Blogmas Day 8: Blogging in College

As the semester comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the transformative experience that it has been. This semester has definitely been the busiest academic semester that I have had thus far, but also one of the most rewarding. Many of people have asked me how I manage to blog in addition to my college work and schedule, and the answer is this: I love it. That might seem like a very straightforward answer, but the core of my blogging career is passion and inspiration.

Anyone who has found something they truly love to do will know exactly how this feels. In high school I watched many YouTubers create their content and show it to the world, and I always wondered how they managed to find the motivation to create and publish their content. Then I became a blogger, and it all made sense.

Participating in Blogmas has grounded my love for blogging, because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was worried about committing to blogging every day, because it was hard enough sometimes to find time to blog once every week. But Blogmas has taught me that this is something I truly love to do, no matter how busy I am. I have found a balance between my passions for my academic studies, and my passions for my creative endeavors. I need both in my life, and I couldn’t imagine my life without the two together.

Blogging has transformed my mind, and in many ways has made my college career easier. From the minuscule details (I am now quite a fast typer, and am more drawn to creative projects than I was in high school) to the new ways of seeing the world, blogging has filled a gap I didn’t even know was there. I spend my study breaks in a way that makes me feel as though I am making a positive difference in my own life, and hopefully that of others. I’ve been able to pursue my love of writing, and develop interests I didn’t know I had (in graphic design, marketing, social media, and more). I’ve developed a community, and I have found my true self.

Blogging in college is by no means easy (for example, it is currently 2am as I write this post), but it’s something that has become second nature for me. I am always seeing life through a creative lens, and appreciating things I didn’t notice before. Blogging is something I look forward to, as I know I will be able to take a creative journey for an hour or two.

So how do I do it? I plan out my post(s) for the week using a blog planner worksheet, with goals, ideas, inspirations, to-dos, and more. I organize myself as much as possible, so that I know how to prioritize my week. I also recognize that blogging is a significant time commitment, and I’ve learned that I always look forward to writing posts no matter what time of day it is! I also engage with my amazing blogging community, to gain inspiration, feedback, and to learn about other experiences!

Multitasking has also become a must. I will often use blogging as a study break, but will listen to a podcast (such as The Accidental Creative, which has been my favorite lately) in the background to learn more about blogging as I continue my journey. I also make sure that I feel inspired by the post I am writing. I’m not afraid to temporarily move on from an idea in favor of another one; I simply let my inspiration guide my work. 🙂

I also make sure that I allot time for engagement with my social media accounts, and emails from my blog address. Blogging has many components, and all of them make wonderful study breaks during the day. Canva provides a soothing way to de-stress while making fun graphics, and writing allows me to reflect and be inspired by the life that I am living.

Blogging in college is hard, but it never feels that way to me. The saying ‘find a job that doesn’t feel like work’ applies perfectly to my blog (and to my academics) because I have found my passions. I hope you have been enjoying this journey with me, and I can’t wait to keep sharing my adventures with you! 🙂

©2016 The Wise Willow and Alyssa DeBella. All rights reserved.

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