Sometimes it feels like I’m flailing around trying to keep on top of things. Okay, I’ll be honest, I pretty much constantly feel like that.
There are so many things I want to do, but with so little time to do it I find my to-do list getting longer and longer but my motivation to actually do it practically disappearing.
I love blogging, I love writing, and I love the interaction that comes with it, but I don’t like the pressure I put myself under to conform to the ‘travel blogging rules.’
Recently, I have been seriously slacking on the quality post front, and for that I apologise both to you guys and to myself because I made a promise (albeit an internal one) not to do that. I have let myself down, but hopefully I haven’t let you down (we are our own worst critics, after all).
Quality posts? My furry friend could probably do better…
I didn’t want to become one of those bloggers who churn out top 10 posts or just whack a mediocre photo up when they have nothing to say. But, alas, I can see myself heading towards the dark side.
So I’m staging an intervention.
I have a full-time job (read: 9-5) in the travel industry, which is great because I get to write, read, and daydream about travel all day every day. But it also means that by the time I get home I just want to do something un-travel related and, for the love of god, not look at a computer screen!
And, because I’m stuck in front of a computer for eight hours a day during the week, I like to peel myself away at the weekend and do ‘normal’, offline shenanigans at the weekend. Plus, I need to actually get out and about at some point to source material for this blog. Can you see the vicious circle?
My weekends = not a computer in sight!
Of course, I’m not the only one. There are hundreds of bloggers out there who have full-time jobs and keep their blogs running – or sprinting – in the meantime. I salute you. I really do. It feels like I’m struggling to get up the steepest hill in the world that’s also a boggy marsh and possibly a zombie stomping ground, so if you manage to navigate that then you are a superhero, my friend (quite literally).
I started this blog because I love to write and I love to travel. I love sharing my stories with you and hearing yours in response. Plus, I’m constantly astounded at the interaction here because, well, I just didn’t expect that when I started.
But I also find myself struggling to keep up with the rat-race of the travel blogging world. I’m never going to be a ‘twitter guru’, I cringe when I see bloggers posting updates on Facebook with the word like in speech marks (sorry, but I find it belittling and a tad degrading towards the readers), and I’m still getting over my fear of promoting myself online. It’s fair to say I’m not going to make it big in the travel blogging world anytime soon (or ever). I’m not pushy enough, I guess.
Making sandcastles instead of blog posts. Priorities?
What I do enjoy (and love) is reading well-crafted and well-written travel stories that make me think, that make me daydream, and that make me want to pack up my things and get on the next flight. I like to be educated when I read a post; I like to leave having learnt something new. I like beautiful photographs and neat designs, too. So, this is what I will try and do with Wanderful World from now on.
I want to educate, I want to inspire and, most of all, I want to be proud of what I am publishing.
It’s difficult with a full-time job to write consistently lengthy, in-depth articles that are informative, entertaining, and educational all at the same time. So, for that reason, I will be posting less frequently. I won’t drop off the radar, don’t worry. But I’ll be cutting down to one super-mega-good quality post a week.
I know I would prefer to read a well-thought out piece once a week than a couple of vapid, take-it-or-leave-it posts per week, and I hope you guys feel the same and will stick around for the ride.
I guess I’m guilty of getting caught up in the travel blogging bubble which, if I’m honest, takes up a lot of time but doesn’t really give anything back in return.
Also, life got in the way. It has a funny habit of doing that. I understand that for many travel bloggers, blogging is their life (it’s their income, it’s their hobby, and everything in between), but I’m not at that stage. Not yet, anyway.
I don’t have time to tweet all day every day or research the latest Google Plus trends. Christ, I didn’t even sign up to Google Plus until a couple of weeks ago. I signed up and haven’t been back since – that’s dedication, right?
But, hey, I’m heading to Copenhagen tomorrow, so you can expect lots of fresh content in the next couple of weeks and, if you have any last minute tips, I would love to hear them!
In the meantime, all you full-time-worker-part-time-blogger-people like me should grab a ticket to Traverse 2013, a brand spanking new travel blogging conference that is hitting up Brighton in April. It’s specifically aimed at bloggers who have full-time jobs so the information will be easy to digest and will hopefully be able to make you less panicky about your blog taking up all your time and sucking the life out of everything.
I know I’m excited to find out if there’s some kind of magical method to make time for everything. There might even be a session on creating more hours in a day. I doubt it, though. You’ll have to come along and find out for yourself!
Apologies for the non-travel related post, but I think I needed to get this off my chest. A problem shared is a problem halved…… Right? 
Hey, come on over to Facebook where I post in between blog posts…!
I fully understand where you come from. I have a full time job too and try to maintain my blog which I do enjoy. I find that as and when I get writing time I write a few posts at once. Then I gradually release them as two posts a week. So far that is a schedule that I’ve been able to maintain. People asking to do guest posts also helps too.
I know the whole tired after a day at work thing. Just remember though that it is your blog and you can go at your pace. If you enjoy it and get something out of it then it is working, irrespective of the pace. I’ll keep reading no matter what.
Blogging as a hobby is great, I love doing it – but when it starts to put pressure on you it no longer becomes enjoyable, therefore, no longer a hobby. That’s a great idea writing a couple of posts at once! I might have to try that out!
I do enjoy writing here and I love it when people comment and interact with the posts and give feedback – that’s what I get out of it, and it spurs me on every time. Thanks for the kind words
Amen, Lizzie! I’m with you! In fact, I am inching ever closer to writing a similar post to both of my blogs (what on EARTH made me think I could maintain 2 blogs plus a full-time job??? I’m clearly insane). I can’t go to Traverse, but I love the concept and really, really hope somebody will be speaking at TBEX Toronto to those of us in the crowd who are bloggers who also have full-time jobs. There is definitely a need.
I would love to read it if you do ever write that post
I’m so impressed you can keep up with two blogs – I struggle with just the one! I think I’d start to favour one too, and then start neglecting the other! You’re right, there is definitely a need for it because having a full-time job and blogging on the side is how most bloggers start out.
Thanks for this, Lizzie! Gray and I were lamenting the same thing since we are both full timers. I agree with you….there are only so many hours in the day, we have full time careers, a blog that we must placate every now and again and when possible, our own lives to lead. I have been posting on average twice a month. I am ok with that. I am more interested in publishing something that’s useful and engaging for my ever dwindling audience. lol
So true – it’s definitely difficult to find a balance as well as actually having a life! As long as you’re happy with what you’re posting then I don’t think anything else matters
I’d much rather read a blog that posted two really great, engaging posts every month than one that posted two short, boring posts a week! keep up the good work!
Am in the same full-timer/living-life/blogger position but I do love spending time writing about and photographing my travels and the wonderful interaction from other bloggers. Looking forward to Traverse next month
There are so many people in the same boat – writing and photography are great creative outlets but, as long as they remain hobbies, we shouldn’t let them pressure us! The interaction with other bloggers is definitely one of my favourite things about blogging
I’m looking forward to it, too – it’s come around so quickly!
Completely agree with you on that front. I work at the weekends (in front of a computer screen), spend my week doing uni work (in front of a computer screen) and my evenings blogging (in front of a computer screen…).Sometimes it’s so necessary to get away from it all!
Rest assured that I love your blog and look forward to all your posts, especially as you’re very much like myself in all respects
x
Yeah sometimes the last thing I want to do in the evenings or at the weekend is sit in front of a computer screen (I’m pretty sure I’m going to go blind soon…….!) Yay! Thanks for your kind words
x
I kinda feel like you right now. My job takes up most of my time and being in front of a computer all day long, writing posts is getting harder… but I’m sure we’ll both manage!
Big hugs from Barcelona!
It’s amazing how draining sitting in front of a computer can be – it definitely zaps a lot of my motivation! We’ll soldier on through, though! Big hugs back from cold old Britain
Thanks! Yeah… it gets to a point when you’re soooo excited of being in front of a screen… But, as you say, we’ll soldier on through!
We’ve got bright skies and warm weather these days in Barcelona, which is great
Big hugs
I hear you! I think blogger burn out is inevitable at some point for most, you can only spend so long in front of a screen, and if you don’t pull yourself away how will you ever experience new things to write about?
Without sounding painfully obvious, striking a balance is important. Its too easy to get sucked in spend all your time writing regular posts because you’re told its good for your google page rank and readership. Whilst I do care about those things greatly, sometimes they’ll just have to wait whilst I get on with my life.
Exactly! It’s a vicious circle with the whole must blog/must get out and do things to blog about.
Getting a balance has been a bit of a struggle, but I realised that I was putting too much pressure on myself with my previous schedule – so hopefully this one works better
Amen to not giving in to the things you ‘should’ be doing and getting on with life instead!
i just started an internship doing work from 9-5 and I am completely on you with this. Lately I haven’t been posting as much as I want,I have so many ideas running around my mind but I haven’t had time to write it down. When I’m home all I wanna do is curl up and sleep. There are days when it’s not so hard and I have the urge to write and those days are the good ones.
A great post indeed Lizzie!
So true – I have loads of ideas written in my phone, but it’s just finding the time to write them without rushing them! I started to rush my posts and I wasn’t pleased with them but I thought ‘Hey! At least I’ve posted something!’ But now I’m realising that I would rather take my time over my posts and be proud of them, even if they aren’t as regular.
Thanks for the comment Aggy
9-5 working in the travel industry and sitting at a computer screen is my life too! And writing really is sooooooo energy zapping! Who would’ve thought that sitting down and moving your fingers could be so tiring! I write travel-related blogs as part of my job so doing it in the evening is probably never gonna happen… even though it’s constantly on my ‘to-do’ list!!!
Great post!
That’s exactly what I do – travel related blog posts for work, so I’m usually all travel-written out by the end of the day (if that’s even possible)! I have a whole host of blog posts on my to-do list as well.. who knows when they’ll get written!