Can I say how much I love all the choose your own adventure challenges? Not only do they help keep me focused (which, let’s face it, it’s in short supply these last few months) but being able stay focused while picking my own rules for doing so is basically the best way to go. 
When the topic for simplify came up for December, I planned to apply it to blogging. And did I ever! In fact, I simplified so much that I didn’t blog for almost 3 weeks. It was necessary to do, given my mental health situation, and man, did it feel good. I mean, I missed writing and reading blogs and chatting with people during the day but all the other pressure? Gone. The ideas for posts kept flowing, I gained new perspective on what I want to do with the blog, and I realized that I need to go back to my blogging roots. Whatever those are, I’m not quite sure, but I do know that I need to stop obsessing about all the parts that stressed me out.
I don’t blog for stats and likes and shares. I don’t blog to compare myself to other bloggers. It’s not why I started and it’s not why I need to keep going.
I blog because I love to write, I love to share my story, and writing has always been my dream job. While I don’t get paid for it (yet. Fingers crossed that it changes), I’ve realized that my blog is a step, a big one, towards achieving that dream. That’s what I need to remember, along with the fact that blogging is a way to connect with people I might not have otherwise had the chance to connect with.
That’s the important stuff.
The other important stuff is my simplified blogging plan.
The specifics: I’ve decided that I will no longer blog 5 days per week. If I have enough to say, I might blog 4 but for the foreseeable future, I’ll be blogging on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule. I’ll be sharing some old posts on Facebook and Pinterest on the days I’m not publishing new content and hopefully, by the end of the month, I’ll have a newsletter established for a special series I wanted to share on the blog but for now, will only be sharing with those who want to read it. I don’t want to shove it down your throats.
This simplified blogging schedule will also allow me time to work on editing my first book. Publishing a novel has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember and it’s time to stop thinking about it and start actually doing it. And trust when I say the book needs A LOT of work. On another note, if anyone else is working on a big project and wants an accountability partner, let me know because I’m all for that.
The two new projects, editing and starting the newsletter, also fit in with the theme of this month’s challenge: COMPLETE. For me, it’s important that I complete the first pass of editing as well as complete the set up for the newsletter. Not only to keep me in content and connecting with readers but as a self-esteem boost. I haven’t completed a project in years. I’m hoping this will help me gain momentum I desperately need.
Also on tap for this month’s challenge, complete the update of my photo frames in my living room as well as the decor in my daughter’s playroom. We organized the shit out of it over my break and now it’s time to make it look a little nicer. I have some ideas, too, and I can’t wait to share them!
If I haven’t yet said it, thanks for sticking with me through all of this. I appreciate it more than I can say and I’m hoping, in the coming months, to have lots of good stuff for you guys.
Are you participating in this month’s challenge? If so, what are you working on?
Glad the break was success and you feel better about the direction of your blog. Hope to be reading your book in the future!
Kerry recently posted…Who Do You Admire?
I’m definitely excited to finish working on this first pass of editing!
SUPPORT. i decided to step away from the blogosphere entirely for most of december and IT WAS WONDERFUL. i created a new one that’s small and only meant for when i want to blog…and it seems that this no pressure to blog thing is giving me back my zest for blogging 🙂
it’s so much fun when you have no pressure to blog; otherwise it turns into a chore.
kathy@ realtalk recently posted…humpday confessions [1-7]
Agreed!!! When there’s pressure, it turns into a chore and that’s definitely no fun. Fortunately, I’m starting to pinpoint why it starting feeling like a chore and I’m working on getting rid of those circumstances and pressures.
YOU GO GIRL! Edit that book!
I am thankful I don’t feel pressures from blogging. I’ve slacked on some things, I don’t reply to comments as quickly, and I’m okay with it. I have to be, because I’m doing this for me.
Still on for Tuesday book posts or do you want to move them to Wednesdays? I’ll email you the inlinkz this week.
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Choose Your Own Adventure Goal Challenge: December Results and JanuaryGoals
Tuesday is fine. Stuff like that is why 3-4 is my new schedule. Linkups happen 🙂
I wish I didn’t feel so much pressure and I’m working on letting some of it go. I just can’t keep up with some people. I don’t know if I don’t have the motivation or the drive or the whatever but I know that I need to learn to do what works for me.
You are enough, Jana, you are enough!
Glad you had a nice break and are back! Looking forward to this brand new year!
Love , SMD’s Momma
Thank you! It’s good to be back.
I think that’s great. I don’t blog Mondays. And I usually take another week day off as well! 3 or 4 times is enough, I think. I doubt people would read every post if I did post 7 days a week, it’s just too much.
Hooray for editing and publishing a book, that’s huge! Good luck working on it this month!
Stephanie recently posted…Create Your Own Adventure {Link Up}
I can’t even imagine posting 7 days per week. I tried it, once, when I started blogging and it was a huge failure. It’s amazing when single author blogs can do that.
I’m so glad your break from blogging helped! Anytime you are feeling pressured or stressed about blogging I think it’s definitely time to step back and re-evaluate. For most of December I was blogging five days a week and I think that’s definitely too much for me to do on a regular basis, I will be cutting back to 3-4 days a week as well!
Julia recently posted…Loving Lately…
3-4 days per week is completely reasonable. I don’t have enough interesting things to say to blog more than that!
Glad the 3 week break was good for you and you’ve come back refreshed and with new, simplified direction for your life and blog. Going back to your blogging roots sounds like it’ll keep ya motivated to keep doing it. Don’t do the stuff that stresses ya out. And congrats on setting a goal to get first edits done to your book. It’s a big task! Good luck! Guess I simplified over the break too and will focus more on my health and sleep rather than getting posts up on a schedule. Most readers don’t even care if it’s regular since I’m not a big blogger.
lisacng @ expandng.com recently posted…The holiday {photos}
I try not to let blogging ever stress me out. I started it for fun and I want it to remain fun. Any day I feel that I am pulling for a post I shut my computer down and walk away.
Looks like you have some great goals for this month’s challenge!
Nadine recently posted…Simplify Your Life
man, posting 5 days a week is just too much, i totally feel you. i used to stress about posting 5 days a week and now i don’t. i aim for 3 and sometimes it snowballs into 5 or more – weekend posting is when i post things just for myself, accountability and the like. anyway! good luck with january & editing 🙂
kristen recently posted…December Results / January Goals
I’m taking the break from the challenge this month. I am still exhausted from the holidays and just trying to get back to even keel.
I think your simplified blogging plan sounds great. Honestly, I don’t know how some of you guys put together a post every single weekday! It’s easier for me to keep up with you with less posts anyway. =)
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…Welcome to the parsonage
This is excellent. I hope you continue to share with us unabashedly 🙂
Sally recently posted…A Few More Specific Goals for 2015
Sometimes we need breaks from the internet world and December was a good time to do so because of Christmas and the holidays. Good luck this month and I’m glad you joined us in the link up!
Ashley Servis recently posted…Monthly Themed Friday: Motivated Vol.2
Good for you! Reducing your blogging to reduce your stress is always a good call. Not to mention you’ll feel better about the content you come up with when you aren’t pushing yourself too far.
GOod luck with January!!
Carole recently posted…#30daysketchchallenge – Week 2 Recap