Help For The Burnt-Out Blogger

 

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By Jael Strong

Your toddler was up all night with a fever.  Honestly, you don’t feel so great yourself.  The house needs cleaned.  The bills need paid.  Your mama’s getting a bit peeved because you never return her calls and you can’t remember the last time you actually just sat down to relax without some project sprawled out in front of you. You need a break.  But wait!  There’s one more thing you need to do:  blog! 

Nobody twisted your arm.  You wanted to be a blogger.  In fact, you enjoy writing…most of the time.  But when you feel like the whole world is crashing in on you, blogging is the last thing that you want to do.  To make matters worse, when you are so tired, creativity does not seem to flow. 

Feeling overwhelmed and burnt out is not unusual in this fast-paced world.  Additionally, bloggers often write in addition to other work responsibilities, especially when first starting out.  It’s a good idea to have some ideas tucked away for those times when things become too stressful.  Here are some starter ideas.

Breathe deeply.  This is a simple one, but the fact is that by controlling our breathing we are able to keep ourselves calm.  When you begin to feel the stress build, take a few moments to close your eyes and practice deep, controlled breathing.  Don’t think about blogging or other stressors.  Your blog isn’t going anywhere.  Take care of yourself first then move on to your writing.

Take a nap.  This suggestion isn’t too complex either.  And I know you have heard it before, but remember that often when our mind isn’t responding the way that we need it too, it’s really a lack of rest that is at the heart of it.   Again, your blog isn’t going anywhere.  Take a nap, even a short ten minute nap, and you will feel the difference and be ready to face your challenges.

Keep it brief.  So, your readers are used to 500-1000 word post.  You may feel obligated to stick to those numbers.  That is a mental contract, not a legal one.  If you feel that you can’t write more or that you need to write less so that you can attend to other matters, do it.  Your readers will understand, and you will be better equipped to write more prolifically in the future because you have taken care of matters that are weighing on you at present.

Take a hiatus.  Sometimes you need a day or a week to recoup.  There may even be times in your life due to unforeseen stressors that you need even longer.  If you want to prevail as a writer, take the needed time off.  If you are an established blogger, there may be some short-term consequences, but you must make yourself a priority.  Leaving a short note on your blog telling your readers that you are taking a break and why will keep you connected. Stating exactly when you intend to come back to your writing will give you the needed incentive to come back to your blog after your hiatus.

Ask for help.  I’ve written about this before.  The blogging community can be a great resource if you have networked with other writers and have a good relationship with them.  If you feel that you need to take a break, even for a day, but don’t feel that you should leave your blog unattended, ask another writer for help.  Be prepared to do the same for them in the future. 

These suggestions are by no means exhaustive.  Tell us, what do you do when blogging becomes the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back?

Jael Strong writes for TheWriteBloggers, a professional blogging service which builds clients’ authority status and net visibility.  She has written both fiction and non-fiction pieces for print and online publications.  She regularly blogs at Freelance Writing Mamas .

Thanks, Jael

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