Balance Blog Life with Real Life
After 1000 days of blogging 1000 days of travel I self-imposed a 10 days Ban away from my Blog. READ WHY
It might me a coincidence that on my 1000 day of blogging I found myself in situation that I couldn't blogging for a while. Sounds weird but is true :D I had an exhausting year. My new job literally squeezed me like a lemon fated for Limoncello. I do travel to ear a living. And I used to travel on my holidays too. In only one year I have traveled to more than 30 destinations. On most of those destinations I were jet lagged and with a huge debt of sleeplessNESS (new word in my vocabulary). Let me break a myth. You actually don't enjoy travel when you are in zombie condition (believe me!). By the time you are reaching the destination (after let's say 14 hours of work) your excitement will tone down, your vision will blurred and your senses will subside. It wouldn't be a problem if you would have at least 50 hrs in each stations. But I usually have 24 or less (for rest, shower, food, sightseeing, blogging, another food and rest to get back to work fresh and fit). Ok, now imagine yourself in this picture and tell me after almost 1 year of travel travel travel where would you like to go on your annual leave?! :D I guess you will say home. Home sweet home. The only one destination that can bring me peace and happiness. I went to Italy in the picturesque Marche where my family is settled. (Btw this area is home for all the made in Italy shoes. Jealous, uh? :p).
On my first day home I haven't said a word for entire day. I enjoyed the peace, the sea and the weather. Even my blog can wait, I said to myself. On second day I said the same thing. All my social activities could wait for few days. In the past 2 weeks I have posted only one look on my blog. Only one!!! Can you imagine?!!!
Luckily is one of my best looks ever (No Jewelry, Just Grace) so I don't mind if you, guys, saw it few times :)). During my vacation I haven't stop working for my blog I have only stop blogging. What that mean? I prepared around 10 new outfits. I checked all shoes outlets and new collection of the manufactures in Marche area. I also visited few young designers. One of them is a very talented shoes designer Giacomo Morelli (soon on my blog about his collection and his brand @giacomorelli).
To be able to manage all those tasks I had, I really had to imposed the ban on blogging.
To get offline a little bit and to get a free time for myself and some space in my brain for other thoughts. I finally had time to spend with my family, walking for hours, having gelato, have dinner with our friends and relatives without no rush and far more than I have in the past year. The truth is - If you have a blog you are not free anymore! Blogging is taking all your time and occupies all your thoughts. Luckily one day you'll get a payoff for all the invested time. Of course, we are not blogging for those reasons but when your blog grows that is the path you want to wade through.
There is few important things I have understoodd while being away from my blog and I would like to share them with you .
- The show goes on
Who are following you genuinely will continue to do so even when you stop to tempt/comment/post etc.
The fashion blogosphera will not be hurting in any ways, no one will cry (at least you are Chiara Ferragni).
- See yourself
You have changed since you started blogging. You grew up, your style and your understanding changed but you might be still following the same patterns that not suits your blog anymore. Little break can help you to see where and what you can improve. How you can make your content, your design, your interactions more intrecting and meaningful. Maybe you may like to include a series content on your blog or specialized it in fashion and travel, food and lifestyle, diy, etc. Something that you do often and you have important information about that activity etc. For example I travel more than I stay at home. So I can share and reccomend places, give tips for travel, review some hotels, restraunts etc.
- Keep on few social networks
The blog traffic might not change if you give up on some networks that take more of your time but don't give you the exposure you looking for. For example some of my favorite bloggers are not posting on lookbook nevertheless they are famous and have visitors. The key is to find which networks working for your blog and continue on those ones.
- Balance your Blog Life with your REAL Life
Is not about separating your blog from yourself. It is about balancing the Blog Life with Real Life. You need some time for yourself. When you can keep at least a tiny distance between your blog life and your real one you'll find yourself much happier and creative. You'll be able to get more inspiration for your blog, take the right and objective decision and having more fun. If you don't have fun is not worth it.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Ps: Don't dare to ask me If I still love to travel :D
ps...or blogging :D