I recently shared about how I had the privilege of meeting a whole bunch of fantastic local bloggers. I left on a blogging high full of ideas, networking, and big dreams. And then I came home to reality.
I then followed that up by getting blocked from Pinterest {in case you missed Part 1 to this little series, you can read it here}...and wrote a little rant about that.
And then I read this post from The Nester about how many summers she has left with her kids and how she chooses to step away from certain aspects of her blog to focus on her family all the while still create good writing blog content over the summer {Other fantastic and related posts by her can be found here and here}.
And then it got me thinking. I get so down on myself about the time I spend online sometimes. Some of it is wonderful, productive, and filling. And a lot of it unfortunately is wasteful, draining, and unsatisfying.
So I am reconsidering how I spend my time online. What benefits me the most? What gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment? What social networks actually provide benefit to my blog for the time I put into them?
First, I love my blog. I love writing. I love sharing. But it is almost because of these other outside platforms that I feel like I need to connect in that keeps me from giving my time and energy into good blog content.
While at the recent blog meet up one of the topics of conversation was on getting more followers. Blogging has changed a lot since I started. If you were around back then you can attest as well that there was not nearly the same amount of pressure that their is now to grow your blog, have high quality photography, and daily wow-worthy content.
My advice to new bloggers was to be true to yourself. To not feel pressured that your blog is not growing at the rate you want it to or that certain readers don't love the direction you decide to take your blog. Because at the end of the day it has to be what you are passionate about that fuels what you blog about.
So I decided I should probably be taking my own advice. And for me personally, I have felt distracted by other elements online that it has kept me from feeling as passionate and excited as I once was about blogging.
I want to fuel that fire again for blogging. I want to create good content that is from my heart without worrying if it will get pinned, how many people "like" it on Facebook, how many comments it gets, or how others may choose to respond in a negative way.
So call me old fashioned...but I am going to attempt to go back to my old ways of blogging. Blogging about what I want when I want...and not worrying so much about being noticed. I used to blog anonymously...no name, no picture. My friends and family didn't know I blogged. It was a bit embarrassing really. But I did it because I loved it. I am ready to go back to that old Domestic Fashionista that started this blog.
Making time for the small and beautiful things of life...
Do you ever feel pressured to blog a certain way or are hesitant about truly sharing what is on your heart? What keeps you from blogging this way?
Another good read on unplugging can be found here.
