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I'm not a brand, I'm just me.

Tuesday 16 January 2018


When did blogging become such a chore?

It never used to be. I used to post as and when I liked, with no real thought to any sort of blogging routine. I was probably number 25689 in the Tots 100 chart and I'm pretty sure my partner was my only reader. But I was happy.

Some where along the line I subconsciously got sucked in to the blogging world, as we all do. And I didn't realise it until I was well and truly riding that train. It's human nature to want to be good at something. To want to be great at something even. To want to be the best. But when my conscious thoughts consist mainly of where I should be going and not where I am now then something is strongly telling me that it's time to take a step back and recognise that I need to change.

I don't want blogging to feel like a chore anymore.

 I feel I often rush, to meet self imposed deadlines in my head and then as a result I don't get down what I truly want to say. It all becomes clipped, the end result too bland and the words less meaningful, all in order for me to post on time. 

Blogging is so much about the metaphorical clock. You must publish blog posts at least twice a week to stay present. Three or four times is better. You must post on Instagram daily to stay on top of the algorithm. And make sure to link posts to all social media platforms. You must, you must. 

In my mind for the last few years I've always been in the back of a queue, trying patiently, sometimes desperately, to get to the front. Because we've always been told in the blogging world 'What's the point in writing if there's no-one reading it? What's the point in producing content if there's no-one to see?' 

But actually no. No no no. That's so wrong. And so not why I started this blog five years ago. 

I'm not a freakin brand, I'm just me.

I didn't start blogging to appeal to the masses. To make 'audience friendly content.' I started it for me. For a release. For myself and for my memories. And actually there is always someone going to be reading my content. Me. And possibly one day when they're grown up, my children too.

One thing I've always made sure to keep to on this blog is posts about my family adventures, both the mundane and the not so because they're the ones that mean something. And will continue to mean something each time I look back on them - in 5 months, 5 years, 50 years even, these posts will be the ones that make me smile and the ones that make me remember

I enjoy writing the other types of posts too and I wont pretend that I don't. I like writing about the way in which I edit photos and which toys or clothing companies I'd currently recommend. But these aren't the posts I'm going to choose to look back on in ten or twenty years time. When I'm a little old lady, god hoping I get to reach that sort of age, I'm not going to give a flying fuck about which were the three most used editing apps on my phone in 2018. And I need to remind myself of that when I'm stressing about when I'm going to fit in the time to write these sorts of posts and exactly why haven't I got this weeks Friday favourites post up yet ffs.

This year I'm going to remember more than I ever why I started. That I'm blogging for myself and not others. Post less perhaps yes, but with more meaning. Don't rush my writing, clip my thoughts and my feelings in order to meet my self imposed timetables and deadlines because who gives a fuck about being 'present' and 'current' in the grand scheme of things. Who cares about being top of a list, front of a queue, when I have two little ones who love me for being me, their mummy, not for my blogging presence. All that they want is for me to be in the moment with them and at the end of the day, that's all I want to. 

Happy 2018.

  

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6 comments :

  1. I can so relate to this - I used to blog for me, not everyone else. I’ve found that I’ve been censoring so much as brands may not “approve”. It’s crazy x

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  2. I love this Abigail! I feel so the same about Instagram. I used to love posting on there but now spend half the time worrying that my photos are good enough (such crappy light this time of year!) or I’m posting too much that I end up not posting at all! It’s so stupid. I hope you find the happy balance this year. You are a talented writer and I love reading your posts.

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  3. I totally get this, and I really felt the same back at the beginning of 2017 and I actually stopped blogging and intended never to return. But after about 6 months I decided I would start again, but this time it would be all about me. I removed myself from all ranking systems. I have changed the focus on my blog and I am writing about what I want to write about. I am having so much more fun.

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  4. Gosh I can relate to this! It's my business though, so I do have to treat it as such... which (more than) occasionally does feel like a chore. Just keep doing what you're doing - you have such a beautiful blog xx

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  5. I've been blogging for me for 10 years but I have started taking it more seriously these past 12 months. Most of the time it doesn't feel like a chore though. I think going back to blogging for you is a great idea.

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  6. This article is on point! And perfectly written in relation to explaining how many of us can get lost in the blogging world. Im relatively new to all of this and trying to stay focused on writing for the passion and for myself

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