Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I’ve been in a bit of a blogging slump lately. I don’t know exactly why, but I just haven’t felt like posting as much – I have to force myself to write reviews and I just haven’t felt like discussing anything either (thus this discussion post!). I can’t explain why I’ve been feeling this way, except that I think I may just be letting the fact that the new school year is starting up soon overwhelm me (I homeschool my kids and I’m feeling really unprepared). When I start to feel overwhelmed, I tend to shut down and get LESS done – the exact opposite of what I need to do!
So, what can you do when you’re feeling uninspired? Well, I HAVE found a few things that have worked for me – at least somewhat.
- Schedule more. If I have things specifically marked on my calendar they feel more set in stone and I get them done whether I want to or not. And usually, once I start working on a post, I can go with the flow and enjoy it – it’s just the starting that’s difficult. So, I just need to put a few things like reviews in my calendar – even if they’re not necessarily required on specific days. It helps me to have goals for the week!
- Do something new. I haven’t felt like doing reviews or discussions lately, but I AM really excited about my Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up, which is something brand new I’m trying. By focusing on something completely new, I’m bringing some of the excitement back to my blogging!
- Visit other blogs for inspiration. Checking out lots of other blogs can often spark something and get you excited again! Finding new-to-me blogs when I’m in a slump is a great way to mix things up a bit too! Unfortunately, sometimes when you’re in a blogging slump, you end up feeling less motivated and able to surf the blogosphere as well – but if you can manage it, you just might find rejuvenation!
- Take a break. If all else fails, there’s no crime in taking things easy for a little while. I sometimes pressure myself to post every day (or at least five or six times a week). I had two weeks in a row where I only posted three times! This could have been panic-inducing, but I really tried to give myself permission to not stress about it. My blog didn’t implode because I stepped away for a little while and all of my followers didn’t up and leave me. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that our blogs don’t have to be all-consuming. And we really shouldn’t want them to be!
So, those are a few of the things I’ve tried lately to get out of my slump. How about you? Have you ever been in a blogging slump? What helped you get out of it? I want to know!
Great advice. I try to write a ton of posts when I’m feeling inspired. I know that I don’t have time to work on the blog every day, so having posts scheduled takes a lot of pressure off me. Scheduling allows the blog to take care of itself until I have time to work on it again.
That’s a great idea to write a lot when you’re inspired. I would really like to do that, but I never feel like I have enough time to write more than one or two posts at a time. Maybe what I need to do is concentrate on just doing a couple of posts a day for a little while (when I’m feeling up to it) so I have a few extras.
I like your suggestions, specially the fourth one. Most of the time I write because I genuinely enjoy it, but once it starts feeling stressful, it’s harder to sit down and do it, and then of course you feel worse! I think permission to take a break is really important. Trying new types of posts is also a great suggestion.
Yes – I think we need to give ourselves permission to slow down every once in a while. I have a hard time with that because I feel this NEED to stay caught up with posting, commenting, replying … but it can get overwhelming if I let it. I’mm getting better.
I schedule a lot so I can take breaks as needed. Trying something new is a great idea, problem is you gotta think of that something new lol
That is definitely true! Sometimes thinking of something new can feel nearly impossible too!
I’m with Julie! Scheduling saves me. Now I just need to get back in my Saturday morning routine and all will be good!
I haven’t been blogging long enough to hit a slump, but I think just with life overall it makes sense to write a lot when you have time and inspiration, so you give yourself some wiggle room.
I remember when I first started blogging and I would see people talking about reading or blogging slumps and I would think, “Really? How could you possibly not love every second of this!?” Ha! I guess I understand it now. (Not that I don’t still love blogging, but I definitely get how it’s possible to be in a slump!)
I go in and out of slumps all the time! It’s pretty ridiculous actually haha. Sometimes I don’t feel like blogging for a week or more and other times I can’t stop! I’ve gotten to a place where I’m okay with that, though. If I don’t feel like blogging, why force myself? It’s not a job. It’s a hobby. And if I want to keep it as a hobby and continue to enjoy it, I can’t take it so seriously and take all the fun out of it!
Good advice! I find scheduling is very helpful. Then, like you said, you have a goal. Everything is easier with goals!
You’re right about the hobby thing – sometimes I tend to lose sight of that.
I don’t usually get in slumps for TOO long, but I do have them. I think allowing yourself a break is always a good idea. Try and find something else to focus on for a bit – read more if you’re in the mood for that. I’ve been a bit “blah” about scheduling various posts for all my blogs, and I really need to do that, so I need to get that into gear.
The weird thing is, I haven’t even been reading as much as usual. I’ve been working a lot and feeling like I need to get started on homeschooling (and avoiding it – sigh). It’s okay, though, this week was already better – I think I’m on the upswing.
I go back into Evernote and look at all the ideas I’ve put away and see if any of them inspire me. Over the last year, I’ve put many ideas in there to discuss at another day, when I have the time or space, and I’m so glad I’ve done this. My “Blog Post Ideas” notebook there has grown and there’s always something there I can talk about.
When I need inspiration for writing, I do something else completely. I watch a movie, go for a walk, sit and knit, anything to get my brain unstuck.
I have a discussion post ideas list, but lately when I look at it I just feel blah about all of the ideas. I even started writing a couple of them and then gave up on them. Oh well – I do know this will pass. This week was already getting better.
I have kinda taken a break – I haven’t been posting as much as I normally do since summer got a little crazy for me and I am overwhelmed with the amount of reviews I am behind.
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Since I haven’t even been reading as much, I’m not crazily behind on reviews – except for two that I’ve been putting off for so long that I can barely even review them anymore. Oops!
I’ve been feeling kind of uninspired myself lately, and I have definitely found setting myself deadlines and checking out other blogs has helped me. I also keep a bit of a rolling list of blog post ideas that I look at when I’m in a slump and struggling, and then just try writing one of those whether I feel like it or not.
Yeah, I have a list too, but I haven’t felt like writing on any of the topics on it lately. They all just seem so boring to me! I know what you mean about just forcing yourself to do it, though. Sometimes that’s all you can do!
I’m most uninspired when I’m in a reading slump. Once I’m reading books I’m inspired by then I want to write and talk about them. When I’m on a roll I try to write as many posts as possible so I have some buffer for a few weeks if I hit a slump.
Yes – actually a book I really didn’t like inspired me to write a review right away and it was the best I’d felt about writing a review in a while! 🙂
When I’m feeling uninspired, I make myself sit down and brainstorm– not necessarily specific posts, but themes. Like, February was the month of love, so for the entire month, I reviewed books that dealt with relationships, teas that would be suitable for wooing significant others, discussion posts about what I like or don’t like in romance novels. I discovered that when I had declared a specific topic for a month, I became more motivated to write. I ended up having most of my blog posts scheduled for February before February 1st rolled round!
But that doesn’t always work. Sometimes forcing the issue isn’t always the best plan because then this hobby can start feeling like a job. When that happens, I usually take a step back and focus on other hobbies of mine. And that’s just fine too.
I think that a theme is a great idea! I’ll have to remember that one!!
Very good suggestions! I am sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed though 🙁 I have been feeling that way too lately. I guess I DO want to post, but time is just… well, you know how it is! And then I am so stressed that I feel like same way you do, like I just plain don’t want to do anything.
I know logically that #4 is accurate. I do! But I cannot take that step back. I guess mostly because I don’t WANT to step back, I feel like I am forced into it. I truly don’t understand HOW you do it, Nicole. With homeschooling and everything… my goodness. I need your secrets 😉
I was in an actual slump (not just a “holy crap I have no time” panic) after BEA, and I think the only thing that helped me was just pushing through. I had NO ideas, so something new was out of the question, and visiting other blogs basically just reminded me that I felt like I was a mess. So yeah, I just kept posting and hoped to get the spark back. I am scared that it won’t work one day, but for now, it does the trick 😉
Yeah, those two weeks that I only put up three posts, I felt seriously miserable about it – but I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything more. It was crazy how unmotivated I was! I get what you’re saying about looking at other people’s blogs. I have to confess that sometimes I feel lacking when I do that too when I’m in the middle of a slump. In fact, a lot of times when I read your super fun discussions, I think mine are so boring in comparison. But then I remind myself that I’m me and you’re you, and my style is different – and that’s okay. I can still find inspiration without letting it get me down! (Usually.) 🙂
Based on what you’ve been telling us the last couple weeks, I was happy to see you did this post. I think just writing about it may help you! I agree with everything you wrote! It’s good to not give yourself too much grief when you step back a bit…..it’s a natural part of the process in my opinion. Your loyal followers will always be here for you :). I have found in many aspects of my life that discovering something new is very reenergizing for me (especially when it comes to my job). I have no doubt that you will find your groove again soon!
I’ve been doing much better over this past week. I think I’ve finally defeated the slump!
Great ideas! Blogging slumps are the worst. I have taken a break from blogging before, but it never lasts for long. I just feel bad when I do it.
I feel bad about it too – it’s hard to let go! Luckily, I think my slump is finally over!
I find visiting other blogs to be really helpful. I also keep a list of post ideas, and I have drafts that I can always clean up and finish. Some are months old, an idea I started and didn’t get around to finishing.
Since I am home almost all the time getting out really helps too. Just sitting in a coffee shop or cafe and people watching while I read, or making sure I get together with my girlfriends can refresh me.
Good point about getting out – sometimes you just need a change in scenery!
These are all fine suggestions. Blogging is definitely not one-size-fits-all — if I get three posts done in a week, I feel great! It’s important to figure out what works for you and embrace that. And taking a break can be the best thing. I like it when bloggers let me know they are doing it instead of just disappearing — it actually makes me more curious and eager to read what they have done when they get back.
Great suggestions. I do all of those except four, which isn’t an option for me because I always have a ton of stuff scheduled. I can’t just take a break because I am the only one who sets up all the tour posts. Plus, I feel obligated to keep going because I pay for the self-hosting and everything.