A long time. Like over 10 years a long time. That’s a lot of time of writing and pouring my heart out, sharing resources, and building a presence online. Some days it’s great, other days not so much. But even in the days when blogging has felt more of a chore than a joy, I’ve learned things. When you do something for over 10 years it’s impossible not to learn something, right?
What Blogging Has Taught Me
1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
I can honestly say that in the days when there’s a drought between posts it’s because there’s been a lack of planning. I do best and am most consistent with blogging when I have a plan. The funny thing is that that’s the way of life too. The more prepared and planned out things are, the easier it is for me to get things done and be productive. I have to be careful though, because I know I have a tendency to spend a lot of time planning and then have no time to write.
2. KNOW THYSELF
This is, of course, a skill still in progress, but the more I admit my own weaknesses and strengths to myself, the more successful I am. In blogging, this amounts to knowing that I need to plan, but then making sure I stop color coding everything and actually get to work. Self-discipline is super important, because it’s entirely too easy to let other things take precedence – even things that are no more important than getting an article done – and not have time to write. When I call myself out on my own excuses, things get done. It’s like self tough love.
3. DEADLINES WORK
Trust me, I have worked with plenty of people who think that deadlines are just arbitrary dates and have no importance or meaning. I am not one of them. If I have a deadline there’s no way I’m not going to meet it. So, in order to stay consistent and be successful, I’ve learned to set deadlines for myself. That can work great in other areas of life, as well – just know yourself enough to know whether deadlines are a motivator for you or not.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY
In addition to the many homeschool, blogger, teacher, and social media manager hats that I wear, I am also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. One of the biggest reasons people reach out to a trainer is because they want accountability. They want to be held responsible for their actions by someone else. In blogging, it’s a lot of the same thing. I find that when I commit to a project, I’m on top of that piece much more quickly than ones where I’m writing on my own. Accountability is a powerful thing!
5. PRIORITIES
If you’re a parent, you know that sometimes your own priorities get circumvented by the needs of your family. Sitting down to write an article when you’re at your creative best isn’t always possible. And, most of the time, you’re okay with that. But, if you’re like me, after awhile, you start to get that antsy feeling. The feeling like you’re giving and giving and giving and none of the things that you want to make a priority are able to be fit into the daily grind. Here’s what I’ve learned about that – if I stop making my priorities and dreams a priority, I can’t help others make their dreams a priority either. It’s the whole adage that you can’t fill someonelse’s bucket when your own is empty. And, if blogging is a priority for you, then you have to make it one. I’ve learned about how long it takes me to write an article and then format it for publishing, so some days I get up that much earlier just to get it done. I set the timer and pound out the thoughts for that amount of time. When I give myself permission to get my own things done first, the rest of the day goes so much more smoothly with homeschooling and work. Sometimes, friends, you have to make yourself a priority above all other priorities – and that’s okay.
Blogging is different for everyone, I’m sure, but it requires a lot of discipline, a lot of self-exploration, and a lot of commitment. There are always seasons to it, as well. So, if your favorite blogger hasn’t written for awhile, extend grace not judgement. Life is tough and for many of us, blogging is a way to interject some fun and reconnect with who we are. And sometimes, blogging is just about being able to get out of the house and go to the coffee shop for an hour alone to write. Whatever your reason, whatever your why, know that the world is better for hearing your words. Keep on going, sweet friend.
Find out what blogging has taught others here:
