When I first started my forum, I spent nearly 10 hours a day working on it, (mostly after my daughter went to bed, often going without sleep for days). But after about two weeks had to cut back my schedule for more important family matters. Being a mom, i can't just devote that much time. Now I am on a more reasonable schedule of checking in on the forum, updating things as needed and interacting with my community. Still, I know some forum owners who live, eat and breathe for their forum. Do you feel like you have time, as a forum owner for a personal/family life and other things off forum that are important? Or, are you putting too much of yourself into the forum to do anything else such as get out with friends and have fun?
When do you have time for a personal life as a forum owner?
- Thread starter Beverly
- Start date
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
While my forum is somewhat important to me, it is by no means a reason to live. I won't forgo my life in order to keep it. At the end of the day, running a forum is a hobby for me. Being unemployed, I spend a lot of time on the computer looking for jobs, so right now I can be on the forum and coming up with ideas for it easily. Once I have a job, my activity will diminish, as it will once I move into my new place.
While my forum is somewhat important to me, it is by no means a reason to live. I won't forgo my life in order to keep it. At the end of the day, running a forum is a hobby for me. Being unemployed, I spend a lot of time on the computer looking for jobs, so right now I can be on the forum and coming up with ideas for it easily. Once I have a job, my activity will diminish, as it will once I move into my new place.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
You can spend several hours, days, or weeks working on your forum when you are first setting it up or doing something major (like a software conversion or a revamp) but after you have everything in place and how it should be, there shouldn't really be any logical reason for you to spend 10+ hours a day on your forum.
It also helps to have a solid staff team in place to help take care of your forum and interact with the community.
You can spend several hours, days, or weeks working on your forum when you are first setting it up or doing something major (like a software conversion or a revamp) but after you have everything in place and how it should be, there shouldn't really be any logical reason for you to spend 10+ hours a day on your forum.
It also helps to have a solid staff team in place to help take care of your forum and interact with the community.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
Having a caring admin in place, really helped me cut down on the time I had to spend on forum. She was employed as a nanny but would check into the forum on her smart phone to make sure things were going well. I really miss the early days of my forum, but it's nice things have settled into a normal routine now.
theezy said:
Having a caring admin in place, really helped me cut down on the time I had to spend on forum. She was employed as a nanny but would check into the forum on her smart phone to make sure things were going well. I really miss the early days of my forum, but it's nice things have settled into a normal routine now.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
When I first read this topic I laughed and thought never!!! lol Owning a forum is not just for anyone that's for sure! It does take ALOT of time, love and commitment! 🙂
When I first read this topic I laughed and thought never!!! lol Owning a forum is not just for anyone that's for sure! It does take ALOT of time, love and commitment! 🙂
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
When I first started forums... I think I didn't spend enough time on them. So I learned from mistakes and added more. As the forum grew and I had more staff members I stepped back slowly (real life got busier too) but the team somehow failed. I guess what's important is regular appearance, more than if you only spend days and then gone. But of course, real life comes first. 🙂
When I first started forums... I think I didn't spend enough time on them. So I learned from mistakes and added more. As the forum grew and I had more staff members I stepped back slowly (real life got busier too) but the team somehow failed. I guess what's important is regular appearance, more than if you only spend days and then gone. But of course, real life comes first. 🙂
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I always have time for personal life as a forum owner. Why? Because running a forum is a HOBBY for me. It's not a career nor a lifestyle nor do I plan on making it one. I could definitely live without forums if I had to. We didn't get our first computer till 2003 and I didn't join up with my first forum till 2007, so I definitely have more than enough time for my personal life.
I always have time for personal life as a forum owner. Why? Because running a forum is a HOBBY for me. It's not a career nor a lifestyle nor do I plan on making it one. I could definitely live without forums if I had to. We didn't get our first computer till 2003 and I didn't join up with my first forum till 2007, so I definitely have more than enough time for my personal life.
Hyperminimalism
Familiar Face
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I don't really have a life. I work two jobs, which are more important than my forum, but on the weekdays, I tend to do nothing if I'm not working. I also live alone, don't have a significant other, which frees up a good amount of time for me. So really, I've got a lot of time for it, and that's how I likes it.
I don't really have a life. I work two jobs, which are more important than my forum, but on the weekdays, I tend to do nothing if I'm not working. I also live alone, don't have a significant other, which frees up a good amount of time for me. So really, I've got a lot of time for it, and that's how I likes it.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
It depends on the day. On weekends/holidays I'll spend more time on my forum but during the week..an hour to 1.5hrs at most especially since I'm pretty busy in 'real' life.I have my smart phone with my wherever I go so I can always check in on my forum wherever I am and whenever I want but it's not my life..like others have said in this post, It's a HOBBY for me. Yes it's my goal for my forum to get huge and real active but if it stays as a small close community staying active, that's cool too.
It depends on the day. On weekends/holidays I'll spend more time on my forum but during the week..an hour to 1.5hrs at most especially since I'm pretty busy in 'real' life.I have my smart phone with my wherever I go so I can always check in on my forum wherever I am and whenever I want but it's not my life..like others have said in this post, It's a HOBBY for me. Yes it's my goal for my forum to get huge and real active but if it stays as a small close community staying active, that's cool too.
leandros21
Familiar Face
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
Everything is about organization. If you have some moderators, some automated restrictions and few people to post or answer, you can relax after some months of forum launch.
Everything is about organization. If you have some moderators, some automated restrictions and few people to post or answer, you can relax after some months of forum launch.
Black Angel
Resident
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I agree with Smitty Fan, my forum is a hobby for me, and so, I don't let it take over my offline life. I have a personal rule that I apply to pretty much anything. If there is something that has gotten to be so demanding that it is starting to affect my personal life or relationships, then I will get rid of it without thinking twice about it. Just because I enjoy something doesn't mean I will give it free reign over my life.
As an admin, I usually compartmentalize aspects of my personal life in that, there are some aspects of it that I post on the forum, and some that I don't and as much as I enjoy running it and chatting with my members, and I'm sure those who are there enjoy their time as well, it is not that serious for me to have to arrange my life around it like that. I do find ways to incorporate my forum into my personal life, such as, if my husband and I travel somewhere, then I will post footage from that, or a crappy hotel we stayed in, or photos from cool places and things I've seen in my city, etc. so that, my members can see the things that I have and be encouraged to do the same.
In the beginning, when you are setting it up, then yes, you will need to take some time to make sure that it is set up properly and double check to make sure that everything is in place and then go about getting some activity, but once you've gotten your members and activity, and are more or less, established, then after a while, things smooth themselves out and you'll find that you don't have to stress yourself as much as you did in the beginning.
I guess it really comes down to your attitude and how you go about doing things that makes all the difference.
I agree with Smitty Fan, my forum is a hobby for me, and so, I don't let it take over my offline life. I have a personal rule that I apply to pretty much anything. If there is something that has gotten to be so demanding that it is starting to affect my personal life or relationships, then I will get rid of it without thinking twice about it. Just because I enjoy something doesn't mean I will give it free reign over my life.
As an admin, I usually compartmentalize aspects of my personal life in that, there are some aspects of it that I post on the forum, and some that I don't and as much as I enjoy running it and chatting with my members, and I'm sure those who are there enjoy their time as well, it is not that serious for me to have to arrange my life around it like that. I do find ways to incorporate my forum into my personal life, such as, if my husband and I travel somewhere, then I will post footage from that, or a crappy hotel we stayed in, or photos from cool places and things I've seen in my city, etc. so that, my members can see the things that I have and be encouraged to do the same.
In the beginning, when you are setting it up, then yes, you will need to take some time to make sure that it is set up properly and double check to make sure that everything is in place and then go about getting some activity, but once you've gotten your members and activity, and are more or less, established, then after a while, things smooth themselves out and you'll find that you don't have to stress yourself as much as you did in the beginning.
I guess it really comes down to your attitude and how you go about doing things that makes all the difference.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
There's no need to spend more than 10 hours on a forum; you might have to do it at launch or in the beginning of the forum. After receiving an active staff and a few members to support the forum it will run itself. You really don't need to devote that much time when the forum is full, active, and its moving on by itself. As an admin you would go back and check if everything's running smoothly. For example Forum Promotion has an active community running itself and you would see an admin online once in a while to check on the site. :great:
There's no need to spend more than 10 hours on a forum; you might have to do it at launch or in the beginning of the forum. After receiving an active staff and a few members to support the forum it will run itself. You really don't need to devote that much time when the forum is full, active, and its moving on by itself. As an admin you would go back and check if everything's running smoothly. For example Forum Promotion has an active community running itself and you would see an admin online once in a while to check on the site. :great:
THF_Martin
Addicted
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I do have time for my social life still as I get people to manage parts of my sites as it is my job or business so I employ some people so I can take time off.
I do have time for my social life still as I get people to manage parts of my sites as it is my job or business so I employ some people so I can take time off.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
But, my forum is general chat and mostly revolves around friends talking to each other, rather than a niche where strangers converse to learn. That's the situation for my forum. If I'm not on forum, my friends will stop coming by. So, even though I don't spend 10 hours a day on there anymore, I have to show up and be present during regular business hours or they will just stop posting. I want to find a better way to monetize the forum, so any time spent on forum is productive.
Kindle said:
But, my forum is general chat and mostly revolves around friends talking to each other, rather than a niche where strangers converse to learn. That's the situation for my forum. If I'm not on forum, my friends will stop coming by. So, even though I don't spend 10 hours a day on there anymore, I have to show up and be present during regular business hours or they will just stop posting. I want to find a better way to monetize the forum, so any time spent on forum is productive.
ForumsGroup
Resident
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I find time between things to work on my forums. I don't have much of a social life, but when things come up I am not afraid to drop what I'm doing and going to do it.
The forum will be there when I return. There are some things that I do on a daily basis that are required of me. I use an app for my forum software on my iphone to make those things easier and easier to moderate on the go. Tapatalk, I believe its available on a lot of different forum softwares and they recently just started testing a free app with ads on it for those that want to test it out without paying for the paid Tapatalk app.
I find time between things to work on my forums. I don't have much of a social life, but when things come up I am not afraid to drop what I'm doing and going to do it.
The forum will be there when I return. There are some things that I do on a daily basis that are required of me. I use an app for my forum software on my iphone to make those things easier and easier to moderate on the go. Tapatalk, I believe its available on a lot of different forum softwares and they recently just started testing a free app with ads on it for those that want to test it out without paying for the paid Tapatalk app.
Re: When do you have time for a personal life as a forum own
I have a few forums myself and on top I run a hosting business and I go to school and I must say I have great staff which I can trust to run it without me but as an owner if you post then your members will post because you're the biggest example they have.
If you explain that you're busy and have a tight schedule then I'm sure your members will understand.
I have a few forums myself and on top I run a hosting business and I go to school and I must say I have great staff which I can trust to run it without me but as an owner if you post then your members will post because you're the biggest example they have.
If you explain that you're busy and have a tight schedule then I'm sure your members will understand.
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