Blogging is addicting, especially when you’re succeeding. Every email is like candy, an opportunity waiting that may just come with a paycheck. The offers are so exciting that maybe you started checking your Gmail excessively, causing you to slack off at work. Instagram is also probably cutting into your work time and slowly disintegrating your previously strong work ethic. The events you’re getting invited to are way too enticing to skip, so perhaps you even started canceling dinner plans with your friends and asking your boyfriend if it’s okay to push off date night one more time. I mean, you could not possibly miss a Tiffany’s event. That’s a huge deal! Tiffany’s, hello!

Believe me, I get it. Almost every other week, I get an email that makes me say, “OMG! This is the BEST event invite I have EVER received! No way I could ever miss this.” But at what cost? I once changed my flight so I wouldn’t miss Nanette Lepore’s Fashion Week presentation. It was a beautiful collection, but was it worth the hassle? Honestly, no. Why? Because I’ve seen her collection every season for the past 4 years. I’ve experienced Fashion Week 9 times. Some designers get creative with their showcases, but at the end of the day, a runway show is a runway show. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

Step 1 to balancing your work, blog, and social life is realizing that there will always be another AMAZING event. If you received an invite, you’re clearly on that brand or designer’s radar and you will continue to receive invites for future events. So it's okay to RSVP "No" once in awhile in order to make time for other things. 

Step 2 is knowing your priorities. Priorities can and should be constantly shifting. Your job, your blog, and your relationships are ALL important. It’s okay to put your blog first sometimes, as long as you are remembering to put work and your social life first on other days.

Step 3 is gaining some perspective. I recently wrote a blog post about #bloggerproblems, essentially fashion blogger first world problems. As devastating as it is that the Coach event falls out on the same day as your best friend’s wedding, it’s really not as bad as you think it is. I hate to say it, but there are children starving in Africa. Stop stressing about trying to be in two places at once and instead be present and enjoy where you are.

Step 4 is staying organized. Keep a calendar so you always know what events, whether personal or blog related, are coming up. This will help you keep your schedule in order so you never double book or forget plans. Having a calendar will also help you quickly assess if your life is balanced between social and work engagements and if you’re taking on too much.

Step 5 is understanding that you are more valuable when you aren’t spreading yourself thin. You can’t be everywhere at once. You can’t get invited to everything. And that’s OKAY. You’ll make yourself crazy if you try to do everything. I used to push myself so hard to make it to at least 50 fashion shows every Fashion Week. Ever since I decided to take it slow and only go to the shows that excite and inspire me, my quality of life has gone up and I’m finally able to just enjoy myself and focus on the fashion.

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Maroon Sweater Dress: Tobi (c/o)
Ripped Jeans: Zara
Black Belay Bag: Zac Posen (c/o)
Black Booties: Ivanka Trump (c/o)

Photography: Kevin Tun

xx Esther