Book Talk: Being okay with not posting every single day.
I get it. I do. You just started or have already been at this for a while so you read and post. Every. Single Day.
I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to do that. Believe when I say I know. I know the struggle of wanting to get certain ARC’s or a publisher to notice you. I know the anxiety to want to be in a certain “blogging click” and so forth.
Honestly, I have been blogging for 4 years now. This year I have decided to take a different approach when it comes to my blogging schedule. That is to have NONE.
That’s right. I have no blogging schedule. Before when I first started blogging I had a pocket calendar which I carried around with me everywhere. Every time I got a new book, I always added it to my calendar for review. I was reading a book a day so it was easy to say I was going to read this and post that. Years later, I have to admit that I burnt myself out. Blogging was no longer a hobby but became a burden because I had to read this for a review or post that for tomorrow. It even came to a point where I dragged my feet to my library/office to pick out a book to read cause I knew I had to post something. That anxiety to post something was always in the back of my mind.
Then a miracle happen. I forgot to post something. And I didn’t even realize it. It wasn’t until I logged into the website where I realized there was nothing. Guess what? I didn’t freak out. Instead I was relived and thought, “It’s okay. I can post it for tomorrow.” No problem. That’s when I realized that my hobby is just that. A HOBBY. And that it should remain as one. If I read a book and post a review great! If not, its okay too. I don’t have to post something every single day. I don’t have to read every single day. I make no money off of this blog whatsoever. It’s is not my job nor does it provide for me and my family.
So it’s okay. It’s okay to not post every single day. It’s okay to not read a book every single day. Take your time reading the book. ENJOY READING FOR WHAT IT IS! It is a leisure time to get away from the world. A time to enjoy and basked in a great story. KEEP IT THAT WAY!
Someone on twitter said, “You know the best thing about my blogging schedule is…I have none.” You know what? They are right!
Go forth and enjoy reading a book. Really enjoy it. Schedule as you see fit. And most importantly, don’t let blogging take away your love for reading.
Happy Reading!
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I am so behind this. I could *never* post every day. I’m a slow reader as it is. I’m happy if I can get 2 posts in a week, but lately I haven’t been able to do even that. Summer is even harder for me. I just have to accept the fact that I’m doing this because it’s fun and that’s it!
Exactly! I burnt myself out by trying to catch up to other bloggers and trying to read this and that all at the same time. I just want to LOVE to read instead of dreading it. I’m happy having no schedule cause now I read what I want when I want. The pressure is off and it feels sooooo nice!!
I tried having a posting schedule on a calendar and everything but that lasted for abouttttt a minute. I’ve been blogging for 4 years this October and I’ve gotten burned out so many times trying to keep up.
The only schedule we keep is a google doc where we put info in regarding what we signed up for or feel like reviewing. Sometimes I still get stressed trying to appease everyone that I accepted and ARC from but then I think… LET IT GO.
Even if I’m not reading a “new” book, I’m always reading something. If I’m good with it so should everyone else.
I do keep a calendar on WP just to help me post but that is it.
I’m with you. After 4 years of blogging, I just can’t be as active anymore. I still do wish I was posting every day, but it’s harder for me to stay into it.
Exactly.
Yeah, I just hit the four-year mark and realized that I will never be one of those organized bloggers who has everything pre-scheduled and never misses a day. As it is, I take the weekends off of posting and commenting (unless there’s something that really catches my eye) and do miss days (usually Friday, for some reason). Hasn’t killed me yet!
It is very hard to stay organize when your work, have a home, husband/wife, and or children. I know for me its hard. I do a lot of my blogging at night. I can schedule stuff then and get post written out.
I know exactly what you mean. I do try to post 3 days of the week, but I HAD to not post everyday. I was getting so burned out. I am even trying to wean myself off of 3 days. Still shoot for it, but not feel like I have to do it.
I’m aiming for 3-4 post as week. But I’m not going to push it if it doesn’t happen. Just going to blog and take it day by day.
I’ve never been big on keeping a schedule. If I do a tour or am asked to post a certain day I schedule a post for that day and am able to see it and not schedule other things (and to be ready) but it’s not usually more than once a week. I’ve not had a problem with posting every day, I have more than enough content and have to post a couple times on some days, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world if someone doesn’t post every day. At the same time, I think I would stress out if I DIDN’T post every day. That might be hard for me. Right now it’s not an issue but in the future I might not have enough. What I am working on is combining some of my writing (non-fiction/travel writing) into my blog and so that lightens up my review schedule while getting me some feedback on what I write about. I’ll probably still review 3 days a week but like you I’m no longer reading a book a day like I use to.
Me too. I only have a calendar that helps me keep track of post I’m scheduling but that is it.
I went through a phase of trying to post every day but it just wasn’t sustainable. It does happen some weeks but that’s just the way that week happened to work out. I no longer try to post every day.
i do have a schedule but the only carved in stone items are blog tours or promised posts. The rest of it is fluid and if I miss or postpone a review or other post, so be it.
Imagine I went through that for almost 4 years. Everyday a post. It is exhausting!!
Couldn’t agree more Savy!!!! That’s why I take weekends completely off – just to keep the blog from becoming a chore. I used to think I needed to get a post up every single day so as to keep traffic up, but then like you, I didn’t post one day and it just didn’t matter. It only mattered to me, and I’m fine with taking a step back when I need it:) Glad this blog is going to go back to being a hobby rather than a job for you!
I agree. I take the weekends off as well. I notice hits on my blog are way down during the weekend anyway. It is good to take breaks.
Whoot! I think more people need to jump on this bandwagon 🙂 I figured my life is a lot easier if I don’t overwhelm things with too many plans. I enjoy schedules but my RL-life is what’s most important.
– Krys
Exactly. I used to come home rushing to get on the computer just to get something posted by midnight. There are even times where I was in bed and woke up because I remember I had to post something. LOL
When I was new to blogging I decided to challenge myself to blog daily. And I did it and I was proud that I was able to do it. But about a year ago, I decided to drop to six posts a week. Then I decided that five posts a week was just fine. And now I’m like you — I try to post as much as I can, but sometimes that’s only 4-5 days a week. I really don’t think anyone notices. Plus I’m a lot happier and less stressed out.
Jen @ YA Romantics
I agree. I tried to do everyday or about 20 post a month but yeah, I find it easier if I blog without a schedule.
I just ditched my schedule this week, in preparation for an unpredictable fall (I’ll be homeschooling one of my kids eep!), and removing my schedule has been such a relief! Once school starts I’ll only be posting 1-3 times a week and that’s ok! Like you said-blogging is a hobby and it’s supposed to be fun 🙂
WOOHOO! Take time off and enjoy it. And certainly keep it fun. I believe you can enjoy reading/blogging if it stays that way instead of letting it become your life.
You’re so right, not scheduling so obsessively is so freeing. While we still have to have some structure because we have multiple reviewers, I don’t keep the kind of strict schedule I used to (like you, I used to be a lot more type A–I kept an excel sheet with release dates or whatever). I try to be mindful, but I’m not beating myself up over missing things. Like you said, it’s a hobby and it’s supposed to be fun. Trying to find that balance between responsibility and recreation, you know?
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden