Month: October 2023

How to Create a Content Calendar for Your Blog

A content calendar helps you plan and organize your blog posts ahead of time, ensuring that you always have fresh and engaging content to publish regularly. It’s an excellent way to stay organised as a blogger and prevent burnout or writer’s block. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a content calendar for your blog:

1. Determine your goals and target audience

Before you start creating your content calendar, you need to determine your blog’s goals and target audience. Who are you writing for? What topics are they interested in? What type of content do they engage with the most? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you create a content calendar that resonates with your audience and supports your blog’s goals.

2. Choose a content calendar tool

There are many content calendar tools available, ranging from free to paid options. Choose a tool that suits your needs and budget. Some popular options include Trello, Asana, Google Sheets, and CoSchedule. You might even prepare to use a paper planner (which, when combined with sticky notes, is an excellent way to see your posts and reschedule if necessary)

3. Brainstorm content ideas

Research popular topics in your niche, then brainstorm ideas that align with your blog’s goals and target audience. You can also look at your competitors’ blogs (i.e other blogs who write on the same topics as you do) for inspiration.

4. Create a content schedule

Once you have a list of content ideas, it’s time to create a content schedule. Decide how often you want to publish blog posts, and then create a schedule that fits with your blogging frequency. For example, if you want to publish two blog posts per week, you’ll need to create a schedule that outlines which blog post will be published on which day and work in time for other tasks like design and social media.

5. Assign tasks

Assign tasks to yourself or your team members for each blog post. This includes writing the post, creating graphics, optimizing for SEO, and promoting on social media. If you’re the only blogger, you might want to consider batching tasks to help with your productivity.

6. Track your progress

It’s essential to track your progress to ensure that you’re meeting your blogging goals. Track each blog post’s progress, including the date it was published, the number of views, and engagement metrics.

7. Update and adjust your content calendar as needed

Your content calendar is a living document that should be updated and adjusted as needed. If you find that certain topics aren’t performing well, adjust your content to focus on more successful topics. If you have an unexpected event or breaking news, be flexible enough to adjust your content calendar accordingly. When I started as a blogger (in uni) I would often take time off for exams or tough uni projects.

Do you have a content calendar or do you just wing it? Let me know below!

7 Steps to Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms

Choosing the right social media platforms for your blog is a vital decision. While there are many social media platforms available, not all of them are suitable for every blog. Here are some steps to help you choose the right social media platforms for your blog:

Step 1: Define your target audience

The first step in choosing the right social media platforms for your blog is to define your target audience. Who are you writing for, and where do they spend their time online? Different social media platforms attract different demographics, so it’s essential to understand your audience’s preferences and habits.

Step 2: Determine your goals

What are your goals for using social media? Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your blog, or engage with your audience? Different social media platforms excel at different goals, so it’s essential to determine what you want to achieve with social media before choosing which platforms to use.

Step 3: Research social media platforms

Once you understand your audience and goals, it’s time to research different social media platforms to determine which ones align with your objectives. Some popular platforms for bloggers include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Each platform has unique features and strengths, so research each one carefully.

Step 4: Evaluate the platform’s features

When evaluating social media platforms, it’s essential to consider their features. For example, if your blog is highly visual, you may want to focus on platforms that emphasize photos and videos, such as Instagram or TikTok. If you’re looking to build a professional network, LinkedIn may be the best platform for you.

Step 5: Consider the platform’s engagement levels

It’s also important to consider the engagement levels of each social media platform. Some platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, are highly interactive, while others, such as LinkedIn, are more focused

on professional networking. Choose a platform that aligns with your blogging goals and audience preferences.

Step 6: Start small

It’s okay to start with one or two social media platforms and then expand as you grow. Don’t feel like you need to be on every social media platform from the beginning. Focus on platforms that align with your audience and goals, and then expand as needed.

Step 7: Be Open to Trial and Error

Maybe you start on a social media platform and change your mind. It’s okay. Be sure to give your platform of choice atleast a few months as a trial run. If it doesn’t work out, you can move on to something else.

By understanding your audience, goals, and the unique features and strengths of each platform, you can choose the best platforms for your blog and start building your social media presence.

Life Update: I Made My Bed

You’re probably thinking: “Who cares?” or “That’s a little too personal- why weren’t you making your bed to begin with?”

Let me explain.

For a little over a year, I stopped making my bed, convinced that it was the reason that I burned out in the first place. I had been reading Atomic Habits and the first positive change I made was to make my bed. That small win gave me a little thrill. And so for the rest of the workday, I would chase thrills. I would walk in at 7AM and immediately start working. When the rest of the team came in at 8, I was halfway done with my list for the day and would just start doing additional work. If there was work that needed to be done after 5, I would stay in and do it.

It didn’t last long. I can’t pinpoint how or when but eventually I took on too much. I was making small mistakes. I had brain fog, migraines and body pain. I was losing patience with anyone and everyone who didn’t match my speed of work or anyone who I saw as slowing me down. What do you mean we still need approval for this? YOU’RE HOLDING THE PROJECT UP!

This line would play in my brain in a constant loop

Eventually I reached my breaking point. I would cry constantly but did nothing to change my job. It was nearly the end of the year. I just needed to push through. Everyone struggled this time of the year.

But when a random person messaged me on LinkedIn asking me if I was interested in a content writer position, I agreed to speak to them.

I wasn’t in the job market and until I got that message, I never thought about content writing. Sure, I ran a blog but I was training to be a copywriter.

(At the time however, my workload consisted of a combination of different things).

The job was perfect. So I took it. It was a WFH role and I loved it. But for months afterwards, I refused to make my bed.

I automatically associated the bed with the source of my burnout. So I would wake up, go on with my day and then make the bed before I went to sleep for the night.

Yesterday marked 11 months in my new role (something I didn’t actually realise until now). Today was the first day I made the bed. I didn’t do it as soon as I woke up but I was passing the room and saw the bed wasn’t made. I made it and went on my way. And then realised what I had done… I had made my bed.

It took a few months for me to recover from the burnout and I was grateful that I was still able to work through it. But until I made my bed, I had no idea how much the whole thing weighed on me. It felt like leaving a chapter behind me. Like by making my bed, I was finally okay.

Book Review: Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really did enjoy it. But I missed Crystal. Tara reminded me a little too much of myself and I couldn’t help but cringe at her antics. Nonetheless I did love this book and I loved getting a look at the bookish world (I think I got this copy from Netgalley and just haven’t read it because I didn’t have “Set on You” at the time).
Exes and O’s tells the story of diehard romantic Tara Chen as she revisits her ex’s in an attempt to find The One.
What Tara doesn’t realise is The One might be closer than she thinks…like her hot room-mate.
This was a cute read that I enjoyed immensely. I have immediately started reading The Catch. I love how fully fleshed these characters are. If you’re a fan of cute romance books, give this series a try. These books can be read alone but I feel like you get the best experience if you start from “Set on You”.



View all my reviews

5 Tips on How to Deal with the October Slump

October is crappy month. Most of us agree on this. But whenever I question the reasoning behind it, all I get is “it’s just that time of year”. So I consulted my trusty friend, Google who confirmed that there is something called “October Slump”. Google seems to associate this with teachers but I am stealing this term for this post. Here are 5 tips to help you deal if you’re suffering with the October Slump.

1. Be Gentle with Yourself and Others:

Remember that this time will pass. I know that every October I hate everyone and everything. And every year I have to remind myself to take it easy. Also, the one time I DIDN’T take it easy, I got severely burned out, severely ill and ended up leaving my job. It worked out in the end but what happens if that pattern repeats itself? That is why I am reminding myself this year to be gentle.

2. Make Time for the Things and People That Bring You Joy:

During the October slump I am careful to protect my energy and only share it with those who bring me joy. Whether it’s meeting a loved one for a meal or binge-watching an old show, these months are for me and me only. If someone drains you, this is the time to stay away from them for a bit. Trust me, you will feel so much better!

3. Be More Active:

Okay this is something that I absolutely detest but it’s necessary for my mental health. Make sure you’re finding time to exercise. Take up a new gym class or try a new workout routine. Your body will thank you for it.

4. Take Up a New Hobby:

As adults we can do whatever we want to. But we rarely do. Use this time to start a new hobby whether it’s painting or biking. Start something new and fun.

5. Plan for the New Year:

You’re in a slump because it’s been a long year. So why not look ahead to something exciting? Think about your future goals, plans and resolutions to help you get through this last stretch.

Do you have any tips for dealing with this icky part of the year? Let me know below!

On Losing Your Sense of Self in A Job

I’ve hit rock bottom enough times to know what it looks it.

Even so, each and every time I’m surprised when it happens. Like, this again? I thought I was done with this nonsense.

This time, I knew for certain it was my fault. I had felt it building up. I felt The Dark Place calling. And I ignored it. I pushed myself harder, worked more, made more lists, tried to push for productivity.

When I realized that I was nearing burnout and that pushing myself wasn’t yielding results, I stopped. It wasn’t supposed to be a permanent thing. It was supposed to be a break.

But one week turned into two and then three months later, I was curled on my couch with a glass of wine, bawling my eyes out and contemplating taking allergy medication just so I could feel all nice and fuzzy instead of miserable.

The trigger? My father being rushed into hospital after showing signs of a mild heart attack and a meeting with someone that forced a mirror in front of me and the way that I had been living my life.

I felt lost. This wasn’t me. I was the girl with all the goals and the to-do lists. I was the girl who studied, ran a blog, wrote online, worked on a novel all while still working in a toxic environment. HOW did I get here?

I didn’t know it at the time but I was the problem. I was so excited to be working in Marketing that I had neglected my mental and physical health. I wish I could say that I fixed it but I didn’t. No, instead I moved from Performance Marketing to Event Marketing and a few months later, had the same issue. I had thrown myself headfirst into learning everything I could and (again) neglected my own health. So when a job opportunity to be a content writer arrived, I took it.

Can you guess what happened then? Yep, another six months and I felt myself getting sick again. This time I refused to let it get me. I had worked for years! YEARS! All I ever wanted was to be a content writer and I was not going to let me stand in the way. I took a few days off and actually did disconnect. I stayed away from work email and messages. And when I logged back…there was nothing waiting for me. It was an actual break. I was appalled. I had never had that happen to me before.

Moral of the story: Take a break if you need to. Always put your health first. ESPECIALLY if you can tell that burnout is on its way.

Things We Don’t Talk About

I found this really old post that I wrote waay back when and never published. I had just started working with a really toxic team leader and well…let’s just say that I didn’t know how to handle it:

So I’m typing this from work.

Work at 5:19PM where I should not be. Where I have already told my parents that I am not coming home. Honestly I do not remember my exact words. I just remember being consumed with anger and hate and so I wrote something to the effect of I will not be going home.

So I’m typing this from work in the hopes that eventually I am going to look back at this and laugh.

“Hey, Shanice. Remember when you had a crappy day at work and you decided not to go home because your parents wouldn’t let you quit your job.”

In the back of my mind, the rational responsible part of me is realising that I am probably creating a issue where they shouldn’t be. I cannot find it in me to care.

I have had the worst possible week in my life. We got a new manager at work. She is incompetent at best and at worst, she is hell personified. She expects ten million spreadsheets and she expects the impossible. She knows very little about the job- something that wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t for the fact that she is very fond of acting like she knows everything.

I keep saying how I can’t deal with stupid but this is another level. This is a woman who is controlling, demanding, unrealistic and rude. This is a woman that is slowly but surely driving me crazy.

So when she spoke down to me yesterday I begged my parents to let me leave. They refused.

Today I spent most of the day in meetings. One meeting with my ex-manager (who is now in a supervisory role for our team) where she clearly asked me what was going on with me. I denied her accusations that something had changed in me and that my work ethic was slowly but surely being eroded away.

The other meetings were with my new manager. One for her to go over the rules with us (gosh, years in this company and we don’t know the rules. Someone is obviously filled with her own self-importance). The other was for her to painstakingly go over every aspect of my job.

I discovered that I was missing parts of my work. That I didn’t update the system I used to(something I did because my new manager gave me spreadsheets to track the work). However after asking me if the spreadsheets were too much, she went ahead and gave me two additional ones (I swear that woman has something wrong with her).

So at half 4 as I was rounding off my work I realised I was the only one in the office. So I asked if I could go home since everyone else already did. Her reply was that I could go once the work was done.

“The work” was 30 callouts. 30 callouts that would have been done if not for her and her spreadsheets. When she asked me if I thought I “deserved to go home”, I snapped.

I went to the bathroom, crying and sent whatever message to my parents. I don’t even remember what. I just remember feeling the vindictive pleasure because yes, I will stay and do callouts. ALL 30 OF THEM. Lets see how the parents like not having a child at home.

I felt even better when I realised my parents had no way to contact my manager (both old and new). So I sat at my desk ready to prepare to work when my senior manager approached me with a phone. The look on her face told me everything. That phonecall was for me.

“Who?” I choked out, desperate not to start crying enough.

“Your delivery guy.” (This was an inside joke since I was always shopping online. I received deliveries so often that I was on a first name basis with most of the courier drivers).

I took the phone tentatively. “Hello?”

“Hi.”

The voice was of my friend, a co-worker who was off on maternity leave. With a sickeningly jolt, I remembered that my mother had her details. Damn me and my closeness with my mother.

“Hi,” I managed to spit out.

It felt like my throat was closing.

“Where are you?”

“At work.”

“What time are you leaving?”

“When I’m done,” a sob slipped out.

“I spoke to your mother.”

“I figured,” I said, struggling to swallow. In the back of my mind I thought of a coworker who, a few weeks earlier, had a very public panic attack and had to be hospitalised.

“What is going on?”

“Nothing.”

“She said you’re not going home.”

“I’m not.”

Now the tears came faster, accompanied by gasps of breath as I fought to control myself. My manager was two seats down.

What followed was possibly the worst ten minutes of my life. I struggled to speak through the tears while my manager watched from the corner of her seat. My friend, not knowing where she was, complained about her freely.

“I told you she’s a bitch. Don’t let her affect you. You need to go home. Promise me you’ll go home. You know its dangerous.”

I remained silent.

“Shanice, I mean it.”

“Fine.”

“Say you’re going home.”

“Alright fine.”

I stood in the corner hiccuping in silence, waiting to calm down. Once I was sure I had control of myself I handed the cellphone back to my senior manager before resuming my work. I had 30 callouts to do.

Typing that story only makes me sadder. I still do not feel like I should go home but honestly where else can I go?

I don’t remember too much of that day. I know it was October 5th. I know the senior manager managed to talk me into going home. But that day changed my perspective on my job and the company itself. When I returned to work the next week, I no longer cared about my job. Instead I focused on getting out of the department. I would go on to leave the business while my toxic manager ended up a department head. I cried when I heard that news. Among the staff it was no secret that she was awful. But since she was close to her manager, he was able to promote her when the opportunity arose.

I chalk alot of that horrible period in my life to a lack of working experience. I thought that because she was a bad manager, it would even come out and management would think of the staff first. I was wrong. But working with her was a catalyst for me deciding that was it and I would not tolerate such behaviour. The second a position opened up in a new team, I took it. And that changed my career for the better…for a while. Then I got another toxic manager and the pattern repeated itself. But it was okay- NOW I knew how to handle it!

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in October in South Africa. Every year I come up with content and it just never seems to make it to the publish stage. It’s difficult for me to talk about mental health especially MY mental health without mentioning my former toxic workplace. I am hoping that this year will be different. I’ve planned a variety of blog posts looking into how you can take better care of your mental health. These are just things that worked for me- I am not a healthcare professional or a mental health professional. However if you need someone to talk to, you can contact the Mental health awareness helpline at 0800 567 567 or the South African depression and anxiety group at 0800 121 314.

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