How I’m Working Only a Few Hours a Week This Summer season (And Nonetheless Incomes Full-Time Revenue)

This summer season, I’m planning to work as little as attainable – and I’m actually wanting ahead to it.

I’ve spent years constructing a enterprise that provides me freedom. And one of many largest causes I began Making Sense of Cents was in order that I might select how I spend my time. I like running a blog and serving to others, however I additionally need to be current for the enjoyable moments – particularly through the summer season when my household and I are out exploring, touring, and having fun with life (summer season is my favourite season within the mountains – so I need to use that point totally!).

And I do know I’m not the one one who desires to take pleasure in their holidays or summers extra.

Whether or not you need extra seashore days, household time, and even simply lazy mornings with espresso, I need to present you that this type of flexibility is feasible. With some planning, methods, and the precise earnings streams in place, you’ll be able to work much less and nonetheless earn a superb earnings.

And whereas I’m sharing this from the angle of a full-time blogger, the following pointers could be useful for freelancers, small enterprise house owners, content material creators, course sellers, and extra. In case you run any form of work-from-home job or on-line enterprise, you might be able to apply these concepts to create extra time in your schedule – whether or not it’s for a trip, parental depart, a sabbatical, or simply to have extra time in your day.

Right here’s how I’m setting myself up for a low-workload summer season – and how one can too.

How I Plan On Working as Little as Potential Over the Summer season (Whereas Nonetheless Making Cash)

Right here’s how I plan on working as little as attainable however nonetheless earn money. I don’t count on my earnings to go down in any respect – I truly count on it to go up!

P.S. I like to recommend becoming a member of my How To Begin A Weblog FREE Course. On this free course, I educate you how you can begin a weblog, from the technical aspect to incomes your first earnings and attracting readers. Over 80,000 individuals have taken my free course!

1. Working forward now to create respiration room later

Proper now, I’m placing in additional effort in order that I don’t should work a lot later.

This implies I’m writing weblog posts, emails, and social media content material prematurely. I’ve already scheduled a whole lot of my content material prematurely, and I’m persevering with to remain forward so I can step away with out stress. As an alternative of making issues final minute, I do it now and get it on my calendar.

I exploit instruments like WordPress put up scheduling (each WordPress weblog has this), Package for my e-mail newsletters and funnels, and the Pinterest scheduler to verify the whole lot continues operating whereas I’m offline.

I’m additionally engaged on all of these massive image duties which were increase for the final yr. I’m embarrassed to confess this however there are some duties that I’ve been pushing off for years, and I’m getting round to them now in order that I can cease enthusiastic about them. For instance, I’m combining my two programs onto one platform, in addition to testing including extra show promoting to my weblog posts. Engaged on massive issues like this proper now could be nice as a result of they are going to take up a whole lot of time, so I’d relatively do it now than later. I’d relatively my summer season be filled with smaller duties that don’t take up as a lot mind energy.

It feels good to know that my weblog and enterprise will nonetheless be useful to readers, even whereas I’m out climbing with my household or enjoyable by the water.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Create a content material calendar for the following 3–4 months. Take into consideration weblog put up matters, e-mail newsletters, and social media content material so that you’re not scrambling on the final minute.
• Schedule weblog posts and emails forward of time. Use WordPress, Package (or no matter you utilize on your e-mail device), and Pinterest schedulers to automate your publishing.
• Establish and deal with lingering to-dos. End these annoying backend duties you’ve been laying aside – like switching platforms, cleansing up plugins, refreshing your About web page, and so forth.
• Decide 2–3 massive initiatives to finish now. Select issues that require numerous time or brainpower and end them earlier than summer season begins.
• Create templates for recurring content material. This may very well be e-newsletter codecs, weblog put up constructions, or social media captions to make future content material sooner to create.
• Audit your affiliate hyperlinks and adverts. Replace them now so that they’re working for you all summer season lengthy.

2. Batch work

Batch working is without doubt one of the finest methods to avoid wasting time and get extra accomplished.

I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s actually a recreation changer as a result of it permits me to be extra environment friendly with my time. As an alternative of switching backwards and forwards between totally different duties, I concentrate on one factor at a time. I’d spend a complete day simply writing weblog posts or a couple of hours solely engaged on e-mail newsletters.

This helps me keep centered, keep away from distractions, and create higher work – sooner. And since I’m grouping related duties collectively, I don’t waste time switching gears or making an attempt to recollect what I used to be doing.

I even batch errands and private duties, like planning journey or stocking up on groceries, so I can keep in work mode after I’m working and luxuriate in private time after I’m off.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Select 1–2 days per week for centered batch work. These are your deep work days the place you knock out as a lot as attainable in a single class (like writing or designing).
• Group duties by kind. For instance, batch all writing duties on Mondays, photograph enhancing on Tuesdays, and Pinterest pin creation on Wednesdays.
• Use a timer to remain centered. Strive working in 25- or 45-minute blocks with quick breaks in between (Pomodoro fashion).
• Create checklists for repeat duties. For instance, a guidelines for writing a weblog put up or making a Pinterest graphic can velocity issues up and ensure nothing is missed. Though I’ve been running a blog for a few years, I nonetheless have a guidelines that I take a look at each single time (I’m not joking!).
• Write a number of weblog posts in a single sitting. Define 3–5 weblog posts directly, then write drafts the following day, then edit – breaking it into clear levels.
• Document or define a number of movies or reels in a single session. Even in the event you’re not filming in bulk, making ready concepts in batches helps you keep forward.
• Batch your e-mail advertising and marketing. Plan and schedule your weekly or month-to-month emails multi functional go, utilizing earlier content material as inspiration.
• Batch private duties too. Grocery procuring, appointment scheduling, and different life to-dos could be grouped collectively so that they don’t interrupt your work stream.

3. Outsourcing what I don’t must do

I don’t do the whole lot myself – and that’s a part of how I work much less.

Over time, I’ve constructed a small group that helps with totally different components of my enterprise. I’ve assist with Pinterest scheduling, social media administration, customer support, proofreading, and extra. I don’t must be concerned in each little factor, and letting go of some management has allowed me to take again extra of my time.

In case you’re not prepared to rent a group, even outsourcing only one factor will help. For instance, you may rent somebody to edit your weblog posts, repurpose your content material, or assist with graphics.

Delegating duties offers me extra freedom to spend time doing what I like – and that’s what summer season is all about.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Make a listing of duties you don’t take pleasure in or that drain your time. This may very well be tech points, formatting weblog posts, making graphics, or scheduling content material.
• Begin with only one process to outsource. Select one thing easy and time-consuming (like Pinterest scheduling or proofreading).
• Rent a freelancer for five–10 hours a month. Web sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and even referrals from running a blog Fb teams are nice locations to look.
• Write a fast commonplace working process. Doc the way you need one thing accomplished with a brief Loom video or Google Doc – it doesn’t should be fancy!
• Check with a small mission first. Earlier than hiring somebody long-term, give them one particular process and see how they do (and see in the event you’re completely happy).
• Set a price range and stick with it. Even $100 to $200 a month can unlock hours of your time and cut back burnout.
• Outsource private duties too. If work assist isn’t within the price range but, it’s possible you’ll be excited by hiring a cleaner, grocery supply, or a part-time babysitter – all of it helps what you are promoting not directly.

4. Incomes with semi-passive earnings streams

That is the most important motive I’m capable of step away from work and nonetheless earn cash: semi-passive earnings.

My most important supply of passive earnings is affiliate internet marketing. I’ve constructed up a library of weblog posts (I’ve written over 2,000 weblog posts through the years) that usher in affiliate earnings each day – whether or not I’m working or not. I’ve additionally created programs that promote on their very own by e-mail funnels, weblog posts, and associates.

As a result of I’ve already accomplished the exhausting work of making content material and constructing belief with my viewers, I don’t should be continuously on-line to earn money. That’s the facility of passive earnings, it retains working for you lengthy after you’ve accomplished the work.

In case you’re simply getting began with a weblog, you’ll be able to concentrate on creating useful evergreen content material and constructing visitors to these posts to do the identical. In fact, just be sure you promote merchandise you actually consider in, and assume long-term. Semi-passive earnings builds slowly, however as soon as it’s rolling, it could possibly help your way of life in a giant means.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Replace older weblog posts with contemporary affiliate hyperlinks. Search for posts that get regular visitors and ensure the affiliate hyperlinks are working, related, and well-placed.
• Add product comparisons or evaluations. A lot of these posts often convert properly and are nice for website positioning too.
• Use affiliate hyperlinks in your e-mail funnel. If somebody indicators up on your freebie or e-newsletter, ship them to useful sources that additionally earn you earnings.
• Concentrate on evergreen content material. Write weblog posts round matters that will likely be looked for all yr lengthy (like how you can price range, how you can plan a household trip, how you can be more healthy, and so forth.).
• Observe your top-earning posts and hyperlinks. Use affiliate dashboards or instruments like Fairly Hyperlinks to see what’s working – and do extra of that.
• Repurpose previous content material with affiliate potential. Flip a useful Instagram put up right into a weblog put up or flip a weblog put up into an e-mail e-newsletter.

You possibly can be taught extra about my affiliate internet marketing methods in my course, Making Sense of Affiliate Advertising and marketing. This course teaches how I’ve remodeled $2,000,000 with affiliate internet marketing through the years!

Additionally, if you’re excited by how I earn money on-line, I like to recommend studying this text of mine – How To Monetize A Weblog: How I Grew A $5 Million Weblog.

5. Reusing and resharing current content material

I don’t all the time must reinvent the wheel.

Over time, I’ve written hundreds of weblog posts, emails, and social media updates. Many of those are nonetheless invaluable and related right this moment. So through the summer season, I plan to refresh and reshare a few of my older content material.

This may imply updating hyperlinks, tweaking headlines, or turning a preferred put up into an Instagram carousel. I’ll additionally schedule evergreen emails to exit to my record – ones which have carried out properly up to now and nonetheless have numerous worth however are up to date.

Most readers haven’t seen all of your content material, and even when they’ve, they often admire a reminder. Repurposing saves time and retains your message constant.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Decide 5 previous weblog posts to replace and reshare this month. Begin with posts that get good visitors or reply frequent reader questions.
• Replace affiliate hyperlinks, photos, and outdated data. This retains your content material contemporary and improves consumer expertise (and conversions).
• Flip weblog posts into short-form video or reels. Break a put up into 3–5 suggestions and document a fast Instagram reel or TikTok.
• Create Instagram carousels or Pinterest graphics from previous content material. Use Canva templates to hurry up the design course of.
• Flip previous weblog posts into e-mail newsletters. Pull out highlights or suggestions and ship them to your record with a private be aware.
• Create a “Better of” weblog put up roundup. For instance, “10 Most Well-liked Aspect Hustles” and embrace inside hyperlinks.

6. Setting clear work boundaries

One of the vital essential issues I’m doing this summer season is defending my time.

I’m selecting particular days and hours that I’ll work and sticking to them. I’ll seemingly work just some hours every week, principally checking in and ensuring issues are operating easily. I’m additionally saying “no” to something that doesn’t match my priorities proper now.

This may imply turning down sure initiatives, delaying some concepts, and even taking a break from my e-mail inbox. I’ve realized that I don’t should say “sure” to the whole lot – particularly if it means sacrificing time with my household or enjoyable.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Select your weekly work hours and stick with them. For instance, decide to working solely Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to midday.
• Block your work time in your calendar. Deal with it like an appointment so that you’re much less tempted to squeeze in “only one other thing.”
• Create an autoresponder on your e-mail. Let individuals know you’re working restricted hours and after they can count on a reply. I don’t plan on doing this, however this can be a good suggestion for others.
• Flip off notifications exterior of labor time. Silence apps like Slack, e-mail, and social media if you’re off the clock.
• Set boundaries with shoppers, manufacturers, or collaborators. Allow them to know your summer season schedule forward of time so there are not any surprises.
• Preserve a operating “later” record. Write down concepts and duties that pop up so that you don’t really feel stress to deal with them immediately. I have already got moved some duties to the autumn as a result of I don’t assume they’re essential sufficient to do proper now.
• Delete or pause pointless apps. Take away something that will get you to verify in continuously or distracts out of your time without work.
• Share your objectives with your loved ones or accomplice. Allow them to know if you’re working and if you’re totally off – to allow them to assist maintain you to it.

7. Specializing in high-impact duties solely

Once I do work, I need it to depend.

So I’m specializing in duties that want me proper then. For me, this may imply creating content material that brings in visitors or income, sending emails to my record, and sustaining relationships with my viewers (like answering emails) and affiliate companions.

I’m avoiding busywork – like checking stats an excessive amount of or spending an excessive amount of time on social media.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Write down your prime income-generating duties. These is perhaps writing weblog posts, sending emails, or optimizing affiliate hyperlinks – concentrate on these first.
• Use the 80/20 rule. Ask your self: “What 20% of my duties usher in 80% of my outcomes?” Do extra of these, and fewer of the whole lot else. Personally, I’ve spent a lot of my time on duties that do nothing for my enterprise or for my readers, and I do know I must cease that.
• Observe the place your time goes. For one week, write down what you’re engaged on and the way lengthy it takes. You is perhaps stunned what’s not truly serving to what you are promoting develop. I did this final month and it actually opened my eyes as to what I spend my time on!
• Say no (or not proper now) to low-priority initiatives. It’s okay to avoid wasting concepts for later – they don’t all must be accomplished earlier than your break.

8. Utilizing ChatGPT to brainstorm and save time

One device I’ve been utilizing extra these days is ChatGPT – and it’s been an enormous time-saver.

I exploit it to assist brainstorm weblog put up matter concepts, write outlines, provide you with topic strains for emails, and even draft social media captions. If I’m caught or simply want a contemporary view on one thing, ChatGPT helps me transfer ahead sooner. It’s like having a brainstorming accomplice accessible on a regular basis.

This doesn’t imply I don’t add my private contact – I all the time, ALWAYS do. However utilizing ChatGPT helps me skip the clean web page and save time after I want it most.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Ask ChatGPT to brainstorm weblog put up matter concepts in your area of interest. For instance, I lately fed all of my most up-to-date articles which have gone viral and requested ChatGPT to brainstorm extra article concepts which can be related.
• Use it to create outlines earlier than writing. You possibly can feed ChatGPT a bunch of your previous weblog posts after which ask: “Are you able to define a put up in my fashion titled ‘10 Simple Methods To Save Cash On Groceries’?”
• Have it draft social media captions. Copy/paste a part of your weblog put up and say: “Flip this into 3 Instagram captions in my voice.”
• Flip previous weblog content material into e-mail newsletters. Paste a weblog put up and say: “Summarize this into a brief, pleasant e-mail with a call-to-action.”
• Use it to jot down Pinterest pin descriptions. Ask: “Write a keyword-rich Pinterest description for a put up about price range journey suggestions.”
• Use ChatGPT to research your previous posts on Fb, examine your fashion, and provide you with a whole lot extra concepts for Fb posts.
• You possibly can even simply inform ChatGPT all about what you are promoting, after which ask it the way it thinks it could possibly prevent time. For instance, you’ll be able to ask: “I run Makingsenseofcents.com. How do you assume ChatGPT can save me time?” or “I run a enterprise the place I plan journey for {couples}. How do you assume ChatGPT can save me time?” I simply requested each of those questions and it gave me a bunch of concepts I didn’t even record above!

Now, I do need to say – I by no means simply take what ChatGPT says and publish it. I’m closely enhancing it and ensuring the data is right. I exploit it as an on-demand assistant device for after I need to brainstorm new concepts.

9. Planning for flexibility

Even with a plan, life occurs. I do know that I’ll nonetheless be working this summer season, and that’s okay. I like what I do, so that’s fully positive!

Because of this I construct in flexibility. Some weeks I’d work a little bit extra and different weeks by no means. I don’t plan on working 0 hours every week for 3 months straight.

As a result of I’ve constructed a enterprise that doesn’t depend upon me working 24/7, I can take that point off with out the whole lot falling aside. That’s the good factor about on-line earnings – you’ll be able to set it as much as help the life you need.

And that life consists of lengthy summer season days, sluggish mornings, and extra time with the individuals I like.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• Construct additional buffer time into your calendar. Don’t schedule each hour – depart area for surprising plans, household time, or simply relaxation.
• Have backup content material prepared. Write 1–2 additional weblog posts or emails now that you should utilize later in the event you want a break.
• Use instruments that make it simple to pause. Instruments like Package, WordPress scheduling, and social schedulers allow you to plan forward – but in addition cease or reschedule content material if wanted.
• Give your self permission to take a full day (or week) off. Your corporation gained’t collapse in the event you step away – particularly in the event you’ve prepped prematurely.
• Revisit your priorities weekly. What felt essential in Could won’t matter in July. So, be ready to regulate your objectives primarily based on what your life wants that week.

How I Plan On Working as Little as Potential Over the Summer season (Whereas Nonetheless Making Cash) – Abstract

I hope you loved my article on how I plan on working as little as attainable whereas nonetheless getting cash.

Working much less this summer season doesn’t imply I care much less about my enterprise. In actual fact, it means I’ve set it as much as help me in one of the best ways attainable.

By planning forward, batching duties, outsourcing, and incomes semi-passive earnings, I’m creating time to take pleasure in life exterior of labor – and nonetheless earn an earnings whereas doing it.

Whether or not you’re a blogger, entrepreneur, or simply somebody seeking to step again a little bit, I hope my article exhibits you that it’s attainable to work much less and stay extra.

For me, I’m hoping to spend my days climbing, occurring journeys, and simply having fun with the times as they arrive.

In case you’re planning to take time without work or work much less this summer season, I’d love to listen to what you’re doing to make that occur.

Do you prefer to take breaks all year long? Presumably for a trip? Inform me your plans within the feedback under!

Really useful studying: