This really is a great division of 'steemit hour labour' for yourself and a good guide for others.
I know what you mean about finding the day slip away! I am really sort of new to steemit. I only started paying attention to it and realizing what it was around the end of December, and I have just fallen in love with it.
For me I too try a certain amount in the morning to go and respond to replies and really sort of look through the feed.
I have also made it a challenge for myself to do at least one or two challenge/contests a week, which allows me to both interconnect, meet new people and use it as a means to make more work for my own portfolio.
I sometimes worry I am not commenting enough, but I also tend to be so wordy in my comments I probably spend far too much time on each of them. I can't help that, as it is just my nature to rattle on ;) (As I appear to be doing here again in your comments!)
I do agree with your time schedule and am trying, myself, to find the best balance of intereaction vs. creating content. It is a balance and in a way a microcosm of normal daily life.
I really search the feed and follow things that interest me and then when I see an interesting comment I follow to that person and often this leads me to finding more people to follow. I try to keep up with my 'favourites' but also want to make time for newbies.
Honestly, I don't even really know what constitutes a minnow. I mean, I think I am a minnow, but not really sure.
Well, in all that convoluted mess, I am still developing my balance of 'support/content'. But, I'm having fun whilst trying to find that balance!
As always, I like your ramblings and have found that taking time to really read posts and comment thoughtfully is the very best way to build relationships that last so it's worth its weight in gold even if it takes a lot of time.
Yes you are definitely a minnow - defined by how much steempower and although I don't remember the divisions exactly, it's about "vests" and @barrydutton explains it well: https://steemit.com/steemit/@barrydutton/steemit101-what-s-a-minnow-dolphin-whale-etc-in-terms-of-the-numbers-anyways-resources-for-steemit-noobs
But the only reason this matters is that one has to gain "influence" (reputation and SP as well as to have a good loyal following) to be most effective in terms of our posts being seen and being able to give sizable upvotes as well as rewards for our posts. Of course there are the benefits of being here that can't be named with a number though and those are invaluable but again, it's easier to make friends if your posts are easily seen.
It sounds like you're finding your way quite well!!
Well, I set the goal to diligently post each day and to access all the great contests and challenges as part of my new year art endeavor and I'm nothing of not diligent. I get pleasure from setting then achieving my own arbitrary goals and if something good come from it I say hurrah, great side affect and well done you. If I please and satisfy myself first, then even if my efforts fail, I've still succeeded in my own joy.
Thank you for taking the time to comment back, this is what I really like about Steem is what good little chat's we can have in the comments.