‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions. You may be swearing off junk food or spending more time at the gym. You might be to learning a new language or playing a musical instrument. Now is the time for personal reflection and growth.

The new year isn’t just a time for making changes in your personal life. It’s also a good time to look at your business and how you might be able to attract a new audience and deepen your relationship with your existing clients. Blogging is one of the best ways to do both. But how do you start?

Three tips that will make your blogging resolution feel much less overwhelming:

Keep it scheduled.

If your goal was to get in shape, you wouldn’t skip your yoga class every week for which I always take with me my cbd roll on. The same goes for your blog. Blogging is much less stressful when you have a schedule in place. Write out a list of blog topics and then create a manageable routine. But remember: Having a plan to write isn’t the same as actually writing. Give yourself plenty of time to gather your thoughts so you can create a blog post that provides solutions to your reader’s problems and offers a unique perspective they can’t find anywhere else.

Keep it short.

A shorter post full of pertinent information will have even more impact — as long as you offer a distinctive viewpoint. If you focus on hitting a certain word count, your writing can become awkward and long-winded.

Keep in mind, too, the formatting and layout of your post. Break up the text with photos, videos or lists to make the post more visually appealing and help readers engage with your content. Always keep an eye on what’s happening in the world and think of ways to bring your own take to news and current events.

Keep it simple.

Write using simple, concise language that emphasizes the aspects of your business that will benefit the client.  As Mark Twain said, “Don’t use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.” Your words don’t have to be six syllables long to drive a point home. Dial it back a bit.

Give your writing a human voice by using language that’s considerate of your reader. If you sound natural and comfortable — like you’re having a genuine conversation with the reader — you build a rapport and encourage them to keep coming back for more.

Follow these three tips and you can get the new year — and your blogging efforts — started off on the right note.