It has been over a week since I last posted on my blog. This is quite unusual for me.
Since I started this space in July 2010 I have enjoyed it so very much. Sure, sometimes I didn't quite know what to write about, but that lasted for about a day or two and then the ideas were flowing again. Nothing to worry about.
The best part of blogging is connecting with other bloggers. I've found so many kindred spirits here that I have hardly found in "real" life. There is inspiration galore, opportunities to learn, to take part in challenges - the list is endless. In short, blogland has been a great place.
However, I have felt a weird tiredness over the past few weeks. I used to blog so often, and currently I write one or two posts a week. This week, I haven't written anything. I wonder what is going on, whether I just need a little break. Is this only temporarily? Or is it something bigger?
There is a lot going on in my life at the moment . First of all, the Geek had surgery last Thursday and that was on my mind a lot in all the weeks before. It went well and he is very perky, recovering from the three hours surgery surprisingly fast. He still is in pain, but for that we have those lovely pills...
January was very busy in my Etsy shop, and I am thankful for that. I had several custom orders and sold lots of Valentine's cards. It caught me by surprise, I have to say, I had thought that after Christmas things would be very slow, but I actually was way more busy than before Christmas. It's good to see that people want to show their love for other people, no matter how. February was exceptionally slow, and currently it's picking up again with custom orders for St. Patrick's Day. I'm doing a happy dance here.
There is a lot more going on, but I don't want to bore you with all the details. The outcome, however, of all of this is that I've lost my mojo for writing my blog. It's not that I don't have ideas - I actually do, and I know that I will put them in here one day, but just not yet. I want my blog posts to come from my heart and be honest, and at the moment I feel I can't do that. Everything is just blah, and to write only for the sake of creating another post to keep this blog going without my heart in it? No, I'd rather not.
So I think I might take a little break from my blog - but as soon as something crosses my mind that I want to share with you, I will. I know that I will be back, I just need to get rid of that pressure that I am putting on myself for no reason at all.
But please tell me - do you ever feel like that, and what do you do if you're blog tired?
.
I have not gotten blog tired yet. But I notice many others have. The regulars who came to my blog are quickly disappearing. I do not take it personally. I just see some peoples loss of enthusiam lately.
ReplyDeleteI do find it harder to make time to go to everyone's blogs on the daily basis I once did.
But I sure do my best to visit everyone who visit's mine (I think that's only fair) and others at least once a week. I notice too I have new followers because I am doing more drawing and painting lately than fabric art. So my audience has changed as well for that reason. With some it's a friendship thing that continues no matter what we post, what art we make or what we have to say. The connection just simple continues because we have grown to like each other over time.
All that said, I do understand that sometimes LIFE gets in the way of blogging on a regular basis.
For me it's a personal journal of my art making first, and if others enjoy following it with me fine. But I do it for me. Then I do it for feedback/comments as that gives me encouragement to do more. And I visit others for the inspiration their art and words give me. Blogging has changed my life in wonderous ways. I might slow down at times but I hope I never stop!
And I hope you come back too, as I will miss your wonderful photography, your family photos, your words/thoughts/crafts and friendship.
I can totally relate, Carola. Sometimes we need to time to regroup and re-energize. I've taken a break from blogging several times to focus on other things. How great that your sales are going well! Enjoy your time off and we'll look forward to seeing you back here soon.
ReplyDeleteAs you well know, Carola, I have felt like this for quite some time now. I love to write, and I enjoy the community of the bloggosphere to help me connect with others. But lately the writing is taking other forms (mostly personal journals) and I just can't seem to find the motivation to post.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed the fact that you had an etsy shop (how did THAT happen?!) and so I am now on my way to check out all your lovely things.
I think it is important to blog on your own terms, be kind to yourself, and let go of any "pressure".
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear "the Geek" is doing well and that etsy is too :)
Definitely focus on the things that bring you joy and when you are ready to blog again I will look forward to it!
xo
Kristin
p.s. I can relate - I am going through some pretty heavy stuff right now that is keeping me out of the studio and away from the blog a lot of the time... But I know that someday I will be able to get back to a more normal routine again...
♥
Don't worry, Carola, and there's no need to apologize. It's very stressful when a member of the family is having surgery, and those things have to come before blogging.
ReplyDeleteYour blog followers will still be here for you every time. Wishing you and your family all the best,
K
I think most bloggers feel that way from time to time. I think a little break now and then is really helpful.
ReplyDeleteRinda
I totally understand, my friend. This takes time to do and it seems right that you are listening to your heart, and living your life, and taking care of your family, and keeping your shop going, and making art, and and and ...
ReplyDeletegive yourself a break but come on back when you feel ready to. Things change, that's good!
Carola, I always enjoy reading your blog but can certainly understand your needing a break. It sounds like you have a lot going on in your life. You need to do whatever is best for yourself and your family. If blogging isn't bringing you joy and satisfaction, then take a break. We'll miss you, but I predict you'll come back to it refreshed. Your friends and fans will be here when you do.
ReplyDeleteoh do I ever know how you feel. I feel like my photos are bland... and wonder where the joy went. So - I've been visiting Pinterest... Looking at other blogs... and just trying not to worry about the fact that blogging seems difficult.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this is the winter blahs... although I LOVE the chilly weather - the rain {even though we've had less than a dozen days}... I'm really not ready for the warm weather tho!
So happy to learn your esty business is booming! woo! hoo!
AND glad to hear the Geek is healing! do you have a Spring Break planned? we'll try to get away for a few days... that always revives me!
Will keep checking back...
I never get blog tired, nor for my weblog or photoblog... thank God
ReplyDeleteHi Carola,
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to say what a fabulous photo, just to see this one pic standing alone would make me want to come back here, but then your 'heart post'! I think your words could stand in for many of us here in bloggyland! I for one am feeling this too, like you I keep easing off and decided to post only when I feel like it. We all understand and when you next pop up in my blog roll I'll be curious as ever even for just a pic!
Enjoy your rest my love,
Sue x
Carola, it's all part of the ebb and flow....perfectly normal and good for you for recognizing it and pulling back from something that you are not passionate about at the moment. A break is a good thing... as long as you need. I have other friends that have done this and, as others have said, we will be happy to see you when you return! Sit back, don't worry about it, but take notes when something strikes you. Then when you start up again, you will have plenty of ideas. Good luck - will be thinking of you!!
ReplyDeleteI realized I didn't speak to the fact that your husband had had surgery. That affects us in a huge way, and I can see how that alone might have seen blogging through different eyes...how time is spent, etc. So so understandable.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is recovering well and will be good as new soon.
Yes!! This so resonated with me. Yes! I get blog-weary..and worn..and I question why it is I do what I do..and where is it leading..and all of that..and more. Somehow - thus far - I've managed to push thru..and it usually comes back. But I'm sure there will be a time and a day when I just won't anymore. YES - I've experienced this many many times before!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone who blogs can relate to this (well, except for Chantal, I guess), Carola. It IS part of the ebb and flo and certainly needs to be taken seriously. THANK YOU for sharing this process with us because we can be part of your support system from afar. I so agree...Blogland is like my family even more than my own family is! If that makes sense?!
ReplyDeleteHallo Carola, ich denke solche Phasen hat jeder. Auch mir ging es schon so, ist aber länger her. Durch meine Tätigkeiten in verschiedenen Design Teams bin ich momentan "gezwungen" zu posten, es macht mir aber Spaß :)
ReplyDeleteIch hoffe, dass es deinem Mann bald wieder besser geht.
Nimm dir eine Blogauszeit und genieße die anderen schönen Dinge des Lebens.
Liebe Carola, ich hatte Anfang Januar auch keine Muse etwas zu bloggen und habe dann einfach ein paar Tage Pause gemacht. Der Wunsch, weiter zu bloggen, kam dann ganz von selbst wieder. Und es ist ja auch nicht schlimm, wenn frau z.B. nur ein oder zwei Posts pro Woche einstellt. Die schönen Dinge in Deinem Etsy-Shop finde ich bemerkendwert schön. Ich hatte mich auch ganz kurz bei Etsy angemeldet mit einem Shop, bin aber überhaupt nicht klar gekommen und habe alles wieder gelöscht.
ReplyDeleteViele liebe Grüße Synnöve
Funny, I have been feeling the same thing lately. It has come before but I worked through it. I have to say that I too am the same way, I connect with people through my blog more than I do through any other source. Usually for every birthday I make it a point to do something new in my life. This time I've thought of stopping my blog altogether and move on to something new. With my birthday coming up tomorrow I can say that stopping is not going to happen. So unfortunately I don't have any answers except to say I feel you and your not alone. I guess we'll see what the future brings. Enjoy your break and hopefully you will come back refreshed. Enjoy your week and be creative.
ReplyDeleteI just realized recently that I've been blogging for 10 years now and in that time I've had many periods of blog tiredness. For me it comes most intensely when I get caught up in posting for the enjoyment of others instead of just posting as a way to store my memories, explore my own thoughts, etc. I'm hoping to return to that kind of blogging full force very soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to keep up the pace on a blog. Unless you write about the minutiae of your daily life you can't really find something new to write about several times a week. I often feel that I would welcome a break, but then I get going again.
ReplyDeleteDo take time off, and eventually the enthusiasm will return. until then, take care of everything else in your life, which is probably more important than a blog.
I does happen sometimes and I have found that taking a bit of a blogging break often helps.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time away and come back when you are ready, Carola
Hello my lovely. Sorry it has taken me a while to get here. I too am having some blog tired days. I am looking forward to the school holiday when I can get out in the fresh air and have some creative time too. Hope to see you after a relaxing break x
ReplyDeleteDearest sweet Carola, i totally understand this feeling of blog tiredness. Sometimes we all just need a little break. I have also changed my blog schedule over the time and only blog like once a week but im hoping to improve it to two times a week.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear that you sales are good! Keep up the great work sweet friend! Have a lovely merry little blog break! Love to you!
we all need a break every once in a while....and it's OK - thats when we renew our creative selves
ReplyDeleteglad to hear your Etsy shop is blosssoming, too!
hugs!
I can totally relate to taking a break. My job had left me totally drained and then I had to muster up effort to blog. So, I just decided to let myself relax from blogging. Any free time, I paint. It's totally freed me, at least for now.
ReplyDeleteLove your etsy shop!
It amazes me how our energy transmits via cyberspace, even when I don't say so with words, somehow it comes through. I'm learning to post only when it feels okay to post, this can include messy flawed posts, but the post that just come, that feel fun and flowing are the ones that make my heart sing. It hard not to get caught up in the 'should' space of wanting to please, but I'm learning and for me this process includes many mini breaks and last spring I completely feel apart and thought I'd never blog again, after a month away the urge to connect brought me back :) So yes, I do get blog tired, but mostly I'm energized by the process of connecting.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to meet you over on Vision & Verb, thanks for the lovely comment on my guest post. I hope you get some deep rest and relaxation :)
I usually take a short brake from it all and just do whats fun. After a while my inspiration comes back.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice brake and take care!