As many of my regular visitors will know I committed myself to the NaBloPoMo during November, and I actually enjoyed the whole experience and kind of enjoyed my daily deadline of having to post every day for 30 days. There were only a couple of occasions when I struggled to find a topic to write about, and although every night was spent writing which meant late nights, I found the whole NaBloPoMo experience a positive and a good one, and I was glad I took part.
Then on the 1st December, I stupidly decided to take on the the same challenge for another 31 days because I found that I was missing the buzz of creating a post every night. I had bored fingers and decided to sign up and give it a go.
I had already decided that the content of my posts would not be as good as the ones I had devised during November, because I figured I would not have the time to dedicate to writing some deep and meaningful posts for the following reasons:
- Christmas was on the way
- Presents needed to be purchased
- Cards needed to be designed and written and sent out
- Christmas food prep need to be done
- Tots 100 Xmas Party weekend at Butlins
Therefore, I figured that as long as posted every day whether it be a recipe or a review or a linky submissions I was doing ok and not to get bogged own by my post content.
To begin with all was going so well and then the following things happened:
- Our heating and hot water system packed in , resulting in no heating and then no hot wanter either for a couple of weeks
- The boys, my OH and I stayed at my mums and then his mums while we waited for our heating and hot water problem to be resolved
- Due to the above living arrangements, my Christmas cookery prep, Christmas card making and Christmas shopping trips were limited or non existent.
- As much as I really enjoyed my Butlins Winter Wonderland weekend away with my family and meeting all those lovely bloggers, as a result I caught a tummy bug and Jenson became ill with a really nasty cough
- Owing to Jenson being so poorly, even when we were back in our own home (with heating and hot water again – yay!) and wanting to be cuddled so much meant I didn’t get much done during the day or night blog wise or Christmas planning wise
However, despite all of this I blogged everyday bar the Monday after Butlins (because I was suffering with a tummy upset), and so fulfilled my NaBloPoMo commitment. Even Christmas Day I posted a Silent Sunday photo, and I was all set to post on Boxing Day too when it suddenly dawned on me – what on earth was I doing? It was Christmas (just!) and I was visiting and being with my family, and here I was spending my time first thing in the morning (very early!) trying to write a post. Trying to pen a post while entertaining and playing with my boys and talking to members of my family, and after having crap sleep and feeling shattered due to Jenson playing up during the night!!!
So there and then I decided to stop my NaBloPoMo commitment and I put away my blogger dashboard and took a couple of days off. Why was I pushing myself to get a post out every day, when it really didn’t matter ? I wasn’t going to get into trouble or get told off by anyone was I ? Or have the blogging police track me down and arrest me!
I posted again last Friday (30th) because I wanted to and not because I felt I had to. And do you now what? It was great only having to write a post when I felt the need to, and not feel pressured about having to do so. I really enjoyed having a few days off aswell, and even now writing this I feel happy knowing that it is up to ME when I blog next.
I did enjoy my writing everyday during November, and I honestly thought December would be manageable. However, as it turns out real life is more important and I don’t want to have to bust a gut to get a post up on my blog, I want to have a more relaxed attitude which I have again now.
Mind you committing to the project 366 is also time consuming – not the actual taking and posting a photo part (or two in my case, as I am show-casing Burton’s daily photos too), as that is relatively easy. However, as with any shared project or link-up you not only commit your blog but you also commit to sharing an experience, and in doing so commit to visiting other blogs and seeing their photos and commenting. Therefore, I am still spending a fair amount of time each evening on blog ‘stuff’.
BUT I am not complaining as I enjoy seeing what everyone else is up to, and it is nice to view other blogs again and catch up with whats been going on while I took my few a days off. Infact this was something which I didn’t do as much of as I would have liked during November and December – visiting other blogs that is, because I was so busy blogging and doing real life Christmassy things and dealing with a poorly baby. I just didn’t have the time to do it all! My tweeting time definitely took a nose dive too! (see my Klout score!)
So what was the point in this post? Nothing really, just to share how wonderful it feels to be blogging for me again and not for blogging sake. I think sometimes you need to get some blogging perspective and step back and relaaaaax and breathe and then start again.
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| Don’t Worry About Blogging: Be Happy & Play Butthead Instead 🙂 |
Oh and also to thank you for bearing with me during those weeks of hectic posting and maybe for not giving as much blog love out as I would normally.
xx
Thank you xx
Hi Jenny – nice to see you back again and feeling like you want to post rather than you have to post. It can take over sometimes can’t it? and interfere with our real life. Anyway – here’s to blogger’s choice! HNY, Mx
I so sympathize with how you feel. I didn’t join in the daily post thing, but increased to about 3 per week, which I found with a business and kids a huge commitment. Like you I love doing it, but I am not that fast and use lots of photos so it takes me a while. The kids say I am always on the computer so I do have to take stock and restrict myself to late nights then try not to be grumpy the next day. So much more I would love to do on my blog but I know I have to balance it with my real life.
thank you – it does feel less imposing on my life now! happy new year to you too x
thats the thing isn’t it? i was trying to blog in the day aswell , as i was falling behind, which you can’t do with two little ones (let alone all your brood and your business). then staying up late and then having a poorly baby waking me up too i was just really tired (still am but hey ho!)
we can only do what we can manage x
Amen to this! I will always think that real life come first, no matter what. I really enjoy your blog and signed to receive it by emails, let me tell you that whenever you don’t post and I don’t receive an email, it makes the following post always much more exciting. I swear. just don’t take too much time off as I like reading your posts, as for the 3 blogs…I think you are insane, but good on you for trying, well I should say good on you and Burton as he is a blogger too now, bless him!
Fair play to everyone who posted every day in November. I wouldn’t have managed it! But yey to blogging for you again! xx
I love blogging for me. As soon as I “have” to do it it’ll feel like a massive chore so I’m. But rubbish with daily things. I like to post about 3 or 4 times a week. Personally I’d struggle finding stuff to blog about daily!
I usually challenge myself to blog daily in December (I know – busy, busy month and 2 of my kds have December birthdays too) as I love taking pics of Christmas decor and always lots to blog about.
By the end I was really in my stride and didn’t even think about it. In fact so far (apart from yesterday) I’ve continued with my daily blogging!
Definitely don’t want it to become a chore!
lol love this post. Your boys are so lucky to have such a fun mum. You should blog for you, when you blog because you have to it becomes a chore. Looking forward to reading more posts. x
Totally agree its hard to find time to blog with 2 little ones so nothing worse than that feeling of “but I have to blog, I made a commitment to do this”. Glad you’re enjoying blogging for you as and when you like it. Hope it rubs off on me!