I don’t know why, but every once in a while I get caught up. I get caught up in the silly little game I call The Blog Race. And even as I type this I know how ridiculous it is and that I choose to be a part of it, but still, it happens. It gets especially worse when I invest an exceptional amount of time into this little blog and I start to care a little too much, mostly about all of the other parts that aren’t actually blogging- the excess as I like to call it. It’s not necessarily bad, it’s simply what it is; excess.
The reason why I started to blog nearly five years ago hasn’t changed, but the pressure I put upon myself has. The pressure to come up with new content on a daily basis, to take photos that aren’t blurry, to keep up with all of the blogging trends that I’m usually one year late to anyway. And the pressure to keep growing traffic… It’s funny for me to think about the fact I blogged for almost three years without checking my stats or traffic once. If you’re a blogger you’re probably calling bullshit right now. But it’s true. I simply didn’t care. And I didn’t take the time to figure out how to do it because the background stuff has never been my forte...
But then one day I decided to start caring a little more and start trying a little harder. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the day I entered the Blog Race. And a lot of really cool things have come from this and I don’t regret it for one second. But then there’s been a lot of side stuff that comes from it, as well. The stuff that I get too wrapped up in caring about when I know damn well I shouldn’t.
It started out simple enough when I learned how to check how many people were viewing my blog per day. Hey that’s cool I thought, maybe I’ll check again next week. And then I decided to get on Twitter to promote a few posts. And then I got a few followers and thought that was pretty neat, as well. Then came a Facebook page, even though I thought it was silly as I was creating it every “big blogger” was telling me I should so I figured why not. They seemed to know what they were talking about and who was I to question it? And then Instagram happened. And Bloglovin. And Google+ (which I still don’t get obviously.)
But joining Twitter and Instagram and all of that stuff was just the beginning of it all, the real Blog Race came afterward. It’s the followers and the likes and the comments. How many you have and how many you don’t have… And the RTs and the hashtags and all of that stuff that you know shouldn’t make a difference because it’s so ridiculous in the big scheme of things, and yet it sometimes does.
It’s all just so … exhausting.
Again, I realize I participate in this stuff by choice. And I obviously enjoy it because that’s why I do it, but that’s not so say it isn’t all just a little much every once in awhile. If you’re reading this and you’re not a blogger you’re probably thinking I’m crazy for even being bothered by any of this. And you’re right, all of us bloggers are a little nutty. But that’s never been up for question.
What I try to remember is that for me, the core of blogging has always been about the writing. Writing is my passion, so I guess it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I sometimes care a little too much. And some of that passion tends to leak into the other facets of blogging whether I like it or not. It’s just what happens. So I guess I’m okay admitting I’m in the Blog Race, but what I’m not okay with is when it completely consumes me like is occasionally does.
Now with all of that being said (and probably not make any sense to anyone but me) it’s been nice to get away this week and have a little distraction from blogging.
Have a good weekend! Remember we’re only seven days away March. I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel…
Uhem, you should learn to take your own advice sometimes… Or do I need to tell you what you tell me?
I think I have been reading your blog forever…this may be the first or second time I have commented? bad read π sorry but I love your passion and it shows in your writing. So keep being crazy but take your time this week to an enjoy the distance. We'll still be here when you get back π I mean I have to know how your comedy show goes, if the realty thing pans out, did you do another black diamond and what about Harlow…OMG now I am crazy stalker. oops, this is why I don't comment :/
I love the silent readers π and I love even more when you come out to leave a comment like this so thank you for that. The reality show starts filming next week! Blog posts to follow (obviously) thanks again for leaving such a kind comment!
I hope you enjoyed your trip and your distance, it's really important sometimes.
I believe that it's obvious when a blogger is blogging for the numbers and not for themselves, and I have never felt that way about your writing. Your writing always feels so effortlessly real and from the heart at the moment. Take all the time you need, and come back to this bloggiverse refreshed.
Happy Friday!
The Blog Race can be the worst. So exciting and addictive but…also so exciting and addictive and all consuming. I've dragged my boyfriend into it to the point where he asks on the reg, "what do your stats look like today?" Ridiculous.
PS: I am WAY excited about this reality gig. Oh, and I may have mentioned it to my friends in real life and they may or may not know that I only know you through your blog. Awkward.
PPS: I really love that Harlow loves snow.
I love all the PS's.
This is a great post. Thank you for posting, Taylor! I am a new blogger and even find myself getting caught up in the blog race. It certainly gets overwhelming but like you said, it's fun and you love it so that's why you do it. Glad you got to enjoy a few days to distract you from blogging!
Oh yea, take comfort in the fact that feeling gets the best of us π
As a new blogger myself, just joining the Blog Race, this really spoke to me. Thank you for the assurance that it's not just me who thinks all that stuff can be really overwhelming!! I love your writing and am so happy to be a new follower of yours π beautiful photos here, too!!
It definitely gets to everyone. Just gotta remember why you started in the first place, at least that's what I try to do!
Very true – not much has changed from our school days where our essays were graded. Now they are just "graded" by our peers via page views, comments, likes, RT's, +1's, etc. I followed you and keep coming back because I think of you as a friend. Reading one of your posts to me is like chatting over coffee – weird huh (Not trying to be creepy! Sorry not sorry.)?
So glad you enjoyed your snowy ski trip. Have a great weekend,
Katelyn
http://realhousewifeofgreenville.blogspot.com/
This is such a sweet comment, not creepy in the least π I like the coffee date reference.
i feel like this all the time. i hate that i let myself get like this. i really just can't help it. i get obsessive. it doesn't matter, at the end of the day it really doesn't if I got 5 likes or 50 but it bothers me. thanks for the reminder to get over it.
We're all sack racing down the same path at field day with you, so at least know you aren't alone. Add on all the follows and likes and comments and page views with all the side projects and businesses everyone's doing and it gets even worse. I feel ya.
Your trip looks absoloutely amazingly beautiful. Also I can't wait for march, I've never been more ready for spring in my life.
i totally feel you on that one. Sometimes i forget why I started and it's really frustrating the amount of self-imposed pressure I create. Thanks for sharing Taylor…glad I'm not alone!
xo
Amanda
I wish I didn't care about this so much either. I'm just glad all this social media wasn't around when we were teens. It affects their self esteem and so much of their self worth is determined by all the likes and followers. At least as adults we can snap out of the funk, even though it sucks us back in at times. It often takes my husband reminding me I don't need to seek affirmation from strangers when I already have it from people who know the real me that I live life with, ya know?
Eva Marie
Great post! Especially as a new blogger it was awesome to read π Xx.
Don't worry about all that "blog race" nonsense. I don't blog or ever comment on blogs, but you and Harlow are awesome and I love reading your blog. It definitely has me LOL'ing on the reg. Keep on doing what you are doing and don't sweat the small stuff, sista! π
Guilty as charged. I get all caught up and have to constantly remind myself. At the end of the day, if I can truly say it makes me happy, then keep running this race I shall. I appreciate this post….actually bookmarked to come back as a reminder when I need it. π
Seriously, I don't think anyone in the world gets Google+. I hear you though! I feel like being a new blogger makes it even more intimidating and then I'm like welllll- I don't know if I care so much about my analytics as much as I thought I did or maybe as much as I should. I'm just gunna go write something! But God's knows the first thing I check the next day…Haha.
Danielle @ Allusional
It's like you took my thoughts and wrote them on your blog… in a much clearer and easier to understand kind-of-way! I love this, and feel the exact same. I've been a bit out of the "blog race" since my second son was born and feel sometimes like I should hop back in. I'm on the fence, and half assing right now. Probably for the best.
This is great. It's so true that blogging can be just a bit overwhelming at times. It's not because we don't love to do it, it's just because we want to do it all and we want it to be as good as it can possibly be. Taking a break usually just refreshes my desire to keep going though, hope it did the same for you!
ah the blog race. it's so crazy! sometimes I just don't want to bother with any of it, but then other times I remember how I want to keep growing my blog and that requires doing so much. just trying to find a balance so I don't go crazy!
— jackie – jade and oak
For the first time in my life.. I don't want to February to end. I go back to work in March. (I've been on maternity leave since February last year..!) I've had my blog since 2005 and blogging was much, much different back then. I had all of my fav blogs bookmarked .. there all of the other social medias did not exist and facebook was fairly new, if it existed at all. I have 35 followers and proud of every single one of them! I would love more followers and page views but, I'm just not sure i have the man power and time to make that all happen. The number of followers reflects your hard work,dedication AND most importantly- your interesting content. So- congrats on your big numbers. π
THE BLOG RACE! I feel like it hit me gradually at first…then like a brick to the face. It's a constant internal battle, where I need to remind myself to just write good content and make/keep that my focal point, but of course we're all lured in by likes and comments and validation from the .com community. Isn't it just mad???
But, your blog is fabulous regardless, Tay. So keep on keepin' on, and don't worry about the race. You've basically already won.
Erica
Coming Up Roses: http://cominguprosestheblog.com/
Where'd all the fun be if there wasn't a lot of crazy to go along with it?
I feel like you wrote this for me. I've been blogging for a few years now but have kept it pretty low-key. I have struggled with wanting more people to read my blog vs. keeping it to just a few people that I know.
I've been reading and following a lot more blogs lately and sometimes feel like I should push mine more…but this gave me a little more caution in my wind. A little more to think about!
I've definitely noticed that it's so easy to get sucked into the mindset of worrying about all of the politics that come along with blogging. And of course, we're all liars if we said we didn't want people reading and relating to our posts and commenting, etc. But when it comes down to it, it's a blog. It's a place to write, to create, to share. That's all it is π
Ugh..I hear you..I feel so sad when my posts barely get any comments. I know it shouldn't matter but it does.
I just started my blog and this was encouraging to read–to remember to keep everything in perspective b
I feel like a lot of people have been feeling this way lately, myself included… and I'm not anywhere NEAR as popular as you are – I can't even imagine how exhausting your blog must be. But… all your hard work pays off, just know that! π
The blog race is a perfect way to describe it all. As a new blogger entering into such a intimidating community can be discouraging at times but remembering why I started blogging helps keep my passion straight and not get me down.
This is really interesting. I've been blogging now for nearly six months and I'm already finding it difficult to balance the love for what I'm doing compared to checking likes, shares and comments. I find myself judging the success of each feature just by it's views and responses, which really isn't the point to why I started the blog. I feel this intense pressure for the blog to become successful, but I know that this will at some point cloud over what I do if I'm not careful. Funnily enough I gave up teaching because the actual teaching part was such a small part of being a teacher. The figures and politics overshadowed everything else and I'm starting to realise the similarities in blogging. There's so much else to always focus on aside from creating good content.
Katie x
http://www.missenchanting.co.uk/
Thank you for sharing this!! It is so easy to get caught up in it, isn't it? I find I have an obsessive personality, it doesn't take much for me to get caught up in something. Thanks for the reminder to take a break!
I'm not even calling BS that you didn't check your stats for years because I didn't either. I've had my blog for seven years…but I deleted lots of earlier content and didn't take it serious until about a year ago. Thanks for being honest about the whole process, it's refreshing to read.
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