Teaching And Blogging: The Life Of A Bleacher Revealed

We’ve been blogging and teaching now for a year and it has been an amazing journey. We’ve moulded two lifestyles into one and we call it “bleaching”.

We recommend that more people become bleachers and here’s why!

How To Become A Bleacher

For us, bleaching is a segway into the ultimate lifestyle of pure blogging, but for many it could be the perfect longterm career. We enjoy teaching English in China so much that it will be hard to give it up. Many people around the world are now teaching English and blogging about it. Teaching has become a digital nomad’s hobby and extra income earner.

We spend 20 hours a week in front of a class and 30 more in front of a computer screen. We’ve learned a lot about both jobs and we have found a great balance in our lives.

Today’s post comes from Goats on The Road who are about to embark on exciting journey through Central Asia.

Working On The Blog At Home

We work mostly in the afternoon, so our days always start with a nice cup of coffee and a little bit of music. We talk about the plan for the day both in our classes and on our laptops. We then move from the couch to the “office” (our kitchen table) and begin a shift of blogging.

We usually write posts, update social media, connect with other bloggers and work on SEO on our site for about 5 hours before stopping for lunch. We then move away from the computer and make lunch. After lunch we usually go out for a few hours. Some days we meet up with friends. Some days we just take a nice walk around our beautiful city of Yangzhou, China, before getting ready for our evening class.

Teaching English In China

We then go to school for 2 hours where we teach our adorable students. Our minds are completely in “school mode” and we play games and teach new grammar points to our classes. Sometimes we teach in class while other times we teach at promotions in front of a crowd.

Teaching has enabled us to really spend more time on our website, while completely enjoying our “real jobs”.

At home we worked between 50 – 80 hours / week and had absolutely no time to work online while we were saving money for our next trip.

Teaching in China not only pays enough ($1500 per month/person) for any budget traveller to save money, but it also gives us a ton of extra time to work on our online business. We work between 16-20 hours per week teaching, so even with all the hours spent on our website, we still have plenty of time for exploring China.

Teaching By The Numbers:

Hours/week: 16 – 20

Salary: ¥9000 ($1465/person)

Housing, bills, going out, beers & living well: ¥3400 ($570/person)

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Monthly Savings: ¥5480 ($895) / person

That means that after a 1 year contract in China you should have over $10,000! That’s enough to travel for 5 – 10 months depending on your travel style and choice of destinations.

Add potential blog earnings to that and you’ve got yourself some hefty savings! But how much is your blog worth? The chart below outlines vague monetization potential of the average blog:

Blogging By The Numbers:

Monthly Income: $0 – $7,500+

Remember… you’re only teaching 16-20 hours/week. This means that you can still travel around China while you’re working because your online business is completely mobile!

Since we started working here we’ve travelled to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi and more. We’ve met a ton of new friends both local and foreign and have learned some amazing new skills (like making dumplings).

So if you’re a blogger and you want to find the perfect job to travel, explore and build your online business… then consider teaching English.

China has a plethora of excellent job opportunities and you don’t necessarily need a degree or CELTA to find a job! The pay is great and living expenses are very low (especially outside of the big cities).

So what are you waiting for?! It’s time to leave the 9-5 and explore a world of freedom and opportunities! If you need some inspiration or someone to help you through the steps, check out our website in the bio below.

We’ve got plenty of tips and information on how to sustain a life of travel, fun and adventure while never being stuck in a cubicle.

**A Note From The Goats: In 2 days we are packing up our lives here in China and taking off on a 5 month backpacking journey! We will be camping, trekking, fishing and exploring Mongolia, Central Asia and Iran. Follow our adventure for tips, photos, videos and cool stories from this off-the-beaten-path region. We look forward to having you along for the ride!

About The Authors:

Nick & Dariece have left everything behind in search of cultural experiences, beautiful beaches and off the beaten path adventures. They call themselves Goats On The Road and their website for independent and off the beaten path travel encourages others to pack their bags and leave the ordinary behind. Visit Goats On The Road and get excellent tips for the adventurous traveler!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

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10 Tips On How To Blog and Work A Regular Job At The Same Time

Balancing a blog with a regular job is a unique challenge. It pushes you to manage time efficiently and make the most of your creativity within the constraints of a busy schedule. However, it’s a rewarding experience that builds discipline, helps you develop valuable skills like time management, and gives you an outlet for your creativity and passion. Plus, there’s something exciting about growing your own side project.

1. Create a Content Calendar

Consistency is key. A content calendar helps you plan blog posts ahead of time. Dedicate specific days to writing, editing, and publishing so that you’re not overwhelmed.

• Pro Tip: Use tools like Google Calendar or Trello to visually map out your schedule. Break tasks down by week or month to stay organized.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Blogging alongside a full-time job can be tricky, so set goals that are achievable. Whether it’s posting once a week or every two weeks, make sure the frequency aligns with your availability.

• Stay Consistent: Aim for quality over quantity. If once a week feels too much, shift to bi-weekly, but keep it regular.

3. Time Blocking: Be Efficient with Your Time

Time blocking is a game-changer. Dedicate specific blocks of time to blogging, whether it’s early mornings, lunch breaks, or late evenings. Use uninterrupted time to draft posts, brainstorm ideas, or edit content.

• Structure Your Week: Assign blocks for different tasks—Monday for writing, Wednesday for editing, and Saturday for publishing. This structure makes it easier to balance both your job and blogging.

4. Prioritize High-Impact Tasks

With limited time, focus on tasks that will have the greatest impact. Content creation should be your top priority—everything else (social media, design, etc.) can be secondary.

• Tip: Write first, then worry about formatting and visuals later. It’s easier to get the core content down before perfecting the details.

5. Repurpose Content

Maximize your efforts by repurposing blog posts into other formats. Turn a blog post into multiple social media updates, email newsletters, or even short videos.

• Extend Your Reach: You don’t need fresh content for every platform. A well-written blog post can easily be reshaped into multiple pieces of content.

6. Automate Your Social Media

Social media is essential for growing your blog, but it can be time-consuming. Use tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Later to schedule posts in advance, freeing up time to focus on writing.

• Batch Scheduling: Dedicate an hour a week to schedule all your posts. This keeps your blog active on social media without the daily effort.

7. Write in Batches

Instead of writing one post at a time, try batching your writing. Spend a few hours drafting several posts in one go. This way, you’ll have content ready to go when your schedule gets tight.

• Create a Stockpile: Having a backlog of blog posts means you won’t fall behind, even if work becomes more demanding.

8. Use Downtime Wisely

If you’re balancing a full-time job, finding spare time can be tricky. Use your lunch breaks or commutes to brainstorm, outline, or draft blog ideas. Even 10–15 minutes a day can add up.

• Maximize Spare Moments: Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones. Use mobile apps like Evernote or Google Docs to jot down ideas on the go.

9. Don’t Overcommit

Know your limits. It’s easy to overpromise and underdeliver. If posting daily isn’t feasible, switch to weekly or bi-weekly posts. Your readers will appreciate quality over frequency.

• Tip: Communicate your schedule to your audience. If you’re scaling back to fewer posts, be transparent. Your readers will understand.

10. Stay Organized with Productivity Tools

Staying organized is critical when juggling blogging and a job. Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion to track blog ideas, drafts, deadlines, and to-do lists.

• Track Progress: Create a workflow for each blog post—brainstorm, draft, edit, publish—to ensure nothing gets missed. These tools help keep you on top of both your blog and your work responsibilities.

How To Transition From A Regular Job To Full-Time Digital Nomad

Becoming a digital nomad is a unique experience because it blends work with travel, allowing you to break free from the traditional 9-to-5 structure. You get to explore new cultures, meet people from around the world, and enjoy a flexible work-life balance. While it requires careful planning and discipline, the rewards of freedom and personal growth make the journey worthwhile for many folks.

1. Start with a Clear Plan

Transitioning to a digital nomad lifestyle requires strategic planning. Start by identifying the skills or services you can offer remotely. Whether it’s freelancing, online consulting, or running an e-commerce store, having a solid plan for generating income is crucial.

• Tip: Begin by setting clear financial goals and estimating your monthly expenses as a digital nomad. This will help you gauge how much work you need to secure before fully transitioning.

2. Build a Side Hustle First

Before you quit your regular job, it’s a good idea to test the waters. Start building your online business or freelance work while still employed. This allows you to grow your digital income without the immediate pressure of needing it to replace your full-time salary.

• Pro Tip: Use evenings and weekends to grow your side hustle. Once you have a steady stream of income, you’ll feel more secure making the leap to full-time digital work.

3. Save for the Transition

One of the most important steps is to build up savings before making the transition. Having a financial buffer will give you peace of mind as you navigate the uncertainties of freelancing or remote work. Aim to save at least 6-12 months of living expenses before leaving your job.

• Financial Safety Net: This savings will also help cover initial travel expenses or emergencies that might arise during your digital nomad journey.

4. Establish a Reliable Income Stream

Make sure your digital income is steady before quitting your regular job. Whether through multiple freelance clients, passive income streams, or remote job contracts, you want to ensure that you can consistently cover your expenses.

• Diversify Your Income: Don’t rely on a single source of income. Diversifying can provide financial stability, especially if one income stream slows down.

5. Plan for Healthcare and Insurance

As a full-time digital nomad, you’ll need to consider how you’ll handle healthcare and insurance. Research international health insurance plans, and ensure you have coverage while traveling.

• Stay Protected: Many digital nomads opt for international insurance plans that cover medical emergencies, travel mishaps, and lost property.

6. Minimize Your Belongings

The digital nomad lifestyle is all about mobility. You’ll need to travel light, so start downsizing your possessions. Sell or store items that you won’t need while on the road. Focus on essentials like your laptop, portable tech gadgets, and clothing.

• Embrace Minimalism: Keep your belongings to a minimum for easier and less stressful travel. Invest in quality, multi-purpose gear to reduce clutter.

7. Research Digital Nomad-Friendly Locations

One of the perks of being a digital nomad is that you can work from virtually anywhere. Research cities or countries that offer good infrastructure for remote work, such as reliable internet, affordable living costs, and vibrant digital nomad communities.

• Popular Hubs: Places like Chiang Mai, Bali, and Lisbon are popular among digital nomads for their affordable lifestyles and coworking spaces.

8. Invest in Good Tech Gear

Your laptop and internet connection are your lifelines as a digital nomad. Make sure you invest in a reliable laptop, backup storage devices, and portable Wi-Fi or SIM cards for internet access on the go.

• Must-Have Gear: A lightweight, high-performance laptop, noise-canceling headphones, and a good backup system for your files will help you work efficiently from anywhere.

9. Join Digital Nomad Communities

Connect with other digital nomads by joining online forums, social media groups, or attending nomad meetups. These communities can provide valuable insights, support, and networking opportunities.

• Get Connected: Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and platforms like Nomad List are great places to ask questions and get advice from seasoned digital nomads.

10. Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability

Transitioning from a regular job to being a digital nomad will require flexibility. You’ll need to adapt to different time zones, adjust your work hours, and manage the occasional travel hiccups. Being open to change and resilient in the face of challenges will help you thrive in this lifestyle.

• Stay Open-Minded: While the digital nomad lifestyle offers freedom, it also comes with unpredictability. Embrace the adventure and learn to go with the flow.

Building Your Own Bleacher Life (Without Burning Out)

Teaching and blogging at the same time looks glamorous from the outside: slow mornings, short teaching shifts, weekends away, a blog quietly growing in the background.

It can look like that.

It can also look like late-night lesson planning, staring at a blinking cursor, and wondering why you haven’t left your neighbourhood in three weeks.

The difference usually comes down to how you design your lifestyle from the beginning. Not just the country you choose, but your hours, your budget, your weekly rhythm, and the expectations you set for yourself and your blog.

Let’s break down what it actually looks like to build a sustainable bleacher life of your own.

Where to Teach: Picking a Base That Matches Your Goal

Not all teaching destinations are created equal. Some are fantastic for savings, others for lifestyle, others for short contracts and travel.

If your goal is to bleach – teach and grow a blog – you want three things:

• Reasonable teaching hours
• Enough income to live well and still save
• A city or town that keeps you inspired to create

Here’s a simple way to think about different regions:

*Savings potential depends heavily on the city, school, and your personal lifestyle.

A few practical things to consider before signing anything:

• Contract length – If you want to travel after, a 9–12 month contract is often the sweet spot.
• Teaching hours vs office hours – Many ads say “20 hours” but hide 15+ hours of unpaid office time. Ask clearly.
• Housing – Provided apartment vs housing allowance. Provided housing simplifies life in the first months.
• Commute – A 10-minute walk versus a 90-minute bus ride completely changes your energy for blogging.

Bleaching works best when your teaching job supports your online work instead of crushing it. Be picky. It’s worth turning down a slightly higher salary if it means fewer hours and less stress.

Running the Numbers: A Bleacher Budget That Actually Works

The original Goats on the Road breakdown shows the power of a low cost of living: modest teaching hours, solid monthly savings, and time left over.

You don’t need the exact same numbers, but you do need a clear picture of your own.

Think of your monthly finances in three simple buckets:

1. Living Costs – Rent, utilities, food, transport, phone, visa costs
2. Bleacher Extras – Weekend trips, cafés, gear, co-working, new laptop fund
3. Savings / Safety – Emergency fund, travel fund, “exit” fund

A simplified example of how it can look in a smaller Chinese city or similar teaching destination:

The key idea:

• Your teaching income covers a comfortable life and monthly savings.
• Your blog income (at least at first) is a bonus – not something you rely on to pay rent.

When you’re not stressing about rent, you can make better long-term decisions about your online projects instead of chasing the fastest, messiest money.

Designing a Weekly Bleacher Routine You Can Stick With

A “typical” bleacher week often looks like:

• Teaching mostly late afternoons, evenings, and weekends
• Mornings and early afternoons wide open
• One full day off, one “half day”
• Social life, travel, and errands squeezed… somewhere

If you’re not careful, your blog gets whatever scraps of time are left. Flip that.

A Sample Bleacher Week

Here’s a realistic rhythm if you’re teaching 18–20 hours a week:

A few guiding principles:

• Protect 2–3 “deep work” mornings a week for your blog: no social media, no lesson planning.
• Bundle lesson prep into 1–2 sessions instead of nibbling at it every day.
• Claim one day truly off from both teaching and blogging. Guilt-free. Your creativity needs breathing room.

When you design the week with intention, you don’t end up resenting your students or your blog. You give both proper space.

Turning Your Blog Into a Real Bleacher Asset

If teaching is your engine, your blog is the long game.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, think in terms of a simple, sustainable strategy:

Choose Your “Bleacher Pillars”

Pick 2–3 content pillars that make sense for your life:

• Teaching abroad / TEFL experiences in your host country
• Local travel guides and weekend escapes from your base
• Personal finance for ESL teachers and digital nomads
• Behind-the-scenes of building a blog while working

These are the topics you’ll keep returning to, refining, and organising. They become your “world” online.

Batch Content Like a Teacher Plans Lessons

Use your teacher brain:

• Brainstorm post ideas in sets of 10–20 around each pillar.
• Draft 2–3 posts in a single sitting without worrying about perfection.
• Come back another day to edit and format.

Just like lesson planning, batching makes you more efficient. It also means that one unexpectedly busy teaching week doesn’t kill your entire posting schedule.

Focus on Relationships, Not Just Numbers

Bleachers have a quiet advantage over full-time digital nomads: you’re rooted. You’re part of a local scene.

Use that:

• Interview other teachers, café owners, local friends, small business owners.
• Collaborate with bloggers in your city or region.
• Share stories that only someone living there would notice.

In a world drowning in generic content, being genuinely embedded somewhere is a superpower.

Making Space for Travel While You’re Still Teaching

One of the biggest perks of bleacher life is that you don’t have to choose between “saving mode” at home and “spend mode” while travelling. You can travel in micro-doses all year long.

Think in Terms of “Rings” Around Your City

Imagine your base city with three rings around it:

1. Inner Ring – Same-Day Adventures
   • Parks, markets, old streets, temples, quirky neighbourhoods.
   • Perfect for a free morning before teaching or a Sunday afternoon.
2. Middle Ring – Weekend Trips
   • Cities or nature spots 1–3 hours away by bus or train.
   • Leave Saturday morning, come back Sunday night.
3. Outer Ring – Holiday Escapes
   • Longer trips for national holidays or contract breaks.
   • Think 3–10 days: neighbouring provinces, bordering countries.

Decide in advance:

• 1–2 inner ring outings per week
• 1 middle ring weekend per month (or every two months if you’re saving hard)
• 2–3 outer ring adventures over your contract

You’ll be amazed how much you see in a year when you plan this way.

Avoiding Classic Bleacher Burnout

Bleacher life is powerful, but it comes with some predictable traps. You’ll recognise them immediately once you start teaching.

Trap 1: Saying Yes to Every Extra Class

Those extra hours look tempting:

• “Just a couple more classes a week.”
• “It’s only one extra promotion.”
• “It’s more money for travel.”

Suddenly your gentle 18-hour schedule is 28 hours plus marking, plus blogging, plus commuting.

If your real goal is to build an online business, you need to leave money on the table sometimes. Protect your freedom.

Trap 2: Treating Your Blog Like Homework

If every blog session feels like another obligation, you’ll avoid it. The trick is mixing “passion projects” with strategic posts.

For every one highly practical, keyword-focused article you write, allow yourself one story or photo essay that lights you up. The balance keeps you moving.

Trap 3: Living Entirely in the Expat Bubble

Teaching can easily turn into a loop of:

• Classroom → expat bar → Netflix → expat brunch → classroom.

It’s comfortable. It’s also the fast track to feeling stuck and uninspired.

Push yourself:

• Join a local hobby group – language exchange, hiking club, dance class.
• Eat at local canteens more than international chains.
• Visit places your students recommend instead of just the ones in guidebooks.

The more connected you feel to your host country, the easier it is to sit down and write something that isn’t generic.

Trap 4: Forgetting Your Health

Strange hours, new food, a lot of screen time – it adds up.

Simple, boring habits make bleacher life sustainable:

• Walk to school when you can.
• Keep a basic stretching or bodyweight routine.
• Set a hard cut-off for screens at least some nights each week.

Healthy you writes better, teaches better, and travels better.

A One-Year Bleacher Game Plan

To make this more concrete, here’s how a full year might look if you commit to teaching and blogging as a serious combo.

Months 1–3: Settle, Observe, Build Systems

• Move into your apartment, learn your neighbourhood, figure out your commute.
• Pay attention to your energy – when do you naturally feel like writing? When are you useless?
• Publish your “anchor content”: core pages, about, and 5–10 good posts around your main topics.
• Create a simple weekly schedule that respects your actual teaching timetable.

Focus: Adjusting to the country and proving to yourself you can post consistently.

Months 4–6: Grow Output and Experiment

• Start batching content; aim for a realistic posting rhythm (weekly or bi-weekly).
• Try different post formats: guides, photo essays, opinion pieces, teaching diaries, interviews.
• Pitch a few guest posts on teaching or budget travel to related sites.
• Do 1–2 weekend trips per month, taking notes and photos for future posts.

Focus: Volume + variety, while keeping quality in check.

Months 7–9: Refine and Monetise Gently

• Look at what’s resonating – which posts get comments, emails, or shares? Do more of that.
• Clean up older posts with better photos, formatting, and more helpful details.
• Test one or two gentle monetisation methods (e.g. a small digital product, a paid guide, or selective affiliate links) without turning your site into a billboard.
• Consider dropping a few teaching hours if your savings and workload allow.

Focus: Turning traffic into an asset without destroying your integrity.

Months 10–12: Decide What’s Next

By now you’ll have a solid sample size of real life as a bleacher. Ask yourself:

• Do you enjoy teaching enough to renew the contract?
• Is your blog or online work making meaningful income yet?
• Do you want to stay in the same city, switch schools, or move countries?

There are no wrong answers here. Some people renew and keep building. Others reduce teaching hours and lean into the blog. Others cash out their savings and hit the road full-time.

The important thing is that after a year, you’ll be deciding from a place of experience, not fantasy.

Is Bleaching Actually Right for You?

Bleacher life is not a magic solution. It’s a very specific cocktail of teaching, creative work, and travel.

You’ll probably love it if:

• You enjoy working with students and can handle loud classrooms and unpredictable energy.
• You’re self-motivated enough to open your laptop for blog work when nobody is forcing you.
• You’re okay with living in one place for months at a time instead of changing cities every few days.
• You like numbers and structure just enough to track hours, budgets, and goals.

You might struggle if:

• You secretly hate teaching and are only doing it for the visa or salary.
• You need rigid separation between “work” and “free time” and feel uncomfortable with blurred lines.
• You want fast results from your blog and get discouraged if money doesn’t show up quickly.
• You’re happiest when you’re constantly on the move with no fixed base.

Bleacher life is a bridge. It’s not the only path to location independence, but it can be a powerful one if you walk it deliberately.

Teaching And Blogging As A “Bleacher”: Key Questions, Honest Answers & Practical Tips

What do you actually mean by “bleaching” and who is this lifestyle best for?

In simple terms, bleaching is blending two worlds: teaching (usually English abroad) and blogging or building an online business at the same time. Your classroom job pays the bills and gives you structure; your blog is the creative, long-term project that might eventually replace that job.

This lifestyle works best for people who genuinely like teaching, are curious about living abroad, and also have the patience to build something slowly online. If you want a safety net, enjoy a bit of routine, and still crave travel and creativity, you’re in the right camp. If you hate the idea of lesson plans or working with students, bleaching is going to feel like a slog.

How much money can I realistically save teaching English while growing a blog?

It depends. In a solid teaching destination with a low cost of living, it’s absolutely possible to live comfortably and still save a good chunk each month. Plenty of teachers manage to cover rent, food, nights out, local travel, and still stash away a few hundred dollars or more every month if they’re not going wild on imported goods and big nights out.

The real trick is keeping lifestyle creep under control. If every weekend turns into a big-city escape or bar crawl, your savings vanish. If you live like a local most of the time, cook some meals at home, and treat travel as a regular habit instead of a constant splurge, you can build a travel fund and a “freedom fund” surprisingly fast while your blog ramps up in the background.

Do I need teaching qualifications or a degree to start this bleacher lifestyle?

Not really. You don’t always need a full education degree to get started, but you do need to be realistic about where you can go and what type of work you’ll find. Many language schools prefer teachers with a bachelor’s degree and at least a basic TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA-style certificate, especially if they’re helping with visas.

If you don’t have a degree, you may still find options in certain countries, smaller cities, or online teaching platforms, but you’ll need to be extra careful about visas, legality, and working conditions. Either way, getting some training and experience before you hop on the plane will make your life much easier and your classes a lot less stressful.

How many teaching hours per week give you a good balance with blogging?

Sweet spot? Somewhere in the 15–25 teaching hours per week range for most people. That usually translates into a schedule where you can fit in proper lesson prep, show up to class with energy, and still have several focused blocks a week to write, edit, and work on your blog.

Once your teaching timetable creeps past 25–30 classroom hours, it often turns into a full-time school job with extra unpaid office time and promotions tacked on. At that point, blogging gets pushed to late nights and the random Sunday you’re not recovering. When you’re job hunting, ask very specific questions about classroom hours versus office hours so you’re not surprised later.

Should I start my travel blog before I move abroad to teach, or wait until I’m already on the ground?

Yes. The best time to start was yesterday, the second-best time is today. If you already know you want to blog, there’s zero downside to getting the foundations in place before you leave: pick a name, set up hosting, create a simple design, and write a few posts about your journey to this point.

Once you’re on the ground, your brain will be busy with culture shock, new routines, and lesson plans. Trying to launch a blog from scratch on top of that is possible, but harder. If you at least have the “skeleton” of the blog ready before you move, you can spend those early months filling it with local stories instead of wrestling with tech and branding from a noisy apartment.

How long does it usually take before a blog starts earning meaningful income alongside a teaching job?

Slow. That’s the honest answer. For most people, it’s many months before they see their first trickle of income, and usually 1–3 years before a blog starts earning anything that feels like a meaningful part of their monthly budget. Growth isn’t linear either – you might feel stuck for ages and then suddenly a few things click at once.

That’s why bleaching works so well. Your teaching salary keeps the lights on and food in your belly while you experiment online. If you treat the blog like a long-term project and measure progress in skills, traffic, and connections – not just dollars – you’re much more likely to stick with it long enough to see the money show up.

How much savings should I have before moving overseas to teach and blog at the same time?

Comfortable answer: at least 3–6 months of basic living expenses for your new country, plus a cushion for flights, deposits, and unexpected costs. That buffer keeps you from accepting shady teaching contracts out of desperation or panicking if your first paycheque is delayed.

If you’re more risk-averse, aim for closer to a year’s worth of expenses. That may sound like a lot, but remember you’re potentially changing countries, jobs, and social circles in one move. Knowing you can cover life for a while even if things go sideways is what lets you relax into the adventure instead of constantly doing worst-case math in your head.

What does a realistic daily routine look like when you’re teaching and blogging in the same city?

A typical “bleacher” day might start slow: coffee, breakfast, a quick catch-up on messages, then a solid 2–3-hour block of focused blog work in the late morning. That could be drafting a new article, editing photos, planning upcoming posts, or answering emails.

Early afternoon might be for errands, lunch with friends, or a wander around your neighbourhood, followed by an hour of lesson prep. Late afternoon and evening are usually teaching time – you head to school, run your classes, maybe join a promotion event, then come home tired but not destroyed. A couple of nights a week you might squeeze in lighter blog tasks like scheduling social media or brainstorming ideas.

The key is designing a routine you can repeat and sticking to it most days, instead of relying on occasional big “catch-up” sessions when you’re already exhausted.

How do you avoid burnout when you’re juggling lesson planning, blogging, and exploring a new country?

Absolutely. Burnout is the biggest bleacher enemy. The secret is to admit from day one that you can’t do everything at once. You’re not going to teach full-time, publish three posts a week, hit every bar in town, and travel every weekend without eventually crashing.

Build in rest on purpose. Protect a couple of quiet mornings for nothing but coffee and wandering. Give yourself one real day off from both teaching and blogging every week. Say no to extra classes if they’re going to eat into your only creative time. And choose a blog schedule you can sustain for months, even if that means one solid post every two weeks instead of an ambitious plan you abandon after a month.

Is it possible to be a bleacher as a couple, or will that just double the stress?

Yes. Teaching and blogging as a couple can actually make life easier – as long as you communicate like adults. On the teaching side, you can often find jobs in the same city or even the same school, share housing, and split chores. On the blogging side, one person might be stronger with writing while the other prefers photography, video, or tech, and you can divide roles accordingly.

Where couples get into trouble is when expectations are unspoken. Maybe one person wants to focus on the blog and the other is more excited about weekend trips, or one is comfortable saving aggressively while the other wants to spend more freely. Having honest money, workload, and future-planning conversations early makes the bleacher life much smoother for both of you.

What are some contract red flags for teaching jobs if my goal is to protect time for blogging?

Biggest red flag: vague hours. Any ad that just says “up to X hours” or doesn’t distinguish between teaching hours and office hours deserves extra scrutiny. If the school expects you at your desk all day even when you’re not teaching, your blogging time disappears.

Other warning signs include constant “promotions” outside normal hours, split shifts that scatter your day into tiny unusable chunks, no clear overtime policy, or pressure to do unpaid demo classes. A good bleacher-friendly contract is clear about teaching hours, pays extra for anything beyond that, and doesn’t chain you to the building when you’re not actively teaching.

Can I keep this lifestyle going long term, or is bleacher life better as a 1–2 year chapter?

It depends. Some people fall in love with the balance and happily teach and blog in the same region for many years, using each school year as a rhythm for saving and creating. Others treat bleaching as a bridge: one or two contracts to crush debt, build savings, and grow an online project before moving on to full-time travel or remote work.

Long term, it comes down to how much you enjoy teaching and how your online work evolves. If you still look forward to the classroom, like having a home base, and appreciate the stability, there’s no rule that says bleacher life has to end. If you find yourself daydreaming about more freedom and your blog or online work starts earning steadily, you may naturally slide into the next phase.

How do you actually transition from bleacher life into full-time digital nomad or full-time blogger?

Gradually. The smoothest transitions happen in stages, not in a dramatic “I quit and now my blog has to pay everything” leap. First, you prove to yourself that you can publish consistently while teaching. Then, as your online income grows, you might reduce teaching hours or move to a more flexible role like part-time or private tutoring.

Once your online work has covered your basic expenses for several months in a row – not just one lucky spike – you can seriously consider leaving the classroom. At that point, you already have systems, content, and some income history behind you. You’re not jumping into the unknown; you’re simply shifting how much time you give to each side of your hybrid life.

What if my blog never really takes off—will I feel like I failed at this whole experiment?

Nope. A blog that never turns into a full-time business can still be wildly valuable. Along the way you’ll learn content, basic SEO, storytelling, photography, maybe video, and a ton about how you work best. You’ll also have a personal archive of your time abroad that you’ll be grateful for years later.

Bleacher life isn’t a pass/fail exam where “full-time blogger” is the only winning outcome. Maybe the blog becomes a solid side income that tops up your teaching salary. Maybe it opens the door to freelance writing, marketing roles, or remote work you never expected. Even if you eventually decide to pivot, the skills, memories, and confidence you gained from teaching and creating at the same time come with you.

Is this lifestyle only for twenty-somethings, or can I start bleaching in my 30s or 40s?

Absolutely. While a lot of stories you see online feature people in their twenties, there are plenty of teachers and bloggers out there who started in their 30s, 40s, or beyond. In some classrooms, being a bit older can even work in your favour – parents and schools may see you as more stable or experienced.

The main difference later in life is that you’re more likely to have responsibilities to think about: family, health, long-term savings. That just means your version of bleacher life might involve more planning, better insurance, and maybe a bit more comfort built into your housing and routine. The core idea – using teaching to create space to build something online – works at any age.

Final Thoughts: Build a Hybrid That Feels Like Yours

The Goats’ version of bleaching was 16–20 hours of teaching, a kitchen-table office, dumpling-making nights with friends, and a fat savings account waiting at the end of the contract.

Your version will look different.

Maybe your sweet spot is part-time online teaching and part-time freelancing, with a blog as your creative outlet. Maybe you base yourself in a Latin American city where the savings are lower but the street life keeps your camera and notebook busy. Maybe you stay put for a couple of years, become a local in your adopted city, and build a deep archive of content about that one place.

The formula is simple:

• A job that pays the bills and doesn’t destroy you
• A blog or online project that lights you up
• A base that keeps you curious
• Enough discipline to show up for both

Get those pieces roughly in place, and you’ve got yourself a bleacher life worth building on.