I nearly gave up on blogging, and I’m sure so many of you have too. I think so many of us bloggers go through phases of feeling like we want to quit and give up. When things don’t go our way, or we aren’t seeing the results we want its so easy to feel discouraged. Blogging is really tough sometimes, and often it feels like the joy of it gets taken away when other things are going on. And don’t get me wrong, I really love what I do. But with anything, when other aspects of life are getting on top of you, sometimes blogging has to take a back seat.
I remember the day clearly, when I felt like throwing in the towel. It was about a month after I had returned to blogging. If you’re unsure of my blogging journey, I originally started in 2015 as a beauty blogger and then took 4 years off and came back in July 2020. I’d felt defeated as I was finding it so hard to find my feet in the blogging world. I didn’t know what kind of blogger I wanted to be. I kept wanting to put myself in a niche box. Was I a lifestyle blogger? Or was I a beauty blogger? I seriously had no idea.
Often, I found myself comparing my blog to others. I so badly wanted to be a popular blogger and thought that I needed to be just like the big bloggers in order to be successful. I found myself trying to copy their style to be just like them. And this was such a regret of mine. I spent so much time trying to be someone I wasn’t. It was at this point I felt like giving up. I messaged my closest friends and told them I was giving up. After only a month. I just couldn’t do it anymore. Of course they all told me to carry on. And after a week off and really thinking about this decision, I carried on.
It’s funny how when things aren’t going our way, as humans we often think that there is no way out of it than giving up. This is what sets people apart. Those who quit when things get tough, or those who stick it out. I thought today I would share just some of the reasons why I chose to not quit. And if you have gave up blogging, or you’re considering it, read this post first and realise that its so worth keeping it going.
REKINDLING MY LOVE FOR BLOGGING
After taking my 4 year break from blogging, I really think I struggled to get back into my groove. WordPress had changed, and there were so many new features and people on the platform. I felt like a newbie again, and really I was. It’s almost like I was coming back to an ex boyfriend. Mentally I had already gave up on blogging, so trying to turn that switch back on in my mind was really tough. I’d had to re-think and discover why I loved blogging so much before. I needed to reignite the fire inside of me, and this took some time.
I had to make room for blogging in my life. If I was going to take this thing seriously, I had to move things around and change my schedule. People don’t realise how much of a commitment blogging is, it can seriously take over your life. And although I wouldn’t have it any other way now, its a big thing to commit to. If you’re struggling with blogging right now, remember why you started. Find your passion again and use that to motivate you to carry on.
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REDISCOVERING MY WHY
I feel like as a blogger or content creator, it’s important for us to know our why. Why are we doing this? Why do we choose to spend so much time, money and effort into our blogs? What is it? And I slowly learnt my why, and the reason why blogging is important to me.
I love content creation, and always have. It’s never been to get as many followers as I could or to gain as many views as others. It’s always been about creating content that I love. I remember when I first started blogging, I had no care in the world whether it was read by others. I enjoyed what I was creating, and I knew I had to go back to that. And thats exactly what I did. I discovered the passion and love I had for content creation, and realised that was my why. My why is for me, so that I continue to do things that make me happy and bring me joy.
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FINDING MY FEET
I first had to rekindle my love for blogging, rediscover my why and then had to find my feet. I’d realised that I needed to figure out who I was as a blogger, and what I wanted to bring to this world. What was it that I wanted to do? I battled for so long what kind of blogger I wanted to be. And honestly, it just happened. As you develop your profession and skills, you turn into the person you were meant to be. And as cliche as it sounds, thats what happened to me during my first months of blogging.
The blogger I was in 2020 is not the same blogger I am now. And in fact, alot of the content I posted back then isn’t even on my blog anymore. It’s okay to develop and change your writing style and change who you are. Change isn’t always a bad thing.
I see so many bloggers struggle to find who they are. And it leads to them copying other peoples work, and writing styles and their branding. And in a way I understand it. I don’t condone it, but I do understand. Clicking publish as a new blogger and starting your journey is scary. You don’t know what you’re doing and it’s easy to get sucked into the numbers game. But I urge you, find who you are. Find your why and find your feet. It’s much more rewarding to establish your blog from hard work than to copycat someone else’s ideas.
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Have you ever thought about quitting blogging? How do you stop yourself from comparing yourself to others? Have you ever gave up on blogging before?
If you’ve ever gave up on blogging or even considered it, I know you’ll know how I felt. It’s a hard time, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or deflated from the trials and tribulations of blogging. But stick with it, and you will find your why.
Olivia x
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Personally, I started blogging kind of recently and I still compare my blog to others´a lot. I still have no idea what I want from it but I enjoy writing even though I see so more people posting much more frequently and having much better content. It is refreshing seeing someone talk about this and now that there is always a way to come back and enjoy the process.
It can be so discouraging being a blogger, especially when you don’t see the results you want. But, I think its quite normal for us all to go through the motions with blogging and fall in and out of love with it!
You are so right with this comment.
For me Olivia, I feel like blogging is a skill which I’m slowly mastering each week.
There comes a time when I feel like giving up too especially when I’m having a discouraged day from work!
Writing helps to calm me down at times! ✍️
I am so glad to hear this!
Very well put Olivia, this is your space and it should never be about tight schedules or addressing an obligation but rather, about what you as an individual can do for you that might maintain the equilibrium within. Answers, if indeed that is what others may be in search for can be sourced from the appropriately headed outcomes department on the second and third floors especially put aside for inquisitive or indeed the more nosey amongst them. Creativity should be spontaneous, compartmentalising oneself shackles you, for the echo that keeps returning resounds round a space that has no horizons
Spontaneity..
You’re so right Martin. Its about enjoying doing this creatively. Not about hitting deadlines and posting because of the sake of it. Thanks for this reminder!
We’re so happy you didn’t quit for good, Olivia! Taking a break is very important, as well as remembering your WHY? Schedules will always be restrictive – but people make time for what’s important to them.
I make sure I take regular breaks, and you should too! Its good for us. I am glad I didn’t quit either!
Just the other day I paid a visit to the archives of my blog and saw where I had done pretty much the same thing here. I wrote, I stopped, I came back, I stopped and now I’m back and have wrote more than before. I have accounts in other places that I’m considering moving to here in some fashion, but I still feel as if I am finding my way as my writing doesn’t fit a particular niche which I feel doesn’t seem to help. But, I enjoy writing for writing’s sake and will continue should no one read..
I think it happens to us all. We all go through different phases where we love what we do, and then it can feel like a chore! But the main thing we need to remember is that we continued!
Agreed.
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I feel like quitting at least once a week, but I’ve trained myself to talk myself out of these thoughts. I am seeing growth, however slow. Also, reminding myself that I only post once a week is helpful because it contributes to slower growth, but that’s all I can manage for now.
Hahaha me too! So relatable. I always wonder what would happen if I quit! I’m not going to, but its interesting to think about.
I’m so glad you continued blogging Olivia! Yes I feel a lot of people compare themselves, but we just have to remind ourselves, everyone is unique in this blogging world! Great post! <3
Thanks so much for reading, friend!
I’m really glad you didn’t stop blogging! I love your content. I completely understand with that you said that blogging is very time consuming and sometimes can take over our lives. And sometimes life does take over and blogging as to be put in the back.
Thanks so much Heidy! I am glad I didn’t too. Sometimes things in life are so much more important, and its okay if blogging gets put to the back burner.
Thank you Olivia. I have felt these exact feelings for the last year. I have stopped comparing, stopped writing for a niche audience and changed my blog to be more a learning/experience that hopefully others find interesting or useful or funny. I’m in the place at the minute where I like writing but the http://www.thereasonsi.com isn’t my focus. I have set a goal of working on my mojo or closing it next year. Maybe it was an amazing experience but needs to close or if I could keep in going with a new focus. Do you have any tips on how to decide if this blog is the way forward or to start something new? Sonya
Hey Sonya. I think you are the only one who can make this decision. If you feel as though your blog isn’t a good representation of you anymore, I’d say there are some changes that need to be made. Sometimes, you can just feel when its time to move on and do something different. When I came back to blogging, I knew I didn’t want to continue with my old beauty blog. It wasn’t me anymore. So look around your site, is your content and the way your blog presented ‘you’.
It’s shown my overthinking journey but isn’t me any more. I have been toying with a few ideas just need to plan how they work with the website name, how to rebrand and this time how to make sure I have enough content now and in the future.
I loved reading this Olivia, I think at some point we’ve all wanted to throw in the towel, especially when you feel that the hard work isn’t paying off, I’m glad you took that big break and came back, I love your blog and I’m so glad you’re staying! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thanks so much Lucy. So glad to have met you through this!
Oh, yes I’ have been here before. I remember feeling so hurt when the people I knew in real life didn’t support my blog. The worrier in me begin to think that maybe my content wasn’t good or maybe that people didn’t care enough to read what I had to say. I felt like quitting. But then, I began to reevaluate my “why.” Why I started blogging. It helped to change my perspective.
Oh yes, this is so relatable. It can be really discouraging when the people who are supposed to support you the most, are supporting you the least. I guess thats what gives us bloggers thick skin!
I learned that blogging is not for the faint at heart lol.
Ah you have just written my mind. It’s the other day I wrote about how I am feeling about my page and seriously considering to delete it. You are so on point about when others things in life gets on top of you -it’s hard to fully commit to blogging. I lost the purpose and I am trying to figure it all out. The balance between life and blog.
Always a pleasure reading you Olivia -so relatable🥰😘 xx
If you delete your blog, I will not be happy! I’m glad this post came at the right time. You are amazing, and you’re going to go on and do amazing things as a blogger. Keep going! xx
I had an on and off relationship with my blog for a while.
I had a hard time and like you said, I thought of quitting it..
But then I thought.. why should I? If it was my idea to begin this as I love writing and sharing ideas, why should I stop it?
I’d have to organise my life accordingly..
Now I’m happy. And I know that’s , that’s what I wanted.
Being happy is the best thing you can do. Blogging is supposed to be fun, if its not then something is not right somewhere!
Yeah! Exactly!!😃
💜 Comments Deleted yet again; le sigh
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Sometimes comments go to spam! And remember this is my space, if I feel like I don’t like a comment then I am within my rights to remove it. 😊
Honestly, I wanted to quit a few years ago before I created pagesofthemoone. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere or knew where to go. I think trying to get outside of my head, and speak to others has helped! The community aspect this time around has been wonderful!
The community is one of the main reasons why I haven’t left. They really keep me going 💕
Yes! Community is one of the greatest joys of this platform. Its such a wonderful feeling to be apart of x
Your blogging journey is interesting and to think that you took a 4year gap is remarkable looking st how far you’ve come…its inspiring
When I was about to give up I received emails from other bloggers about my whereabouts..that was a wake up call for me, the support from blogging community kept me going
Keep up the good work. You are doing a good job
Even as a fairly new blogger, I totally relate to this. Blogging is stressful and challenging. It can be way too easy to get discouraged, but I am relieved you have not given up. I love viewing your content and reading your work. I appreciate the tips you gave in this post. Remembering your “why” is crucial. We all are doing this for a reason. If that reason truly matters, then we cannot give up. Also, I agree with your point that it is okay to change. We as people change all the time and if our blog does not reflect that, we probably will not resonate with what we are creating anymore. Great post!
I’ve thought about quitting before. When other parts of my life get chaotic, I think I don’t have the time or energy. But I stayed with it because it has been a nice distraction from said chaos. I’ll take breaks and slow down some but I don’t think I’ll ever give this up
This is exactly what I am facing right now.
I really can’t give up because I have a great passion for blogging.
I need someone to check my page and advice me on what to do.
I need to step up
Your help is needed please 🙏
@topvibes.art.blog
I’ve paused and restarted more times than i can count 😅😅. I’ve thought about giving up but I actually enjoy it and I enjoy the community of writers. It’s a nice break from social media times. Knowing your why or my why in this case is what keeps me anchored