I think we’re all familiar with the usual love-hate cycle that comes with the job. It sucks. Call it a slump, or being uninspired… It’s expected. But I’ve been struggling so much lately and I don’t know if it’s just me, or something with the bloggers who have been around about the same time I have, or if it’s just that as a whole the community isn’t into blogging that much anymore. And it’s scary because leaving the blog is out of the question. So the only answer is work through this and find my mojo again.
Time and energy, my enemies
I won’t even try to make excuses, because, while I do seem to be very busy lately, I have some free time which I could use to write more blog posts and catch up. But, I just don’t have the energy. When I get home from work I can only do one thing. I either choose to watch an episode of Lucifer, read, try to work on my novel, or blog. It’s pointless for me to try to do more than one because guaranteed I’ll fall asleep.
Many bloggers who were active when I started out aren’t anymore, and that makes me wonder if there’s a certain cycle to it, for some of us. We start when we’re teenagers, super fired-up, and then get jobs and suddenly it gets harder. We’re still here, but it’s just not like before.
Is this even still relevant?
I totally believe blogging and an activity like bookstagramming can coexist. I feel like while book recs and engagement have mostly moved to social media, our official reviews still come on our blogs, and we use the social media to promote those reviews. Still, the balance has been tipping more towards social media lately. I used to be more laid-back about this shift, but it’s become really tough lately. Makes me wonder if I still have a place here, and if I’m just holding on to a sinking ship (Geez, what am I talking about? Blogging is never going to die, but it IS getting slow. Sorry, can you tell my thoughts were all over the place in this post?).
When I sit down and try to think of content, well, it’s that much harder. An example: I think about a list of favorite books, but then I go like, huh, that would be way easier in just IG stories. While, a post like this one, I need to write more about so I know it needs to go here, on the blog.
But again, it means I have to work even harder to settle on the ideal piece of content.
That said, it could be a positive thing. We could take this chance to leave the superflous stuff for social media, and blog less often, but come up with more meaningful topics? Somehow this is the direction I think we’re heading in.
Have you felt this way? Where do you think you spend more time, blogging or on social media? What do you think would be the right balance?
It’s so interesting because I recently mentioned to a friend that a lot of bloggers that have been around for a while are on an extended hiatus or blogging less! I definitely understand why and totally agree that there have been occasions where I’ve had the time but not the energy to blog, and I assume that only gets worse as life gets busier. For me at least though, I prefer spending my time blogging than on social media, but it’s possible that will change as time goes on!
Malka @ Paper Procrastinators recently posted this awesome thing…Get to Know Us! The Sunshine and Liebster Blogger Awards
While I definitely understand about the shift to social media that you spoke about, I still spend more time on my blog. I care more about the content I put out on my blog, and I find it easier to write a blog post of 1k words than write an Instagram caption. I guess it’s because when I get a topic I want to talk about, I REALLY want to talk about it. And since I don’t talk much in real life, I’m a blunt and to-the-point no-nonsense person, I tend to let myself go while typing or writing by hand. I love that freedom in blogging.
UGH where do I even start with this topic?! I remember being thrilled with blogging before quickly realizing that I was effectively shouting into the void… and it took years before I could separate writing content for me with the pursuit of fame (lol). I’m trying to post more often now, but I’ve never given myself a consistent time in which to write posts, and I still find myself waiting for an idea to fall into my lap. I made a book Instagram account at the beginning of the year, but it’s still difficult to quiet the voice that says my posts are Enough. Instagram is fun, but I’ve found that I enjoy its aesthetic side more than the discussions.
Rachel recently posted this awesome thing…Thoughts On: DNFing
I know what you mean. Instagram can be just as stressful, but in other ways, it’s also easier, because you get carried away with the aesthethic. Lol, in the beginning it’s so hard! I remember how it was like for me as well 🙁
I totally feel you here. I also think that a lot of blogging has moved over to YouTube videos. A lot of bloggers have stopped blogging and started vlogging instead. Blogging seems to be less relevant and popular now than it used to be, and while I love videos, I still love reading blog posts and writing them rather than filming.
Erin @ The Book Archive recently posted this awesome thing…Kingdom of Ash Spoiler Review (It’s FINALLY Over)
You may be right. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers starting their own booktube channels. Blogs have become the shelter of those who truly feel more confident with words rather than video. I have a booktube in spanish I share with a friend, but it’s super lowkey, and it doesn’t drain me as much as bookstagram does. I do prefer reading a written review too!
I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to make the shift to blogging via social media. I’ve seen some people write reviews right in Instagram, but I still prefer my blog. I’m old, though, and I think that shift might be happening whether I like it or not. LOL!
Personally, I’m not really into instagram reviews. I like it when someone just says very briefly their opinions, but full on review? I usually skip them. So you’re not the only one!
I can relate to the struggles of blogging over time. I used to blog pretty much every day when I first started. Several years and a few hiatuses later, the blogging community’s changed quite a bit. Personally, I still prefer blogging to social media. Social media’s so fast paced that I just can’t put in the time and energy necessary for it. What I’ve found works best for me is to blog less often and to share more discussion pieces because these are the kinds of posts I find more interesting nowadays 🙂
Crystal @ Lost in Storyland recently posted this awesome thing…Boy Meets Zombie, in France?: A Small Zombie Problem by K.G. Campbell
I totally feel you! No matter how busy I get, I usually able to at least maintain my posting schedule by drafting posts. But this year, it’s been really hard. I barely have time to read, let alone blog that I’ve been neglecting it. I think it’s just how it is, as we get older, we deal with more things and well, blogging just takes a backseat :’) It pains me to say this, but yeah. Also, as much as I still love reading a full length, in depth blog posts, I also understand why social media can be more appealing. It just gives more room for interaction and the shorter content means it’s easier to read when you don’t have that much of a free time. I didn’t really have social media anyway for my blog (except for twitter) and I have never been active on that platform anyway :/ Personally I miss blogging, but I also understand that sometimes it’s okay to just take a step back and focus on other things in life 🙂
Tasya @ The Literary Huntress recently posted this awesome thing…June 2019 Screen Rambles // A bunch of Korean movies
Yeah, I think I need to start reevaluating things again and make sure I’m okay with the space blogging has in my life and not stress too much about it. I’m so happy so many bloggers are still creating content and interacting here though.
Makes me relieved because I can be like ‘alright, I’m not alone around here’.
Thanks for your comment!
Oh Pam this is such an interesting post, I love it and can really relate to it as well, in some ways. I feel like it can get harder and harder to keep up and to blog, too, as we grow and deal with the adult life, day job and so on and… yet I also feel like things have been shifting in the past few years to social media content, being more appreciated and more, valued, somehow, than blogs. It’s easier (or it feels easier) of course, to put out a tweet than to write an entire blog post, to be on instagram where everyone is while blogging seems to be fading on the background. I feel that way a little bit, yet I also know that deep down, I adore reading reviews and in depth blog posts and discussions like these ones, things that can’t happen, or just happen in different ways, on social media. I’m one of these rare people spending way more time on my blog than social media and sometimes I wonder if I should be switching that time around? It’s confusing haha.
I love everything you do, Pam, take care of yourself and do what you love! <3
It’s just so hard to let go. It’s been a couple of days since I wrote this, but I’m already feeling a bit more inspired. I’ve been tweaking some things here and there, and that ALWAYS makes me feel better.
Thanks for the sweet words anyway because I think we all need the encouragement. Blogging is a constant process of rediscovering our love for it. I guess a lot of us are going through something similar! I’m so happy we keep doing this ♥