I’ve been “blogging” for over 10 years now. Crazy crazy. And in that time, I’ve probably given myself around a year off. I blogged through secondary school, sixth form, university and now into my adult years. Definitely still not accepting adulthood quite yet though. My life, from age 14, has all been put online somewhere. The rebellious 14-year-old having her first taste of alcohol, the smitten 16-year-old when I met my now fiancé, the confused 18-year-old with not a clue what to do with her life, the 21-year-old graduate that’s probably never going to use her degree, the 24-year-old learning how to use a washing machine in her first house. It’s there, somewhere.
Blogging has been a massive part of my life, and even when I’m not posting consistently, behind the scenes I’m spending my days planning ideas and taking photos for future content. I’ve even got a list on my phone of over 300 post ideas I want to write. I can never imagine blogging not being part of my life. Even when it becomes obsolete, I’ll still be here rambling away on my little place of the Internet. I’m sure of it.
2017 has been manic. You have no idea how relaxed I feel sitting down to write. I haven’t been able to do this in what seems like forever. But before I veer off in a tangent – in January Sam and I bought our first house together. A major renovation project because quite honestly, that’s all we could afford. For three months, we spent every spare second working on the house. Every. single. one. Whilst still working full time. It was hard, but we did it, and we’re now living in the house, finally. Although it’s still a building site and there’s still so so so much to do.
Sam and I work for ourselves and work has been crazy. I’m actually writing a post on ‘What They Don’t Tell You About Working For Yourself’ because I must get told I’m lucky almost daily. I am. But I don’t think people quite understand how much of a hard graft it is keeping a business running smoothly, especially as we now have a house to pay for. It’s stressful. It’s hard. But yes, it’s rewarding.
On top of a crazy crazy home life and a crazy crazy work life. My laptop decided to finally give up. And then the Internet. I’m still not used to this laptop, and I think I must be deleting more words than I’m writing as I don’t know where the keys are yet. I am absolutely useless with technology.
I’ve had a serious case of the “blogging blues”. I’ve been comparing myself to others, my writing, my photography, myself as a person. I’ve wanted to get back in to regularly posting for so long but every post I write just doesn’t seem good enough. I hate every photo I take. My posts are too short, too long, too chatty. There’s not enough photos, too many photos. I thought after 10 years of blogging I’d be over this by now?
I lost the love for blogging, I was writing because I felt I needed to, I was accepting products and collaborations for the sake of it. I was forcing myself to write when the creativity didn’t flow. I forgot why I started. I didn’t start for the freebies, the views, the followers. When I started, Facebook didn’t even exist, yet alone Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and all the other social medias that dishearten me when comparing myself to others. I wrote for me. Because I enjoyed writing.
I think I’ve been spending so much time worrying about what other people will like, what will make me look good, what will make me stand out, how to gain followers, how to improve my writing style, my photos, my content, that I’d forgotten what’s important. I’d forgotten why I started.
Over the last couple of months, I’ve taken time for me. To spend time with the people I love. To do the things I enjoy. To sort my life out. To start exercising instead of complaining about the stone I’ve put on. To have my hair done instead of moaning that I hate it. And most importantly, write. I was starting to hate the person I’d turned in to. I’d turned into one of those people moaning about life, whilst sitting on their arse and doing nothing whatsoever about it. That isn’t me.
800 words later I think I’ve managed to say what I wanted to say in this post. I’ve rambled a lot when all I really wanted to say is that I’m back. And as cliché as it sounds – I am going to be the best version of myself I can possibly be. I’ve declined collaborations that I either don’t have time for, or I don’t feel I’ll 100% love. And I’m going to really start focusing on the things I do love. Baking every sugar filled treat I can possibly think of. My Manicure Mondays. Exploring. Skincare. Pamper sessions. Because you can really tell the difference between the posts I love writing, and the ones I’ve struggled to find the words for. I’m going to take my blog back to something I enjoy spending my evenings doing. And I hope you start enjoying reading it again too.
I’m going to leave it there. I’ve already written way more than I intended and I’ll end up writing another 800 words if I’m not careful.
Have you ever hit a blogging slump like this? What did you do to get back on track?
Until next time,
Katrina says
I always seem to hit a 6 week hump then after a week a get an influx of ideas and enthusiasm to jump back at it don’t worry we have all been there
Ami says
I’m very much the same at the moment! I’m full of ideas but getting them written is the difficult bit for me at the moment.
Ami xxx
kristal says
Congrats on all of your achievements of being a blogger for 10 years. I am new to blogging and for me its hard to keep up blogging but I love it. I hope to accomplish what you have. within my own time.
Ami says
Thank you! That really means a lot. I hope you continue loving blogging! Writing makes me feel so chilled out.
Ami xxx
Susanne Remic says
I totall relate to this. I’ve been blogging almost7 years and regularly take long breaks. I’m enjoying it right now but having 4 kids and working for myself (I too get told I am lucky ALL THE TIME!!) its often on the back burner. Don’t compare yourself to others. I know its so easy to do but honestly you’d want to just give up if you feel you can’t keep up. I write for me and nobody else x
Ami says
It so hard to incorporate it into a busy lifestyle without it feeling like such a chore isn’t it. You’re doing amazingly keeping it up with 4 children and working for yourself!
Ami xxx
Dani says
I love that you have been blogging for so long! I have been blogging and reading blogs for about 5 years, and that feels like a lifetime!
I am definitely in a bit of a blogging slump right now – it’s so hard to juggle blogging and working full time, which is a shame because I love blogging 🙁
Dani x
Ami says
It definitely feels like a lifetime but then I suppose it has been quite a big chunk of my life. Yes I’m with you there. So hard. Just don’t force yourself to write as that’s when you stop loving it.
Ami xxx
Kara says
Congratulations on buying a house – you don’t realise how much time they take up do you. 10 years is an amazing blogging achievement too. I think we all got through highs and slumps with our blogs
Ami says
Thank you. I know! I knew it would be tricky but not quite as tricky as it was. Definitely, I’m glad I’m out the other side of this slump now!
Ami xxx
Katy says
People follow your blog because they love your content, you are an amazing blogger and a role model to a small blogger like myself. However you are right, you do need to blog about what makes you happy and not about what everyone else is blogging about. I look forward to your upcoming posts. And let’s meet for a cuppa soon would love to see your new home xxxx
Ami says
Thank you so much for such a lovely comment, you’ve really made my day. Yes please, let’s definitely meet up soon! I’m free most evenings/weekends really, it’ll be lovely to catch up!
Ami xxx
Kirsty says
I’m glad you have returned to blogging as 10 years is a big part of your life. I’ve never had a slump but I did Starr ugly to spot content earlier this year due to health issues and it made me realise how much I missed it when I couldn’t blog.
Ami says
I never fully went but instead of posting 2-3 times weekly I was posting a few times a month. I hope your health has improved now. Thank you for your comment.
Ami xxx
Rhian Westbury says
Wow ten years of blogging is incredible, and you have every right to take some time off and be a bit selfish sometimes, you have to do what’s best for you. I’ve never really had a blogging slump but that’s because I’ve only been blogging about 2 and a half years, I’m sure I’d have one if I’d been doing it as long as you x
Ami says
Thank you, I’m not sure where the time has gone. I really feel better after a little time out though.
Ami xxx
Abby says
GOOD FOR YOU! Take the time you need and reconnect with what matters. Blogging is so much more honest and real when we’re actually inspired — you’re readers don’t want an empty, sad or unhealthy you. & remember the maybe trite but so true statement: Comparison is the thief of joy. I have to remind myself of this all the time and just tell myself that we’re all getting there (somewhere?) eventually and in our own way …just f*** the rest. haha 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Ami says
Thank you for your kind words. I definitely felt so much better after taking a bit of time for myself. Love that little quote!
Ami xxx
Ashleigh Dougherty says
You have achieved so much in your life already. I am 24 and yet to move out! x
Ami says
Thank you lovely. I’m always putting myself down but often don’t stop to think about the things I have achieved.
Ami xxx
Tori says
Ten year blogging is an amazing achievement! The blogging blues can hit at any time – well done for making the call to decline collaborations that aren’t right for you. They might be right in the future, they might not but you’ve got to do what’s right for you!
Ami says
Thank you for your comment lovely. Definitely focusing on what I enjoy writing from now on.
Ami xxx