Recently, I looked at my writing stats and have seen a gradual decline in the number of articles written. I haven’t given up writing but life has been busy.

As a writer, you’ll go through periods in life where you’ll experience something similar. No one is immune to what life brings you.

You’re not locked in a room where you can do as you please and write every single day.

My day goes by very fast. Sometimes I wonder where did the day go. The clock is always moving and doesn’t wait for you to keep up.

I’ll touch on a few of these areas that have changed my life as a writer.

In no way do I consider myself an experienced or professional writer. I have big goals for myself so I still feel I am growing as a writer.

Overall, this year has been a good year. A lot has happened that I never expected.

Normally, I get personal in my weekly or bi-weekly Helpful Letter to my subscribers on Life is Like a Game. This article will be similar.

When you write, sometimes it’s good to take time to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. Life goes by very fast and you may miss something along the way.

Reflection on your journey is necessary.

It’s good to see where you are now and where you want to go. The two are intertwined like a hand is to a glove.

My other writing gigs pay more

This is the first one that has kept me preoccupied and away from writing. I’ll be honest, I write to get paid. This is my full-time job I built over the past year and a half.

Like most writers, you join and you have no idea what you want to write about. After a few months, you start to see what articles do well and which ones are flops.

Looking at your statistics is key.

You need to analyze your growth by looking at the views, reads, and time readers spend on your article. Also, you need to see what articles do well as compared to others.

Over the last year, I started writing about cryptocurrencies. This niche has done well for me and attracted several companies to write for them.

When I write these articles, it takes more time for me to research the cryptocurrency and understand the platform. They’re not easy but they’re also not hard. They are just a big time commitment.

How much you make as a writer changes.

Then as my experience grew, my pay started to increase. I used to write for companies that paid $12 an article. Now, I won’t even look at those.

Your time becomes more valuable the more you specialize in a niche. Experience in the area helps you and your pay should reflect that.

Since my niche is new, it’s hard to gauge the price. I search online to get some comparable numbers that companies pay writers.

The past two weeks, I had three writing gigs which took a lot of my time. Two were on cryptocurrencies and the other was a marketing company.

Then I have had interviews with companies that wanted me to write for them. These also take priority over my writing since they could land another writing opportunity.

Make sure you value your time.

Time is one thing you use but can never, ever, get back.

You need to analyze if writing for another company is worth it. Then you also need to figure out when you can find the time to write for them. This will cause a domino effect on your other writing gigs.

Something will have to give and be placed at a lower priority in your writing schedule.

I prioritize my mental health

Last year, I wrote every single day for 365 days. At the end of the year, I was close to burnout. Personally, I felt I had to take a break and change my writing schedule.

Writing every day is not hard, but it’s also not easy.

Thinking of 365 headlines and topics is mindboggling. Of course, some articles are similar but then there will be days when you want to write something different. So you begging your brainstorming to think about what else can you write about.

In early summer, I cut my writing down to Monday to Friday and spend the weekend reflecting and plan for the next week.

Sometimes, I don’t get to the planning part. That is one area I need to work on.

I still have my list of topics to choose from, so that could be a reason I don’t block out time on the weekend.

On the weekend, I also focused writing for NewsBreak which has been paying me very well all year. I lost the guaranteed monthly pay but made well over four figures last month.

If you sign up, I may get a commission but there are steps you have to take to get approved as a paying writer which the company will specify.

Family comes first over money

I read “The Entrepreneur Mind” a few years ago, about a millionaire. The author mentioned he would sacrifice family over money in the beginning until he became successful.

Other rich people have the same belief.

Personally, I had a problem with this. Family is important and they should be.

As a person, you need to help raise your kids, spend time with your parents, as well as friends. Money is great but it’s not the only thing in life.

I try to plan my writing around my family’s schedule. A few times, I have gone to school meetings, events, and also take them to their doctor appointments.

If I have a say, I try to plan appointments in the afternoon since I like to write in the morning.

When I was a kid, I was a latch key kid. This was when I had the keys to enter and leave my house since my parents worked. Growing up, I saw my parents, but not all the time.

Now I try to make every event my kids are in.

Life is too short to make money your number one priority. Money is important but you have to remember your family.

Final thoughts

Writing is great but you have to plan for life to advance your career.

There is no writing blueprint since every person’s life and routine are different from the next person’s. You have to plan your schedule and adjust when needed.

Having flexibility is key for you. Don’t be afraid to make changes in your routine.

How do you balance your writing time with family or personal obligations?