The stress of blogging....

There have been rumblings.....

Lately, I've been reading a lot about people  and a lot of postings wondering what is going on in blogland? It seems like visits are down, posting is down, and top-notch, very talented bloggers are dropping out.

I'm not an expert by any means, but as I approach my 4th year of blogging there's one topic that not too many people talk about.

Blogging is stressful.

Most people get into blogging because they have things to say and share. They want to be heard; maybe they were a lurker for  a while and decided to finally gather enough courage to jump in the pool. There is excitement with the first post  and the very first comments; but as time wears on,  that initial honeymoon stage wears off and the reality sets in. 

Blogging is stressful. 

I've had many good friends stop blogging over the last few years, many of them more popular than I ever will  be. Many of them happily come back after  a bit of a break, but, some of them don't. 

I think with blogging, there can become all of this pressure to produce and write.  It can go from fun to work. Almost like  a second unpaid job. And even though many times the pressure is self-imposed, there's a feeling of not wanting to let the readers, your friends down. As it mounts, there is the realization that for the most part, you are putting out all of this work for  little or no monetary compensation, and there is still a real life to live... on top of that with all of it's pressures and problems with family and relationships and work. And when someone's blog grows really quickly, more quickly than they can imagine; the pressure can mount even more. People want interviews and pictures and guest postings, and they have  a question, and all of the while, the kids are beating the living tar out of each other in the kitchen over the last chicken leg.

Blogging is wonderful.

Blogging is stressful.

I've always been a "slow and steady wins the race" kind of  a blog. I feel blessed that I've grown a bit more every day, little by little. I love blogging. I love writing. I love my readers.  I adore them. I wish I could have more time to respond to  comments and chat more. If I could do it full-time and get paid really well I would in a heart beat. I am immensely thankful for every opportunity that blogging has brought me and every new friend that I have made. I think God lead me to blogging when I needed it most. I found it at a very lonely and uncreative time in my life.

Blogging can be uplifting and gracious.

But there's real life. Blogging can be expensive.

Projects cost money, and I think sometimes there is an underwritten pressure to "keep up with the joneses" when it comes to creative blogs. I've felt it myself. 

When I started blogging there was all of this back and forth about selling-out over having an advertisement free blog. For me it came down to running ads because I needed the money to do the projects.  I am all for making the most of what you have, so if you need to run ads to keep going and make ends meet, have at it. 

It's your blog. You gotta do what you gotta do.

At times, I've contemplated quitting. Life gets to be too hard, too complicated, too worrisome and blogging can  be a chore. I think a lot of bloggers have felt that way. There were days when I couldn't wait to post, and there have been days of "post- dread" where I have no idea what the H-E-double hockey sticks to post about. 

I think it comes down to balance, and figuring out where blogging really fits in to your life.  If it doesn't fit, so be it. You need to do for your life what matters most. 

And live your life as it matters most.

The thing is, while blogging is stressful it can also be a joy. It can be a great way to connect and share. It can open up new opportunities and new horizons. It can bring success and new creative ideas. It can be about so many wonderful things....

 if you can find the right place to fit it into.

Jen