Feeling overwhelmed? Yeah, me too sometimes.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated about my blog. My cynicism rises and I feel ineffective. That’s how this burnout expert describes the symptoms, and I’ve been there. Blogger burnout is a big problem in our field.
Short of the usual admonitions to eat well, sleep well and exercise more, how do we get out of the swamp and feel energized again?
When I feel burned out, I go for a walk or meet friends. I try to feel grateful for the opportunity to do what I love. Doing so usually gets me back on track, but there’s a lot more to it.
Yes, we bloggers compare and second-guess ourselves and feel like we’re running in circles. It takes a major shift to get going again.
I’ll be talking about that shift and how to address it while teaching a workshop on blogger burnout at the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) annual conference on April 1. In researching the subject of burnout, it seems that bloggers and those of us who spend so many hours on the computer and phone have added layers:
- Work life merged to home life (for example, think about your hobbies. Posting photos of food on social media? Oh wait, that’s work.)
- Feeling behind if you’re not learning every new tool (Snapchat, I’m looking at you.)
- Feeling like everyone else is getting ahead but you (See this post on comparing).
I’m learning a lot about blogger burnout and I plan to post more after the conference. In the meantime, if it sounds familiar, you might find it helpful to read:
And I’d love to hear from you. What is your biggest blogger burnout problem? What do you do to cope with feeling overwhelmed? If you’ve managed to avoid it, what is your secret?
(Photo courtesy of freeDigitalPhotos.net.)
I sometimes experience burnout and I only post about once a week/my blog isn’t even very popular or demanding… though this is likely because I also have a full-time office job too. In any case, I really try to take a step back, and do something that will force me to not think about my blog at ALL – whether it be playing some dumb video game, watching a mindless show, reading something unrelated, or stretching. Finding things “outside my niche” is also so helpful, like watching a makeup Youtube video instead of a food-related one.
Wonderful ideas, especially what you do for fun. Perhaps the worst thing people can do is take some time off by looking at other food blogs! It kicks in the whole “I’m not good enough/why aren’t I doing X” kind of thinking.
The past 4 months I have had two major hand surgeries, each of which limited my blogging. Now, as I am healing from the second surgery, I find it hard to push myself back into weekly posting. I think I’m still very focussed on my rehab and still stiff and sore. I am at least thinking about getting back to blogging but am really struggling to find that passion I had for it.
It will come back, Liz. Maybe you’re not quite ready yet, at least not for weekly postings.
I’m so with you on feeling left behind by the constant array of new tools, smart, new shiny blogs that suddenly pop up and rocket into the stratosphere and each new trend that comes and goes.
In fact I just decided to be behind and keep doing what I like to do. Either people read it – or they don’t.
It’s a hobby, not the quest for world peace and I’m not going to tear myself apart trying to keep up. This is supposed to be fun, after all.
Wow. This could be a mantra we all read in the mirror every morning. Right on, Amanda!
I look forward to taking this approach.
I started my blog three years ago and for the first year I put a tremendous amount of effort into it: finding/reading other blogs to follow and comment about; digging deeply into family food memories; taking trips to outer suburbs especially to buy food or props for the photos. But now I think I’ve peaked and am only blogging once per month (sometimes less). At first I felt like I’d abandoned ship but then I realised maybe it was only meant to be a finite project and was a vehicle to get me writing and find a creative outlet. So, onwards and upwards to the next new thing …
Yes, blogs don’t have to last forever — there is no rule that says so! You have identified your goal clearly, that it was meant to get you writing and provide an outlet. I hope it leads to all kinds of satisfying projects.
I am using my food blog to hopefully stimulate my freelance writing career. I have been blogging (5 times a week) since January and I am getting frustrated that it has only yielded, one paying freelance job. I feel an added pressure and some days it is just overwhelming. I have yet to find an emotional outlet for my frustration.
Five times a week! That is a lot, Joanne. Re freelancing, I find it even more challenging than blogging.
I appreciate the anarchy of blogging, (no rules!!) and I’m impressed at how often so many bloggers post. I’ve made my peace with one or two posts a month. It takes me that long to have something to say, and to formulate it. Slow but sure enough.
That sounds great. You’ve found your rhythm and it works for you.
Since I started my blog I’ve often felt I should post more and be more involved in the social media but then I always remind myself why I’ve started it. I love writing and photography and it should never feel like an obligation but instead a way of expressing myself, being creative and maybe touch or inspire other people. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. But I do have a family, we travel a lot and move every few years. Sometimes I just don’t have the time to post as often as I should. We are moving again in the summer to a new country and adventure. There is so much I need to take care of in the meantime. So every time I feel upset I can’t write as often as I wanted, I go for a walk in the beautiful park we have near our house. I do Nordic Walking and exercising in the morning sun and looking at the first signs of spring around me, makes me feel great and inspired. That or taking a great book to the park, lay in the grass and get lost in it.
This sounds so rational, Maria. I like that you know your limits and you are proud of what you’ve accomplished as a blogger. Both those things sound very nourishing and sustaining. As does your time in the park. Best of luck with your move.
I am so fortunate that I blog about fun food art and when I feel burnt out from the business of blogging, I get into the kitchen to create something cute and it lifts my spirits. I’d love to spend all day in the kitchen, but in order to make money at blogging, I have to spend more time working on social media and promotion. I feel the pressure to do it all and be present in every corner of the web, but have realized that is impossible. So, I am focusing on the most important aspects of promotion and am learning to let go of the rest.
I also do my best to get outside and walk my dog every day and to spend time with friends and family doing things I love other than making sweet treats. When I really need a break from it all, I unplug and go on a vacation.
Very sensible Beth. Yes, I just spoke with a big blogger who said she finally had to make an agreement with herself to put her phone in the trunk when traveling with her family. It’s dispiriting to be on all the time. It sounds like you are good at taking satisfying breaks.