.
“early to bed and early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise…but socially dead”