You know me, I always try and make a point of being completely honest about my book blogging experience. If you’ve been here for a while, you will also know that I am trying my hardest to be honest and as real as I can in all of my blog posts, especially when it comes to book blogging.
As I tried to come up with an idea, without success, while drafting this post, I just started writing whatever the heck I was feeling at the moment and the result is this. How I’ve been feeling, trying to come up with an idea without much success. How everything blogging makes me feel, sometimes, on bad blogging days.
I am nervous while typing this and probably still nervous as you will read this. This post is probably one of the hardest I ever had to write, because it makes me realize that book blogging is damn hard every single day.
I am doing my very best and I feel like, by writing this, you will all think I am a spoiled brat. If you’re seeing my follower count, if you’re seeing some blog posts I did reaching a pretty cool amount of comments, and so on. This post does not mean in ANY way that I am not grateful about everything happening here. Every single day, I am in awe whenever I see a new follower, a new comment, anything happening on my blog, it makes me want to cry with happiness, knowing how far I’ve come and how far I can still go.
Numbers, statistics and everything else, does not give me a shield from all of the blogging pressures I feel. It does not prevent me from wanting to bang my head on a wall because I can’t find a damn idea to write about. Sometimes, no matter how high or low the stats are, I feel crushed under the weight of others’ expectations when it comes to my blog…. but most importantly, over my own expectations. They’re the hardest to follow and the hardest to please, too.
I feel like I have to write and deliver perfect content all the time.
One of the secrets to blogging success is consistency. When you are posting on a regular basis, it’s obvious that people are coming back to read more, coming more often, which results in high stats, lots of comments and so.
It also brings tons of expectations. I feel like, whenever or if I miss one single day, someone will be disappointed. That someone is me, because I did not manage to have a brilliant idea, did not manage to deliver it perfectly with a great GIF game or anything else…. all of this results in me, basically like this:
Whenever I am not blogging consistently, I feel like I am failing.
I feel like I need to be everywhere all at once.
This is both a joy and a burden. You know me, and given my recent posts, you also know how I love and how important it is for me to support other book bloggers and to blog-hop. To give back to this community that has bought me so much. I WANT to do it.
But sometimes, it’s just too much and I can’t keep up with everything. Whenever I miss a comment, don’t blog-hop for even just one day, take a little while to check my twitter feed or participate to a group, I feel like I failed. Yet I know there are only so many hours in the day and I.just.physically.can’t.
I feel like I have to read all the books…
…and or just know about them, otherwise I’m out of the loop and just… not, relevant. Book blogging and bookish news come and go, every Tuesday new books are being released. I am not a slow, nor am I a fast reader. I read approximately 60-70 books a year and I can’t keep up with all the books being released, nor can I buy them all, because I am not rich and have strict book buying habits.
I haven’t read Six of Crows yet, because I haven’t bought it, because all the hype scares me and I feel like I’m not relevant for that. It’s just an example, one of many.
I feel like, if I’m taking a hiatus, whether small or big, the world will basically crumble….
…and that you’ll forget all about me. I have taken hiatuses before and I will take more, mostly because I need to and because I want to. Yet, the fear and insecurity that comes with it never stops. Whenever I’m not here consistently, whenever I’m not posting and / or blog-hopping, I don’t feel, but I know my stats will decrease. I also know that people will slowly, gradually, forget about me, should I leave long enough for them to do so.
I am genuinly scared of that happening, because I spend so much time working on this little corner of the internet, I want it to thrive and LIVE whenever I’m here and I come back. I wish it could live on its own, too, but let’s face it, it’s not a live creature I can pet.
Okay. That was slightly weird, I apologize.
I feel like I have to do better.
I am a perfectionist and I always feel like I am not doing enough, or that everything is not perfect enough. I know I’m doing my best, but I will always find something to say to a post I wrote a month ago, just, you know, because I’m like that. It is the internet and, unlike in real like, I can take my time with writing down comments, blog posts and answering twitter DMs or anything else, yet… very much like in real life, I feel like I could have done better afterwards. That’s a very stupid feeling.
This feeling also comes from blogging envy. This feeling also comes from the fact that I am an international book blogger and feel like I have to fight harder and to give the best of me to get incredible opportunities, too. I feel like I’m not good enough some days and it makes me go a tiny bit crazy.
I don’t know if I am a big, small, medium blogger or anything else, but I know that I’ve been around for quite a while now.
I also know that, with that, comes expectations, both from the outside and from myself. Expectations to blog, to ‘live up’ to the own hype I build up about my blog and what I should do with it. I am trying my hardest, because I love it. I also know that, sometimes, I am trying too hard.
I need to take better care of myself.
Don’t get me wrong, friends. I love blogging. Blogging has brought me so, so much more than I could ever have imagined and I am forever grateful for it. I don’t plan on quitting blogging soon. Yet, one of my blogging resolutions was and still is, to just TRY AND CHILL for goddamn sakes.
I am determined to keep my love for blogging and my happiness with it. That has to come with me trying not to freak out too much, me trying to be okay if I miss a day on my schedule, me trying to just deliver quality content about whatever the heck I want. And it’s starting with this mess of feelings kind of post.
Do you sometimes, feel that way too? What are some of your blogging pressures? How the hell do you chill about blogging? If you have any tips, I’m all for it.
Let me know all your thoughts in comments, always up for a chat!
Note: I’m taking a small hiatus from blogging (unrelated to this post, but damn it, well, maybe it’s good, too) starting this Saturday, 24th Feb. until next Sunday, 4th March. I will REALLY try to chill and not be here too much to come back fresh, even happier than ever to bother you all with my comments, rants and everything else. (YES. I am even scheduling my hiatuses, but I’m taking breaks and that is a good thing so… leave my inner-planning freak alone hahaha). I will be BACK SOON.
Love you all! xx
Let me suggest something that might help. On the days I don’t have something I really want to write, I search other blogs, which have the same content I write about or I’m interested in and I reblog their post onto my blog. That way I’m lifting someone up and still maintaining traffic to my blog when I’m idle. I hope this helps. I know their are a lot of book bloggers out there. Have fun.
Thank you for your comment and your advice, that’s so sweet. I love checking out other bloggers’ blogs and give them a shout out in my own posts, too, though it takes a lot of time 🙂
thank you 🙂 x
Thanks for letting us know what you really feel. Take good care of yourself for as long as you like, I’ll still be here when you come back 🙂
Aw thank you for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Oh boo, girl.. I feel like your frustrations and feelings are oozing all out my screen right now but I’m so right there with you. Whoever claims blogging to be easy and a breeze is so ridiculously wrong and doesn’t know what the hell they’re talking about. [That, or they’re secret ninjas with timeturners.]
Having a blog, no matter what kind, sucks up your energy and time. It simply does. You have to stay on top of things, or you try to. You have to plan, write, brainstorm, figure out what else you can write about, actually write the darn things and then hope you still have some time left to RELAX. Which, by the time your blogging to do-list is done, you don’t have left. Basically. [Okay, not true, but I think you get my point.]
You know that I post a whole lot, basically every day. Well, here it comes: I have only four more posts scheduled AND THAT IS IT. So cue me freaking out because I don’t even know when the hell I am supposed to prep my posts, write them, brainstorm about them. My schedule is swamped during weekends and when I get home from work I’m simply spent. I’ve been genuinely, honestly freaking out about it because it’s weird for me to be in a spot like this? And maybe it finally makes me see why other bloggers have these freak-outs [never blamed them for it, but it’s so different imagining what they’re going through, compared to actually going through it myself]..
Not planning on a hiatus. I’m simply going with “I’ll see what I can figure out this week for the next week and just take it one day at a time. Not going to freak out. Not going to go nuts. Not going to slam my head against a wall – even though it’s freaking tempting right about now.
[Somebody just came and disturbed me and now I’m completely lost at what I was going to say next.. UGH.]
You take that hiatus. Don’t you even dare feel guilty about it too. You are awesome and the awesome people will stay and stick around, waiting for you to be back. We all need to relax once in a while. If you need a hiatus to “force” yourself to do that, so be it. Do what’s best for YOU. Not what’s best for your blog – even though it’s a part of you, I know, but still. You’re the blog’s battery. If you’re running low, so will your blog and we can’t have that! [That’s probably the most accurate comparison ever?]
If you ever need to talk / vent / rant / whatever, you know where to find me. <3
Thank you so, SO much for your sweet comment, seriously, you’re the best at pep-talks and just wrote everything I’m feeling perfectly. IT’s just hard, sometimes and some days are harder than others, expectations that I build, mostly for myself, not even for others, are way too high for me to meet them. And sometimes, I’m tired. I feel like, if I am not blog hopping, people will forget about me and I hate that feeling. I love blogging, but sometimes it makes me feel a little stressed out, too – which is why I need these little hiatuses every once in a while to get out of these feelings that get me and bother me. I know I’ll come refreshed and happy next week, most likely, I just sometimes need to take a breather, or try, haha. 😛
Thank you so, so much for your support and your sweet comment, you’re the best <3 <3 <3
You’re very, very welcome, Marie! <3
We all struggle sometimes, so we all need a pep-talk once in a while.
I definitely get where you're coming from. Today will be the first day in.. three months? that I won't be posting anything simply because none of my drafts are.. finished and ready to go. I feel like shit about it but on the other hand, I'm not going to beat myself down over it either. In the end, I should simply be amazed that I even succeeded at posting daily for so long. :')
Which just proves your point in saying we raise our expectations towards ourselves way too high. It's like we keep expecting more from ourselves, even though we KNOW we're at our limit and we can't do any more than what we're already doing. Taking a breather and some time off is definitely the way to go at that point. Don't beat yourself up about it; relax, do things you feel like doing. Instead of being a mood reader, just be a mood do-er for a while. 🙂
<3
YES you should be SO proud – I have no idea how you manage to post every single day, you’re a SUPER HERO TO ME ?
Definitely – I should be more of a mood-do-er as well hahaha, thank you 😀 <3
Mostly goes something like “Time to clear out my drafts!” and then I end up with “Well, if I finish this and that and then review those two books after I read them, I’m set for the month!”
That conclusion mostly follows like.. eight / nine hours of blog prep though so.. yeah.. [Yesterday was one of those days and I went on a whole “I WISH I GOT PAID FOR THIS”-rant afterwards because I was only planning on prepping for an hour or two and then play Sims. I ended up not playing sims. xD] Aaaanyway.
Hope you’re enjoying the mood-doing! <3
Ahahhahaahaha omg, I can’t even tell you how many times I thought, I wish I got paid for this, too. HOW AMAZING would that be?? 😀
Thank you so much – trying to take things easy ( equals me, answering some comments, apparently…. oops, haha) 🙂 <3
It would be DARN AMAZING. But we can only dream, haha.
Oh, I feel you. Me taking time off also equals me checking my comments – if only because it’s been five days since I answered them and the guilt is starting to get to me. Not to mention the fact that it’s a LOT of scrolling to get to the oldest comments.. Oops..
Ugh exactly. I’m just getting back but… it’s a lot of scrolling to start blog hopping and getting back to comments and everything. I love it and I am so happy, but also, it’s exhausting and makes me feel guilty haha.
Yuuup. Tell me about it.. I’ve been going over comments for an hour now and it’s driving me nuts.. Not to mention the fact that comments keep dripping in as I’m replying to them and it feels like battling a freaking waterfall or something.
I haven’t even started bloghopping yet but I already have over a week of posts to catch up on so.. I don’t even want to think about that at this point. 😛
Hahahaha that’s SO me sometimes, I’m just replying and replying, yet I feel like I’m not moving forward at all, as new comments pour in, or whenever I blog hop, new blogs, new posts… IT IS A FREAKING WATERFALL for sure. But we’re strong, we can do this, I believe in you haha 😛
Like.. This is me replying to comments from LAST WEEK. The guilt is eating me alive by now but I’m going to struggle through all of them today or I’ll be damned. :’)
A waterfall it is! I haven’t bloghopped in THREE WEEKS now. I don’t even know where to start anymore, hahaha.
YOU CAN DO THIS, I believe in you! <3
I get it haha, sometimes when you just can't or don't blog hop for a while, you feel lost, confused and freaked out ? take it one blog at a time, little by little and you don't need to read everything you've missed, take it from today, for instance 🙂 YOU CAN DO THIS!
I got through it! It took me hours and hours BUT I DID IT. Although I think by the last couple of blogs I was so “bleh” that I barely commented anymore and just read and liked. 😛
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!! You’re my role model.
THANK YOU. And that’s a ridiculous.. amazing.. I’m all red now.
Hahahahaa, well you really are my hero 😛
I’m taking a screenshot of that to read whenever I feel like a failure. HA.
OH you are not a failure ever ever EVER, also i you ever feel this way, come to me right away so I can remind you that you’re my hero and everything and shower you with positivity and glitters hahaha.
As long as it’s not pink glitters, it’s fine by me, haha. Same counts for you though! <3
Ahah good then, I’ll make sure to remember that 😛 <3 <3
This is such a raw and honest post and I really hope the hiatus helps ease some of the pressure you’re feeling. The thing you need to remember is that you don’t need to post every single week or every single month for anyone but yourself! Everyone has a core group of followers that will stay whether you post every week or every few weeks. And don’t feel like a failure when you can’t read every book or think of new blog posts. You’re only human. As long as your content is still genuine and honest, people will be here reading I promise!
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, I’m glad you enjoyed the post <3 This means so much to me, I know I'm only human, even if sometimes I want to do it all hahaha, I guess I can't 😛
Ahaha, yep a lot of us want to do EVERYTHING. And this is a good thing, it means you are committed/motivated/ambitious but just remember that problems are often bigger in your head! 🙂
Yes, I really need to remember that ? Thank you so much <3
Hi♡
I’m Bree, I don’t remember if I have ever commented before but I have loved your blog from the minute that I accidentally stumbled upon it??
Anyhow, I just want to tell you, that your blog is perfect and don’t worry about anything. Unfortunately, I think we’re in the same boat on everything and telling me not to worry just makes me worry more, so I know that won’t help anyone (Sorry, I babble a lot…).
Okay, obviously, this is *not* helping but I’m trying, right?
But seriously, try not to worry about losing followers and about your status. You deserve a break. You *need* a break. Everyone will be here for you when you get back and we will always be. We’ll support you and be just as real with you as you are with us. ?
I’m still a ‘newbie’ (hate that word..?) and I’m small but I’m grateful for all my followers and their support.
I’ll support you whenever you take a break and come back, and I’m willing to bet that all of your followers will be too.?
-Bree?
Hi Bree! <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and your words, that means so much to me that you appreciate my blog and my content! You're the best <3
That's EXACTLY it haha, I'm glad you get how I feel, with the whole "don't you worry" feeling. I know I tend to worry even more, when people tell me that ?
Thank you for your words, your support and for taking the time to write such a lovely comment, that means so much and makes me feel better, really <3 <3
Everything you’ve written here is completely natural. Completely.
I tend to fall off the end of the world every so often and not update my blog, it’s like an inevitable thing, life gets in the way, but I always think about the blog even when I’m not updating. I often think I’m not a ‘real’ blogger because I can’t seem to stick to a schedule and I post random non-book related things a lot. Sigh.
I think that you are still a blogger, even if you’re not posting bookish-related content all the time – I know I have other kind of posts on here, and I know tons of book bloggers that aren’t posting exclusively about books, so… you’re a blogger for sure, even if you’re not only dedicated to one thing, you’re doing, you, and that’s what matters 🙂 x
Thank you so much for your sweet words <3 <3
This is so retable! I’m on a blogging break for a month or maybe more and I only read blogs that I followed but I don’t leave a comment because I’m lazy like that lol.
I get that ? sometimes, there are just too many blogs, or we’re just not inspired or don’t feel like commenting. I just hate the guilty feeling it gives me, haha, but well… we can’t do it all I guess and we are all allowed a little break 🙂
I hope your break is going well! <3 <3
Thank you for your sweet comment!
I feel ya. I don’t read as many books a month as other bloggers, I sometimes don’t write ‘enough’ posts a week, and I feel like if I went on a hiatus everyone in the blogging community would forget I exist. But that’s the thing – these are all superficial things that we know we shouldn’t worry about, but we do. I think it’s because blogging has become such a big part of our lives that thinking of being without it is unfathomable but also when you’re blogging you feel like you need to put your best self forward to show everyone what you have to offer. I’ve begun taking Twitter hiatuses – only checking it one to two times a week and I have felt so much better for doing it. Hope your hiatus goes well 🙂
I think I’m going to do the same thing – take small twitter hiatuses every once in a while. If blogging is overwhelming, bookish twitter is even more ??
That’s exactly it – it sounds silly, but we can’t help but worry about these kind of things, because blogging is such a massive part of our lives. I am sure that no one would forget about you – at least, the ones who matters will still be there if you take a hiatus. I know I will be there 😛 Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! <3
Bookish twitter overwhelmed me so much – especially with all of the drama and such happening lately. Taking a hiatus from that helped me so much. You’re welcome, keeping being awesome 😀
I think it will help me, too. It’s so crazy sometimes, I feel like my head’s going to explode, I think that stresses me out even more than blogging ??
Aw thank you!! <3 <3
All this is so relatable! I haven’t been blogging for as long as you are but God, the four months I’ve been, I can feel the pressure. The stats are the devil in disguise; no matter how many times I decide to not judge myself based on those numbers, it’s almost inevitable because it’s like the result of a day’s hard work and I wanna know how I did but I also don’t wanna know if I did badly. Ugh, the struggle. Same with being in the loop. Sometimes I feel left out in a conversation because I haven’t read that many books in a particular genre to recommend ten of them, despite the fact I call myself an eclectic blogger. It’s another form of pressure that nobody puts on me purposely but I can feel it. I haven’t yet taken a hiatus but I will soon, DEFINITELY! I mean, it’s better to take a break and be back with a bang than to just badly drag along something we absolutely love–blogging. I’m glad you’ve decided to go on a hiatus because at the end of it all, I love this blog because you’re behind this blog and if you aren’t taking care of yourself, your blog will crumple down and I want to continue reading your posts for eternity. Have fun and relax on your break, Marie! <3
It is crazy how quickly the pressure builds up and everything, when it comes to statistics and following up with the blogging community, and so on. I find that taking small breaks every once in a while, a.k.a every single time I try feeling exactly like I wrote it in this kind of book, has been really good for me. I often come back motivated and refreshed and a bit more chill… until the pressure comes back ? I guess it’s something we can’t help, really, at least I know I can’t, being a perfectionist and just throwing myself into blogging stuff kind of like crazy at times ? But I love it, so that’s what matters? 😛
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Fanna <3 I'm happy you could relate to some parts of this post, and don't be afraid to take a small break if you need it. I'm always here if you need to rant about anything! <3 <3
I’m sorry that you’re under so much stress. You’re a superstar blogger, but I know that must come with a lot of pressure/expectations. I hope you’re able to relax during your week off. Take the time you need. <3
Wow, superstar, that’s really sweet of you to say ahah, thank you!! <3 Thank you so much for your sweet words, Emily, that means a whole lot <3
Yup – completely get that. I’ve not even been going a year and am on my second break and feel so guilty about it.
Blogging pressures are so real ? but there are ways to forget about them. I often take hiatuses, from a couple days to one week to more and it always has been good to me. I come back happier, refreshed and feeling less stressed out about it all 🙂 I think we all need a break sometimes, that’s all. Don’t feel guilty about it, what matters is that you are takin care of yourself first <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
I can totally get where you are coming from! I feel some of the same pressures as well. I think your brave for writing a post like this, some people never voice how they feel and just end up feeling worse.
I’m a new blogger so unfortunately I don’t have any tips, but I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.
Oh wow, thank you so much <3 I wasn't sure about posting this, but I'm glad I did, it already makes me feel a bit better <3
Thank you so much for your sweet words and your support <3 <3
No problem! If you ever want to talk about anything at all, just send me a message 🙂
Thank you so much, I’ll remember that for sure <3 <3
I love this post so much! ❤ My struggles are basically just the same as yours; we blog because it makes us happy that’s why we keep on going on! My 1st blogiversary is just coming but I can relate to this so much. ??
Ryry xx
Aww thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear you could relate to this 🙂
And YAY happy 1st blogiversary, what an awesome accomplishment!! 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
You’re welcome! ?❤
I’ve felt like this last year – not about blogging per se, because my blog is new, but about Goodreads and reviewing. I used to try and create original reviews, and I loved that, but I reached a point when I felt forced to do it and I just couldn’t anymore. Last year was kind of a big hiatus for me and it helped me a lot.
Oh I understand – I think sometimes, wehenver we throw ourselves passionately at something, it takes a whole lot of our energy and leaves us sort of…drained, somehow. Small breaks have always helped me in feeling better about all of this 🙂
thank you so much for your sweet words, Alienor – I’m so happy you’re back to reviewing AND blogging, your blog is amazing <3
Thank you so much Marie, it means a lot coming from you ♥
Aw you’re so welcome <3 <3
Ah, I know the pressures around book blogging, or any blogging for that matter, are so intense! Sometimes i just want to scream at my blog because I don’t know if I can do it all? Like how do you deliver quality content all the time when some days there’s just no creativity? That’s the day I just need to have some coffee and take a walk. And not think about blogging at all.
I’m glad you’re taking a short hiatus! Get some rest and refresh!
YES exactly, sometimes all we want to do is scream at our blogs, just … because it’s one of those days ??
Thank you so, so much, Elizabeth <3 <3
Thank you so much for writing this post and sharing your feelings with us. I really appreciate you talking about the pressures of blogging, it makes me feel like I’m not alone with this ? Also: Please don’t feel bad for talking about these things, no matter how your stats are, your feelings are always valid ?
I definitely understand a lot of the points you make here. I always feel guilty and like I’m not doing enough. As much as I love commenting and answering to comments, it can get overwhelming for me pretty quickly. I feel like there is so much to do: write my own posts, blog-hop and then answer my comments. No matter how much I do, I feel like it’s never enough and like I’m constantly behind. This has been especially hard lately because I’m sick and not feeling very well most of the time :/
Furthermore, I definitely feel like I have to read new releases, because everyone else is talking about them. I haven’t talked about this on my blog, but ever since Netgalley shutting down access to ARC’s for international bloggers I have not gotten approved for anything. I think I got one ARC for this year (that I didn’t even request or know about) and got declined for everything else – even with publishers that I received an ARC last year and really liked it. I’m very grateful for what I get and feel like complaining makes me seem so spoiled, which is why I haven’t yet talked about this, but it does sadden me to see others get ARC’s while I’m left behind for no reason 🙁 Last year when my blog was way smaller I got more digital copies than I get now, it’s getting frustrating, especially as I cannot buy all the new releases of course 🙁 (also: I get you about hyped books, I haven’t read Six of Crows either)
Speaking of Self Care, I need to get better at this generally in my life, because not taking care of myself is why I’m currently sick in the first place :/ I hope you manage to relax a bit during your hiatus and take good care of yourself! ? ??
Oh Caro, thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and for taking the time to type all of this out <3
I'm glad, but also a bit sad, that you are having some of the same struggles…. commenting and doing everything that we want for our blog to thrive takes a whole lot of time, and I often feel like I can never, ever have enough time to do everything, which makes me feel really guilty, too. I feel like we just can't do it all and I know we can't, but some part of me still is determined to try ?
Oh no, I'm so glad you mentioned this – your feelings are 200% valid here, I have been having the same feelings about ARCs ever since they restricted their approvals. It is so very frustrating, because we feel like we have gone backwards, while our blogs have grew and should be given these kind of opportunities we waited for, wanted for so long… instead, we are just stuck, or even taking steps back with getting these new books and it is so frustrating… especially feeling like we are so left behind from this community. While us internationals are, in fact, such a MASSIVE part of the community. <3
I hope you will feel better soon, Caro, and yes, take care of yourself as well – it seems like we both need to work on that, at least we can remind each other to do so, then <3 <3 <3
Thank you so, so much once again for your sweet comment, that means so much <3
I know, it’s really hard because I too want to try to get everything done even if there isn’t enough time 😮 Blogging definitely is something that takes up time (why it’s even more important to support bloggers and give them appreciation) and I’m still trying to manage that! I’ve found my schedule with writing posts, but I need to work out my commenting schedule so I don’t get overwhelmed.
I’m so so gladd to hear that I’m not alone in this ♥ I really feel this going backwards in the last few months, which makes me really sad as I hoped to get more opportunities as my blog grew :/ I definitely feel like we internationals need so much more love!
However, you might want to log in with Netgalley UK. I did because I was frustrated, requested a few books and actually got approved … I’m still in shock because when I used Netgalley.com I didn’t get anything. Idk if this means anything, but maybe it does 😮 It’s definitely worth a shot.
Thank you, I hope I do ♥ We definitely need to take care of ourselves, so we feel better soon ♥
???? Thank you for writing this post and making me feel like I’m not alone with my thoughts and feelings!
I think you already took a great step by having your blogging schedule figured out, that’s awesome! Commenting is sometimes even harder than writing blog posts, because it’s so… well, it depends a whole lot on what other bloggers put out there and how you react to it, depending on your mood. It’s hard to schedule when you’ll be in the mood for blog hopping… I find that super hard to do haha. I hope you’ll find a way though!! I know that, personally, doing things little by little every day helps <3 <3
Oh thank you so much for the useful tip – I'll have to think of checking this netgalley a bit more then and…keep my fingers crossed 😀
You're so welcome, thank YOU for your sweet comments always, and you are never alone, I'm always here whenever you need to chat <3
Commenting definitely is harder for me to schedule, because it depends so much on my mood, I really need to feel a certain way 😮 Little by little definitely is something I’m trying to do ♥ I’ve set myself two days where I want to answer comments now, hopefully it works 🙂
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you! 🙂
Awww thank you ???
Yeah I get that… it’s so hard to schedule these kind of things :/
I hope this new system will work out well for you 😀
You’re so welcome!! <3
Thank you, so far it’s working, so I hope for the best ♥
Marie, you are so strong for sharing all of this and taking a break. I just took a break from Twitter and hopefully it’ll feel good as well. I am sending you a lot of love. x
Oh thank you so, so much Clara <3 I hope you will feel better taking a small twitter break – I think I might do one as well at the same time, it quickly gets overwhelming and it's important to take care of yourself first <3
Sending you lots of love as well <3 <3
More often than not I actually feel pretty much the same 🙁 It’s hard work a lot of the times to manage everything around a blog, and if you work or go to classes ( or both :/) there really isn’t much you can do but you always feel like you should be doing something more. It gets so easy to get wound up in the stats and measurements of success and all that talk of “you make your own success” just doesn’t work all the time.
However it is, or it is supposed to be natural to want to improve, to be better always and not seeing it after the effort put into it is really disheartening. But the feeling does pass, and come back, and pass again and so on. Maybe once it will stop for us both 🙂
I agree, I guess we can’t help feeling this way every once in a while, it’s so easy to get caught up in stats and everything else and just, feel frustrated that we can’t do more, like we should do more, even more and everything, it’s crazy annoying ?
I hope it will stop soon, but I think as long as we remember to take some breaks to chill out and remember why we love blogging, we should be okay 🙂
thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
good luck to us both, and may the odds be ever in our favor!
Yes!! 🙂 <3
Such a great post, and so relatable. I don’t know if it’s worth much, but in my opinion you’re doing a fantastic job and I love reading whatever you write, even if you don’t post as often or the post winds up short or whatever 🙂 But like I said…I definitely relate. I don’t write reviews because I don’t read fast, and like you, I have limited income on what I can spend on books. So instead of gearing my blog toward reviews, I thought I would focus on discussions, which I figured would work nicely since everywhere I see how much people WANT discussions, plus I genuinely like writing them. But…I don’t know if I’m just boring, annoying, forgettable, or if I simply don’t post enough (which I struggle enough with my schedule now) but it seems like I’ve shot myself in the foot.
Anyway! I liked this post 🙂 Sometimes it’s good to just rant and let it all out.
Oh thank you so, so much, Rebeccah, your words mean SO much to me, I’m so happy you enjoy my posts <3 <3
Oh yes, I feel like SO many people enjoy discussions, so much more than book reviews somehow… which is weird, but that's a whole other debate, haha. I am sure you did not shot yourself into the foot though – I have seen it and read it, you write FANTASTIC discussions, don't give it up <3 <3
Thank you so, so much <3 <3
Oh Marie <3 I am sorry that you have been finding things difficult and having bad brain feels. I have two responses that immediately spring to mind:
1) I've followed a let's play gamer on Youtube for many years now. He's not the Most Successful Ever but he does have quite a big following now. I remember hearing him talk once about difficult he finds it now that he has a big following because when he was smaller, he had a lot more time to chat to his subscribers, network with other gamers, play more things that he enjoyed. But obviously when you have thousands of followers/subscriber that just isn't possible. It's hard to reply to all the comments, continue networking with people and making everyone happy because it just isn't physically possible! And the pressure that comes with that is super daunting. I know for him he had a long period of time where basically all he was ever doing was gaming and live streaming, mostly popular games rather than the smaller indie games he loved. He felt like if he stopped working constantly like that his fan base would crumble and forget about him or grow bored with him not churning out fresh content all the time.
But….
2) It's not like that! People follow you because they love you and they enjoy your content, whatever you're posting! I always enjoy reading your posts and think you have a lot of great things to say. It doesn't matter how often you're posting your content, what you're posting or when. When I see a post from you pop up on my dash I go "oooh look Marie has posted something!" Sometimes I don't always comment if I don't feel like I have anything to say but I enjoy it nonetheless. Post what makes you happy and when it makes you happy. Blogging can be a lot of pressure and you need to make sure you're doing it in a way that is sustainable and that you enjoy. Your blog will not crumble is you disappear for a little while, we will all still be here when you return!
Oh thank you so, SO much for your sweet comment and for sharing this story – I can relate to it in a lot of ways and to the pressure that gamer had to feel, sometimes. I know I always want to do my very best to make everyone happy, and spreading the love is something I LOVE doing, but sometimes… I just can’t because I have too much to do and so little time in one day to do it all ? It can get frustrating, but I think I really need some breaks, every once in a while, to remember that it’s okay if I’m not here. That people will not forget me (I hope) if I don’t visit their blogs as often as I used to and so on. It’s a work in progress, haha.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and your sweet words, that means so much and really helps <3 <3
You’re welcome. Enjoy some time off <3
Hi Marie! You make a great point. We bloggers put so much pressure on ourselves! No one is going to notice a difference if you post every other day. I am in advertising and that is something we tell our clients. They don’t have to advertise every week. If you advertise two weeks a month consistently your audience doesn’t realize you were off the air. Anyways, I’ll get off that soap box! Lol. The point of blogging is to have fun! Don’t stress yourself out. Nobody is perfect. We all have so so posts occasionally. Me probably more than you! You need to have a life outside blogging to! Be healthy and happy and it will all come together my friend! Btw I’ll send you Six if Crows and Crooked Kingdom when I finally read Star Touched… promise. ?
I feel like we tend to put tons of pressure on ourselves… well, I know that’s part of my personality as well, so I can’t help it ? But that’s really great advice, thank you! I know I need to chill every once in a while and to take some hiatuses to feel better, once I come back 🙂
Oh wow are you serious?? That would be SO sweet of you!! <3 <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
I want to share my books with other book lovers. Its impossible to be able to afford everything we want, right?
I wish I had unlimited budget to get ALL the books, really that would be the dream ?
YOU are the sweetest, thank you!! <3
I definitely am with you when it comes to blogging pressures. Like you said, sometimes you want to take a week off from blogging, and that’s not really how it works! You are so brave for putting this post up. Love you and your content xxx
Melina | http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
Oh thank you so, so much Melina, I’m glad I’m not the only one having these feelings <3 Thank you for your sweet words and your support, you're the best <3 <3
I feel you on so many of these. Blogging is great, but there’s no denying that a lot of time and effort goes into it, and that amount of effort can be draining and stressful. I’m so slow at writing reviews and sometimes it can take me days to grind through one. That’s days I feel bad about not posting or scheduling anything new, about putting off other posts I’ve got in my brain, about spending time thinking about writing about a book that maybe I didn’t even like instead of actually reading. It can be a lot, sometimes.
I hope your break is wonderful and relaxing! <3
It IS a lot, sometimes, to try and keep up with everything and, most importantly, not to feel too stressed out about everything. I found that taking small breaks every once in a while really helps me in feeling better about things and to get back into blogging refreshed and happier 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3
I actually had this kind of thing happen to me about two years ago when I had a sudden boom in followers and views and comments. I got so stressed out about posting every other day consistently, every week. It got to the point where I was backposting stuff I wasn’t really proud of; constantly playing catch-up. I ultimately decided to just post something when I have something to say (ie. whenever I have time to write a review or discussion) except on Friday’s when I do 50/50 Friday’s. It’s resulted in a drop in stats and sometimes I’ll have 3 50/50 Friday’s in a row and nothing else. Strangely, I’m not too bothered by it as I used to be mostly because I decided that I wanted to focus on my uni career a bit more at this point in my life and focus on posting one review and one 50/50 Friday a week. I still love blogging, but there are so many things to juggle so this was the only way I knew how to preserve my sanity. I’m not saying that this is what will work for you but my advice? Consciously don’t check your stats for a month (or even a week or two) and only post what you’re proud of when you want to. Hopefully it’ll settle into a nicer rhythm 🙂 and before you have a chance to feel awful about the drop in stats, take stock of how you’re feeling and if your sanity is a little more comfortable! Just my advice! I hope you find a rhythm that works for you, Marie!
Laura @BlueEyeBooks
I’m sorry you went through this – it is so stressful to have moments like that in our blogging lives, when the stress gets to us and we just feel guilty and… well, even more stressed about blogging ?
I think that’s brilliant advice, really. I know that taking a small break always helps me in feeling better about things, I also need to learn not to watch my stats and everything too often, in order to just focus on my own happiness in blogging. A work in progress, ahah 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Laura <3 <3
I feel you! I’ve been barely present on my blog lately and it makes me feel so bad and the worse I feel the less I blog from the stress. I think the biggest motivation for me is the fact that I blog because I love being able to share my thoughts with other people. I don’t have any friend in my personal life that enjoy reading so it’s awesome sharing that with you guys . Sometimes I forget why I started blogging in the first place.
I think what matters the most here, is to remember why we started blogging and why we love it. Despite the struggles and pressure, if we always come back, it’s because we love it and it matters to us, and that’s what’s important here <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
I actively book blogged EVERY SINGLE DAY for 3 years. And this was before book blogging was really a big thing I just… had a lot to say and not a lot of real life friends to say it to!
I still wonder how the HECK did I manage to keep that up for that long + go to college full time + find time to read + travel.
One thing I did struggle with the most back then though was reviewing books ON TIME. Like, there were so many books in my review TBR and literally no matter how fast I tried to read or how often sometimes I’d just be late. And it sucked.
When I went to work for Disney in 2011 and my blog completely just STOPPED because Disney doesn’t even give you time to sleep; it was SO hard to get back into it! Now 7 years later I’m trying to start all over again and it’s tough! Like I can’t find the constant motivation I use to have to read every day, let alone finish more than one book a week while managing my household, keeping up with 3 other blogs, making sure my boyfriend and cat don’t feel abandoned and deal with life lmao.
IT’S INSANE.
I don’t think people really get how HARD blogging can be, despite your numbers!
What did help was scheduling my blog posts every week (at least my reviews if anything) and spending the rest of the week catching up on homework and thinking of new blog posts to write. But the hardest part is trying to stay on top of everything.
I’m sending good vibes your way <3.
EVERY SINGLE DAY? HOW did you manage to juggle with everything, that IS insane, really ? I admire past you so much! But also, it must have been exhausting at times.
Staying on top of everything is what makes me struggle the most, sometimes. I’m a big fan of scheduling everything, I do it all the time, to be honest I wouldn’t be able to post three times a week without schedulin ? so many things are happening, so many blogs to visit and so on… it’s all of the sides of blogging that takes a whole lot of time as well.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! I hope you will find your own blogging rhythm, remember why you started and why you love it, I think that’s what matters the most <3 <3
Thank you!! <3
It was much easier when I scheduled my bookish posts every Sunday but when it comes to lifestyle blogging it’s much harder as something exciting could happen mid week, you know? I went out a lot back then though and I use to take photos of EVERYTHING! I don’t so much anymore… I know why I stopped but I’m trying to get back into the habit!
Oh yeah, I understand, it’s easier to schedule when it’s bookish blog posts haha 🙂
If you ever succeed in this, you’ll have to let me know, I suuuuuck at bookish pictures haha I struggle to find ideas all the time ?
If I find out the secret I will definitely let you know <3
Ahah thank you 😛 <3
I understand that feeling. I know I definitely don’t plan out my posts because nine times out of ten I never know what I’m going to write about until I do. I also don’t write on my blog everyday because I know that’d be too difficult for me to do so I make sure to at least read other blogger’s posts so that I’m still involved in the blogging community. But I still feel the pressure of keeping my blog up and whether people actually enjoy reading it or not. I think it might just be something all of us bloggers experience and we have to do the best we can to work with it. But either way, I want you to know that I enjoy your content and will still be here even on days when you don’t put up posts. And that from one blogger to another, it’s okay to take time off for yourself whenever you feel pressured or too overwhelmed.
It’s hard sometimes to just try and keep up with everything, to feel involved and every single day we’re slacking, it’s hard not to feel guilty about it all. I guess it’s just part of the blogging experience and at some point, I think we all learn to chill about it all. I hope so, at least, ahah 🙂
thank you so, so much for your sweet words and your support, that means so much to me <3 <3
*only posts once a week* *schedules posts weeks ahead of time* *first time blog hopping in what feels like a year* “Yeah, I totally have this handled.”
*only schedules posts weeks ahead of time so I only have to deal with making posts like 3 times a year*
To be honest, I think that YOU totally have this handled as long as you’re feeling happy with your blog? If that makes sense? 😛 Also, I don’t know how you manage to schedule so much you’re like a superhero to me 😛
I have nights over vacation where I basically wait until it’s late and I get sort of hazy/ in an “I don’t care” mood and then I drink a crap ton of caffeine, and then I write like 7 blog posts, which I edit later. And then I only post once a week, so it doesn’t take that much to schedule!
You are a warrior to me, I don’t know how you write 7 blog posts in one evening, you must be writing really fast ahah, one post already exhausts me 😛
It’s the caffeine. So much of it. It’s like I’m in a half coma and not really conscious lol
hahahahaha 😛
I feel like that Marie but we need to relax! We should take a day off together every week LOL
OMG YES, I’d be so up for that, one day every week we need to be there for each other just to scream at each other like, “HEY, you, stop it now and just CHILL OKAY” ???
Great post as always, Marie! 🙂
Sometimes letting out how you feel a good thing, especially when I bet there are a ton of people that feel the same exact way you do about blogging sometimes. I know that sometimes it can be REALLY hard, especially when trying to be consistent and coming up with content all the time. I know lately I haven’t been that consistent and thinking of new content hasn’t been the best for me as of late. So I feel you on that 100%! Sometimes it’s just too hard and a hiatus is much needed.
Oh thank you so much for your sweet words, Ashley <3 Sometimes we just need to reset and let our creative juices rest a bit… so that they can come back with more ideas ahah 🙂
I love this post Marie, and I definitely get pretty much everything you’ve said as well. I feel like people talk a lot about what they love about blogging (because we all love blogging, if not we wouldn’t still be here posting and all) but no one seems to talk about the downsides (I guess you could call them downsides).
I definitely feel all of these as well, especially the having to deliver perfect content. There are days when I have nothing to write or don’t feel like blogging at all and I feel so guilty that I often regret doing nothing but blog hopping/replying to comments because I think I could have used the spare time I sent reading or just browsing the internet actually writing a post.
I hope you have a relaxing hiatus, I’m sure the blogging world won’t crumble before you get back so relax and enjoy yourself. 🙂
Great post as well Marie! 😀 <3
I’m with you on that – I love blogging so much and it has brought me so much, yet sometimes there are some downsides and some things happening that we don’t really mention. All the pressures, the stress, the want to be good enough for followers and so on… there are loads of things to worry about, too, and since I am a big worrier… ?
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, Beth!! <3 <3 <3
I’m a big worrier as well, and while blogging is more often than not my escape from all that there are days when I’m too concerned over blogging or something related to it and then I kind of know I need to take a small step back and re-work some things out you know?
That’s all right! 😀 ❤️
Yes that’s exactly it – blogging needs to remain an escape before anything else 🙂 x
This post is so relatable! Sometimes I feel the pressure too when I don’t post regularly and also with the blog hopping thing, it takes a lot of time. Hiatuses are good for our health but we always have this nagging feeling that everyone will forget you when you come back. It’s really not like that, we’ll still be here for you when you come back so do take lots of rest and have a great time.
Aw thank you so much for your sweet words, Raven! <3 Blogging is a bit exhausting at times, that's why breaks are necessary and so helpful – I always try and do breaks to sort of, reset myself hahaha ?
Thank you so much <3 <3
I can 100% relate to what you are saying! It can be so frustrating as a blogger when all you want to do is provide amazing content for your readers but life gets in the way. I have been blogging for about 2 1/2 years, and when I first began, I posted multiple times a week. However, life got crazier and now I mostly post once, maybe twice, a week. I recently took some of the pressure off of myself to write the perfect post, and just write what I feel instead. It has definitely helped a lot.
I hope that you are doing okay 🙂 Just remember, blogging is about YOU! You don’t need to worry about keeping everyone else happy, as long as you are doing what makes you happy.
I’m so glad this has helped you <3 I have changed my rhythm of blogging a lot since I started and, sometimes I feel like I'm doing okay, sometimes I still feel like I'm doing too much. It's hard to find the right balance, but ultimately I think what matters is that we find what makes us happier 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and your sweet words, Jess, that means so much <3 <3
I know how you feel – I have a big fear of my stats decreasing if I take a hiatus.
I have taken hiatuses before and I know I will take more, they are important for me to relax and think about something else and come back to blogging feeling better. I’m not going to lie, stats decrease while taking a hiatus, I know it always did a little bit, depending on whether it was a big hiatus (a.k.a me not blog hopping or doing anything) or a small one (a.k.a me still casually being here and pretending I can stay away, while I just can’t ??). Ultimately, no matter how my stats got lower, I came back and with new blog posts, it started up again. I think that it’s important to know when to step back and try to think, not of stats, but of ourselves, too and if we need a break, we should take one <3
thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Aw *big hug* Blogging is so stressful so it’s understandable if you want to take a break from it. I don’t have many followers but I still feel the pressure of being consistent and relevant. I haven’t read Six of Crows either and don’t feel as excited about trending upcoming releases. I find that I can work to be as relevant as I want but that’s not going to get me where I want to be. I think, it’s about maintaining a certain..flexibility?…between being yourself and catering to your audience. Great post, Marie!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Cam! <3 <3 I 200% agree with you, I think it's all about finding what matters to us, what makes us really happy yet also raise discussions within the book blogging community, somehow. It's always hard to try and be relevant, but I think what needs to be prioritized, here and always is what makes us happy 🙂
thank you so much for your sweet words <3 <3
I can understand how you feel after reading this post. Though I can’t say that I’ve felt the pressure of blogging nearly that intense though a small part of me almost welcome it as I begin to try and build up my own. More importantly I want you to know that many of your posts have inspired me and encouraged me to push ahead and give this whole book blogging to a new level this year.
Oh wow, thank you so, SO much for your sweet words, that made my day. I am so glad I could inspire you a little bit with my posts and I hope you’ll keep on loving blogging this year <3 <3
Thank you for your sweet words! <3 <3
Years and years ago, I wrote a lot on my Tumblr blog and amassed a considerable following that left me feeling ALL of these things and more, and I’m the kind of person where instead of going one way or another – letting the pressure motivate or discourage me – I just shut down entirely and took a break. Stress and I are not friends, ahah. But it finally it got down to the point where I had to make a decision: was I doing this for other people, or was I doing it for me? I did it for me way, way back in the beginning where there were only my close friends watching and I got excited just after hitting publish, and the only way it didn’t feel like a chore is if I was doing it for me, 100% of the time. I know that book/blogging communities have grown so exponentially in the last few years and while this blog is nowhere near as big as my Tumblr, it’s all somewhat similar in terms of the pressures we feel to constantly be active in posting and supporting and staying on top of things, but if you’re stressed more than you are having fun, then what’s the point? It’s about expressing yourself! Sure, having people click on posts is a wonderful feeling, but it’s not worth compromising your sanity, I’ve learned. You can’t please everybody, so by default the only person you should be seeking to please with blogging is yourself. Make the time for you, lovely – post what you want to post, take a break when you want a break, and don’t look at the stats (easier said than done). I try not to bombard myself by writing just for the sake of writing, but rather I try to write stuff that I’m genuinely passionate for and am proud of the end result, and if I’m staring at the page to the point where the words start swimming, I step back. People can tell when you’re not writing what you want to and you’re writing just for the sake of writing, and while some people want one thing out of you, I’d take the community of people who appreciate the person behind the posts any day over impressive numbers. Those people who truly enjoy the writer behind all of the posts will stick around whether you post once a day or once a month, that’s a guarantee. As long as YOU’RE enjoying your experience, others will join you and enjoy your presence. ?
ENJOY YOUR BREAK BABE, I hope it’s a good one and I can’t wait to see what you come back with. xx
Wow, thank you so, so much for your support and for sharing your experience, that means a whole lot to me <3
I agree and I think it's so important to write for ourselves, first and foremost and to keep doing whatever makes us happy. Not looking at statistics is veeeeeery hard haha but I also want to make some effort on that and let my happiness not depend on statistics, but on what I wrote and whether I liked writing it or not <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, that means SO much to me <3 <3
Amen. Way to lay it out there.
Aw thank you ahah, glad you could relate 🙂 <3
I agree with everything! All the points you said is basically me as well and we need to start owning our awesomeness and not worry. It’s going to be a process, but worrying so much about something we love doing might just suck the happy out of it. Great post!
Agree. I’m a big worrier, but I don’t want it to affect my blogging experience and happiness, for sure. Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 🙂 <3 <3
Hey 🙂
First of all, i just want to say, i’m sorry you feel this way right now. Your decision to take a break sounds like a great idea! Blogging is great, and could be a lot of fun. That said, if you feel like it’s no longer fun, you can always try and do something else. Maybe catch up on all the reading you were planning to do for a long time, or if you don’t feel like, do something totally unrelated. It might inspire you in ways you never would have thought.
I had something similar years ago… i used to have a blog back in 2007 or something around that time that gave me similar feels. It was a personal blog, and i started it for fun, and yet, it ended up stressing me out.
I don’t know you personally, so this will be a bit generic, but most often than not those fears and insecurities you mentioned are not coming directly from blogging. They are coming from somewhere else, and the blogging thing is kind of like a symptom. Back in the day when i had similar feelings, i felt quite alone. My close friends were away in different cities, attending uni, i was by myself, most of the time, haven’t felt connected to my family and my relationship was not giving me the connection i needed either. I considered some of my blog followers sort of friends and had this pressure to constantly keep posting otherwise they might “abandon me” too. It took me a long time to get over this, and it’s hard to be objective with yourself, but not impossible!
I quite enjoy blog hopping, but i don’t read every single post. Sometimes certain topics/books just don’t interest me, and i just skip them, and it’s ok. I’m sure not all my posts are interest everyone else either.
So basically, what i’m trying to say is, you do you, and take care of yourself 🙂 Because you are the most important person for yourself. <3
Thank you so, so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and sweet comment, Norrie, that means SO much to me <3 It's not my first hiatus and I always found them very beneficial for me, so I'm looking forward to stepping away for a couple days, I hope it will make me feel better 🙂
Your personal thoughts on the topic really help me and it really makes me think, as well. I know that on a personal level, there might be something deeper linked to that anxiety and I kind of know what it is and where it comes from. Life's just hard sometimes and blogging is a refuge for sure, but it shouldn't become something too stressful either.
Thank you so much. I always want to do my best to spread the love, but there are so many blogs, it is kind of… well, driving me insane sometimes ?
thank you so, so much for your sweet words, that means so much to me and you are a huge help. thank you <3 <3 <3
Hello Marie! Aww *Hug* <3 🙂 I love how real you are in each of your posts, and how you write earnestly what you feel.
I feel the same way about blogging pressures as well. This was particularly back when I was posting 3 or 4 times each week. I put a lot of pressure on myself to create content for my blog, and often times I was stretching myself thin because I simply didn't have that much time. What worked for me was to reduce the frequency that I posted. Initially I was worried that my stats would drop, but… weirdly enough, it kind of stayed the same (or even got a bit better) :') Now I have a set routine though I post less frequently, and I feel less stressed because I don't have to write as many blog posts per week.
I know what you mean about hiatuses haha… Once I go on a hiatus and stop posting, it is disappointing how quickly stats drop! However, one thing I realized is that once I start posting again, everyone comes back. I try to think of it like having a home that I can always come back to 🙂
If you are feeling tired and pressured when it comes to blogging, I think it is a great idea to take a break and come back with fresh eyes. We'll still be here when you come back 🙂 <3
I am so glad that having a different rhythm worked out for you, Sophie <3 I feel like, some weeks, it is okay and I am inspired, while some others it's a struggle to produce all the posts. I think I need to be more… flexible, maybe ?
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words and your support, that means so much <3
I feel the same way, Marie. Some days are more inspired than others. I think it is because we don’t always feel like writing (posts or otherwise!) and that’s perfectly okay because we are humans 🙂
I think as bloggers we are hard on ourselves, and sometimes we just need to let go a bit and not feel guilty about it 🙂
Yes I agree with you… just need to learn to let things go a little bit haha 🙂 x
YES!! Your honesty is so real and well appreciated Marie ? Even though book blogging is something fun just for ourselves, we’re bound to let so much pressure fall on ourselves. It’s tough when you can’t have access to the latest books or devote all your time to blogging. We know it’s unreal, but we can’t help feel guilty about it. Right now, I’m in Midterm season for exams, and it sucks to see statistics fall because I can’t stay as engaged or up to date. Still, it’s good to remind ourselves that we’re all human, and we’re all going through this together. Books and blogging will still be here when we’re ready for it~
Oh thank you so much, I’m so glad you appreciated this <3
I always find it crazy to feel guilty for stupid things like that, but I can't help it – I guess I am just too attached to it all NOT to have these guilty feelings come and take over my mind ?
Thank you so much for your support and your sweet words <3 <3
I am right there with you Marie, for all these points. I took a hiatus last week and in fact this whole is going to slow for me. I have no motivations to do anything… to write posts, to post pics on Instagram.. nothing. Though I am trying to regain this whole thing again from this week.
Blogging takes so much time. You are still an organized blogger who keeps her posts scheduled in advance, for someone like me who doesn’t do it.. it’s really an issue. it’s not that I don’t want to schedule posts but every time I try to do it… there is always something else to work on.
This is such a great post Marie.. You have reflected my inner self here 🙂 Thank you for writing this and all of those people should read this who think that blogging is a breezy thing.
I’m so sorry you’ve been feeling this way 🙁 I hope you’ll find your motivation again. It’s not my first hiatus and I often found myself coming back to blogging refreshed, I guess we all sometimes need to take a break from it all.
There is and always will be something else, that’s the worst, we can’t keep up with everything ? I know I’m trying to be, sort of, disciplined when it comes to schedulin blog posts, because if I didn’t do that, I would never blog ?
Thank you so much for your comment and your sweet words, that means so much <3 <3
Haha you are right, a little break here and there is so important. Totally agree with you on scheduling posts but I am not successful in that till now.. but seriously I try to do it all the time ?
Ahahaha well, if you keep on trying, at some point it has to work out? ?
Yeah I guess so ?
Oh darling, I AM FEELING THE EXACT SAME WAY!!!! I feel guilty, I feel sad, I feel I need to do it all, and perfectly of course, I am crumbling under too many requests I took, I can’t see the end of it, and yet I love blogging so much I don’t want to disappear. I think we take this way too seriously and we need to take a step back and remember this is a hobby and it’s okay to do it how we feel like. I hope this hiatus does you good <3 Lots of love, and I'll always be here to read your posts!
YES exactly – I know I am taking this way too seriously, but on the other hand, I love it way too much, so…. arghhhh I don’t know what to do sometimes ?
Thank you so, so much my Sweechie, you’re the best <3 <3
Thanks for this very honest post, Marie! I know you’re a good blogger and I love reading your stuff, so please don’t stress. I think of it this way: if I do stop blogging, then I presumably will lose followers, but I don’t need to worry because I’m doing something that’s better. PLEASE DON’T WORRY, OKAY? Remember that you’re ultimately going to blog better if you take the brake you need, and remember that all your readers are as imperfect as you and don’t expect you to be perfect at blogging all the time. Remember that if you don’t blog hop, the world will still go on and everything will be okay. I haven’t had the time to blog at all this week, I haven’t replied to weeks of comments, and I still don’t think I’m a terrible blogger.
Trust yourself. I know you’re an amazing person and blogger. Trust that your followers won’t abandon you if you don’t blog hop for one day. Trust that you will get through this and your posts will be better as a result (they’re already great). Trust that nobody’s noticing your imperfection as much as you. <3
Oh Shar, your comment brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, that means so much to me and I needed the reminder as well – I’m sometimes (strike that, 99% of the time?) trying to do all the things, but… I’m human and I am tired and sometimes I just don’t want to and ugh, I hate that haha.
Thank you so, so much for everything. I’m so glad you’re here <3 <3
I struggle with trying to have a social media presence, while maintaining my posting, commenting, and reading game. Oh, and spending 12 hours a day outside of my home due to job/commute. I know I have let a few things go, but I get that there is a lot more pressure when you reach a higher level (I am obscure). I commend you on all you do, but also get behind you in taking care of yourself. I hope you enjoy your mini-hiatus and know that there are a ton of followers, who will be here when you return.
It is hard, almost impossible to do it all – I know, if I gave up on some posts, I could maybe read a bit more, if I didn’t check twitter, I could maybe come up with another idea, and so on ? It’s just endless and so hard to know what we want to prioritize. In the end, I guess we need to do what makes us the happiest first… but sometimes we just want to make everyone happy and I know I worry too much about everything ?
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words and your comment, that means so much <3 <3
I think as many comments before mine have shown, we are all right there with you! We feel the pressure too and we completely understand where that feeling is coming from. I cannot help you in getting rid of that. I don’t know how to do that either, but I do know that you need to take care of yourself. Blogger burnout is real, so don’t even let it get that far, because we love you and appreciate you and value you and your content in this community. <3
Also, don't let me screaming about Six of Crows stop your from not reading it. You don't have to read it and no one will hold it against you. Just the other day, I was talking to another blogger who was TERRIFIED of what would happen if she didn't like the book and I was like "nothing?". You are not going to be ostracized. And people love reading about what YOU enjoy.
You can always rant and ramble about stupid stats with me! I am right there with you 😉 <3 <3 <3
I don’t intent on letting it getting that far, I always want and need to take breaks on a regular basis, not to let that happen. I would hate it so much and you know me, I love blogging so … what would I become ??
Thank you so much for everything, I’m so glad to always have you here to rant and chat and everything else, you are the best, seriously <3 <3
I know. Our lives wouldn’t be the same without blogging and there can be good and bad days alike, but just make sure to really take care of yourself first always <3
I will try my best to – I know I’ll have you to remind me of it ahah <3 <3
Marieeee! I love how honest you are. I love this. You work so hard at this, and your follower count and the amount of engagement that you have reflects that – I totally understand why you would be afraid that if you take a little break that would go away. And like you said, the truth is that it does. The internet, for better or worse, is a constant content MACHINE, so if people aren’t on your blog it’s because they are on another one. But. BUT. What I also think that you have built through all your hard work is reader loyalty. You’re such an engaged and giving member of the community that your absence would be noticed. Which means, that when you come back, everyone will be pleased to see you and no doubt come flocking back to your blog. That’s what I would do anyway. You have loyal enough readers that we want you to look after yourself, and we understand that that means you need to take a lil’ breather every now and again. Imagine yourself as the Kylie Jenner of book blogging. You can vanish for 6 months but even though no one has seen you they will not. Stop. Talking. About. You. And then when you’re ready you can come out with your bookish baby and everyone will be so thrilled you’re back it’ll be like you were never gone.
That analogy got away from me, I’ll admit. My point is, you’re allowed to take a break. On your week off remind yourself that readers aren’t just here for ‘content’, they are here for YOU specifically, and are willing to wait for a bit if that’s what you need. Have a lovely break xxx
Oh thank you so much for your comment, you are the sweetest, you have no idea how much it means to me – and Kylie Jenner? I’m touched by the analogy ?
I’ve been working so hard, I always am and this place is one of things I’m the proudest of, really… I think that’s where the fear comes from, too, to just have people floating away and not missing me ? you’re so right, everything happens so fast online and people leave for sure, but I really appreciate the fact that you think I have loyal followers that will always come back. that makes me so, so happy to hear <3 <3 I know I need to take a breather every once in a while in order to feel okay, I know I need to chill a whole lot, too ?. but I love blogging so much.
thank you so much for your sweet words and your comment, that means so much <3
You’re so welcome. I hope you had a nice blogging break xxx
Thank you, I did <3 <3
Marie, your honestly just captures me! I really wish you to find balance in your life as emotional health is so-so important! And of course continue blogging! <3
Oh thank you so, so much for your comment, Elena, you are the sweetest <3 <3
Honestly I can’t tell you how I chill, cuz like you I don’t. I’m constantly struggling to figure out what to blog about too and I don’t even have a huge amount of followers who are waiting for a new awesome post. I’m a perfectionist just like you so I really get what you’re feeling <3
Personally I thought this post was perfect though. I love the transparency and how you don't try to pretend that it's all nice and sunny in blogging land all the time!
What I've also thought about a lot is how it's okay to hate blogging sometimes without wanting to quit. Even the things you enjoy the most you don't always want to do all the time right? <3
Oh thank you so, so much for your sweet words and your comment <3 I'm glad – but also sad – that you could relate to this, I wish we could tell our perfectionist's sides to just leave us alone every once in a while, haha.
Oh that's a great point, you're so right <3 Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3 <3
Aha very true, like “not right now okay? can’t you just take a 10 min break or something?” 😛 You are so very welcome <3
This post hit me right in feels because YES TO EVERYTHING !! I feel like sometimes I burn out just from the pressure and expectations I put on myself, to put up the perfect content, to have a good balance between what people want to see and what I want to put out, to interact with people, so on and so forth. And sometimes it’s discouraging when a post I was proud of and put a lot of effort in doesn’t get as much love as I hope (which has been happening a lot since I fell off the blog-hopping bandwagon :/ but that’s all my fault and I’m trying to catch up again).
There’s also that fear that there will come a point when I just run out of things to talk about you know, it thankfully hasn’t happened yet but it’s in the back of my mind a lot.
Thank you so much for this <3
I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone in feeling like this. It’s hard not to feel burn out at times and it’s even harder to get rid of these expectations we put on ourselves. I think it’s so important to try and take a breather every once in a while. Remember why we love blogging, remember why we love writing but also why we love the community and to give something back to it all as well. <3
Thank you so, so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Yes that’s really necessary! I’ve been trying not to force myself to type up posts when i don’t feel like it, and eventhough it’s a bit stressful it’s better than burning out.
You’re welcome ??
I agree – I find it so very stressful not to type up posts when I should be and I also feel kind of… guilty? But you are right, it is way better than just burning out and ending up hating everything 🙂 x
Aww, Marie!! I always want to hug you and wrap you up in a huge, warm blanket because you deserve everything good in this world because you’re so precious! <3 <3 I hope this hiatus will be good for you, will you be taking a break from Twitter too? Because I will miss you there, I hope we can still talk. Also, you know I feel the same way about blogging as you do, I love it, but it can be very stressful to stay up to date with everything – ARCs, comments, posts, all of this. But we can deal with it, (also #2 : girl, how many times do I have to say that you're a HUGE blogger, very experienced, not small, not medium, so it sticks??? I will get a t-shirt with 'Marie is the blogging queen, I know no other', maybe that will finally work.
Love you, take care of yourself!!! <3 And know that I'm here for you always!
Awww you’re so, so sweet Marta, I’m so happy you’re here, seriously you’re one of the best people <3
We can always talk, I will distance myself from twitter and from checking it too often, but I'll always be there in DMs and we can always talk, of course <3 <3
If I had a tee shirt like that, I'd feel like I really made it as a blogger hahaha, you're so sweet, I don't know I guess I'll never be convinced, I still feel small and awkward haha. <3 <3
Thank you, you're the sweetest, love you!! <3 <3
MARIE SJDJKADJSK ILY AND YOUR BLOG SO MUCH OKAY?? ❤️???♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️?????❣️❣️???????????
IF YOU TAKE A HIATUS I PROMISE ILL BE LOYAL AND ILL ALWAYS KEEP READING YOUR BLOG,, EVEN IF I PROCRASTINATW SINCE I SUCK AT BLOG HOPPING BUT JUST KNOW THAT ILL ALWAYS BE HERE AND YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO TAKE HIATUSES
Oh you stop it you’re going to make me blushhhhh you’re so so sweet and YOU DO NOT SUCK at blog hopping or at anything, you’re always the best and the sweetest <3 <3
Thank youuuuu, I love you even moreeeeee <3 <3 <3 <3
NO MARIEEEE *gives you all the hugs* I really think this unrelated hiatus will bring you back refreshed though!
I feel you so much on this though. This used to be the case for me when I was a younger blogger. I would review every single book I read (no matter if I got it from the library or bought it etc.), and I would try to come up with interesting posts and discussions, AND COMMENT ON ALL THE BLOGS. Especially when I used to post Top Ten Tuesdays. I had days that were comment days, days that were for writing posts, and days solely for reading. It was….a schedule. I can NOT keep that up now though. It’s a bit impossible with all the stuff I have going on.
So YES YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE A BREAK. I mean me and I’m sure a bunch of others will be commenting no matter what you decide to do!
Oh thank you so much Valerie *hugs back* you are the sweetest <3 <3
I have been making some progress, I used to be even more stressed out about blogging sometimes, but I know that, every once in a while, these old feelings and the pressure just comes back to bite me in the *** haha and I can't really get rid of it all. Taking a breath, sometimes taking a small hiatus, always helps me. And your sweet comment helps LOADS, too, I am so grateful <3 <3
Thank you so much for everything!! <3 <3
In a way, you lift this heavy charm there is on blogging; we always only see the good side, not the dark side. All we see are those marvellous and fairy Instagram accounts, the always witty, well-written blog posts. But, it might be good not to forget that this charm does not work on what we write/do. We see it through what I liked to call the “dark” spell. Especially when we are perfectionists!
I started blogging last autumn, although that’s something I tried to do like forever, but my posts either missed something to be published or my blog wasn’t ready yet. It was the “dark” spell talking. Then, I’ve seen this on youtube: ” The Secret Of My Productivity ” by Hank Green. → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LAhHDEtTD0&list=LLheUNYFkiBBHlpbUSU9qcBA&index=45 I realise that I waste time, that perfection is nothing but this ugly illusion that my brain tried to feed with this “dark” spell. I’m on the crazy side of the perfectionist spectrum, so of course, I’m still under the spell, but less. ?
I’m really tired! I apologise if that doesn’t make any sense. ?
That was very brave of you to share with us how you feel, Marie! Enjoy your break!
Yes okay so you throwing a Hank Green video at me right here… I MIGHT BE IN LOVE WITH YOU okay. hahaha no but more seriously, I love Hank Green and everything vlogbrothers and ahhhhhhhhh I’m so happy you mentioned him and this brilliant video <3
And rest assured, your comment makes a lot of sense, thank you so, so much for taking the time to write this down <3 <3
Sis, i’m sending you so many hugs right now. You’ve hit the nail on the head with this one for me, I understand your feelings completely here. You know you can always rant and talk to me when your feeling stressed or anything. Your blog is so amazing and I think your so hard on yourself, you honestly take amazing pictures, write amazing content and you having a hiatus or taking a break is ok. You’re allowed. We will still be here when you come back and want to hear what you have to say, you are a consistency in so many of our days and we wouldn’t leave you!
I’m so glad your taking some time to yourself from tomorrow and relaxing, spending time with your boyfriend too. I’m going to not badger you during this time but I want stories when you return even if its just what films or shows you ended up watching!
But seriously, your blog is amazing and you are a phenomenal person. It’s so easy to be bogged down in blogging and get stressed by it, you are in no way sounding like a spoiler brat for sharing your opinions! We all feel the same at some point or other, its what I felt at the end of the year and telling myself to just blog about what I want and not get too worried on stats has helped me so much! It’s easier said than done but just remember your blog is for you, so many love it and will love whatever you read, post about!
Love you sis xx
Thank you so, so much for everything, sis, you are the sweetest and I will always come to you for anything and rants and to share my netflix stories, too, haha, you are the sweetest and I feel so, so lucky that you’re here <3 <3 <3
Your words mean so much, do you want to make me cry ? I really need to remember that more often, to do this for myself and try not to stress out about it too much. Sometimes it works, but the stress comes back more often than not ? I need to chill ahah <3
Thank you so much for everything, love you even more! x
Ugh SAME!
I only take time to read others blogs once a week (Sundays is normally my day but here I am??) so I don’t put nearly as much pressure on myself as you do – then again my blog is only almost a year old now – but even once a week it feels like a lot.
And then when add on top of that – Twitter activity and Bookstagram activity. It’s just too much. And i still don’t find Twitter all that enjoyable so lately I’ve spent most of my time on bookstagram.
In addition, I’ve taken my blog-posting schedule down to once a week because I felt like I was drowning in the pressure. It feels much better but still manages to stress me out on most days because I am easily stressed I guess?? ??♀️
But overall – I loved this post! I always appreciate your sincere honesty! <3
WELCOME TO MY PERSONAL CLUB haha I am sooooo stressed all the time and I don’t even know why, I hate it so much, but I can’t help it, haha. I think it’s so important to take time for ourselves and try not to let the pressure get to us too much, but… I can’t help myself, haha.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, Bridget <3 <3
Great post! This describes my feelings perfectly and all of the reasons you pointed out are why I basically took a break from blogging some time ago and actually fell into a huge reading slump. February is my one year anniversary of getting back to blogging, even though I’ve been doing it for much longer than that! I’m so much more relaxed because I feel complete as a reader and I basically read whatever I’m in the mood to read without getting side tracked by what everyone else is reading! I used to feel so much pressure for posting every single day and number were so important because I felt like they were my only reward. But, all that’s changed now and I’m so happy to be back to blogging because I’m doing it for me! I love this community and try to engage in it as much as possible, which is very exciting! I feel like you just have to relax and stop worrying about what everyone else will think if you miss a day or two. Scheduling beforehand has personally helped me a lot and the only things that take a lot of time are usually Most Anticipated Book Releases and Discussions. I probably spent a couple of hours putting them together but, I enjoy it. The people who love the content you’re sharing through this amazing platform will be here to support you, whether you decide to take a break or not! Everyone else is just not worth your time! That’s one of the most important things I’ve personally read. So, just take your time and stop stressing about it!
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and your lovely advice <3 I already schedule everything, but I think what I struggle with the most, is knowing that, if I miss blogging for a day or two, the world won't crumble or anything, haha. I need to work on that and on the guilt feeling that goes with it for sure, haha.
Thank you so much, Elena! <3 <3
MARIEEE. this was so heart-breakingly relatable, I’m literally writing a post about this now.
I feel the same pressure: having to deliver PERFECT content all the time, blog hop, be active on every social media under the sun, and also know about everything in the blogging world to be relevant, but then add school and my exams on the top of that and I KNOW that i’ll burn out before the exams if I do everything that I want to be doing. But what scares me the most is going on a hiatus, taking the break that I need, and then when i come back, no one being here.
I know that people will be, but the thought of losing this, this thing that is so important to me, is terrifying and i know that even when i am on hiatus, I’ll miss it so much.
And if I don’t go on hiatus, then I know that the pressure that I’m feeling from the internet, and the pressure that I put on myself, i will BURN out. I feel the constant need that I need to improve and do this, that and the other and that my posts need to be constantly better. And I feel like I have to constantly improve in order to have a successful blog, and deliver this “PERFECT” content maybe every other day or so. I actually felt BAD for not posting in FOUR days. I gave myself FOUR days to catch up with school work (the most important thing right now) BUT I STILL FELT BAD???? and I DON’T GET WHY I DID, BUT THEN I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY AT THE SAME TIME.
Marieeeeee, you’re not alone in feeling this and if you ever want to talk, then I’m here because i relate to what you’re going through!!! And, never overlook your own health/mental health, and take all the time that you need, and (even though easier said than done) try not to stress too much <3 <3
I get your feeling so, so much. I’m here and there trying to take a break and when I don’t check out blogs in a couple days, I feel so bad and guilty and I hate it. But also, it feels good to take a step back sometimes, do other things, just to remind ourselves that… well, when we are not blogging, we actually miss it, and it feels even BETTER to come back to it afterwards??? If that makes any sense, haha 🙂 <3
Thank you so, so much, you're the sweetest, I am trying to take my time with everything these past few days and it feels nice so far <3 <3
Yes!! That’s what i do, and i think that we need to not be blogging / resing posts EVERYDAY because otherwise the moment we stop for air and take one day off, we’ll feel AWFUL???
I’m glad that things are going well so far for you <3 <3 <3
EXACTLY. I haven’t blog hopped in a couple days now and I FEEL REALLY BAD AND GUILTY. Also, I feel a bit more…. relaxed, but still I FEEL STRESSED OUT. All the conflicted feelings ahhhhh.
YES I UNDERSTAND THAT SO MUCH!!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this way. Let’s rant about blogging things together whenever we need to, okay? hahaha 🙂 <3 <3
I really relate to what you were saying about the pressures. I definitely feel a lot of the same way about producing content and keeping up with the blogosphere. And yeah there always seems to be *more books*. But I love how you ended this on a positive note!
Thank you so much – I’m always trying to stay positive despite the struggles haha, doing my best 🙂 <3
We all feel like this sometimes. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been tempted to write apologies for not managing to do ALL THE THINGS. Most of the time nowadays I hold myself back, because the fact is, we don’t need to apologize for not achieving the impossible (but they still slip out from time to time). 🙂
Yes you are so right about that. I want to apologize ALL the time for not having time to blog hop or just… taking time for me. It’s silly, but I can’t help it. I need to remember that I don’t need to apologize for anything 🙂
thank you so much for your sweet words, Nicole <3
I’m having the problem of maintaining consistency a lot recently. With the increasing pressure of getting a job and studying, blogging is becoming a bit too hard. But this is something I love and I don’t want to give up on it. I’m trying to schedule most of my posts but my interactions with other bloggers are becoming less frequent. I am overwhelmed a little at this moment but I hope I can continue this journey.
Oh, Poulami <3 I'm so sorry to hear that, but I understand – it's so hard to schedule everything and to stay on top of blogging while having a busy life. I find that scheduling really is helpful, and also sometimes just… not posting as enough as I'm used to, when I need a breather and don't have as much time. Point is, if you love it, don't give it up <3 <3 Take time for yourself and to know where you stand and how you can get organized, but don't give it up <3 <3
Yeah… the amount of posts I used to write each month has kind of halved and I am mostly scheduling everything otherwise it’s pretty tough to keep up.
I won’t. <3
I think what matters is that you end up finding the right rhythm for you <3
Yeeees!! And if I manage this one, my writing schedule wouldn’t be in a chaos anymore.
Well let’s hope you will manage, but I BELIEVE IN YOU <3 <3
Thanks for believing in me. <3
Of course, always <3 <3
My own expectations for myself are always the highest compared to everyone else’s, and really, in certain situations, it can make me go above and beyond what I thought was possible… in other situations, it can make me feel like I’m never doing enough. ? I think it’s great that you’re putting posts about book blogging pressures out there because these posts can come at the perfect time for people who might be struggling with these pressures & think they’re the only ones with these problems. ?
In the end, I do believe that we can be happy in the process of achieving something, whether that be gaining more readers, blog-hopping more, or posting consistently — if someone is, say, posting three times a week and they’re absolutely miserable doing so, there’s no shame in changing plans to post only two or even one time a week if it increases your health and happiness. ? If book blogging — or anything, really — becomes a burden, then it’s time to take a step and make some changes. I hope you’re able to really recharge during your hiatus, and take care of yourself! Cya soon! ??
YES I 200% agree with you here. Sometimes, it makes us aim higher and make us do things we never thought possible, but otherwise… it’s frustrating, to have such high expectations, isn’t it ? :/
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words and your support <3 You are so right, what matters is that we keep on doing whatever makes us happy <3 <3
I know where you are coming from, sometimes I think I should just stop blogging, because I can’t seem to make the time that everyone else does. But I have decided to just do what I can when I can and I stopped looking at my numbers completely.
That’s a great thing to do for sure 🙂 thank you so much for your comment! x
Oh my god, Marie, this post hit me so hard! I recently talked about the pressure of being perfect online and this honestly just reinforces all that pressure?? I 100% feel you that I have to write this quality content in a voice that people expect about topics people expect, and I have to post it consistently! And not commenting on blogs some days makes me feel so bad, especially when all these people comment on my posts when I publish them?? And I haven’t been doing a lot of commenting back either which makes me feel so guilty!
I hope you know that you don’t have to do any of these things, and we’ll still think you’re amazing and we’ll still love you. I mean, I know I have trouble not succumbing to these pressures and feeling bad when something goes wrong, but it’s important to know that YOU ARE STILL A GREAT BLOGGER if you don’t meet all these expectations you/other put on yourself!! LOVE YOU. ??
I remember your post from reading it just last night and I absolutely loved it. I feel like we share a mind when it comes to these things and I’m so glad I am not alone. <3
The guilt is real, for sure, but I'm guessing and hoping that people know and understand we can't do it all, we're only human after all and we are doing our very best <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, that means a lot to me <3 <3 I'm trying to be easier on myself, it's…. well, it's a lot of work hahaha, but I'm trying <3 THANK YOU so much, love you even more! <3 <3
Thank you for this post! It really resonates in me since I’m always either stressing out or feeling very insecure about my blog. I don’t think I write well enough or regularly enough of that what I think even matters to people. But I keep on writing because I love to and I feel the need to share I learn and discover. My main resolution this year is to « simplify my life » and my way of doing things. But it’s not easy when I either don’t have the time to write and I am motivated or don’t have the motivation when I have time.
Anyway, I was really glad to discover ur blog! Especially now that I know you’re french and such a kind person ? I’ll be waiting for your next posts!
Oh you’re so welcome, I’m so glad if you could relate to it. You’re definitely not alone 🙂 Blogging starts off as something fun, a hobby we want to do, but it’s so easy to let all of these little pressures get to us, until we’re losing our minds haha 🙂
I love how you’re thinking and it’s so important to think of us, what we want to do, before anything else. To remember to appreciate what we write, to keep the motivation to do so, to remember why we started and what makes us keep on going in this adventure 🙂
Oh thank you so much, you’re so sweet! Thank you for your sweet comment, that means a lot <3
Yeah, blogging like many other things in life can become quickly stressful. Is it the price to pay for something we deep down like and (supposedly) brings us joy?
Sometimes staying too much in our heads in bad and having other people’s opinion helps to make us understand that « we are enough » and that we are not alone and people care. I love seeing you blog-hopping, dropping mindful comments everywhere and responding to everyone! We need to see more of that genuine love on the blogosphere and in the world ❤️
Yes, I believe so – I mean, if we get stressed out and everything else, it means that we care and are really passionate about it all, so… in a way, it’s a good thing? At least, I want to try and see it this way haha 🙂
I agree with you, sometimes we just need to take a step back from everything. Oh that’s so sweet, thank you SO much! I’m trying my best to spread the love within the community, it’s one of the things I love the most and, if I can make people smile, well… even better 🙂 <3
MARIEEEEE I LOVE YOU AND YOU’RE AWESOME AND I WILL SUPPORT YOU NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO AND YOU DON’T NEED TO PRESSURE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU’RE PERFECT THE WAY YOU ARE AND I LOVE ALL OF YOUR CONTENT AND YOU’RE ONE OF THE SWEETEST PEOPLE I KNOW AND AHHHH <3 <3 <3
JACKIE ??? you’re so, so sweet thank you for your words and your support I needed it today, you’re THE BEST I love youuuuu thank you ? <3 <3 <3
Oh my gosh, I can relate to this so much, Marie!! Time and time again (mainly the end of last year and even early this year), I thought “what is the point of blogging if I’m only posting once a month?” When I post less, don’t blog hop, and don’t reply to comments it doesn’t even make me feel like a blogger anymore because that was not the kind of blogger I was starting out. I’ve come to accept that I’ll never be like the 2015 blogger I was, and a big reason for that is because a lot of the blogosphere has changed for me. Logging back into WP after a long time, I realized that only you and three or so other my blogger friends are still blogging; the rest have all taken indefinite hiatuses or said goodbye to their blogs. I know I can make more friends just by blog hopping and meeting others, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to do that because a big part of me just misses the original squad. But anyway, that is a whole other rant. With all that being said, I do still feel the pressure as well. Anyway, thank you for sharing this vulnerable state with us; I’m sure many book bloggers have felt these insecurities before. :’)
P.S. I feel like you always leave thoughtful comments on other blogs so don’t feel too bad if you need to take a few days off from blog hopping. Your comments always brighten my day, Marie, but I don’t want you to ever feel stressed out because of blog hopping! Also, you’re definitely NOT a failure if you’re not able to check off all things you want to achieve in a day!
P.P.S. You’re certainly a big blogger in book, Marie! <3
– Summer at Xingsings
Oh I get your feeling and your nostalgia about it all as well, Summer… so many things have changed ever since we started blogging – and it hasn’t even been that long! It ‘s crazy, how fast things move and how everything changes. But you’re right, that is another rant haha 🙂 I am glad that you are still here and, even if you’re blogging just once a month, know that I always love reading your wrap-ups and catching up with you on instagram <3
Aww, thank you so, so much, Summer <3 I really am doing my best, but sometimes it gets REALLY overwhelming and I am having the hardest time taking breaks haha. I am trying though 🙂 <3 <3
Oh I feel this post SO MUCH Marie. Everything you mentioned and described, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who relates to this. BUT it is SO SO SO important to take care of yourself, so I’m glad to hear that one of your resolutions is to try to chill more. We all love you so much, and we want you to be healthy and happy, not overwork and stress yourself, so if that means missing a post sometime, not replying to comments immediately, not blog hopping etc. then that is more than okay. Just take care of yourself and we’ll be here waiting for you ❤️
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Michelle <3 <3 To be honest, I'm still a bit crazy and not as chill as I'd like to be, but I am trying, little by little ahah so that's good 🙂 Thank you!! <3
My biggest reviewing pressure is always “What if I’m wrong?” when I say if I like, MEH, or hate a book , or author. Then I start super overthinking it and start getting nervous about what will people think. I have a real hard time reading “classic” books, that everyone one the planet raves about til they are blue in their face, and there are iconic authors that I’ve read, and, I just don’t get it. Like, really? This is what all the hype is about? I’ve read things that are supposed to be THE GREATEST BOOK / AUTHOR EVER and just come out feeling MEH. Example….. I just read Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. I love horror books, and this has been labeled as one of the best horror books from the 20th century as well as one of the greatest ghost stories ever. I absolutely hated it. The characters were unlikable, the sentences ran on forever, and there was hardly any ghost or haunting at all. After ranting in my head about it for a few days, I started thinking “Ok, everyone loves this book…. Is it really that great and I am just too stupid to ‘get it’? Do I have to be smarter to understand all the nuances of the book?? Do I not understand enough about writing that her writing style and format is going over my head? I see the complex layers to the characters, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good story, or does it??” Then I just end up feeling really dumb and unsure of what to say in my review.. 😛
I honestly don’t think – I KNOW, actually – that there is no “right” or “wrong” when it comes to books. We are all entitled to our opinions after all, I know people who loved a book I could not stand, while some others hated a book I loved with all of my heart. It’s all a matter of taste anyway and we all have our own 🙂 What matters is how we express ourselves, as long as, when reviewing, we are being fair and subjective, that’s what matters. We might not love a writing style that other people fall head over heels with and it’s perfectly okay if it’s not our style!
As long as we are still being respectful in our reviews that’s what matters 🙂