Welp, this is going to be a longwinded one. Buckle up folks.
And boy, did that rut really want me stuck there. I wrote and scheduled every single post that needed to go out while I was in Morrocco, then a day into being there, decided to un-schedule all of them and just take a break. Why? Because I hated them all. And it was a problem.
Okay, that’s a tad dramatic. It wasn’t that they were bad… In fact, some of them were pretty funny if I do say so myself; and that means something because I do not find myself funny. However, despite spending 2-5 hours on each of them (Yes, it takes me far longer to put these things together than it looks), they didn’t feel quite right. It’s beginning to feel like I’m just churning out content for the sake of it. And I don’t want that. I don’t want that one bit.
Am I losing my voice?
Not literally, of course. But in a figurative sense, I feel like I slowly have been. Things still feel like me, and everything I’ve written have been things that I genuinely think and would say. But – in the least pretentious way possible – I know what lies at the core of this blog, and also at the core of my personality in general. And I feel like that I’ve slowly been shifting further away from that core… I have developed a pretty strong writing voice for no other reason than the fact that I write exactly what comes into my head, and that voice isn’t being used at its best ability at the moment. Which just won’t do if I’m being quite honest.
No matter what I’m doing on Instagram or Twitter or whatever, it all started from this blog because I wanted to write. I like this space and this website I’ve built and it will always be my little baby (it’s probably the longest I’ve commited to anything so consistently, if I’m being honest.) I want to make sure that my voice remains clear and personable, and feels like me. And that I’m the proudest I can be of every single thing I post on here. I only feel like these two things can happen if I start making a couple of changes…
Things are changing (Yet again)
Maybe you’ve noticed, maybe you haven’t, maybe my inconsistency has made it impossible to figure out, but I’ve been posting roughly four times a week – one more time than I actually intended to from the start. A little part of it was because I’ve felt like I have to. I’m no longer a student, I’m not really properly employed either, and so posting a large amount of posts a week should be a piece of cake. The other part of it was due to the fact that I’ve had so many ideas since my exams ended, and I just wanted to get them out of my head as soon as possible. I have a problem with pre-emptive posting because I’m far too excited to wait. Both on here and on Instagram. But, that needs to change. ASAP. So we’re starting something new…
I’m only posting twice a week
There will be new posts on Tuesdays and Saturdays
(Except for any sponsored content, which may come as a little bonus post, depending on how organised I am and whether the posts of that week are already organised.
I don’t care if I have 10,000 posts ready to go, I don’t care if I’m super eager to get something out there. It’s about time that I learnt how to pace myself. If it ends up with me being 3 months ahead of schedule, so be it, but I reckon that this is the thing that I need to get my creative juices flowing. I want every post to feel like I poured my heart and soul into it, and I feel like this is going to help.
So, that's the new plan.
(Aside from all the inconsistent periods), I’ve done at least three posts a week since I started this blog, so it’s a little daunting to strip back to two. However, after a much needed break, and a reminder that resting isn’t a problem and the world won’t end if I stop internetting for a few hours (Post coming on that soon), I’ve realised that it’s something I need to do. I’m hoping that it will also give me more time to interact with people that comment/message me, because I’ve felt quite out of it with all of that recently with all my busyness.
I’m looking forward to it all, and honestly far more inspired than I have been for months. This seems like the perfect solution to my problem, and was exactly what I needed to get out of my rut, and I’m excited for the content to come!
Thanks for sticking around ’til the end!
Lots of love,
Jas xx
I once felt like this and I ended up not blogging for like six months and it was the best thing that I ever did. I also really enjoyed the time because it made me feel so much more creative. I felt when I came back to writing that I still had the voice that I had before hand but I felt so much better for it! I hope you find your mojo again x
I’m so glad that it helped you! Yes, I already feel so much more creative just by cutting down posts!
This is EXACTLY what I did at the start of this year and honestly I think it’s the best thing I ever did for my blog and creativity. I was in the same boat as you, because I wasn’t employed I thought that I had to spend all of my time producing content. Since cutting down my number of posts per week, I’m not (well, very rarely) up at 2am making sure the post is ready to be uploaded in the morning. Unless it’s a last minute collaboration, I’m usually a couple of weeks ahead with content and it’s so reassuring just incase something happens and you can’t create for a week or so. Admittedly, I did suffer a slight loss in monthly views when I first reduced my uploads but as I’ve started spending more time on perfecting the content in my uploads, promotion and SEO, I’ve now got back to my original monthly views and am slowly hitting above it! There are definitely massive positives to reducing posts, I can’t wait to see what’s coming 🙂
Alice Xx
http://www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk
Thanks so much Al! Yeah, I’m really hoping this will help me feel a little better about things – it already seems to be working!
It’s funny because I had the exact same thought process a month ago and from September onward I’m cutting down to 2 a week as well as I felt like I was churning out content for the sake of it. In fact, I tweeted that EXACT thing a couple of weeks ago haha. But I’m glad you have a new plan and I hope it works for you! x
Ahhh it’s weird, the feeling really seems to be going round at the moment! I hope cutting down to two a week works for both of us!
I can definitely relate to some of this! I’ve gone through periods of wondering if I’m posting because I have to and not 100% loving my content. And I definitely think my voice got lost when I started posting mainly recipes because it’s not exactly the most conversational topic in the world. I hope the new schedule helps you regroup find your voice again x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Thanks Sophie! I’m hoping it does too ?
Its great that you’re inspired again and have found a schedule that work for you. Sometime we need a little break to figure out where we are going next.
Jordanne || thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
Thank you! Yes, sometimes we really do just need a break.
I think we all go through stages where we delete everything we have scheduled and need a clean slate, and to be honest I’ve seen a lot of people feeling like this recently. It seems like a summer of people losing touch with their blogs, but I hope this is that start of something new for you!
Yeah, I really am hoping this will be a new start!
I think this is such a sensible idea Jasmine! I am terrible with keeping a schedule in general but I think that we all go through periods of feeling burnt out by blogging, especially if you’re posting 4 times a week! I’m in awe of your consistency and commitment but I think taking a bit more time to make sure you’re truly happy with your work, and to have a life outside blogging, is a great thing! I always think that you can’t have much to blog about if you aren’t doing anything in your life worth talking about. I hope this new schedule works a bit better for you, and that you can take some much-needed relaxation time!
Beth x
Thank you so much! Yes you are so right – you’ve got to be out there living to have things to write about!
I only wrote one blog post this August because I needed a break to take care of other things in my life. I don’t like writing half-hearted post because I also ended up deleting it. And yes… the world won’t stop if we stop blogging for a few hours… and even days. Go ahead, take a break, pace yourself… we will still be here waiting for your awesome content!
You’re so sweet! Yes, it’s all about knowing when to take a break!
I can totally understand what you mean! I don’t post as much as I did and I am happier with that now. I post more when I want not just for the sake of it now 🙂
Mel ?
http://www.moonlightmel.co.uk
It makes it all more authentic, doesn’t it?
I appreciate you sharing your journey! I started blogging this year and also want to connect w more people!
Thank you! Good luck with your blog!
I have to get on a consistent schedule I try to post once a week but sometimes it can be all over the place. When you pick specific days you are held to it which is great and sometimes cutting back can be a good thing.
Yeah, I’ve always found that a schedule works best for me as it makes me get content out! However, cutting that schedule back is already having such a positive impact for me?