If you read my Thrifty Thursday post last week you know that I’m getting a little tired of some of my blog posts. I love blogging and don’t think I’ll slow down on my posting or stop sharing on social media. However, I do want to step back and reevaluate my goals.
I blogged for about four years before getting “serious”. I had only shared it with a few friends and family members, and never expected anyone to read it. When I started noticing organic growth I decided to move to my own domain and publicize it. Six months after that I finally started researching best blogging practices and quickly became obsessed.
I started spending all my spare time on my blog. There was so much to learn and do! I needed to join blogging groups and Pinterest boards. There were books to read and articles to digest. I couldn’t stop soaking up all the information I could find. Not to mention that I was still trying to churn out great content with “Pinterest worthy” pictures.
Then I read an article that changed my mind about blogging. I always knew that blogging could become an all-consuming, full-time job, but it didn’t hit home until I read an article about Heather Armstrong, the blogger behind Dooce. In the interview, Heather recounts the toll that blogging took on her and her family. She got divorced while blogging (not to say that blogging caused the divorce), and felt like her life was always under scrutiny. I instantly realized that I didn’t want that kind of lifestyle. Moments after finishing the article I was having a long conversation with my husband about how I needed to scale back.
I purposely quit my high stress, work from home, job to become a SAHM. What the hell was I thinking trying to bring work home again? When I worked from home, I hated the fact that work was always present. My phone, iPad, and computer were constant reminders that I could always be doing something to get ahead. Somehow I had recreated that atmosphere again, this time with blogging.
I’m a type A personality who needs to have hobbies and jobs to occupy my time. However, I don’t want those hobbies or jobs to become me entire life. I want to be able to enjoy time with my family without feeling pressure (that I put on myself) to publicize my latest blog post or to get the perfect picture for my blog.
I don’t want to stop blogging. I don’t even want to slow down. Instead, I want to stop caring if things are going well for my blog. I want to go back to carefree blogging. I want to forget about growth, followers, SEO, and Google Analytics. My dream would be for followers to continue finding me organically. I’d love to keep growing, but I’m not going to burn myself out to achieve it. I’m not going to slow down my posts. Things will still be the same on your end. However, they won’t be the same on my end because I’m going to stop putting effort into those other aspects of blogging.
I want to stop caring if things are going well for my blog. I want to go back to carefree blogging. #blogging Click To TweetThis probably means my page views will drop. I expect that I’ll get less sponsored posts and paid advertisers. That’s okay with me. I had my fun trying to “make it big”. Somewhere along the way I realized that making it big sounds really shitty.
Some of you will be able to relate while others won’t understand at all. Many of my readers don’t have blogs. The readers that do have blogs are all blogging at different levels. Some of you are professional bloggers, while others are just starting out. Some of you blog just for fun, and others hope to break into the pro blogging field. I hope this little essay serves as a reminder to always remember your purpose when blogging (or doing anything). Stay focused on the end game. For me, the end game is to have a creative outlet and occasionally make some “fun money” while trying new products. I’m still holding out for free wine so I can do more Hannah’s Happy Hour posts! Seriously, someone needs to hook me up with a wine retailer for reviews.
What is your end game? Does blogging ever stress you out?
What a great blog post and could not be more perfectly times! My blog has been targeting by well…moving on…has been down for 4 days and while it is a blog only for fun, sometimes I feel like I Love Lucy in the chocolate factory episode and hope you are now laughing with me and wish I could take a step back and just relax but have the A personality!
more perfectly timed…have fired the typist today too! lol
It’s all about the type A personality! We have to remind ourselves every now and then to step back and laugh.
I can so relate to this. I am only in the very beginning stages of my blog but it is so easy to get caught up in all of it from writing content to social media to SEO to the so many things to learn. I just took a step back from it all and had to tell myself to chill out. lol Thanks for being so open I love that you were able to see what you needed for you!
Great heartfelt message! I’m still early in the blogging world but I can definitely relate! Blogging and writing are on my mind often but it is challenging to make time (I’m also a SAHM) and I consume so much of my “free” time working on my blog! It’s not something I can explain to others but it’s a lot of work and time but also enjoyable and my outlet. :)
It is hard to explain to others! Only bloggers can understand. I’m glad you get it!
This was perfect timing for me to read this! A few weeks ago I was getting really stressed out because my blog traffic was down and I wasn’t churning out as many posts as I initially had. Then we found out we were moving soon and as my focus shifted a bit, I realized that blogging was way more fun when I was writing posts that inspired me, rather than just to fill a page. When I was able to stop obsessing over traffic, I realized that blogging was way gratifying when I was able to engage my readers with something that inspired me, even if it was only a few of them! I’m totally Type A as well so I’m sure I’ll have my moments, but for now I’m just trying to write what I am enthusiastic about and hope that people connect! Thanks for sharing!
And my Type A personality noticed that I meant to write “way more gratifying” above. :)
Awesome post Hannah! I am pretty new to blogging, and have verrrry few readers, but I do it because I enjoy it as a creative outlet. Of course I would love to have a ton of followers and make some money, but this is a good reminder to remember first and foremost that blogging should be enjoyable. Blogging about life isn’t worth it if you’re not living your life first! Thanks for sharing.
It is amazing how quickly a blog can zap your time. You have no idea when reading a post how many hours people put into creating the post and drawing people to their blog to read it. It can very easily become a vicious cycle for sure!
Wow! This is a great, honest and thoughtful post. Right now I’d say I’m a casual blogger, who’d like it to grow….BUT I would probably share a lot of the feelings you talk about if it really started to be an income source or something I got too hyper focused on!! I appreciate your insight!
im so happy to read this! I have been blogging for a year and just had my third child (all 4 and under) and blogging is totally a hobby for me. A place to be an ‘adult’ and connect with other adults. I haven’t made money from it and don’t have a large following but I love it. But I always feel like I ‘should be’ bigger or gaining followers- this post made me feel like it’s ok that I’m not. Thank you!
Thank you for reading and commenting! I feel the same way about connecting with other adults. This is a fun way to relate to like minded people.
I’ve been blogging for two years, and “taking it seriously” for just over a year, and starting now to see the numbers and a part-time income. I too had a few moments of doubt when reading the Dooce story, and I do not envy the trolling that happens on the bigger bloggers’ FB pages in my niche… but for me, writing, creating, having that creative outlet for myself – I can justify having it A LOT more if it’s also helping to provide for my family. If I could just blog for fun, I don’t know that I would :/ I’d probably spend my time “providing” in a different way, like cooking, cleaning, finding other part-time work. I think it’s powerful that you are carving out as something for you.
I don’t envy that trolling either! It sounds terrible!
I really REALLY needed to read this today. I’m a new blogger (I’ve been at it for 5 months), and I have noticed that I’m beginning to obsess over my blog. This was never my intention. My blog was meant to be for my enjoyment and for helping others– not for income. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started blogging. Who knew it would become such a time consuming hobby! (In a good way…. mostly.) Our blogs are what we make of them. We just have to remember not to lose sight of what our own unique purposes for blogging are. Thank you for the great read. You really helped me today. ;)
This means the world to me! I’m so happy to hear that you needed this too.
I can relate! I go back and forth between wanting to do more and wanting to go back to carefree blogging. I get overwhelmed sometimes because blogging is a side hobby for me. Some days I think I’d love to blog full time, but other days I wonder if it would still be fun if it’s work!
Right? I wonder the same exact thing!
Thank you.
Interesting! Sometimes I am having fun and finally doing something for myself. Other times I think I need to be more present for my kids while they are still young. not sure what to do about my dilemma.
Me too, Shobha. Me too.
I saw blogging creeping in and taking all of my time, so I cut back. I want blogging to be fun, not a full-time obligation. Therefore, I completely agree with you!
i completely agree with you. I have had a similar revelation lately! Thanks for posting!
What a fabulous post! I’m an burnt out on blogging! We’re talking major blogger burnout here. I want exactly what you talk about. I do not want to stress out because my stats or pageviews are down anymore.
You see I think I caught the same blogger bug you did because I went from having fun being a blogger to becoming obsessed with it and now I spend more time blogging than I do anything else in life.
So thanks to you and your post I have been inspired… Starting right this second I will no longer check my stats twice a day. As a matter of fact I’m vowing to only check once a week so I can find time to live on this side of the computer for the first time in over a year!
Wishing you a beautiful evening!
Much love,
Lysa xx
Once a week is a great idea! I need to do that too. Thanks!
So relevant to my life right now. I’m a beginner mom blogger and I am feeling overwhelmed with the need to “figure out” blogging and monetize and affiliate advertising, and Analytics and all of that!
Your post reminded me of why I wanted to blog – just to share my life and the fun and cool things we do, and maybe allow another mom to identify with some aspects of our lives. I’d love to think I’m helping people cope with some parenting issues, or at least sharing the weirdness of my life with my kids!
If I can make a dollar or two that would be beyond fantastic if happens while I’m doing something I love to do. If not, I’m still sharing like I wanted to do in the beginning.
Thanks for this post.
Good for you! It is exciting for you to be a stay-at-home mum (I am too) and it’s nice to hear you’re looking forward to time with the family while still enjoying blogging.
Hannah…thank you for the sincere heartfelt post! I started blogging 6 months ago as an outlet to be creative and share my passion for Christ and what He has done in my life. after being exposed to the “blogging world, I hope I attract readers and meet new friends while learning something new but I do not want to recreate the sales and marketing world I left after almost 20 years! Thank you again for the reminder. I am committed to doing this part-time without letting my content suffer too.. Have a blessed week!
http://pleasingtothepotter.com/god-is-the-true-master-chef/
thanks for sharing about this. I’m a FTWM and blogging is like my “serious hobby” but sometimes I get so tied up and stressed over it too. It shouldn’t be that way though. And I need it to go back to the fun, carefree days like you mentioned..
When you find that wine sponsored post person…make sure you give them my name and number!
Thanks for this post! I thought I was the only one who felt this way. My blogging hasn’t really taken off & I’m just going to relax about it. :-/ Thanks again for your honesty. :-)
It’s definitely about balance. I think a big part of it is doing it at your own scale and not trying to keep up with everyone else, and know that that is perfectly fine.
Hannah, I LOVE this post! I always wanted to be a SAHM and when I became one, I started my blog as a hobby. Although I love blogging, I know I spend way too much time on it and should scale back. You never know how much work is involved until you actually start blogging!
It’s a double edge sword for me because if I can start making a reasonable amount of money, I don’t have to go back to work (like my husband I agreed on) when my littlest one goes to school in a year. However, if I don’t end up “making it big”, I wonder if I’ll be sorry that I spent so much time blogging…