First, I would like to say, thank you all for letting me have this month to take a step back, focus on family, and re-evaluate some of my blogging and business life. I think I have a better plan going forward to help prevent burn out and keep this whole blogging thing more fun. In case you were wondering, here is how I spent my blogging break.
Lots of reading
Yup, that’s right. I spent hours and hours reading, even daytime hours. And not just the typical reading books because I have to review them (although, I did some of that as well). I actually took the time to read a bunch of the free books on my Kindle. I was actually able to get some books from the library…for myself! It was truly amazing.
Lumberjack competitions and traveling
This is standard for this time of year but that has been my biggest focus right now. Even when I am home, I am often getting ready for the next weekend. We just recently had a weekend of five days on the road, sans child. It was amazing! Tiring and with some crazy adventures, but so much fun. I think it was the most fun I’ve had in years.
Thinking about my life choices
This has gone beyond blogging. I feel a bit like I’m having a mid-life crisis but fifteen years early. I am struggling because I just plain want to be more than just a wife and mom. As much as I love being those things, I want to be more than that. I’m starting to “feel my age” a little bit. I’m 29 and a half. I don’t want to spend my 30s still struggling to get through life. I want a sense of purpose. I want my husband to finally be able to do what makes him happy. I want to be out of this financial hole so we have the freedom to do more than just survive at life. All of those have led to lots of thinking of how to 1) figure out where I want to be and 2) how to get there. I have no grand answers but at least I am now recognizing and admitting what I am going through.
Planning my blogging future
I will admit. The first few weeks I didn’t think about this at all. I really, really needed to take a break, 100%. However, I think I now have an answer. Blogging is still important to me. I will always be a writer. But I am stepping back. What most bloggers don’t know is that there is a whole lot more to blogging than just writing. It had been taking hours and hours out my day. I was even neglecting my Etsy shop. I will be be doing less of those non-writing things. Yes, it will mean that I won’t be around much and will probably stay a small blog for a lot longer but it will mean I will keep my sanity and have more time for my daughter, husband, friends, house, etc.
Spent less time on the computer in general
Not only was I not near the computer for blogging and blogging related activities, I stepped away from a lot of personal things too. The one thing that I did start doing on my personal Facebook was to post a fun fact about me or a fun question for my friends at least a few times a week. I have realized that in this age of social media, as much as some people over share, we actually know less about each other. It’s been a great experience and some of my friends are now doing the same thing on their social media profiles.
Future Plans for Logger’s Wife
I will be writing less. I will be posting to social media less. And the big one: I will be back to focusing more on frugal living/DIY type things and less on parenting/Christianity/marriage. At it’s heart, Logger’s Wife has always been a frugal living blog. I got a little away from that in the past year as I was struggling with the fact that I felt like I’ve already shared most of what I do to stretch my budget. It’s time to get back to my roots and stick with one topic. This will also help me be more creative with my budget as well. I tend to get lazy sometimes. Focusing more on the frugal part of my life with writing will help keep the fire lit under me to stay on budget.
I hope with the changes coming to Logger’s Wife you will stick with me. This is a decision that had to be made for both myself and my family. No matter what, my family needs to come first, not my blog/job. I feel like this will be a great decision as I will be able to give better attention to both my family and my writing. Not being stretched so thin will be amazing. 🙂
Kadie @ 12 twenty 8 says
It sounds like your break was very beneficial to you! I (selfishly) am glad to hear you will still be blogging! Can’t wait to see where the Lord takes you!
Kadie @ 12 twenty 8 recently posted…Hoodwinked Launch Team
Julie says
Thanks, Kadie! I hope I can keep a better balance of work stuff and home stuff in the future so that I don’t ever have to stop blogging. 🙂
Emily says
I’m so glad you were able to refocus and enjoy your time off. I look forward to following along with you and learning from your frugal ways. My blog will probably always be small, but I’m okay with that because I feel like at least my writing can be a blessing to a few.. Like you, I just don’t have the time to do a lot of the non-writing things.
Emily recently posted…Pumpkin Pickin’ and Outdoor Fall Decor
Julie says
I really like your attitude. I, too, feel like it is “worth it” if I just manage to reach/help one or two people. 🙂