As a 9-to-5er, I used to dream about being my own boss. No one telling me what to do, full freedom, working on my own ideas. It sounded perfect.
Then I actually started building a side project.
And here’s what I didn’t expect: without a boss, I often didn’t know what to do. Figuring out what to work on, before even doing the work, became a whole job by itself. It was exhausting in a way I never imagined.
This wasn’t what I signed up for. Not at all.
It feels like fighting a war with yourself. On one side, there’s the boss version of me—ambitious, focused, wanting results. On the other side, there’s the staff version of me—lazy, easily distracted, always looking for the path of least resistance.
And if I’m not careful, the staff wins. Every time. Because that’s human nature: we want to do as little as possible, whether we’re working for ourselves or for someone else.
So what’s the solution? I think it’s about turning that nature into an advantage. Instead of fighting it, I try to use it as a filter. I ask: What are the few tasks that will actually make the biggest difference?
Then I write them down. I make them non-negotiable.
Because if I don’t, the “lazy staff” in me will always find a way to avoid them.
Being your own boss isn’t about freedom—it’s about discipline. The discipline to make the hard choices, stick to them, and hold yourself accountable when no one else will.
Having kids is a funny thing. On one hand, they eat up every ounce of time you think you have. It’s the easiest excuse in the world—“I didn’t get this done because the kids kept me busy.” And to be honest, it’s not even a bad excuse, because it’s true.
But just like anything else in life, parenting has two sides. If you only look at the side that drains you, you’ll never get anywhere. The trick is finding the positive.
For me, I’ve noticed two big things that stand out.
1. Kids Force Me to Be Strategic With Time
I didn’t realize this until my kids went away to summer camp. Suddenly, I had all this free time. My first thought was, “Finally! I’ll use this time to dive into my projects and catch up on everything I’ve been putting off.”
But that’s not what happened. Instead, I found myself watching movies. Doing random stuff. Basically, wasting the time I thought I needed so badly.
It hit me: it’s not the kids that stop me from working long hours. It’s me. Humans just aren’t built to grind endlessly. If it’s not kids eating my time, it’ll be something else. The only difference is how I feel afterward.
With kids around, I may not have unlimited time, but my days feel full. Without them, I had all the time in the world and ended up feeling empty. That was a wake-up call.
2. Kids Change the Way I Make Decisions
Making decisions is hard. There are always too many angles, and it’s easy to overcomplicate things.
What I’ve started doing is asking myself one simple question: “What do I want my kids to be like when they grow up?”
Do I want them to be disciplined? Curious? Resilient? Skilled in certain areas?
Once I answer that, I try to live it out myself. Because they shouldn’t carry the weight of my unfinished dreams—that’s my job. If I want them to read, I should be reading. If I want them to be disciplined, I should practice discipline. It’s not about telling them what to do, but showing them.
Wrapping It Up
So yeah—having kids takes your time, no question. But it also gives you a perspective you can’t get any other way. They make you treat time with more intention, and they give you a simple filter for making decisions that actually matter.
In a way, parenting doesn’t just shape your kids. It reshapes you.
The most immature type of thinking is that life is linear.
You put in X amount of work and you get Y amount of results.
Just like in school.
But you are not.
You are in this imperfect society where no one thing determines the result, but a thousand of things. Any one thing has correlation with the final result, but no causation.
And above all, it is okay to zigzag. Don’t get impatient.
I personally have to remind myself on this a lot.
Additionally, results don’t come in fixed time slots periodically. They come in unexpectedly, more often than not. Having expectations will throw you off balance.
The last thing I want to put it out there – something controversial to an extent – is that you should NOT give your 100%, or what them boys like to say, going ALL-IN.
Because the other side of the “ALL-IN” coin is expecting great things to happen. But life doesn’t care if you’ve given 100% or 5%; it’s not about you.
So always give 70%, and expect 5%. This is the only way to keep you going for a long time, even without any visible result.
Nothing makes sense, for a long time, until it does.
One of the coolest things about WordPress — and something I didn’t fully appreciate at first — is how flexible it is. And a big part of that flexibility comes from plugins. You can install plugins to do all sorts of things: improve your site’s speed, boost your SEO, add contact forms, set up an online store… pretty much anything.
But here’s the thing: with thousands of plugins out there, it can get overwhelming. Which ones are actually good? How do you even install one? And what happens if something goes wrong?
This is a guide I wish I had when I started — a simple walkthrough on how to choose, install, and manage plugins properly, without getting stuck.
What’s a Plugin, Anyway?
If themes are how your site looks, plugins are how it behaves.
A plugin is like an app for your WordPress site. It adds new features or tools without you needing to code anything. For example:
Want a contact form? There’s a plugin for that.
Want to track your visitors with Google Analytics? Yep, plugin.
Want to speed up your site or improve security? Plugins again.
Basically, plugins help you do more with your site, based on what you need — not what you think you’re supposed to do.
Where Do You Find Plugins?
The easiest place to find plugins is the WordPress Plugin Directory. You can get there from inside your dashboard or by visiting wordpress.org/plugins.
Inside your WordPress dashboard, go to:
Plugins > Add New
From there, you’ll see tabs like:
Featured (popular choices)
Recommended
Favorites (if you’ve saved any)
Plus a search bar at the top to find specific functionality (e.g., search “SEO” or “forms”)
You’ll see a bunch of plugins come up, each with ratings, install numbers, and an install button.
How to Tell If a Plugin Is Good
There are thousands of plugins, but not all of them are maintained or worth using. Here’s how I learned to pick the solid ones:
⭐ 1. Check the Star Rating
Look for plugins with 4 stars or more. Bonus if it has a lot of reviews.
🛠 2. Check When It Was Last Updated
Avoid plugins that haven’t been touched in a year. WordPress updates regularly, and you want plugins that keep up.
🔄 3. Look at Active Installations
A plugin used by 100,000+ people usually means it’s reliable and well-supported.
✅ 4. Check Compatibility
Always double-check that the plugin works with the version of WordPress you’re running. That info is shown right before you install.
If you’re still unsure, click “More Details” to read the plugin’s description, changelog, reviews, and FAQs.
How to Install and Activate a Plugin
🧩 Option 1: Install Directly from the Plugin Directory
This is the easiest way to add a plugin.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New
Use the search bar to find what you need
Click Install Now
Then hit Activate when it’s done installing
Boom — the plugin is now active and ready to be set up.
💻 Option 2: Upload a ZIP File
If you bought a premium plugin or downloaded one from another site, you’ll probably get it as a .zip file.
Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
Click Choose File, upload the .zip
Click Install Now
Then hit Activate
This comes in handy for plugins that aren’t in the official directory — just make sure they’re from a trusted source.
After You Activate a Plugin
Most plugins will either walk you through a quick setup or add a new menu item in your sidebar where you can configure it.
For example:
If you install WP Forms, you’ll go to the WP Forms tab in your dashboard, create a contact form using their drag-and-drop builder, and then use the block editor to add it wherever you want — like your contact page.
It’s usually pretty straightforward, and the good plugins explain what to do.
How to Deactivate and Delete Plugins
If you’re not using a plugin anymore, it’s best to clean it up so it doesn’t slow down your site.
Here’s what I do:
Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
Click Deactivate under the plugin name
After that, a Delete button shows up — click it to remove it for good
Only keep the plugins you actually use. I’ve learned it’s better for performance and keeps things tidy.
When Something Breaks: Plugin Conflicts
Sometimes, installing a new plugin causes something on your site to stop working. Super frustrating — but usually fixable.
There are two main ways to figure out what’s wrong:
🔌 Option 1: Manual Check
Deactivate all your plugins
Reactivate them one by one
Refresh your site each time to see when the problem comes backThat usually pinpoints the troublemaker.
🔍 Option 2: Use a Troubleshooting Plugin
Install Health Check & Troubleshooting. It lets you activate troubleshooting mode just for you, so your visitors won’t see any issues while you test things behind the scenes.
I didn’t know this existed at first, and it’s saved me more than once.
Some Good Plugins to Start With
Here are a few beginner-friendly plugins I’ve tested or seen recommended a lot. (Use what you need — not all at once!)
Purpose
Plugin
Contact Forms
WP Forms, Ninja Forms
SEO
Yoast SEO, RankMath
Caching
WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache
Security
Wordfence, Sucuri
Backups
UpdraftPlus
Analytics
MonsterInsights
Page Builders
Elementor, Spectra
As I’ve been told — don’t overload your site with plugins. Pick what solves a problem you actually have.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to install and manage plugins was one of the biggest “aha” moments for me with WordPress. At first, it was confusing — what’s safe to install? Will it break my site? How many is too many?
But once I got the hang of it, I realized how powerful this system is. Plugins let you shape your site to do exactly what you need, without having to write a single line of code.
If you’re new like me, just start slow. Read reviews, try one thing at a time, and don’t be afraid to test and delete. Every site is different, and part of the fun is figuring out what works for yours.
Your WordPress theme is more than just a cosmetic choice — it’s the foundation of your site’s layout, structure, and overall user experience. Whether you’re launching a new website or redesigning an old one, choosing and managing a theme properly can make or break your project.
This guide walks you through the complete process of selecting, evaluating, installing, updating, and getting support for WordPress themes — with a focus on 2025’s modern workflow. You’ll also learn the differences between theme types and get practical steps to apply everything directly on your website.
What Is a WordPress Theme?
A WordPress theme is a template that defines the layout, design, and visual styling of your website. While your content remains separate, the theme controls how it’s presented. This modular separation means you can change your site’s appearance entirely without losing any posts, pages, or media.
For example, if you switch from a minimalist theme to one with a magazine-style layout, all your content remains — just displayed in a new way.
Understanding the 4 Theme Types in WordPress
Modern WordPress supports four primary types of themes. Knowing the difference is crucial for choosing the right one for your project.
1. Block Themes
Block themes use the WordPress block editor for every part of the site, including headers, footers, and templates. They support the full Site Editor, allowing visual customization across the entire site. This is the future of WordPress.
These themes rely on older customization tools like:
Customizer
Widgets
Navigation menusClassic themes are familiar and have a large library of options but lack the flexibility of block themes.Example: Twenty Sixteen, Astra
3. Hybrid Themes
Hybrid themes blend classic structure with block-style enhancements. You still use the Customizer but can also edit templates and blocks.
Example: Eksell
4. Universal Themes
Universal themes can be used as either block or classic depending on your preferences. They provide maximum compatibility and editing flexibility.
Example: Emulsion
How to Search for and Evaluate WordPress Themes
Finding the right theme means balancing design, performance, and customization potential.
Where to Search:
Inside your dashboard: Appearance > Themes > Add New
Recent updates (ideally updated in the last 3 months)
Number of active installs (more = better support)
Ratings and reviews (read 3–5 critical reviews to identify common issues)Always preview the theme before installing. This gives you a basic idea of how your content will look, though not all themes come preconfigured like their demos.
How to Install a WordPress Theme
There are two main ways to install themes:
Method 1: From the Theme Directory
Go to Appearance > Themes
Click Add New
Find a theme you like
Click Install, then Activate
Method 2: Uploading a ZIP File
Click Add New > Upload Theme
Upload a .zip theme file from your device
Click Install, then ActivateThis method is common for premium themes purchased from third-party vendors or marketplaces.
How to Safely Update Themes
Updating your theme ensures security, performance, and compatibility — but can also risk breaking your design if you’ve customized it.
Best Practices:
Always back up your site using a tool like UpdraftPlus
Use a child theme if you’ve made CSS or template changes
Enable auto-updates for themes you haven’t customized
To update:
Go to Dashboard > Updates, or Appearance > Themes
Click Update Now if prompted
How to Delete Unused Themes
Too many installed themes can clutter your backend or even create small security risks.
To delete a theme:
Go to Appearance > Themes
Click on a theme you aren’t using
Select Theme Details
Click Delete (bottom-right) Only keep:
Your current theme
One fallback theme like Twenty Twenty-One
How to Get Theme Support
If you’re stuck or confused, WordPress provides community support forums.
Review FAQs or submit your own support ticketFor premium themes, support is usually offered directly via the theme developer’s website.
Conclusion
Choosing and managing your WordPress theme is a foundational step that determines not just how your site looks, but how easily you can build and scale it. By understanding the four main types of themes and using proper workflows for installation, updates, and support, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success.
Whether you choose a block theme for full editing flexibility or a universal theme for cross-compatibility, what matters most is that the theme aligns with your content goals and editing style.
Take the time to review, test, and tweak — the right theme can transform your website into a polished, professional experience.