You may or may not have realised that this little corner of the blogosphere has been a tad quiet lately. I’ve hardly used Twitter or Facebook and my Instagram posts have been sporadic and totally unrelated to the blog. Truthfully, I’ve found it difficult to even sit down and explain my reasons why, but to keep it simple – I’ve lost my blogging mojo.
And I want it back.
Photography: Frozen Visions
I’ve been scratching my head for days, weeks, trying to figure out what it is that has left me feeling a little lost online. Everything I’ve been typing lately has been deleted within moments of sentences being formed. I can only describe it as a severe case of writers block that I’m trying to overcome whilst an overwhelming case of anxiety creeps over me for not posting enough content.
I’m sure many of you reading this who have blogs will totally get the frustration. When people start to unfollow you on social media platforms and you automatically assume it’s because you haven’t posted anything for a few days, or weeks perhaps! These thoughts can be extremely damaging and if anything, will probably only result in you posting less.
It’s time to get a reality check.
The first thing to remind ourselves of is that those people may have unfollowed us anyway, whether or not we posted five times or nothing at all. Many of us have experienced that frustrating Insta-game that some accounts play – you know, the one where you gain several new followers one day, and then you lose them all plus a few more the next – but this is not real life. When you stand back and remember that this is just a platform that allows us to share daily activities and special moments, a chance to inspire others and meet new people from all walks of life, you’ll have a brighter perspective. Of course, there will be the odd occasion where we just want to post a photo to look like we’ve got our shit together, when things probably couldn’t be further from the truth. And that’s okay. Do what you do, own it and give yourself a break.
I have to give myself daily pep talks to stop me from being so hard on myself. We live in an era now where we are forced to see what everyone gets up to, whether we like it or not half the time, so no wonder many of us compare ourselves and what we’re doing with those who are posting or boasting about their amazing holiday plans or personal accomplishments. Comparison has been a significant factor in why I’ve previously taken short breaks from the blog and I’ve written more about this in a previous post here, but this particular case is simply down to just feeling a little lost. It happens to the best of us, right?
The blogging community has become so saturated that sometimes I question if people still enjoy reading my ramblings on here. I wonder if the same people who read my blog from the start are still here (if you are, please say hello in the comments), and whether the content I create actually inspires anyone. With so many questions floating about in my head, it’s become mentally draining. I used to turn to my blog as an escape from my worries but now I seem to be turning my back to it instead.
The first step I’m making in attempt to get my blogging mojo back is to not have a strict posting schedule. I’m just going to post whenever I want to post, and not feel guilty about it. I know that posting at the same or similar time on set days has it’s benefits and I did try to stick to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – but hey, sometimes life happens and priorities change. This blog is my little hub of joy and whilst I can’t imagine life without it, I recognise the importance of taking time out from it too.
Secondly, I’m going back to basics by placing the writing and photography at the heart of everything I create. Whether I’m inspired by a conversation I’ve had with a friend, an event I’ve been to or a photo I took on the weekend, I want each post to inspire and inform in one way or another.
Instead of trying to capture and share every little thing that I do and see, I want to be more selective and post relevant content that has meaning to it.
Thirdly, and very importantly, is to switch off once a fortnight.
When your day job heavily consists of using social media, switching off in the evenings or weekends can feel like total bliss. Should I be admitting that? By simply taking a short break from scrolling on your phone and staring at your laptop after a day of doing just that has so many benefits, not just for your sanity but for your health too. I find Sundays are a great day as it marks the end of the weekend and the start of the week ahead, why not use it to enjoy more time with family or take up a hobby. Scrapbooking is always a fun activity and a great excuse to print off those photos that just get stuck in your camera roll 😉
Turns out that an unplanned break from the blogosphere and social media can have its perks after all – it feels like I have my blogging mojo back…
How do you manage writers block? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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6 Comments
Ah lovely lady, I relate to a lot here. A couple of year ago I felt all pressurised by stats ext and how “everyone was doing better than me”. I had an enforced break from it and it helped me remember the purpose of my blog. I enjoy blogging most when I am writing and posting what I want and when I want.
Love your photos Katie. They are always happy and sunny and put a smile on my face x
Thank you Karen! Your words mean a lot. It’s so important to just take a step back and re-evaluate things. I’m glad it helped you by taking a break, and hopefully now you enjoy blogging even more. It’s reassuring to know that others have or are experiencing it too. I love your blog and can tell just by reading it how much you love creating content for your readers. Keep up the fab work xx
You look beautiful and I’m glad you’ve had a chance to switch off. Your blog is ace and inspires me.
Thank you so much Emma! That means a lot 🙂 Hope to catch up soon xx
Ahh, yes, experienced similar too. In the end, I took drastic measures and deleted everything, and started a fresh last year (sod the stats). Best move ever! Now I just post as and when I want, buy what I like, and that be the end of it. No pressure which blogging shouldn’t be about, but when it starts getting too much then it’s time to take a step back and get away from it for a while.
Literally, focus on you / your blog, and ignore everyone else 🙂
Also, gorgeous photos; bright and happy 🙂