If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed as a blogger, it’s probably because you’ve made one of the cardinal mistakes in the world of online content. That means you’re trying to do it all and do it without any mistakes whatsoever.
Probably. Or maybe not. But, either way, that’s okay because I know you are in the midst of another important thing called Life. Yes, that caught up with me this week and I could not find the time to come up with a post in time for Thursday, by any time zone. At first, I felt guilty, then I decided that worrying about it wouldn’t help.
This did get me thinking though, about what else I was doing with my life, apart from blogging. Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging. I love the idea of reading blogs, visiting others, building community, enjoying the rapport that comes from it all, sharing the love, recommending the blogs that I read and of course, writing on my own blog.
But, you have to admit that at times, blogging can become a full-time ‘job’ and it leaves little room for much else. This became especially clear to me after two things. One was the A-Z challenge that I did in April this year and the other was the start of my Fiction blog, The Moving Quill.
There were reasons I did the challenge and began the new blog, and I don’t regret either of them for a single minute. Just the fact that I have these two spaces to express what I feel, is an overwhelmingly gratifying fact.
I can say what I want to say on Parenting (with due diligence) on this blog and express myself with far more freedom and creativity on my writing blog. However, as much as I adore blogging, I do realise that I cannot do it all, day in and day out, on an ongoing basis, with the same fervour.
In addition to writing here, I teach music offline, twice a week. Every weekday, I am also the unofficial chauffeur/ chaperone for my daughter and her classes. Once a week, I participate in a community activity in my apartment. Every other day, I work out with a group of enthusiastic badminton and squash players. Online, I moderate a few groups on facebook, one on parenting, a couple of alumni groups and also participate in blogging challenges pretty regularly via groups that are very supportive, stimulating, thought-provoking and just plain fun!
All of this effectively takes a big chunk out of my daily routine. I simply adore every bit of that too, so I wouldn’t give any of it up, if I can help it.
Instead, what I did when I launched my business in March of 2017 was to put systems in place that would help me navigate things a bit better.
I’ve covered that all in my 21 daily, weekly and monthly tasks for serious bloggers.
What did get me down in between was the worry that I wasn’t doing enough justice to those visiting my blog. Sleepless nights ensued where I couldn’t find the time to get back and visit the blogs of all those who had been kind enough to stop by and say something about one of my posts. Guilt crawled up my spine when I didn’t even have the thirty seconds it took to respond to a comment left on my own blog.
There are things I have done that I am not proud of: Messaging bloggers whom I admire, asking them to read my latest post; Reading something I loved and sending the link to a friend and then checking every day if she did read it; Feeling upset and annoyed that people whom I visited frequently never bothered to return the favour.
Then, it hit me! These were exactly the things I disliked having shoved on me! Why should it be any different when I was the one doing it to others? Realisation dawned and this made me glad for so many reasons. So , when the epiphany struck, I decided to let go and do what makes me happy, where blogging is concerned. In no specific order now, I try to do the following:
6 Things I try to do as a blogger
- Write when I can and don’t lose sleep if I miss a scheduled feature on my blog.
- Visit as many people as I can and leave genuine comments on their posts.
- Take blogging breaks and catch up on my reading, both online and off the web.
- Understand that people will visit me if they can and not because they should feel compelled to do so.
- Blitz blogs every once in a while, just to cheer up the blogger whom I may have neglected for a while.
- Accept that some people will read whatever I write, just because they choose to: a fact that I am incredibly grateful about.
All said and done, you or anyone, for that matter, should do something as an amateur* would: for the love of the job and nothing else.
Glossary:Amateur: a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.
Do you agree that bloggers cannot have it all ?Do you have any blogging secrets to share?
So agree with you Shailaja. Blogging consumes you. But still I love it but as you said it's important to take time off. Though even I'm yet to do that. Till then…happy writing .
This posts resonates with me. Yes, blogging takes a lot of time, but I simply love it and try to follow all the 6 thoughts you shared! 🙂
Agreed 100%. One main reason why I didn't join the UBC was because I didn't want to experience this “full-time” blogging job. I would rather write when I want to/can and read when I want to/can, and enjoy the experience. My experience in A-Z showed me that often I was visiting blogs because I “had” to, not because I “wanted” to. So this way I feel more relaxed and can focus on a few other important things too, like life and living outside the blogging world 🙂
My dear Shailaja, I think it takes a certain mindset to do things for the sheer joy of doing them! Not necessary to be an amateur or professional. Of course, I am speaking for myself.
I am glad you realized this. I remember telling you something along these lines. Always, Life gets first priority. 🙂 When you come to terms with that and accept it joyfully, you're all set to be happy
Hugs!
You got it right shailaja. It is one of the reasons I don't do any regular features on my blog. I try to visit who all I can especially the ones I like.
At the end of the day this is supposed to be fun.
Keep at it but at your pace.
Great post. Now I know you are human 😉
Shailaja, you have listed all the important points concerning blogging. I love to blog and interact with my fellow-bloggers. Reading , commenting, replying to comments and then writing takes up a major chunk of one's time but it is worth it if it is done in moderation and in a planned way. I too take breaks and catch up on my reading offline. Liked your thoughts 🙂
I agree sometimes blogging becomes a full time job, but I guess as long as one has passion to write and is coming up with ideas, it is effortless. Sometimes I just take time off to catch up with other blogs and read books. But like all other things, blogging should also be done in moderation, coz one never knows who's getting neglected in the mayhem of words 🙂
This is such a co-incidence Shailaja. Only yesterday I was discussing the same thing with my mum. Although I really haven't spent as much time as you have as a regular blogger, I do feel that it is a kind of addiction at times…or rather you start obsessing over things that should not really matter…like visiting someone's blog that you do not 'want' to but 'have' to, like how Beloo quoted. I'm glad you wrote about this, so I can keep it in mind when I go overboard 🙂
Take it easy, give yourself the well deserved me-time. After all, there's so much more to life 🙂
Oh yes, this thing called life…. Great post Shailaja, was nodding all the way through… I love blogging also- and writing is a big passion of mine. Can not see y life without it, but sometimes there are other aspects in life we want to prioritize and that is ok. I think. Lovely written dear:-)
I only have one thing to say – Amen to your thoughts 🙂 I suppose it is important to get the priorities right. Interesting post, Shailaja.
I love blogging. There is no doubt about it. But, it tends to overwhelm me at times and I am trying to avoid that. Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
I knew this would appeal to you, Shilpa 🙂 And most of the people on my blogger list do this, I know. I also know that many people visit my blog, only because they have to and I feel sorry about that. For them, I mean. This is to suspend their guilt as well 🙂
Why am I not surprisd, Beloo? That's the way you write. That has always been the way you've written and if there is one thing I am always grateful for, it is the certainty with which I can expect your visits to any post I write. That is so incredibly selfless of you and something I hope to replicate soon!
You, my dear Vidya, are very far from being an amateur anything 🙂 But the sheer warmth of you, the person, is so evident in your writing as well as your personality. I would expect nothing less. Yes, as you have said, Life always gets priority. I don't want to look back one day and think about all the things I could have done because I was too busy blogging at the time 🙂
That's the thing, Inderpreet. The regular features help me structure my writing for this blog, so that way it helps. What I meant was, I don't want to be bound by it. If I feel that I cannot write the feature for one or two weeks, that is okay. Life can get in the way and that's as it should be. Yes, it is supposed to be fun, you're 100% right there 🙂 Of course, I am human. What do you think? 😉
Thank you so much, Sulekha. I appreciate your blogging style too and the fact that you are so supportive plus running SP so well!
Passion to write is not really a problem. Neither is the coming up with ideas. I am talking about finding time that goes into all the peripheral activity 🙂 Yes, moderation is the key here 🙂
It is a very serious addiction, Vinodini 😉 You are another person I admire, though, for being there in the wings and cheering on every post of mine. Thank you for that!
Eli, how you get time to write is simply beyond me! What I do is nothing compared to all the work that you take up. Hats off, my lady!
Thank you very much, Sid! I appreciate your dropping by and reading. Yes, the priorities are what are important. Very much so. Glad you agree.
I took a break in between April challenge and somehow it went on till last month. Just plunged into UBC to get back to blogging. Agree with you… blogging at times consumes us… and taking a break now n then is a must… but not for too long… or els you'll end up lazy like me. 😉
I recently started a fiction blog aside from my regular one too! I've only written a few posts so far but am liking it.
Ideally, I would love to write 2 -3 posts a week but, in reality, I rarely achieve that. Blogging is something that I do for fun so I try to keep it fun by not stressing out about it. I do always respond to comments and try to visit everyone else's blogs – returning the love – as well as visiting those whose blogs I enjoy even if they don't visit mine. If I'm tired or just too busy then I lay off for a bit. Amazingly enough the blogosphere keeps going without me 😉
I love you for this post Shailaja. This is something I've maintained all the time and follow it quite a bit. Blogging is my happy thing and if I make it a chore what do it make my happy thing? Of course those marathon blogging sessions are fun but they are fun ONLY because they are for a limited time. So yay to freedom from blogging drudgery.
You nailed it, Shailaja. I was ticking off on my list everything you said. I loved the A-Z and all the people I met through it but I didn't think I could sign up to another blogathon just yet. I love blogging but I know I can only do it when time permits and want it to always be something I enjoy not something I HAVE to do. 🙂 The guilt does strike sometimes but I'm happier knowing I'm not the only one.
Oh gosh Shailaja just reading about your week tires me out. I think that we should do what our heart tells us to. When writing and reading becomes a chore then there isn't any fun it. So do what brings you joy. Great post.
amen. trust this old timer ( 9 years in the blogosphere qualifies me to be the Bhishma Pitama of Indian blogging 😀 ) . Those who matter will come back even if you take a break. Even if they don't, others will. We cant stop living life and just stick to blogging .. we each have our share of responsibilities too to deal with. Write when you have something to say… its quality, not just quantity that will bring people in…
You are amazing. I read your posts through mostly through my phone and that is the reason I sometimes do not leave a comment. Sorry!
About this one….blogging is fun until it becomes a duty. Write when you feel like. I have always done that 🙂
Agree, sheethal. As long as you have an overall interest in blogging, it will happen naturally and at its own pace. Yes, we have missed you at WT. Good to see you back with UBC.
Before 5 years, I took a break for 6 months. I had to, because of a demanding job. But ever since I've made sure that nothing comes between me and my blog. Nothing 🙂
Destination Infinity
I totally agree, Shailaja.
Felt guilty about not visiting Bloggers who had been kind to post comments for me… as I didn't even have time to respond to comments on my Blog! 🙂
Still, trying to balance things! Tough having so many roles to play 🙂
You're so right, Kathy. The blogosphere will keep going without us and quite well too, as a matter of fact. 🙂 I never did get around to reading your fiction blog.Do you have a link to share?
Thank you Tulika. I thought you loved me anyway 😉
You are never the only one. That's the beauty of blogging. Whether you blog every day or every week or once a month, you will always have company of like-minded bloggers 🙂
Thank you so much, Suzy 🙂 Much love to you too 🙂
Amen to that, Bhishma Pitamaha 😀 Yes,Life is important. A thing I realise more and more these days 😉
Yes I know you have Red. Thank you for the love 🙂
Glad to hear that you are taking blogging very seriously 🙂
Very tough indeed, Anita. Missed seeing you around for a while now 🙂
Didn’t realize it was an old post :). But I loved the honesty, Shailaja. There’s no point in being overwhelmed because that would affect the productivity in all spheres anyways. I am
Going to personally send this link to all my blog buddies coz they need to chill too :).
Sure blogging is a time-consuming affair.I have felt these things myself too-having to manage family,my kid,my full-time regular job and blogging.At times,we have to make peace with the fact that it is ok to let some things slide away.
I had this conversation with my fellow bloggers a while ago. I realised that pushing myself to write, because I have to, is taking the joy out of my writing. And that guilt, ah!
Also, I was churning out posts I wasn’t happy about.
So glad I read this when I did. Thanks for sharing , Shailaja.
Thank you for reading and sharing, Mayuri 🙂 We should do something as long as it gives us joy. Anything else can completely derail the pleasure we get out of the task.