Hi, my name is X and I have Blogger's Envy...

Yes, I said it, well, technically typed it but regardless, it's now out there.

I started blogging over 2 years ago but only got into it in earnest at the beginning of 2012. I was overrun with ideas and 'newbie' enthusiasm and spent a large amount of time dreaming about what to write and wether it was actually worth reading.

I joined networks, I joined groups, I researched, I linked, I linkey'd, you name it, I probably did it, thought about it or planned to do it. It turned into an obsession.

In the middle of February I contracted conjunctivitis in both my eyes which meant that even looking at my phone screen was ridiculously painful so I stop blogging.  It also meant that I looked like I'd been smoking something dodgy and had crusty eyes in the morning.  Sexy!  I could feel the cobwebs growing (in my blog!) and I was itching to compose my latest post, dreading the idea that my hit rate would go down or even worse, that people would loose interest. In my daily life I am a pretty straight down the line individual who would look at people like me and think 'what a nutter!'.  For goodness sake, it's only a page on the Internet anyway!

Well, it isn't. It's my release. A way of expressing myself and of improving my writing skills and ultimately setting me on the right track to penning that novel I've also dreamed of.   I could see it all unfolding before me eyes.  A Kindle book in the next few years that I could call my own would be a dream come true.

One thing I did forget to mention though is the extremely minute thing called a day job. Yes. I'm a mom, I am self-employed and run a business with my business partner.  I work 4 days a week but this means that I have 4 full days that I can't blog.  That is probably 35 hours that I am not able to blog.  After fetching my daughter from nursery in the evenings I make dinner and then put my daughter to bed.  From about 8pm I make an attempt to relax and wind down from the day, doing my best to stay away from the computer, but ultimately I spend 2 or 3 hours either blogging, reading blogs or tweeting.  You see, it's a bit of a catch-22 situation when you love doing something but you also need to spend time with your husband and not hide behind a computer screen, tapping away on the keyboard like a woman possessed.

I need to realise that I am a working mom who blogs as a creative outlet.   I can't let it to consume me.  My weekends need to be focused around my husband and daughter who are my number one priorities.  Having my daughter sit on my lap while mommy is blogging completely unfair to her. No, I don't have my husband sitting on my lap when I blog, for those of you with filthy minds!  These are moments that I will never get back and as much as my blog makes me happy, sharing time with my daughter and husband is far more important.  Blogging needs to be worked into evenings, nap times and Sunday mornings when my husband is cycling and my daughter visits her granny.  

So, with all that said, I do honestly think that if I can get the balance right, I can have a fabulous work/family/blog balance.  I can still do all the posts, meme's, reviews, competitions that I want without having to be glued to the computer 24/7.  Besides, I have an iPhone.  My blog and Twitter are only a tap away if either of them need me! ;)

Ax

Comments

  1. I'll be going back to work soon and wondering how i'm going to fit blogging in to my life, it's difficult enough now!! It sounds like you've managed to find a balance though xxxx

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    1. It's been tough in the past week though. I'm letting work take poll position at the moment. Just need to get past the end of May and then things should be back to normal...I think?!

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  2. Still trying to work out my life balance now that blogging has been thrown into the mix but completely agree that my family are my no.1 priority

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    1. It is tough, but we all seem to do it I guess? I think there should be a Super Mum Blog award for people that get the balance right!

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  3. I find that when your family is anything other than your number 1 priority blogs turn boring and our anyway. You have to be living real life to gain inspiration for blogging.

    That elusive balance is what we are all after. Mich x

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    1. Precisely! Couldn't have said it better myself. Ally xx

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  4. Totally know where you are coming from! I too get frustrated when real life interferes with my thoughts and writing and I too know that I am being a total nutter as my family and our adventures are the ones that inspire me to write. I guess it is just a case of there not being enough hours in the day! And I would rather be too busy than have nothing occupying my time! Good luck with finding a balance.

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    1. I'm trying to fit an hour in now! I haven't touched my blog in a week which is really upsetting but I've had work and other things on which just had to be done. I'll blog a bit tonight too...I hope!! :)

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  5. I wouldn't be able to do it at all without mobiles! My baby will only nap on me in the day- awkward bugger- so I write my posts then and just tidy/edit/add pics in the evening or when I get a few minutes! Having said that my other half is often pottering about on his computer too- looking at guitars on eBay generally! So There are evenings where we are sat next to each other on sofa with two laptops on the coffee table! My blog envy comes from admiring other peoples writing or layouts or ideas! Am jealous of you all!!!Xx

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    1. I'm attached to my mobile because of work and I think the Blogger app is half the reason I got back into blogging. It makes it so much easier. The family iMac has turned into 'my' computer. Love it!

      I've designed my perfect blog and layout in my head. Now I just need someone (and some money!) to get it done! A x

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  6. I got obsessed with blogging once, too. But then you realise that it's a complete time waster when you should be earning money! Some people blog for financial gain but I never had and never will, therefore it will always be a hobby. I think people get far too hung up over their blog and treat it like it's a bee-all and end-all of life. Stats, rankings, lists have all contributed to way people know perceive blogging and the competition has become fierce. Finding a balance is the only way to move forward.

    CJ x

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    1. If I was paid to blog, it would be a bonus. I just love interacting with everyone but do also want to run competitions, do reviews and all the rest that comes with it. It's either all or nothing for me. Stats to make people crazy and I have Google Analytics set up but I don't understand it all. It's there so I can refer to it if I ever took the time to actually figure it all out!! A x

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  7. I find it hard to get a blog balance. I work part time, plus freelance work every evening, while trying to be a good Mum- I do find it hard sometimes. Plus it is so hard when it is so competitive out there- I sometimes wish rankings and awards didn't exist. x

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    1. Oh my gosh, my day doesn't seem nearly as busy as yours! I have a good 10 hour work day sometimes (love it though - sadist!) but would be too tired to work evenings too. I would love to get back into my Body Shop at Home parties though. I just loved doing them for some odd reason? A x

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  8. OMG that was like reading my mind! I have been feeling exactly the same at the minute and hubby has told me I am getting obsessed. It is hard to get a balance and you are so right family is so important, you don't get the time back! Thanks for helping give me a kick! x

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    1. I think I'm going to make myself a timetable for the week and then start that way ;) Good luck! x

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