If you are a
regular reader of this blog you will know that I try hard to promote
positivity, so this post is a bit different for me. Lately I have been feeling
a bit disillusioned with life and this feeling has spread to my blog as well. I
am going to draft this post to get a few things off my chest, whether I post it
or not will be another story.
Life has been
ridiculously stressful lately and super busy but it’s never effected my
blogging before. It’s all things I have no control over, so no idea how to step
away and turn my mind off to it. Work and home haven’t been going well and you know
when you can normally balance it when ones going bad the others pretty great? Well
I’ve had no such luck lately. I feel like I’m about to snap, I want to switch
off and relax but not sure how you go about it. I keep getting poorly at the
moment as well and I know that’s due to being stressed and run down. Everything
just seems a little grey.
In terms of
my blogging block, I suppose I don’t have any blogging buddies either so don’t have
anyone to talk it through with or anyone who understands this hobby. I want to
say I have fallen out of love with it, but that’s not true I love blogging fiercely.
‘Lipsticks and Lashes’ is my little sanctuary and I really enjoy it, cherish
it, it’s my baby. However right now and over the past week or so I keep sitting
at my laptop and it’s just blank. I have ideas for posts, lists and lists of
ideas, but I can’t seem to focus to put anything together, no words are coming
out.
I also hate
to compare my blog to others, that’s not why I started this. I started it as I
love writing. I want to be a writer one day and thought blogging was a great
way to practice my writing. I just find it’s become such a competitive community.
I have always been flattered that people even check out my blog let alone
follow it. But I am sometimes not sure I fit in.
I feel like I
have lost my blogging mojo and I don’t know how to fix it.
Apologies for
a bit of a ‘bleurgh’ post but I feel better for venting. Have you ever had the
blogger blues or blogger block?
So Sorry your going through a hard time at the moment, I feel I have been through and maybe still am in some parts the same sort of thing. I completely agree with you about the blogging community becoming so competitive and it makes me feel so bad about myself. I sometimes feel I put so much work into my blog but don't really getting anything back from it, but others seem to make no effort and have great success with their blogs. I just keep telling myself, I started my blog for me and only more, the fact that others read and follow my blog is just an added bonus, I have found this mind set has really helped me. Follow me on twitter if you ever need a chat always have an ear to listen...well eye to read anyway! :) @pollypocketx91 xx
ReplyDeletepollypocketbeauty.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. You are completely right, we all just need to remind ourselves why we started blogging, and that its a completely personal thing! xxxx
DeleteI totally get this, and have been feeling the same way lately. I'm so busy with my final year of university that blogging has fallen by the wayside in a major way, and trying to pick it up again is harder than I expected! Hope you feel better soon :)
ReplyDeleteBroke Student Fashion
Thanks hun, I hope when things are back on an even keel I will be remotivated and ready to kick some blog butt! Hope your final year at uni goes well, you cant have much longer to go?! xxx
DeleteThis is literally me right now!! And I've tried to talk to some people on twitter about it but I guess its just honest to say they dont really get it.. telling me they've heard of 'other people' feeling like this.. well im not other people! im me and I want to talk to someone lol!
ReplyDeleteI'm always here and I'm literally going through the exact same thing right now if you want to talk! @daisydaisyxxo anytime xxx
xxx | daisydaisyxxo
Thank you lovely and right back at you! Here if you need to chat xxxx
DeleteCompletely hear where you're coming from in terms of feeling discouraged by the competitiveness in this hobby; for me, as with any creative output, I'm haunted by the question, "why does my contribution matter?" Just remember that your thoughts and experiences are valid and do contribute to the community of beauty bloggers! I've always loved this quote from the great choreographer Martha Graham in remembering that:
ReplyDelete"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
THIS!!! This quote hits the nail on the head for me at the moment. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. I think we all contribute, no matter how big or small its all important. Also at the end of the day its my own creative outlet and its something I enjoy...I just need to remind myself of that every now and again! xxxx
DeleteI totally understand where you are coming from especially with the competitiveness! I love blogging but can find it hard sometimes to fit stuff in especially when things at home become difficult.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any blogging friends either hun, so if you ever want to chat or catch up honestly feel free to get in touch would love to hear from you. xx
Anna-Maria | www.topdrawfashion.com
Thank you hunny, that means a lot and the same goes to you! xxx
DeleteYour blog is amazing hun and I think most bloggers feel like this at some point or another. I know that we don't know each other but if you do want to chat then you can email me at lazydaysbeauty@mail.com or tweet me @lazydaysbeauty.
ReplyDeleteJaq @ www.lazydaysbeauty.com
Thank you that means so much, I feel so much better for having a vent and everyone has been so lovely and understanding xxx
DeleteI'm so sorry you're feeling like this - I think everyone gets a bit 'meh' with their blog at some point! It's difficult to not compare yourself to other blogs, but you've got to remember that your blog is unique (and fantastic btw!) so there's no need to worry about the numbers or anything like that! Everyone understands when life gets a bit unbalanced and the blog gets neglected, just come back in your own time and I'm sure everything will fix itself soon :) Chin up chuck! xx
ReplyDeleteeverythingbutthekitchen.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you Rhiannon! I just need to learn to take a step back and not put so much pressure on myself. Blogging is a hobby I love I don't want it to become a chore xxx
DeleteI completely relate to this - there are times when it's difficult to think of anything to say, although I've found that the best way to fix this is by not thinking about it and letting ideas come naturally. I'm sorry you're going through a bad time right now, I hope you're feeling better soon! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth, feeling a lot better today. I think having a bit of a vent cleared my head. Your definitely right taking a step away always helps xxx
DeleteSorry to hear you're going through a rough time. I'm in a similar position lately - 'normal' life is tough and my blog is my sanctuary. I do it to keep my writing going, to find a place to escape to. If you need a blogger friend - you know where to find me! I'm always on the lookout for people to Talk Shop with. Keep going - even if you don't blog as regularly, we'll still be here when you are ready. Be good to yourself. Lots of rest, a good book, a sweet cup of tea. The blog will keep going - it's just waiting for you to concentrate on yourself first.
ReplyDeleteI think that your blogging block is probably just a result of all the other stresses in your life at the moment. It's probably your mind's way of telling you to relax.. as much as blogging is an escape from every day stresses, it can also be hard work when you are working on a post as you don't want to mess it up, etc. This can make us feel pressured... I would take some time to relax whenever you can and put yourself first for a while. I'm sure blogging will come back to you when you've started to feel better about other things.
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks great - it can take care of itself for a while :) xx
Don't worry about your bloggig block. Give it time, you will be inspired again soon. If you need then take a break and it will come back to you :) We all get stuck with our blogs sometimes :) I'm sorry that you are going through a rough patch but everything will work out! It always does :) And by the way I think your blog is beautiful and I cant wait to read more when you get your mojo back in gear :D Stay stong sweetie everything and if you ever need a chat about anything send me a tweet :D x
ReplyDelete-Amber
http://theambiismiley.blogspot.ie
Oh dang. It's so sad reading you feel like you've got no one to talk to. Don't feel that way this is a MASSIVE community and everyone is friendly and everyone is willing to help. As for your writers block I COMPLETELY understand what that feels like I myself I'm a song-writer and it's excruciatingly painful to have ideas but can't put words together or even so much as make a paragraph and it can be frustrating I know but like always writers block comes and goes. I've learned that its better not to force it whenever my brain feels like working it'll do it's thing. I've got writers block right now and I know I wouldn't be able to write a song till August because that's just how mine works. It's weird I know but don't worry writers block doesn't last forever Hun. Take care
ReplyDeleteFashionkween.Blogspot.Com
I love your blog, and I think this is a perfect post, I totally understand what you are saying! I hope you get your mojo back!
ReplyDeleteclarabellerose.blogspot.com
xx
It's not unusual for me to get a bit of blogger writer's block, and I've also had times when I've felt very low about it. It's a shame that it's so easy to compare ourselves to others and that it always somehow makes us feel worse about ourselves (or our blogs) rather than better! When it happens to me I generally work harder to battle through it and wait for my mojo to return. I hope you feel better soon!! xx
ReplyDeleteHi hun, dropping by from Twitter! Thanks for sending your link over!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone who blogs goes through this at some point! I mean, I've been blogging since 2011 and in 2013 I only did 15 posts in a year, and this year I've already surpassed that and wrote 19!
Life changes constantly and usually your blog changes with it. Nothing stays the same.
You'll find that the people who really do enjoy your blog usually tend to stick around and will be there when you get back to it.
Everyone has had blogger writing block at some point, other time's it is simply life is changing that dramatically you just need time to breathe.
If you ever need a chat about bloggy stuff at all, just drop me an email. You tend to find that other bloggers will love to chat to someone else via email too - we're a friendly bunch ;0)
xo
Hi Gemma, I try and promote positivity through my blog too, but like you sometimes it gets tricky to stay positive thanks to life and unavoidable situations and emotions. As for your blogging mojo, sometimes taking a step back helps me, spending some 'me time' and not stressing about getting a blog post up. I hope you find your mojo again soon, and I hope you feel better in yourself very soon too. Feel free to email me if you ever want to talk to a blogger friend, I love talking to other bloggers! Take care lovely!
ReplyDeletex Hayley-Eszti | www.hayleyeszti.blogspot.com
Gemma, I think every blogger goes through something similar. I mean, we are not superhuman, we are just humans who document our lives and passions on a web page. It is hard to find the drive to keep posting when you feel as though your posts are not good enough. I understand this. I believe I hit writers block the worst when I switch my mind from creator to competitor. It's hard when you stumble upon a blog with many more readers and realize that the author has been posting the same amount of time as you or less. Personally, I like when bloggers are real. I like when a blogger can lift me up and show me a great lipstick, but I also like a blogger who realizes that life isn't perfect. It helps me relate as a reader. I am certain that if you push through this crazy time in your life, you will soon find balance. Don't give up!
ReplyDeletexo
-Darcy
darcymae.com
Sorry you're feeling this way, I think we all experience something similar at some point. It's important to remember why you do what you do and that sometimes other aspects of your life have to take priority - and that is fine! You're only human. All the best.
ReplyDeleteAlessia | alessiadicapua.blogspot.co.uk
I've just discovered your blog, so I was really happy to see this post! I'm sorry you're going through Bloggers Block. I'm in exactly the same sort of rut, and I don't even have any great post ideas :( Good luck though! Feel free to chat any time, I know the feeling :) Hugs and high fives!
ReplyDelete