When every minute of your day counts, waiting for your blog to load isn’t just frustrating – it’s costing you readers and rankings.
Let’s walk through how to speed up WordPress blog that will get your website running smoothly, with clear steps you can tackle even during your busiest days.
Quick Navigation Table
Difficulty Level:
⭐ = Can do while multitasking
⭐⭐ = Needs some focus
⭐⭐⭐ = Save for quiet time
Time Investment:
Quick Win = 5-15 minutes
Short Task = 15-30 minutes
Focus Time = 30+ minutes
1. Clean Up Those Images (They’re Probably Too Big)
Difficulty: ⭐ | Time: Quick Win | Cost: Free
Those beautiful photos from your latest posts might be secretly slowing down your site. Most photos straight from your phone are much larger than your blog needs.
Use Free Image Compression Tools
- Install Shortpixel (free for 100 images/month) or Smush plugin
- Set up automatic compression for new uploads
- Compress existing images in batches
Time-Saving Tip: Create a simple checklist in your phone’s notes app with your ideal image settings. When you’re editing photos between activities, you’ll have your optimization specs ready to go.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐
Perfect for multitasking – you can handle interruptions while images compress in the background.
2. Install a Reliable Caching Plugin
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Short Task | Cost: Free – $$
A good caching plugin can make your blog feel like it’s running on premium coffee instead of regular brew.
Choose and Set Up WP Super Cache
- Install WP Super Cache (it’s free and user-friendly)
- Enable basic caching with one click
- Use recommended settings for best results
Reality Check: Most mom blogs see a 2-3x speed improvement with basic caching alone. You don’t need the premium features until you’re getting serious traffic.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐
Best done when you have 15 minutes of focused time to follow the setup steps.
3. Delete Unused Plugins and Themes
Difficulty: ⭐ | Time: Quick Win | Cost: Free
Think of plugins like apps on your phone – the more you have installed, the slower things get. A quick cleanup can make a noticeable difference.
Audit Your Plugins List
- Review all active and inactive plugins
- Remove plugins you haven’t used in 3 months
- Delete unused themes (keep only your active theme and one backup)
Time-Saving Tip: Before deleting anything, take a 2-minute screenshot of your plugin list. If you need something later, you’ll have the name handy.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐
Easy to do in small chunks while supervising playtime.
4. Switch to a Lightweight Theme
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ | Time: Focus Time | Cost: Free – $$$
Your theme is like your blog’s foundation. A heavy theme with lots of features you don’t use can really slow things down.
Choose a Speed-Optimized Theme
- Look for themes specifically built for speed
- Consider Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence
- Avoid themes packed with features you won’t use
Reality Check: Changing themes is a bigger project, but it can cut your load time in half. Plan this for a weekend when you have backup support at home.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Save this for when you have dedicated focus time – not a quick naptime task.
5. Optimize Your Homepage Loading
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Short Task | Cost: Free
Your homepage is often the slowest page because it’s trying to show too much at once.
Streamline Your Homepage Content
- Reduce posts shown on the first page
- Lower the number of widgets in your sidebar
- Use excerpts instead of full posts
- Remove unnecessary social media feeds
Time-Saving Tip: Start with showing just 5 posts on your homepage – you can always adjust based on reader feedback.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐
Best done when you can preview changes without interruption.
6. Enable GZIP Compression
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Quick Win | Cost: Free
GZIP compression makes your site files smaller before sending them to visitors – like vacuum-sealing those bulky winter clothes.
Set Up GZIP Compression
- Install a plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache
- Enable GZIP compression in the settings
- Test your site to ensure everything works
Reality Check: This simple change typically reduces your page size by 50-70%, and most hosting companies include it automatically.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐
Quick to implement but needs testing time.
7. Set Up Proper Image Dimensions
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Short Task | Cost: Free
When your blog loads images in the wrong size and then resizes them, it’s like trying to fit a toddler’s clothes on a teenager – it just doesn’t work efficiently.
Configure Default Image Sizes
- Check your theme’s content width
- Set up maximum dimensions in Settings > Media
- Update existing images to correct sizes
- Use the “Regenerate Thumbnails” plugin for bulk fixes
Time-Saving Tip: Create a simple image sizing guide in your phone notes – portrait: 800px wide, landscape: 1200px wide. It’ll save you time on every future post.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐
Can be done in stages during shorter quiet moments.
8. Choose a Better Hosting Plan
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Focus Time | Cost: $$-$$$
Just like moving to a bigger house as your family grows, your blog might need to upgrade its hosting as your traffic increases.
Evaluate Your Hosting Needs
- Monitor your current site speed and uptime
- Research managed WordPress hosting options
- Compare plans from SiteGround, WPEngine, or Cloudways
- Plan for migration during a quiet period
Reality Check: Good hosting costs more but pays for itself in reduced stress and faster load times. Budget $25-50 monthly for quality hosting that grows with you.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Plan this upgrade carefully – not a quick fix.
9. Use a CDN Service
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ | Time: Short Task | Cost: Free – $$
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is like having multiple copies of your blog stored around the world, making it faster for everyone to access.
Set Up Your CDN
- Start with Cloudflare’s free plan
- Connect your domain
- Enable basic CDN features
- Test your site speed before and after
Time-Saving Tip: Start with the free version and upgrade only when your traffic grows enough to need it.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐⭐
Set aside 30 minutes when the kids are occupied.
10. Optimize Your Database
Difficulty: ⭐ | Time: Quick Win | Cost: Free
Your database is like your blog’s filing cabinet – it needs regular decluttering to stay organized and efficient.
Clean Up Your Database
- Install WP-Optimize plugin
- Remove post revisions older than 30 days
- Clean up spam comments
- Delete trashed posts and pages
Reality Check: Monthly database cleanup can improve your site speed by 10-15%. It’s like giving your blog a quick refresh.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐
Perfect task for when you’re watching the kids play.
11. Monitor Your Site Speed
Difficulty: ⭐ | Time: Quick Win | Cost: Free
Regular speed checks help you catch issues before they become problems – just like keeping an eye on your little ones.
Set Up Speed Monitoring
- Use GTmetrix or Pingdom (free versions)
- Test your site weekly
- Keep a simple log of results
- Check both desktop and mobile speeds
Time-Saving Tip: Schedule your speed tests for the same time each week, like during morning screen time, to build a consistent habit.
Naptime Task Rating: ⭐
Easy to do while multitasking.
Speed Up Your WordPress Blog: Final Tips
Remember, you don’t need to implement all these fixes at once. Start with the quick wins that match your available time and energy.
Even small improvements add up to a noticeably faster blog that keeps both your readers and search engines happy.
Begin with image optimization and caching – these two changes alone can dramatically improve your site speed while fitting into your busy schedule.
As you find pockets of time, gradually work through the other improvements.
Your readers will appreciate the faster experience, and you’ll feel more confident knowing your blog is running at its best.