~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This
post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group. A great place for
sharing all those insecurities we writers have, and for offering advice
and support for our fellows. To join in head over to Alex J Cavanaugh's blog, you can check out what other people are posting about and sign up yourself too. Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to start by saying a huge apology for the lateness of my IWSG contribution this month, but it does kind of demonstrate some of what I'm feeling at the moment.
My enthusiasm for blogging has taken a complete dip in the last couple of weeks, something that is filtering through to my reading and my writing too.
After spending a little time contemplating this phenomenon, I've come to the conclusion that I need to take a step back and slow down a little with everything.
I've still been posting things on a more regular basis than when I first started, but it's beginning to feel like I'm going through the motions with it rather than enjoying it. Things have started to feel more like a chore and I feel I'm not putting quite as much effort in as I could, or have done in the past.
A few days ago I checked my blog feed and there were over 200 posts waiting for me to read, and the thought of it made my heart sink a little. I'm also in a couple of book clubs, and find myself rushing through the current read just to meet the deadline and not fully absorbing whatever it is I'm reading.
I don't know about you, but this is not really how I like to enjoy my book reading.
I may have to cut down on a couple of things, and get back to doing one thing at a time and enjoying it as I go. I've heard that it's better to do one thing well anyway, rather than many things but not so well.
I hope this post makes sense today, the inside of my head is far from making sense right now.
Happy belated IWSG day everyone!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking breaks are ESSENTIAL. You've got to. I'm just coming back from one and I know I feel a whole lot better. Being healthy and having our lives in order is much more important! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Morgan. I do worry that I'm letting people down, but I'm sure you'll all be here when I get back!
DeleteTotally agree with Morgan. Everyone needs a break sometimes and if you are not enjoying it, step back for a while.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Suzanne, I think I'm going to have a rest for a bit and then come back fully recharged.
DeleteTaking a break can do wonders, I know the feeling, you just need to focus on doing what's right for you :)
ReplyDeleteFocusing on my own needs is usually what I struggle with, Laura. I need to start listening to advice and just have a rest for a bit.
DeleteYou should pull up my feed some Monday morning...
ReplyDeleteTake a break. Or just set yourself to one day a week. The night before, go in and delete all those unread blogs. The day of your post, visit a few but don't kill yourself.
Thanks for the advice Alex. I feel like I need to read every single blog in my feeder, which is so time consuming and takes me away from other things.
DeleteI'm slowly realising it's actually ok to skip a few and just go to those that catch my eye.
As always, thanks for the support :-)
We all need breaks. Feeling pressured and unfocused is not what we want for you. Glad you realize you need to step back and not push yourself to keep going and eventually burn out. Take it easy and do what you love, as little or as much as you want :D
ReplyDeleteI get to a point with blog reading where I just have to delete old posts. I try hard to keep up, and if I haven't visited someone for a while I make an effort, but it's impossible to read every post - and to be honest, I don't think anyone expects you to. I hope you feel more in control soon :-)
ReplyDelete