Feb 3 2012
What I Learned During the January 2012 Ultimate Blog Challenge
Ultimate Blog Challengewww.ultimateblogchallenge.com
January, I joined my 3rd Ultimate Blog Challenge. I am sad to say that I did not reach my goal of 31 blogs posts for the month. However, I will say I did not “lose” or “fail”. I learned some valuable lessons during this blog challenge.
I have learned I need to set up boundaries – both with family and friends. I need to block out time and tell them all to leave me alone. “I will be busy during this time frame.” This includes turning off my phone, not checking emails throughout the day or “visiting” Facebook and Twitter either. I have set up a schedule for all these things for February. They say it takes 28 days to build a habit … Let’s see how well I do 
I am implementing the Power of Calendars moving forward. Another new habit that I am working towards it authoring posts on the weekend and scheduling them out, as well as setting up HooteSuite to help automate some of my social networking broadcasting. I am using a monthly calendar for the broad information and a weekly for more detailed. Looking into a daily desk calendar to have on hand as well. Hopefully my Valentine’s gift from the hubby
I have also learned I need to stop being so fussy and picky about writing. I need to JUST WRITE. Pick a theme for each week and stick to it. Be consistent. Share the “luv” with other bloggers. Use a timer!!!!!
How did you fare? And what have you learned? I’d love your comments below
Feb 03, 2012 @ 19:39:44
Calendars are your friend. I have sadly gotten out of my detailed habit of calendars but I still stick to a general schedule.
One thing I find that helps me blog regularly is to keep a regularly weekly schedule. Mondays are Updates for the shop and general life stuff. Wednesday I do things I’ve found around the internet, Fridays are Pagan Blog Project and I’m trying to make Tuesdays or Thursdays a craft day with a tutorial or project I’ve done else where.
That one is the hardest because it isn’t just writing it’s making and photographing something.
Good luck though! And yes sometimes Just Write. I also have found the more often I post and the more I write the Easier it is to continue to write.
Velody would like you to read..Courage: It’s for Everyone
Feb 04, 2012 @ 11:26:58
I like how you have a set theme for each day … that is something I am working towards LOL I am hoping after this weekend, I will have a better hold on the “schedule” . and I totally agree about the tutorials and projects posts … UGH … I have been wanting to do some tuts on some of my signature projects but my sewing machine is currently broken — needs a visit to the shop. So … no pics, no tuts
soon though 
I do however have a couple projects I will be show casing next week. Thanks, Velody! You have inspired me 
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..What I Learned During the January 2012 Ultimate Blog Challenge
Feb 04, 2012 @ 00:49:05
Thanks Kimberly. Good idea, extracting the learning from the month. I haven’t yet reflected on mine to check in with what I learned from the experience. I know that I have a good list!
Congratulations on writing 31 posts during October 2011, go back to that month & see what was different for you during that month, than in January 2012. You might find some fresh clues there.
By the way, more valuable than a calendar, I have found & now use http://goodtodo.com Watch the handy 3 min. video there.
Cheers, Thea
Thea Westra – Forward Steps would like you to read..An Unquestioned Belief Is A Guaranteed Reality
Feb 04, 2012 @ 11:40:08
Thanks, Thea, for the suggestion. It looks like it will perfectly fit into what I need LOL … Baby William has been teething big time this past month (he will be 7 months on Monday) and he’s in the “stranger danger” stage now — if he hasn’t seen someone in more than a week, he freaks out. OMG what a goober. But it’s fun! It’s so much more different this time around. My husband and I have 7 kids besides William (mine are 22,20, 18 and 16 and his are 21, 20, and 18) but I admit … it seems so much easier! LOL well except for the teething part HAHA
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..What I Learned During the January 2012 Ultimate Blog Challenge
Feb 04, 2012 @ 00:50:50
I did not post much the previous month at all as it was summer holidays and we were here there and everywhere….not really with holiday stuff but because there was so much going on….I have learnt that I need to have a list of topics lined up….that I need to have things already sorted out well before I write about them….I have learnt to carry a note book with me to jot down ideas because I just simply don’t remember things later on….I need to make a note right then and there when the idea comes to me
Katrina would like you to read..My Parent’s Garden
Feb 04, 2012 @ 11:43:35
Katrina, I totally agree with the list of Topics! OMG life is so much easier when I do that. I think I am narrowing it even further and having a mon – fri theme then a new theme (more fun maybe) on the weekends. still tweaking the idea though! I had post its everywhere at one point and then the sticky tabs were discovered … perfect for me to post to my laptop HAHAHA but I am getting better. I have 2 notebooks with tabbies now and 2 calendars — still working on the daily for my Valentine’s gift LOL
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..Ways to Recycle Those Clothes That No Longer Fit
Aug 14, 2012 @ 13:24:47
I learned I need to block off the time, but unfortunately I’ve slipped since then.
Linda Ursin would like you to read..The June Prizes
Aug 14, 2012 @ 14:35:53
Linda, planning ahead I’ve learned is SO important! Whether you use a journal, a wall calendar, a planner, calendars online or even your email if you use Outlook, … it does not matter … just writing it down and planning out the month.
My monthly planner printables will be ready to share by the end of the week (Aug 17th). I will definitely be sharing them with the Blogging Pagan Entrepreneurs group
Gypsy would like you to read..please ignore this post – just a test
Jan 05, 2013 @ 16:05:04
It so reminds me of the stuff you end up learning when doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
Morgan Eckstein would like you to read..Sometimes the cover alone tells me what my goddaughter is going to do
Jan 06, 2013 @ 22:13:20
Haha I totally agree, Morgan
I’m looking forward to the 2013 Camp NaNos in June and August 
I have a few projects that need to be finished for the end of the year 
And those work awesome for the writing parts!
Jan 27, 2013 @ 17:57:28
Thats’ interesting Gypsy.. and made me think too! Yes, blocking out time, being very alert for ideas and carrying a camera with me at all times! I’ve had some real gifts to write about .. and yes, don’t analyse, just write!
I’ve managed to write my newsletter in 2.5 hours instead of my usual 2.5 weeks so the Ultimate blog challenge has been really worthwhile! A friend of mine is doing it for the third time and is much more strategic so will definitely do it again.
Thanks for the topic! X