Please don't ever feel bad for having a period of lost inspiration or even interest in blogging, I've seen some outright panic worrying that perhaps their blogging days are over because they've reached a slump or a bump in the road. I'm here to say it happens to the best of us (god could that sound any more self important if I tried) and share a few tricks of the trade should it happen to you.
First of all no-one is going to think any less of you for taking a few days, weeks or any months off from blogging - it is a cliche and yes overused but "your blog, your rules firmly springs to mind". Sure you may loose a few readers along the way but that happens daily to any given blog regardless of absence or not and sometimes a break is just what the doctor ordered to re-light and get those blogging juices going (eww!).
Personally I have to work through the slump, not because my livelihood depends on it but purely because if I don't I become lazy and won't do anything at all. By working through the lost inspiration phase doesn't have to refer typing up posts -simply popping into your local Boots or Superdrug and looking at new beauty products may help or pulling out all those products you promised to photograph and simply forgot about may well light a fire under your ass (I'm such a wordsmith) and get you back on the path of creativity. Of course both suggestions apply to beauty blogging as that is all I know but I'm sure you can take such advice and apply it to other forms of blogging in one way or the other.
Let's face it life happens, it gets in the way and so it should. Memories are seldom made while typing. Imagine being chained to a computer screen all day everyday no thanks! My advice is to let it happen - hey it may just inspire you, from your friends new hair do to some new fad beauty treatment your uncle twice removed on your mum's side tried out in the middle of the shopping center (remember those fish pedicures, well be thankful I didn't post his photos), it may just be the basis for your next post.
Sometimes the panic button gets pressed when we suddenly run out of things to blog about - for that I like to have scheduled posts which mean that should my mind put a brick wall there is always something new I can publish. This also allows me to have a few days off from typing up beauty posts to re-group without feeling the need to quickly hash out a post that no-one will want to read or stops that compulsion that some of us bloggers have been around for quite a while now get - blogging purely out of habit. This is the worst hurdle and more often not the succubus of my blogging mojo!
Do you like lists? I love making lists, sometimes I make lists about lists I like to make. Sad? You betcha but a list seems to be the best way to extract my brain of any decent ideas, it seems that once I jot down one idea the rest come snowballing out. Try it, I bet it works for you!
Most importantly don't be afraid to ask for help, in my experience the blogging community is nothing but supportive and sometimes simply saying "help!" can lift a weight. Take to Twitter and bounce ideas of others or simply ask for help be it a new direction or someone to guest post while you re-group. Help is there and I guarantee if you ask, someone will answer.
Most importantly don't be afraid to ask for help, in my experience the blogging community is nothing but supportive and sometimes simply saying "help!" can lift a weight. Take to Twitter and bounce ideas of others or simply ask for help be it a new direction or someone to guest post while you re-group. Help is there and I guarantee if you ask, someone will answer.
Basically before you get your knickers in a twist about loosing blogsperation every now in then is to remember that it happens to us all at some point. The other thing that helps me is to remind myself that I am writing about lipstick, my cats, what I ate a week ago and maybe my pretty new dress - I am not saving lives. It's not that serious!
Enjoy the ride but my god don't let it dictate your every move!
Enjoy the ride but my god don't let it dictate your every move!
Happy blogging :)
Speaking of blogs, I would love if you checked out my exclusive advertiser for July - Danniella Josphine's blog - link
Random Fact - A person can live without food for about a month, but only about a week without water.If the amount of water in your body is reduced by just 1%, you'll feel thirsty.
If it's reduced by 10%, you'll die.
This was such a great post!!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post missus. Loss of mojo really does happen to everyone and you read my mind 100% when you said you blog through it as best you can. It keeps the blog ticking over and keeps the momentum going. I've seen some blogs where you can see they're panicking with loss of mojo and put up what I call "filler posts". But they continue to do so months later as they've just gotten out of the habit of blogging.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain weeks when I'm exhausted and life gets in the way, but like you, I keep a constant list of possible posts and on those weeks, I post just once a day. Lists are my saviour!
Your work ethic always astounds me and I wonder how you keep going with a bajillion posts a day ;) And now I know some of your mojo tricks ;)
Thanks for this!
Thanks for this post, I have been feeling a little bit uninspired recently so I was really happy to read this.
ReplyDeleteGillian from Glam Up Everyday x
Great post! I agree about writing ideas down, once I have one a million seem to pop in my head! (OK slight exaggeration)
ReplyDeleteanother random fact i learnt yesterday, you can't survive for more than 11 days without sleep, that has been the longest on record someone has survived without sleep, morbid right?
ReplyDeleteHaha. fish pedis are a nono! Loved your post hun xxo
ReplyDeleteThe Edge of Beauty
Thanks, Adrianne. Your post really helped me as I've been beating myself up for having more time for my 'real life' than my blog. It's definitely worth remembering that lack of inspiration and self doubt happen to the best of us! Some days I wake up thinking 'good god, what am I doing with my life, writing about the difference between a coral and a peach lipstick', other days I think 'how I can possibly not let people know how amazing that foundation is! I must to a before and after post.'.
ReplyDelete"This too shall pass..." I think that quote is quite appropriate. The good and the bad; it will all pass! :)
BTW, loved the random fact! Scary how much we need water!
Ysis x
Ah thanks for that! I feel like i lost my mojo but i really want to blog! Its good to be reminded that it happens to other bloggers as well.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post thanks so much, it's nice to read honest insights like this and will definitely take your tips on board :) http://chictravel.co.uk/primp/summer-skin-care-edit/
ReplyDeleteYes! I completely know what you mean. You don't want to just spit out a post if it isn't going to be worth it for the reader. I believe taking that extra time to re-group is something that can be of so much value to you. Everyone needs a vacation...and even a vacation from blogging. I have seen people take long AND short breaks. I don't hold anything against them. I give them snaps because it means that they just have other things in life going on at the moment and their blog is not their priority. That is okay because you should always take the opportunity to experience "real life" as it happens...not just blogging about life, but actually living it. Going out with friends, meeting new people face to face, trying a new restaurant or vacation destination. Never feel guilty for taking a much needed hiatus.
ReplyDeleteGinny
www.buttergirldiaries.com
Great post! My blog is tiny so it's easy enough for me if I don't post for a few days or whatever, but I've seen a few 'big' bloggers really panic over taking a break. I'd never stop reading someone's blog just because they wanted to take time out! xx
ReplyDeleteD Is For...
Awesome post! I also love to create lists, it helps me stay organized and helps me to create different ideas! I like to call those slumpy days the blogging blues when you have no idea what to post and you feel as if you have lost all inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I took pretty much all of June off and now I'm back with more ideas!
ReplyDeleteRoxy's Box of Tricks
xxxx
: thank you so much Adrienne! i was searching for more inspiration and you are my life saver, for doing this awesome post! tehehee. :D
ReplyDelete