RELAX -- blogging doesn't need to be stressful

Sometimes blogging gets stressful.

Before I go on, let me quickly say that it's not always stressful. The fun is there -- almost always there -- but often enough I'll let the stress of blogging get to me.

I've been talking to lots of bloggers lately, and I've realized that we all feel the stress to a certain degree. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in that... but why? We blog because we enjoy it, right?

Of course. But it's so easy to put the joy behind and let the stress rule instead (gosh, this is especially true for real life). 

I'm going to explore the fears + doubts + stresses + pressures + thoughts we have about writing and talk about why they're insignificant. Let's do this.

But you are posting. 

Let's face it -- blogging takes lots of time, and especially with school being a happening thing, time is hard to find. Sometimes you gotta enjoy the time you have and not fret about posting seventy times a week. (or even weekly. monthly. school and life is a thing and it's evil.)

Relax -- it's okay to push yourself to make time for blogging, but don't overdo it.

I struggle with this thought. If you struggle with it also, I'm gonna stop you right there. Your posts are interesting to someone. Different readers have different tastes. Some like humor, some like serious posts, writing inspiration, pictures, writing advice, wrap ups... the list goes on and on.

Not everyone is going to enjoy your posts, and that's okay. You have a blog because you have passion and talent. But someone out there is going to love what you do. (*points to myself* I love what you do, so there.)

Relax -- if you are writing what you enjoy, someone else is going to enjoy the same thing. 

So keep doing the thing.

I HONESTLY FEAR THIS A LOT. What if I run out of things to post? What if everyone has already blogged about everything there is to blog about?

But I have to keep repeating these reminders to myself: 

• You will always grow and learn.
• You will keep writing books -- and have new things to write about through that.
• The world is always changing. Life is changing. You're changing. That alone is a great and wonderful story.

You may have "blogger's block" at several points throughout time, but you have a mind to keep creating posts.

Relax -- don't let your fear consume your creativity.

Dude.

Bloggers. Need. Breaks.

I can't reiterate that enough. I highly suggest that bloggers take "mind breaks." (a hiatus) It could be a week, a month -- however long you need to recover your poor, exhausted brain.

Will people be mad at you for taking a break? No. Disappointed, perhaps, that they won't see some posts for awhile, but you'll return and the wait is so worth it, then.

Will people stop reading your blog for you taking a break? Ha, no. The break helps them catch up on all the other posts you've written. 

Will people forget about you once you take a break? No. Your blog will still be there. Their email subscription will still be there. 

They might miss you while you take a break, but most of your readers are also bloggers. We understand. And even if they aren't bloggers -- it's easy to understand that life gets crazy. 

Relax -- taking a break is important, and don't be afraid to do the thing.

... brainstorming some post topics that I'm really excited to write about.

... planning a blogging hiatus. (Not sure when. Either December or November. Or maybe half and half. WE'LL SEE.)

... creating a giant list of blog post ideas so I won't run out of posts anytime soon. (or so I hope -- ha.)

<3,

katie grace

Can you relate to any of these?

Does blogging ever stress you out?