I’ve been thinking lately about the purpose of this little space here. My time is so precious these days and I am really struggling to find time to blog. I decided to give my blogging self a little grace these past couple of weeks and get out a post or two if I felt compelled (and had the time). The problem is I actually either have the time OR feel compelled. In the last couple of weeks these two things have not really lined up very much for me. But again, I am trying to grant myself some grace and not force the content. To be honest, I have a long list of possible blog post topics that I am excited about writing sometime in the future, but it just keeps getting longer as time passes and I still don’t find the time or desire to blog.
All of this time off from blogging has got me thinking a bit about the purpose of this little blog. I still really don’t have lots of answers, partly because I haven’t really had much time to really sit and purposefully think about it. It is more that it is in the back of my mind, weight on me as I go about my daily life. But I have been realizing that if I want to continue with this blog, if I really want to put time into it, it needs to have more purpose for me. I am sharing this with you mid thought, because I honestly don’t have an answer yet as to what that looks like. In order to figure this out I am going to be reflecting on some questions. Amanda, a blogger who I admire greatly, talked about finding her purpose and some questions she used a little while back, and I bookmarked the post knowing I would want to come back to it.
I do know one thing about the purpose of this blog, it has been and will always be a place where I will strive to find joy ‘whatever the circumstances’ and document that for you. But for some reason that doesn’t feel like enough guidance for me right now. Part of the reason I want to do this, find my purpose in blogging, is because of the words I chose this year. I really want to learn to Listen to God, and that includes learning to listen for his guidance as I blog. I also am really working hard to simplify my life, and if I want this blog to be a part of my life, I will need to decide on its purpose so that it fits into my life more simply.
While I am working on this little purpose project, I will continue to update and post. I may even start to shape my purpose through the types of posts I write, we will see. But if I am not here, posting know that I am busy with my free time enjoying this sweet face. My time with her is precious and limited now that I am back at work. The truth is, even if I wasn’t working my time with her would be limited and precious, but when I am working I don’t have nap times to blog.
If you are a blogger I would love to know how your have gone about finding purpose in your blog and balancing life.
Allison! I totally found your blog through Beth and was like…wait…I know her! I love this post and I have totally been there (am there?) – I think we all go through those identity crisis moments in blog world. I remind myself to try to say what no one else is saying…and to be honest to myself. It can definitely be hard! I hope you are well!!
Well Hey Maggy! it has been forever… I am so glad you found my blog through Beth’s blog. What a small world!
I have been popping over to your blog when I get the chance to read a bit about your life (isn’t blogging amazing). I love your advice here. I think for me the biggest problem is that I don’t have tons of time for blogging now that I am back to work and a mom. So I need to step back sometimes and make sure I am putting my time and energy into something that is meaningful to me (and hopefully to others) and not just wasting my time.
She is getting so big! It’s always nice to step back and take some perspective about the blog. I have done that recently when I realized I had too many non-Reagan posts. My blog is about her, raising her and the fun predicaments we find ourselves in.
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
http://www.raising-reagan.com
she is getting so big, it is crazy!! and thanks for the support. It is good to know my readers are with me on stepping back and finding purpose.
I say “great!” you are taking time to evaluate the purpose of this blog and also balancing writing/maintaining with your “actual” life. For the looooongest time, I’d post just to have something up. I was posting 7x/week, then down to 5x, now down to 3x. Sometimes less. And that’s ok because my reason for blogging is to be genuine and have real content when I post. My friends/followers will not leave just because I didn’t post 3x this week. Nevertheless, there is also a balance between “it’s ok I’m not posting 3x this week” and being a steady/reliable/up-to-date blogger. You just have to find the balance that suits you. Good luck!
Thanks! I am still working on the balance, but I think around 3x a week is much more reasonable for me than my previous 5 days a week posting. I don’t want to post so little people lose interest, but if life happens and I don’t find the time or feel inspired, then I will just have to be willing to let the blog go (or become something different).
I completely get all of that. I feel like my blogging purpose has and will continue to evolve. Today it is certainly not the same as the first day I sat down to write… nor will it be the same even a few weeks from now I’m sure. Life is continually changing, so as it changes, my purpose changes. I have always maintained that my space is a place to write about whatever I want… No matter what that might be. Anyway, that’s MY way of dealing with combining it’s purpose and my life.
I like how you deal with it, because I do thing this blog will evolve over time. I just need to be willing to let it go on days (and even weeks) when I don’t feel inspired.