Blogging Burnout

My first tango with blogging burnout happened shortly after I published my first novel. I had spent many months pushing myself to use my blog to market my book. My “joie de vivre” for blogging about my journey as an artist and author died a little more each week I chose to turn up the volume on my marketing efforts. I became a marketing machine on steroids. I wasn’t having fun. My stories about my creative journey were missing in action. It took several conversations with people close to me to realize I needed to step back from the blog, rest, and regroup. When I finally made that decision, it was the best thing I could have done because it created space for me to take a mini break. That space allowed me to rest and rediscover my “joie de vivre” for blogging.

Have you ever experienced burn out from blogging? How did you overcome it and return to blogging?

Comments

  1. i think burn out is the ultimate satisfaction to re-enter your subconscious mind to state what needs to be stated.
    Burn out creates desensitation in work and leaves unsatisfied needs to do more when you can’t.
    Seek these matters and tell your story, In a blog.

  2. Thanks Michael for sharing your thoughts about burnout. I appreciate your comment about the subconscious mind. That’s the space I come into when I rest and take a mini break after burn out.

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  4. I can relate. I’m currently taking Blogging U’s Poetry and retaking Blogging 101. I never in a million years dreamed I’d have so many Like and Follows. While I appreciate those things, it is time and energy consuming responding as I want to respond, and in the end I don’t get to write as much as I want to write. Which was the whole purpose to begin with, right? And, my dream of writing essays has been nudging me lately and I’m not sure how I can now fit doing that into my schedule as well. I guess it’s all a trade-off, and a balancing act. And in the end, and though I love it, writing is work, no doubt about it. Thanks for the post!!

    2. Thank you Julie and author of writing, writing, words words words blog for your comments. I totally agree with you about figuring out the balancing act. Learning how to balance is a work in progress for me. I have learned to incorporate regular periods of unplugging in my blogging and online life. I also allow for seasons when I don’t blog a lot. I am in the midst of one of those seasons now. It started in June of last year when I decided to take a very long break from my weekly blogging schedule.

  5. i feel like I’m experiencing that right now. I felt so confident in my posts a few weeks ago but I’m trying so hard to get this new blog of mine marketed and shared and talked about that I am not taking time to relax and even think about what I actually want to say. My satisfaction in my posts and my writing has declined since my very first post. Any suggestions on how to combat this for my new blog?

    1. Hi Modern Day Anne. Thank you for sharing your concern. Using an editorial calendar and/or making a monthly or weekly blogging schedule that sets boundaries on how much time I spend online and incorporates digital wellness moments that allow me to unplug have helped me. I have also learned to manage my expectations on what happens to my blog posts when they are shared. Last summer, I decided I would devote a specific period of time each week to promote my blog content when it includes content on a topic or cause I think needs to be shared, refers to an activity or experience like my White House visits, discusses a book I wrote or am writing, or mentions a conference or event I am speaking at or attending. I hope my suggestions help.

  7. I think one consideration is whether you are doing it for fun or for business. When blogging for your own interests, you have space to post or not to post. But when a money-making venture depends on posts, well that is a whole different thing isn’t it. 🙂

    1. H Judy. Thank you for sharing your insights. You make a great point. I would add that you can bring fun into your business blogging process. Here’s how I bring fun into my business blogging process. I wear a t-shirt or sweater that includes one or more of my favorite colors when I write the blog. I make a cup of my favorite tea to keep me company as I write. I choose one of my favorite stations on Pandora.com to listen to while I write the blog. I make a list of 3 to 5 groups or people I can share the blog post. I promise myself to celebrate when I publish the blog.

  8. I’m feeling a bit burnt out right now, but only for lack of time and not for lack of wanting to blog. Sometimes real-life things take over and it’s hard to prioritize blogging, making it feel more like a chore than a fun way to express yourself.

    1. Hi Sabina. Yes real-life things can get in the way and make it difficult to blog. Two years ago, I felt a bit burnt out like you are feeling now because I did not have time to write long blog posts. So I turned to two different forms of blogging: photos and images with a quote or one or two sentences and audio blogging with SoundCloud. Both forms were liberating and gave me a sense of fulfillment.

  9. Blogging, other than other projects, never has a finish line. You never have that “Glad that’s all finished” feeling. I think a schedule helps, but I am always second guessing myself as to whether I am doing enough.

    1. Hi Julie. Ultimately, I think we all have to come to a place of acceptance on what is enough for our blogs. I arrive at this place when I focus on celebrating my blog’s efforts more. Using a schedule helps too. I don’t always honor the schedule, but it gives me some structure and helps me define what doing enough looks and feels like.

  10. I took off several weeks last summer (announced it first so people didn’t think I just disappeared!). Having a planned break–as opposed to avoiding the blog and feeling bad about it– gave me permission not to worry about it during my time off. That really refreshed my enthusiasm and creativity. Thx for bringing up this topic!

    1. Hi Lori. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom!!!! I am so happy you took several weeks off from blogging. I think you are smart to incorporate planned breaks and notifying your blogging audience of your decision. It is one of the best ways to practice digital wellness with a great dose of self-care.

  11. Good Morning Ananda. I have not been blogging so long, about four years, so even though I do put up a page every day I have not yet felt the burnt out feeling you describe. I think maybe it has something to do with goals and expectations. And the rhythm. I am not selling anything which makes my life easier. My intentions are gentle. (I am lucky) When I first started I published whenever I had finished the post, but once I added the discipline of creating a blog in the evening and then finishing it and publishing it in the morning, before milking or feeding out, I found that the pressure slipped into routine and the joy of blogging became a part of my day. I hope you have got past your burnt out feeling, that does not sound like fun and I do look forward to meeting you next month in Portland. cecilia

  12. Hi Cecilia. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I love your gentle intentions and how you surrendered to the daily process of blogging which became a natural part of your life. I look forward to meeting you in March!

  13. Reblogged this on Author Ananda Leeke's Blog and commented:
    Greeting All,
    This week, I am hosting a Community Conversation on Blogging Burnout for the Press Publish Conference and Community. It is giving me an opportunity to meet, greet, and interact with people who are attending the Press Publish Conference I’m speaking at on March 28 in Portland, Oregon. Click on the link to learn more about the conference: https://presspublish.events/events/portland.

  14. Pingback: I’m Hosting Press Publish’s Community Conversation on Blogging Burnout | Author Ananda Leeke's Blog
  16. Pingback: Speaker Spotlight: Ananda Leeke | Press Publish

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