What I Learned While On A Blogging Break



Hey all, I am back from my vacation and I read ZERO books. I know, I know. I completely unplugged and checked out but doing this refreshed me and I am ready to read through my entire TBR pile so I can start buying new books again without feeling the guilt.

Hey, it could happen.


Okay, maybe not . . .

While away I had a little time to ponder a few things.

I Have Realized I Do NOT Do Well Blogging Ahead

Nope. It is not for me. I had 15 posts scheduled a week or so before I went missing and had hoped to stay that way but I CURSED myself, as I usually do, by being all industrious and organized. Instead of staying ahead I frittered away my time doing other things and used up all of my reserved posts in record time before I had realized it was even happening!

I am going to continue to wing my way through blogging. I hope you don't mind. The rest of my life is pretty scheduled with workouts, budgets, menus, work . . . Reading and blogging are my outlets to do what I please, whenever I please and adhering to any sort of schedule simply doesn't work for me.


Keeping to a schedule is a wonderful thing for many bloggers but I learned that trying to schedule things actually added more stress to my life. I couldn't keep up with my own posts or comments and it kind of sapped all of the fun out of things for me. I know this probably makes no sense at all but that's not unusual ;)

I Suck At Challenges

We're 7 months into 2017 and I have fallen down on all of my challenges. This isn't a new realization to me.  I never follow through with them and then feel guilty about being such a slacker. Now I want to secretly hide from them and pretend I never signed up.


For My Sanity I MUST Stop With The Netgalley

I simply cannot request any more review copies if I ever expect to make a dent in my tbr before I croak. Now that it's in writing (again!) I have to do it, right?

I Really Should Listen To My Own Advice

I wrote up this post earlier this year and have blatantly ignored all of own advice! I am not doing whatever the hell makes me happy, I have only DNF'd one or two books in 2017, I have read ZERO books from my actual TBR piles, I had an "it's free!" spree at Netgalley which I am now paying dearly for and I am still agonizing over most of my reviews. Yikes! None of that is fun. I also need to learn how to say no and stop over-committing.


I hope you all stick around and don't despise me for being so flaky. I will continue to visit your blogs and respond to comments because that's the best part about blogging but I'll probably always be a day, week or month or two late. I'll never be a blogger who stays on top of things. I envy you folks who can keep it all running so smoothly because I do not have that talent.

So how are the rest of you?!

Comments

  1. Do what's fun and makes you feel good. I'm just glad to have your blog to visit and have you stop by on mine when you can. It definitely shouldn't cause you more stress! I am totally bombing one of my challenges and even though in my head, I've devised a plan where I can kick it in at the end of the year and meet the goal, it's probably not going to happen. Oh well, I can live with that! Welcome back.

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    1. Thanks, Barb. I have no idea how you all can keep up with multiple challenges. I have trouble with one or two!

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  2. I do pretty good blogging ahead, but I am a bit addicted to my blog. :) I do need some time off though and when I feel it coming I don't let it bother me. I should stay away from Netgalley but I have written it down several times and still haven't stuck to it...lol. So good luck. Welcome back!!

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    1. Haha, I have a feeling Netgalley will get me again at some point!

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  3. I think if I did NetGalley and always had books to read and review it would completely stress me out; I'm better off just free reading it. As for blogging, you should check out Nadia's post on "Slow blogging" @ http://abookishwayoflife.blogspot.com/2017/06/three-things.html. I liked her take on it. Because blogging should be fun...not a chore. Good luck with your TBR pile! :D

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    1. That was a great post. Now I don't feel so bad about my sloth-like ways :) Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I think you need to do what works best for you. I'm finding that doing posts in advance works for me but it isn't for everyone. You know we're happy to come and visit when you post something and we don't demand a set number of posts each week or anything. If you're happy, we're happy and we support however you want to do things!

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    1. You guys are so great. I'm so glad we all found each other :)

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  5. Boy do I get it! There's a reason I left my blog and joined Michelle - it was too much to keep up with! I'm a perfectionist type A so I can't blog without a schedule - I've tried and I just shut down (so I envy you that ability!) but when I can't maintain the schedule I set, I also shut down. *sigh* Don't you worry, this is your space! Do with it what you want and we'll be here to chat whenever you are. If there's one thing I've learned over my past year of in and out blogging, this is one loyal community of friends :)

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    1. Thanks, Berls and I'm so glad you're still writing! I'll go visit you at Because Reading. And you are so right about this terrific community. I am so glad I found it!

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  6. Blogging should be fun. It is a hobby, after all, not a job. Just do what works for you, and try not to stress about it. (Easier said than done, right?)

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    1. You are so right. I already have a job and I don't ever want my fun time to feel like "work". Thanks for sticking around!

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  7. I stink at bogging ahead and gave up on a schedule. It needs to not stress me out and be fun. I am trying to stay away from NG too. I have so many ARCs still to get through and my TBR is so long!!

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    1. Boy, do I ever hear that. I don't know why I request books when I am swimming in them!

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  8. Just try to have fun with it. I am horrible at blogging ahead. If I have a post ready to go then it seems to go up really quickly because I can't make myself do anything if I don't know that it is an absolute must. I need a 12 step program when it comes to arcs.

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    1. I need that same 12 step program. I just can't stay away :(

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  9. I hear you! Schedules do not work for me at all (when it comes to blogging). I say the less pressure the better. I'm trying to through all review copies, all schedules, all obligations out the window.

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    1. Yep, I have enough stress in my life. I don't know why I insist on adding more. No more, I say! I wish you luck and I hope I can keep to my word this time around.

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  10. I blog ahead and am working on September reviews and posts. Most are done. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with blogging as you go. If it works, it works. NetGalley is like a candy shop..I avoid it myself and only have 4 books to read there. Good luck. PS. I suck at reading challenges too!

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    1. I wish I could be a more consistent blogger and keep to a schedule but trying and failing twice now has taught me a lesson which I hope I learn from this time! Ugh, I think I have at least 10 NG titles left. I'm afraid to look . . .

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  11. LOL at not listening to your own advice. Yeah. Been there. Oy. You need to do you. Whatever style blogging works for you is great. I'm a planner. I would stress the heck out winging it. Heck I've got some Jan posts done. (yes, I'm an insane list making planner lol).

    NG is So hard to resist. I'm trying to limit myself to one at a time. So like I can't request one if I have one already to review. I have to finish that one and have it submitted before I request or accept another. It's freaking HARD but it has helped a lot with the NG overload panic. I wish you lots of luck with that!

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    1. I think I give good advice to myself but following through is a real problem. I just went over to NG to leave an overdue review and I didn't look at any of the books! I deserve a good piece of chocolate for that feat.

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  12. I came to read the reply to my comment because I'm pretty sure I left a comment here!! I WANT TO CRY! I hate when that happens. Surely my computer glitch and t didn't go through! Well I'm glad I came to check so I can try to leave it again. I think I said I I do have to blog ahead for my sanity :) and that I had to take a break from NetGalley too :)

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  13. This is so me! lol

    I took a break last month and spent the whole time writing posts. I have never been so productive as when I was supposed to be taking time off. Then I was blogged ahead for two weeks and I hated it. I forgot what posts where scheduled, couldn't talk about what was on my mind right then - got sick, couldn't read/draft posts and now I'm behind again.

    I'm a panster and it works for me. I'm embracing it!

    The same with challenges. Once I sign up I don't want to read that kind of book ever again. lol

    I am good about Netgalley though. I have a 2 book rule. I can request up to 2 but need to read/review before I can add another. But Netgalley has never really been a problem for me. I rarely go there.

    My physical TBR is what's kicking my butt.

    For What It's Worth

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    1. Ha, sounds like we are blogging twins! I am going to adapt your 2 book NG rule. That sounds doable and so less stressful than the 9 I currently have pending. It'll allow me to read something from tbr pile in-between.

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  14. I need a break. I know I need a break, but I can't. I've had at least one post on the site *every* day since I started it. It's an insane schedule, and its burning me out, but...but... I get fixated, and I can't help it.

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    1. Woman, take that break! If any blogger deserves it is YOU!! Don't burn yourself out. Your readers will still be around whenever you feel like posting.

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  15. I read less every year in June and July because of spending time with my son, school being out, and a shifting of schedules.

    I came back to August in a huge reading mood and this may end up being the month I've done the best for the year. Reading less for three months was apparently a good mini-break for me then :)

    I have website challenges up on my blog but have rarely updated them this year. I used to be all into them but now I've been into monthly themed challenges in Goodreads groups instead. I guess we all go through phases

    I have to remind myself not to over-request at Netgalley too - it's hard!

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