The first thing I have to say is that I definitely didn't intend on being gone for quite so long. I said I'd take a week off but then that week turned into two weeks and those two weeks turned into a month and well you see where I'm going with that.
There's a few reasons why I took a break so I'll try to say them as best I can.
1. School
2. Numbers
3. Content
School
School is definitely the main reason for this break. I'm in transition year which tends to be seen as a doss year in Ireland. I'm not sure if it's just me being a stressed person in general or just the fact that my school can be quite strict but I found myself more stressed than I was in third year which is known to be stressful. I couldn't deal with an added deadline of having to post every week so I just didn't.
Numbers
It took me some time to realise this but I realised during the break that I'd become wayyyy to fixated on numbers. The first thing I'd check would be the views on my latest post or how any instagram followers I had. It was so much easier than I had expected to get sucked in to that side of blogging. I just want to say also if you focus on numbers while blogging that is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if your blog is your brand but that was just not what I had set out to do. I wanted this to be an outlet rather than a business.
Content
This kind of links my last point but due to my focusing on numbers I believe my content suffered.I was writing what I thought would get views and comments, rather than what I enjoyed. My posts had changed so much since I started out that it was like a different blog. I couldn't post until high engagement times and the whole scenario made blogging feel like a chore.
So those are the main reasons I haven't been posting as much. From now on I'm going to write what I want to write when I want to write it (at least until I have a little more time to commit to a schedule). I really hope you guys understand why I've been gone and why I've decided to make these changes.
If anyone has experienced something similar I would love some advice (you can comment it, use the contact form or message me on any of my social media). I hope you enjoyed this post and if you're experiencing something similar and have any questions on how I'm managing it feel free to ask me.
Just as a final point I'd like to say that I don't regret taking a break from blogging, it's allowed me to see how to make my blog work better for me and it's been good for my mental health but I've missed you and I'm glad to be back :) .Thank you so so so so so so so much for reading.
The Ordinary Blogger xx
There's no harm in having a break, blogging can get a bit much sometimes
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteSometimes a break will help
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
DeleteA break always helps! I completely agree and blogging can get too much
ReplyDeleteSometimes it can definitely be overwhelming!
DeleteA break sounds just like what you needed! I started blogging a week ago and already it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers. Also, my first three posts were things I thought people might want to see, then I posted my most recent. It was personal and felt so dang good to write.
ReplyDeleteCheers xx
Rachel | www.myspottedblog.com
I always feel so much better after writing something I genuinely enjoy.
DeleteIt's definitely good to take a break if you need to. Even if you are away for a few months you blog will still be there when you get back. Sometimes I've had a thought that maybe I should blog about something else that's more popular just to get more views and engagement but I always shake that thought away, you've got to love what you write, it's the main reason most people started a blog and it's such a shame to throw that enjoyment away. Loved reading your post and I look forward to your future posts!
ReplyDeleteChloe xx
www.chloechats.com
Thank you so much, that's lovely to hear. The break definitely did me good.
DeleteThanks for sharing this! Its good to take a reality check and reset sometimes. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I 100% agree!
DeleteThank you for sharing this post. This was such a relatable read! I 100% agree that breaks are necessary.
ReplyDeleteI loved blogging as a creative outlet, but I remember the day this year when I started to really pay attention to stats and for a while it sucked the fun out of writing and addedd so much pressure. But at the same time, it is such a tricky balance because as bloggers, we want to connect with others through our writing and stats are one way to see that your content is resonating with others.
I think I've just learned that I cannot compare my growth to others because my content is different, my promotion tactics are different, and I may have different goals.
Wish you continued success with your blog!
Thank you so much! I agree it's so important not to compare yourself to others!
DeleteThanks for your honesty. I find myself doing the numbers thing as well. I just want to write what moves me and hope others enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteExactly! If you're not writing what you love, what's the point?
DeleteWelcome back to blogging! I always love your posts. I also had the problem on fixating on numbers. I think it’s so easy to get sucked into that mindset and I had to remind myself why I was blogging. X
ReplyDeleteAw thank you so much, that means the world to me :)
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