Get Work Done with Batch Processing

I might be crazy but how does 30 days of blogging tips and mom hacks sound? I have a ton of awesome content about how to become a blogger while also being a stay at home mom or a working mother. It’s not easy but it’s totally possible. And it’s time for Day 19, where I share how you can get more done with the batching method.

Today I'm going to share with you an incredibly valuable tip that helps me get my work done faster—batch processing. This is a scheduling strategy that helps you separate your tasks in a way that allows you to stay focused on one thing at a time.

How do you batch your work?

Here's an example of how this works. Imagine that you have four different blog posts that you want to write. They don't have to be about the same topic or even closely related. Just four different posts. And, let's say that your standard process for completing new content looks something like this:

  1. Write the first draft

  2. Edit the draft

  3. Take pictures to include with the blog post

  4. Edit the pictures that you took

  5. Film a short video to go along with your post

  6. Edit the video and get it ready to publish

  7. Create social media graphics

  8. Schedule your postings

  9. Promote your new content

That's nine different steps that need to be completed. So, there are two options on how to get your work done.

The first is the standard way people think to work. Complete steps one through nine for the first blog post and then repeat those same steps for the other three posts. It makes sense, right? You are finishing each post completely before moving on to the next one. In the end, you have four completed blog posts.

The other option that you have is to batch work together. That means when you sit down to write the drafts, you write all four of the drafts at one time before moving on to step two. Then, you continue to complete each step one at a time, for all four of the blog posts at once. Every post is edited at the same time, photos taken at the same time, graphics created at the same time, and so on. That means you finish all four of the blog posts together. 

Why batching works

If you have a hard time picking up steam in your work, batching can really help you get work done faster. One of the reasons people struggle with work is because we are used to trying to multitask. However, recent studies show that multitasking makes us work slower.

Every time we shift an activity it takes additional time to refocus our attention. So, when we batch work we are keeping our focus on the same type of task the entire time. If I'm using my camera I'm using it the whole time instead of jumping back and forth from camera to computer. 

I love doing batch tasking with my work! I find that it really helps me when I'm editing things. When I get in a rhythm I seem to work faster if I keep going instead of stopping every 10 or 20 minutes to move on to the next step. If I'm in the groove, it's easier for me to continue to work on it. But, I know that there are some people that really don't like it.

My recommendation for you, is to give it a shot. Try it out a few times and see how it feels. Find out if it helps you to accomplish more in less time. 

Here's a bonus tip

I want to share a bonus tip that fits nicely with batch tasking. Back on Day 1, I shared about the importance of creating time to build your blogging business. You aren't going to just find the time, you're going to have to make it happen. In order to do this, you need to look at your schedule and block time out for your business. 

The same is true when you batch your work. When you batch some tasks it might mean you could use a little extra time at once to get the entire task completed. I recommend that you sit down with your husband, or whoever helps you manage and carry your load as you grow your income and build your blogging business, to schedule your batch work.

Any time you make a change in your schedule it's going to impact your partner as well if they are helping you out. That means you can't just rework your schedule to make time for batching without talking to them first. Sitting down together as you create your schedule will help you get on the same page and feel like you're on the same team. When you know each other's schedules you can avoid booking big projects or appointments at the same time.

This has been a lifesaver to me. If I know that I have a particular project to work on I can sit down with my husband to find out what's on his schedule. I want to make sure I don't schedule my work time when he already has something planned at that time. When we're on the same page things run much smoother. 

Interested in finding out more ways to work more efficiently? I invite you to check out my Allison Lindstrom channel where I share all my helpful blogging tips and tricks.