Over the past few weeks I’ve been feeling quite sad whenever I think about my blog. In fact I’m not sure how to describe what’s going on so I am going to attempt to write it here. I guess when I began blogging over 6 years ago, I started because I wanted to share my story and life. I wanted to tell my reality and just write about whatever I felt like saying.
Fast forward six years later and things have changed. Blogging started out as a fun passion but now I find my days are filled with hundreds of emails, questions, requests and demands. I’ve always wanted to be helpful through my blog and that is what I attempt to do, to help, inspire and support others. However everyday I feel burnt out, exhausted and a lack of joy for what I am doing.
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Why Do I Feel Sad?
Honestly, I’m not sure if its sadness or simply stress or maybe both. The one thing I know is that I’m not happy with the content I’ve been producing. You see I have an audience, I have loyal followers who care about me and my life. Then I have those who are interested in learning from me. These are genuine people who want to learn how to cook new and or easy recipes. Then there are people who visit the blog for fun craft ideas.
I’ve been sharing new recipes and crafts weekly but I’ve also been writing or sharing topics which I don’t feel passionate about. These topics I need to include on the blog as they are paid posts and they help me to cover the cost of running this website as well as helping us to have an income. I guess it’s just hard balancing writing for fun and writing to pay bills and cover medical fees and daily living costs. I think that just makes blogging really stressful.
Blogging For Money
Despite the fact I write this blog to help others, I do need to cover the cost of hosting and promotion along with a number of other costs and that means I have to sometimes share posts and write things I’m not passionate about. That kind of sucks.It really does and I am trying to be super positive but sometimes It’s hard.
I can’t go back to blogging as a hobby because the costs of hosting this blog are too high. I will however, not quit and I don’t want to quit blogging but I do want to take a breath and re-evaluate my goals. I want to figure out what I want from The Inspiration Edit, how I can continue to help others and feel joy as I write and share content.
Writing About Life
If this was 100% about business and money, I’d just niche down my blog and write about one topic but it’s more than that. This blog is really about my life, ideas, hopes and joys and whilst being a lifestyle blogger may make it harder to grow followers and an audience, writing about life is what gives me joy.
Writing About Family
My daughter has reached an aged where she no longer wants to be featured in the blog on a regular basis. Doing our Sylvia’s style posts was the one thing I loved the most but sadly, Sylvia is now a teenager and is currently not interested in reviewing or being featured unless it’s something she really really wants. That leaves me in a position where I do have to evolve and change tactics a little.
Sharing Mixed Content On A Blog
I like to share recipes but I’m not a person that can do just one thing and I can’t share just Instant Pot meals only. I still want to share parenting tips and fun ideas. Yet, business focussed people might say focus on a niche, build seo and keywords based on a plan. It’s hard to do that when I am a spontaneous person, with chronic health conditions. I prefer to write what I feel and come up with ideas, rather than write based on a business plan.
At the end of the day I can go more niche and feel lifeless writing about one thing only or I can go back to the old me and write about whatever topic I feel, with less of a plan but knowing this will impact or at least prevent the growth I could achieve as a niche blogger. I guess I am me and not anyone else so I need to do what is best for me.
Parent Blogger
I started out as a parent blogger and my child has grown. So what do I do now? Do I continue to share ideas for kids? Do I continue with parenting tips? I’ve moved to New Zealand and so my ability to review products (which was one of my favourite things to do on the blog) has diminished. After all, who wants to send products to New Zealand through the mail? No one! The review scene does not really exist here in NZ and so I’m wondering if I keep trying or if I ditch that altogether?
I’ll continue to share recipes and crafts but I’m also thinking of writing articles which are parent based. I really don’t know. I need to find my mojo and passion and rekindle the fire I had before. I do think the impact of COVID upon the blogging world and my blog has been huge. I also think moving overseas has made things difficult along with the evolving nature of blogging, influencing and pesky algorithm changes.
Look Forward With A Positive Attitude
I’m in a slump. I am in a funk and I need to dig my way out. I don’t have a clue how to do this. I am unsure of the direction I will and should go and I’m quite confused but I will have a positive attitude. I will focus on the good and the glass being half full and try to make a plan that will make me happy.
It’s really hard at the moment and I’m sorry that I’ve just been too unwell to write about the things I would have liked to but I will work on feeling better, working out what I want and doing what feels right.
Angela
I think it is hard when you start out as a parenting blogger and then the kids grow up and don’t want much to do with the blog. I struggle sometimes with what to write about and feel a bit meh about it all. It’s really tough. I hope you find your way out of the slump soon and maybe find some new ideas x
Thanks Kim, it can be hard and yes I agree some times it’s tough. I am working out a plan in my head and I think half the problem is just being so tired. I will get through this slump for sure.