Happy Saturday! Today, I’d like to talk to you about
Reading, Blogging and Time Management…
Just the other day I read a post by my Bloggy Friend Mary (The BookSwarm) who talked about how life is getting busy and that she finds it sometimes hard to find time for blogging. In addition, I feel like more and more bloggers I know and love either shut down their blog, or announce that they would take a step back from blogging.
- Melissa, I Swim For Oceans – stops Book Blogging
- Kate – Just sitting here and Read – stops Blogging
- Wendy – A Cupcake and A Latte – stops Blogging
- Natalie – Mindful Musings – takes a step back
- Missie – The Unread Reader – takes a step back
- ….
I am sure there are much more, sometimes I might not even realize it at first . Just after some time I realize that I’m missing blog Posts from some of my favorite bloggers. Most of the blogs above have been around since I started blogging or started around the same time nearly 3 years ago. Especially Missie and we started the same time…
So where does that leave us?
Has blogging a time frame after which it becomes too exhausting? Is blogging too demanding and takes up too much time? What can we do to try to avoid this for ourselves?
I must say I am so NOT fed up with blogging. On the contrary, I’m still excited and quite frankly, even more now than before. Last year has been horrible for me as I was finishing my PhD, but I started fresh this year and saw the results I put into the Bookworms pay off! More vistiors, more interactions, more comments, more awesome 🙂
But, I have a few advantages…
- no kids. I just have a husband who is happy I’m having such a dedicated hobby.
- I’m not in education anymore. Well, I am – but now I’m teaching. But, I do not have a busy students life. When I come home from work, I’m home and free!
- I have 2 of my freinds who blog with me! Together with Heather and Pushy I do not have to post every day, we share the work which of course makes it easier!
Blogging, Reading and Not getting overwhelmed?
I admit, I spend a lot if time blogging and generally being online. I get up every morning at 6, make a coffee and then sit down for 1 hour to read Blogs and catch up with News. I love this morning time. Which is why I realized that I am most actively commenting on blogs that post their post at midnight CST (which is my 6 am getting up time…).
In the evening when I get home between 5 and 7 pm I spend another 2-4 hours for the Blog. This is where I work on posts for the next day (like now, it’s 6.15pm and I write this post to get up Minight CST). Then, the rest of the time I read or take care of Blog Tours for the Blog Tour Company Kismet Book Touring I run with Pushy.
Writing a post takes not so much time now that I have this awesome plugin called “Templates” for WordPress. All I have to do is write the review and make the graphics. Clearly, making graphics for the blogs takes over a lot of time!!! But, this is just me being obesessed with my post looking good 🙂
Once I am too busy or too overwhelmed I step back from commenting. I still read my favorite blogs, but sometimes I just don’t have time to comment on every post I read. Also, I try to comment back when I get a comment on my post, but if times gets too busy, I just won’t have time. So its either write a post, or comment … But I know there will be times again when I have more time, so I think I can make up for a time when I didn’t comment as usual…
Soo many people ask me over and over: How do you have time to read so much and blog??
Easy? I just take this time and I LOVE taking time to blog and read. I am passionate about blogging and I love to read. It’s with all hobbies – once you have something you love, you will find the time! And sometimes, there is more time you have for your hobby or less.
But you know what?
No one expects you to do anything at all! If you can only read one book a month? Then, that’s FINE! And, if you only can post every 2nd day? Then, that’s totally fine too!!!!
If you feel overwhelmed by the pressure to blog every day. Get rid of it! There is no need to blog every day! It’s your own expectation you can’t meet, but not the ones from your readers – because they will be there. Be it today, tomorrow or next week!
Do you feel overwhelmed by blogging? What do you do against it? Do you think about stop blogging? What do you do if you are in the bad-blogging-mojo?
Bis hugs and … much LOVE!
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Great post! I am ALWAYS being overwhelmed by blogging. It’s tricky for me as I am currently studying and working part time, so free time is hard to come by. I want to post regularly though and I want to comment on different posts, so I don’t let myself take it easy sometimes. 😀 Usually it means once I am done with everything for the day, I will spend a few to several hours up in bed sorting out my blog and returning comments. So ever since I started blogging, I have become VERY sleep-deprived. 😛
The thing is though, it doesn’t bother me. I complain ALL THE TIME about how hard blogging is, but I do love it regardless. The good parts outweigh the bad significantly I reckon. 🙂
Sam @ Realm of Fiction recently posted..Review: Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
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I LOVE your post Danny! And I think it’s so awesome that you love blogging so much. I’m happy for you!
I haven’t yet felt overwhelmed with blogging, but then again I’ve only been doing it for six months. Maybe I will start feeling overwhelmed down the line? If I ever do, I imagine I’ll take a few days off. But I’ve always been very online oriented so I love spending the time blogging And chatting with others!
Ashley recently posted..Stacking the Shelves (27)
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I agree with everything you said. First of all, I would never stop reading a blog because they post every other day instead of every day. Secondly, my kids are grown, and I don’t have to bring work home with me, so I have more time than a lot of bloggers. And, yes, you do make time for what you love. I also love to sew, but lately, I’ve not done that much, because I’ve been reading so much. And that’s OK, becasue right now, that’s what’s fun.
Great thoughts!
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Thanks for your post. I needed to read this right now. My blog has had its ups and downs, but I’ve never lost my passion for it. I go in spurts with most things in my life.
I’m interested in the name of the Template plugin you mentioned. What is it called? I searched for plugins and saw several templates.
Karin recently posted..Ilsa Bick – Author of ASHES and SHADOWS – GUEST POST
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I truly think everyone of us experiences up and downs.. I had such a down last year where I truly didn’t have time. But now, I’m back having an up :))
Just like you I never lost the passion, I love this whole world which is why I spend so much time on it!!
I use this plugin and I love it!!
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/easy-content-templates/
Danny recently posted..Discussed! Reading, Blogging and Time Management…
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Great post, Danny! Your love of blogging shows through in all of your posts, which is why I enjoy reading them so much. 🙂
I’m also interested in which template plugin you are using, so please let us know!
Theresa recently posted..Annabelle’s Story Book Spotlight and Author Guest Post
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Awwww!!! *hugs* Thank you so much Theresa, hearing this makes me just so happy! 🙂
Oh and I’m using this plugin andI truly love it!!
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/easy-content-templates/
Danny recently posted..Discussed! Reading, Blogging and Time Management…
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You’re so right. Do what you can, love what you do. And you do a fabulous job. Sadly, commenting is what gets cut first. While I do have the luxury of scheduling my own time (no kiddos, just puppies), there just isn’t enough time lately to do all I want/need to do. Oh well. It’s all good!
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Speed Date with Jane: DEATH’S RIVAL by Faith Hunter
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What a wonderfully timed post! I would be having my mid-terms soon (actually, six days from now) and am quite concerned I wouldn’t be able to finish one book within two days to post reviews… Reading is quite time-consuming, though I really enjoyed reading, I found that it could sometimes influence my schedule as well as all the homework I have piled up 😛
I love blogging and it has been a wonderful month and a half of experience I had with book blogging (Still a newbie here 😉 ), and I managed to finish one review within one hour each time with an outline that I wrote on my phone with Evernote after reading each book. So, so far it wasn’t too overwhelming 😉 But I definitely find that I am now always rushing after school to write and post blog post… Well, I love blogging and plan on doing it for a long time, no matter how busy I’d get 🙂
Allyson Rida recently posted..Review: Anna Dressed In Blood By Kendare Blake (Anna #1)
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I think a big part of it is the time of year. 🙂 I’ve found myself rearranging my schedule to make it a bit lighter and easier to manage because of the impending holidays.
But it can also just get to be too much. I know I’ve stopped hobbies that I had LOVED, because of outside drama. Then I usually go back to them, so we can only hope that’s the case.
Amanda @ Letters Inside Out recently posted..Follow Friday (61): Reading Outside of My “Genre”
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Great post. I have to agree sometimes does get hectic, but I ALWAYS make time for my blog. If I know I have more time one day then another then I make up the post for that day ahead of time. I find it’s all about time management.
I am a student in college taking 18 credit hours.
Plus I also do some extra curricular stuff, exorcize and just all around try to participate on campus as much as possible.
So yeah, I find it’s just all about how I manage my time. I always have time to at least do my blog, answer questions and emails and browse through some of my favorite blogs. Blogging is such a huge part of my life and I think if I didn’t have it then I would constantly be bored and unhappy.
Reese’s recently posted..Feature & Follow #6
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I get sad when blogs I like stop all together. I don’t post as much as I should mainly it’s because of my personal life getting in the way and the drama llama that rears it’s ugly head in my life just as things are getting back to normal.
I’ve also read a few books that I didn’t know how to review I’d sit down to review them but the words just wouldn’t come to me. That can be exhausting.
Great post though! I love this blog.
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I get so sad when another blogger leaves but you can think positive and remember that if another blogger leaves, another one starts their blog! (Gee I wonder which quote that’s from haha :D)
Sometimes I do feel overwhelmed by blogging. I look at mini bookcase that’s filled to the brim with review books and ARCs, and don’t even get me started on my ebooks! The only thing that really helps is to focus on one book at a time, then keep going from there. Usually it helps me by remembering that you don’t always have to review a book ON time. Just as long as you review it in the first place.
Not once have I considered to stop blogging. Even though I just started last year, it’s just so much fun and like you I’m even more excited to the years to come. I plan to be around for a very long time.
I’ve never come across a bad blogging mojo. I have to admit in the beginning I didn’t take as much effort into blogging as I did starting August, so the jump in interaction, and blog stats have increased. It definitely sparks up my enthusiasm even more.
Thanks for this wicked awesome post. Love your discussion topics Danny! Keep it up.
p.s. I need to goolge this WP Plugin for templates! I have one that I coded up myself 😀
Giselle @ Book Nerd Canada recently posted..Book Haul: Stacking the Shelves #25
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Great post Danny! I definitely haven’t gotten tired of blogging. Occasionally, I do get dispirited. Like when I had a reading slump in January and in the aftermath of the Kristi debacle. Even last week, I wasn’t as active commenting, because I was so busy reading the Harry Potter series.
Mostly though, I dedicate a few hours to blogging and commenting every day. It’s not super organized since I’m not working right now. But when I am working, I usually did things at night.
I think it’d be harder to stay blogging if my favorite bloggers stopped. It’s sad to see Missie blogging less. I’ve come to count on my favorite bloggers – those like you who have been blogging about the same time as me. That’s a large reason why it’s fun.
Alison (AlisonCanRead) recently posted..Bookish Recap
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! I personally find blogging enhances my book-reading experience. Whenever I’m able to spare a few minutes here and there, I’ll read posts from different bloggers and if I still have time, I’ll leave comments. I guess being in a supportive community (like what you’re offering here) really helps me feel safe and when I feel safe, I don’t get overwhelmed easily. So, thank you, Danny!
Henrietta recently posted..Send Me A Sign – Tiffany Schmidt
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Your enthusiasm is so contagious! I definitely feel overwhelmed from time-to-time, and watching some of my favourite bloggers decide to take a step back, or quit completely is definitely disheartening. But I just need to remember that I blog for me, and that everyone else who listens is just a bonus! So if that means some weeks I don’t post as often, then so be it!
It’s also why I consider the switch to WordPress every once in a while – it would be nice to be rid of that big GFC number that haunts my dreams! Lol, but honestly, it would be nice to be more focused on the content and less focused on how many people viewed my blog some days 🙂
kelly recently posted..Book Trailers: The Awkward Cousin
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I have to honestly say, you’re among the reasons why I entered the blogosphere c:
Yes, it definitely get to the point where I just stop and think, “I can’t do this anymore,” but I think about others who probably juggle a crazier life than I do and still get posts out there on a regular basis and it keeps me going.
I love blogging, I genuinely do, but I feel like at times I’ve become a little obsessed with it and probably should put a little less emphasis on it since my grades have been going down ever so slightly. High school is nothing compared to your PhD, so I do find myself a little odd complaining about it.
I don’t know how to get my thoughts across properly, so even a single review may take a few days for me to digest and spew out. Oddly, since I’ve become a blogger, I’ve found myself reading less, since more time has been invested into blogging.
Even though my above answers may sound negative towards blogging, I genuinely find it an exhilarating experience and don’t want to stop. Is it possible to spread your energy through virtual osmosis? I find myself saying yes because of all the enthusiasm I get from other bloggers, my own followers, and other people in the blogosphere, and just don’t want to let it go just yet.
Grace Lo recently posted..Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
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I feel sad. I really miss Vivian & Mimi :p
Yes, I have a very busy life. I’m full in college, I have a boyfriend and I want to do things with my friends, but I also looooove blogging. It still doesn’t feel like something I MUST do. I try to blog whenever I have the time and if I feel like it and so far, it works great.
I’m happy to hear you are still crazy about blogging 🙂
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted..Review 58. Alex Flinn – Bewitching.
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I am just finishing a bout of bad blogging mojo. I was sick, overwhelmed with work, and tired, which left no time for blogging. I didn’t have any deadly dramatic disease, but my bug completely wiped me out longer than I expected.
What am I going to do?
I am starting slowly, since it’s been a while since I’ve read, blogged, or written anything for myself. I am going to the bookstore this weekend and plan on writing a small post about what I bought and start from there. I don’t expect to post with the same energy level as before, but I think if I can just tell myself small steps are fine after this bug from hell, it’ll work out and I’ll be back to something I feel happy with.
I don’t think even when I felt sick and couldn’t do much, I felt overwhelmed by the idea of blogging. Just other things took over that took my focus away from blogging.
Another great post!
Liza recently posted..Forgive the Silence
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I had an awful year this year and I became completely burned out with both university as well as blogging. I love blogging, but I kind of felt that it took away from my reading somehow too and it kind of made me depressed in the end, since I just felt completely overwhelmed! I know a lot has to do with my studies though, which completely ruins everything. That and the fact that I’m now running my own home on top of everything….
I used to step back from review copies and schedule more, but after ending up in the ER because of stress I just knew I couldn’t continue as I have, and was lucky to have April from My Shelf Confessions to offer to take me in! I’m so glad I can still be apart of the community, but just like you with your blog buddies, take a tiny bit of the pressure of! I hate to leave my blog without posts for long. It’s sad to see so many go though 🙁
Bex recently posted..Kindle Fever Is Coming To An End
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There are times that i feel so tired from blogging. But to start right…i am a university student. I am part a web site designer. I write for another greek gaming site except my blog. Between those, i have to attend my mum when she needs help. And of course have for other things i like too(my friends,movies,doing some event coverage,tv series,etc).
And i can tell you, that it can work out alright. The point is to not let blogging take over your life something that mostly happens when you start accepting book requests. This year i had half the posts up, than last year because i didn’t have time. I managed to have the blog up, no matter how little time i had. Okay i didn’t post every day, but i could have about 2 posts up each week.
For 2-3 months i closed completely all book requests and i didn’t accept a thing. Instead i took my break from reading every day, to reading whatever i wanted whenever i wanted.
It was really good like that for me. Only negative is, that i literally didn’t have time to make new blogging friends and i was a little off the community :p
It’s important to remember why you created your blog. Is supposed to be fun.
I actually don’t think i will ever stop blogging. I like it too much. And no matter how big my pile of reviews is, i just take a deep breath and go on…
Yiota recently posted..Book Review: The Crown Phoenix Series #1-2 (+Giveaway)
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Blogging with 2 young kids is hard. I am lucky if they both take a nap at the same time in the afternoon and usually that only gives me an hour or less to eat lunch, go through email, attempt to blog, or read. I feel like I have been reading the same book forever and I’m lucky to get two blog posts up a week.
I feel like I’m going to need to start getting up 2 hours before everyone else or going to bed 2 hours later just to keep up but since everyone (including me) has been sick for a week that is not going to happen any time soon. I have a whole list of posts that I want to write up but the trick has been finding the time and energy to do it.
This is a wonderful post and a great topic for discussion!
Angela D. recently posted..Connect with Library Girl Reads & Reviews
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What a great post, and in a way, it’s funny, because the last few months I was on hiatus. (Well, I still am, though the last weeks not because I wanted to, but because my server crashed and almost everything with it. (Technology and I are no friends anymore. First my Notebook, then my PC, then the Internet, now the Server. The last few years of my life saved on my harddrive, too. ARGH. XD) )
And I often felt that blogging was getting very hard, because there was a.. a sort of goal I wanted to achieve. Like, write 3 reviews a week, use every WordPress-feature there was (omg, taxnomies ♥), leave 400 comments a day.
Then there was my hiatus, due to many reasons, and now that I’m slowly starting to blog again (or schedule posts so that I won’t feel too overwhelmed in Nov) I realize that I’m actually doing the same damn thing again: I brose through my feed and want to leave comments everywhere. I wrote 5 reviews yesterday, and changed the layout once again today. o.o
WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN. XD
But truth be told, when there are posts (with a discussion like this one) like here, it’s easier to take a step back and get some perspective. 😉 So, I’ll just take my cellphone, call my best friend, fall asleep, get my little sister to school tomorrow, and learn for driving-school without worrying about anything blog-related, because it’s supposed to be fun. : )
Am I even making sense? Well, what I *wanted* to say was, thanks for writing this and encouraging so many people to leave comments. <3
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I have been feeling like quitting for some time now. I enjoy the friendships and the books , but I have been doing this for 5 years and while raising 5 kids. This true about time management and making the time for what you love to do .
Its sad to see friends go , but I totally understand why they need that break 🙂
Julie@my5monkeys recently posted..Stealing Parker Book Review
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I definitely miss blogging (and all of you guys) SO MUCH!!! Maybe if I would have taken on a co-blogger or two before I started my graduate work, I would have been able to keep up with it more, but the way things are now…I can barely keep up with teaching and my own classes! Still, I hope to come back to it on a more regular basis at some point.
Natalie @ Mindful Musings recently posted..Adult: Review of Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong
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This is such a great post, Danny! I totally agree, I am not burnt out on blogging at all. It does take up a ton of time and at least a few times a week I get behind on emails and comments but I do my best to make it all work. People ask me all the time how I juggle my blog and law school, but I love reading and I love blogging. You make time for the things you want to make time for.
You are so organized, I love your blog and kismet. I go to a lot of blogs and I do a lot of blog tours and both your blog and your touring company and they are both incredible. I wish I could make graphics like you!
Congrats on getting your PhD!! That is so awesome. You are an inspiration 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs recently posted..{Review+G!veaway} The Lost Immortals by KaSonndra Leigh
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Very informative post, Danny! I am missing so many of the bloggers you mentioned, but I understand. Blogging is a huge commitment if you want your blog to be successful. The key is planning, organization and a schedule, Lessons I have learned the hard way. After a year of blogging I have a nice blog built and am hoping for a bigger and better year. I am so glad I met you and so many other bloggers along the way! I did respond to your email, hopefully you got it! Super excited to win! Have a great week, I will be by more next Wicked is crazy this week, and I bit off more than I can chew! Yikes!
Heidi recently posted..Sunday Post: 19th Edition and Something Wicked Day 21
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Great post! Recently I’ve had to take a look at how much time I spend blogging. I think because my blog is fairly new I wanted to keep it updated as much as I could to establish it properly, but it started getting too much. I’m still posting daily but now I have blog posts done in advance as much as possible. I’ll sit down and write several at one time when I’m on the ball and then I just have to go back and hit publish – such a weight off! I have a template for reviews as well and I always have all the book info ready so when I finish the book I just have to write the review. I’ve also cut back how many reviews I post. I’m now doing 2 a week maximum which allows me to read without rushing to finish a book and gives me time off from reading when I can’t manage the load. Since I started cutting down I’m weeks ahead with my reviews which is a lovely feeling!
I also have the advantage of not studying and I don’t have a full time job so I have plenty of time to spend on my blog, and it’s a hobby I really enjoy. I often find it gives me a focus which is great, but when life gets busy then I have to take a step back. I used to be awful at that but it’s a learning curve and I’ve learnt that nobody really cares if I skip the odd day! I just need to not put that pressure on myself.
It’s great reading other people’s experiences! Thanks so much for posting this.
Sarah @ TotalTeenFiction recently posted..Review: In Your Dreams by Amy Martin
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I for one have been feeling like I’m drowning in responsibilites lately. New baby, first time I’ve been a mother of multiple children, the blogging, the editing, the reviewing, the books that just keep showing up at my door step begging me to read them.
It’s been crazy, but some how I have managed to stay a float. But would I quit blogging to empty my plate a bit? NEVER!!! I just love it to much and I would hate to start from scratch when I wanted to go back to it. Even though I do have to admit I wish I could cut back a little. Just so that I could have some time to, you know, BREATHE for a minute. I probably should have nixed Zompacolypse this year. Trying to find time to promte all the givaways is killing me. As we speak there is a baby crying because they don’t want to be on the floor anymore.
Speaking of…..I better run. lol
Darkfallen recently posted..Kealan Patrick Burke visits the Wastelands
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Thanks so much for this positive post! I’m, by no means, tired of blogging. I love it, but I’m so busy that sometimes I get a little overwhelmed. There have been a few days that I’ve just not written posts when I had planned to because I didn’t have time. I’m a little OCD so doing that had been hard for me, but it’s nice to read that it’s okay to do that.
Laura Ashlee recently posted..Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
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[…] (Bewitched Bookworms) wrote a great post about not getting burned out on blogging. I know I’ve linked to a lot of this kind of post, but I have to keep reminding myself of […]