Recently I decided to take two weeks off from my blog. As someone who's income comes solely from my blog & the online space I have developed, this could have been risky. Surely I was going to miss out on page views, potential income and opportunities? Yes of course... But taking a break from your blog can give you so much more!
The time away from my blog was split into two; The first week we spent back in the North East visiting family, which after the previous three UK lockdowns was an absolute joy. The second, we spent in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, enjoying time away as a three before our girl becomes a big sister. The two week break from my blog was a chance to enjoying the simpler things in life with my family... And the exact reason I quit my 'regular job' to go freelance at the beginning of the year.
Realising when you need to take a break from your blog.
Realising when you need to take a break from your blog is often the hardest thing to recognise. Whether you blog as a career, or blog for a hobby, there's no denying being an online creator can be a really full on thing!
I don't know about you but there's often times in my everyday life where I'll think 'oh this make really great content' or 'this shot would go down well on Instagram'. It must be a blogger thing, but I can't help but think if that's the way I really want to live my life.
I want to live in the moment and be present for my family.
I want the best of both worlds and that's when I realised I needed to take a break from my blog... After all, if I was in 'normal employment' I'd have definitely taken annual leave by now. Six months without a week off is a bit of a mad one.
Reasons you should take a break from your blog.
There are numerous reasons as to why taking a break from your blog can never be a bad thing.
- To break the comparison cycle.
- Protect yours and your family's privacy.
- To stop any feelings of competitiveness.
- Improve your mood.
- Protect your mental health.
- Reconnect with the world.
- Live in the moment.
- Gain free time.
For me it was being able to reconnect with the (non digital) world and see family. After all, the main reason I decided to go freelance was to give myself a better work / life balance. I quit my 'regular job' to give me freedom... I needed to take my past self up on that offer!
What I lost from taking a blogging break?
The biggest thing I lost from taking a blogging break is traffic. The majority of my blog stats are now displayed in red which even an analytics novice like myself knows isn't a good thing.... But it's not the worst thing!
The loss in traffic and page views only spurs me on to be better. It motivates me to turn the reds into greens and throw myself back in 100% to this online space of mine.
These words have never left my lips before, but I'm actually really excited and motivated to get back to work!
What I gained from taking a blogging break?
During my two weeks away from my blog I gained a whole host of things, the main one being memories. I understand that sounds corny and part of me shudders just writing it, but it's true. My photo reel is full of the most amazing adventures, as is my memory bank.
For me the memories are worth so much more than money could ever mean to me. Having dedicated family time has been so worthwhile and beneficial for all of us.
Do you need to take a break from your blog?
I'm not going to tell you whether you do or don't need to take a break from your blog. But maybe ask yourself the following questions. Do you need to take a full break from your blog, or can you do anything to reduce the pressure?
- Are you creating content just to stick to your schedule?
- Does your blog feel like a chore?
- Are you getting frequent writes block?
- Have you lost the blogging bug?
- Does it take you a long time to think of content ideas?
- Do you compare yourself and your blog to others.
- Do you feel disheartened by your blog?
When was the last time you took a break from your blog? Are you good at separating your digital life and real life?
I'm glad you enjoyed your blogging break, it's healthy to take breaks. Your stats will recover in no time as it was only a two week break. Good luck with throwing yourself back into blogging and becoming bigger and better
Absolutely! That's what I'm hoping for anyway. Thanks so much. X
Welcome back! I used to take a blogging break every year around January to stave off burn out. I always went into it with dread and then would embrace it. I always came back to blogging raring to go, remotivated and with sooo many ideas! Blogging breaks are defo healthy
Rosie
They really are. I think it's difficult to switch off sometimes, but if you can it's so beneficial!
When I took a break from my blog a week or so ago, it did me the world of good to just step back and admire and refocus on what's around me! Not everything in life belongs on a screen and it was important to take in my surroundings again and appreciate what I have away from my blog! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Yes! Absolutely! I'm glad you're feeling better for the break too. X
Hi Claire,
I'm glad that you enjoyed your break (great photos btw - love the one of your daughter looking over the wall).
I think more and more people are coming to realise, as you did, that "a better work / life balance" is a very valuable thing. My blog is just for fun so I don't really need to take breaks (that and the fact that I only post a fraction of the number of posts that more serious bloggers make!).
Enjoy your return to blogging 🙂
Thank you! Yes most definitely, I'm in a very lucky position really that I can do what I do. I have the best of both worlds & it's blooming brill!
Love this, I deffo need a break! We're going to Whitby soon for a few days so I'm going to take some time off then! I can't wait haha!
Corinne x
Ahh amazing! We love Whitby. Hope you have the best time. X
I feel like we really need to take a break sometimes, it is wonderful for your creativity too!
Absolutely. I totally agree. X
Great post. I'm really glad to hear you took that break when you felt like you needed it. There's nothing worse than just powering through something when your heart isn't in it! We all need a break every now and again. Even if blogging is our full-time job. I've had LOTS of breaks over the last 8 years of blogging and I think if I hadn't have taken that time, I probably wouldn't still be doing it!
Oh definitely! I think powering through can make you resent blogging too. That's true! In any 'normal job' you'd get breaks & annual leave so why not the same for us. X
Such a great post! So glad you took a break and made memories, it's never corny in my opinion. They are all memories you will treasure in the long run and the traffic will go back up in a matter of time! I haven't taken a break since Christmas, so maybe a day or two are really needed to just refocus on everything x
Thank you! Yes absolutely. It can never be a bad thing in my opinion. X
I think it's such a smart idea to take a break from blogging every once in a while so that you remember why you started or why you enjoy it! x
Absolutely! The idea of just powering through is such a bad one to me. X
Great post! I always feel guilty when I take a break from my blog but actually it's so important to take a step back and understand that you need a break x
Ohh you shouldn't! Breaks are so important! X
I think I agree with quite a few of the points you make in your last paragraph, so I'm very happy I'll be taking a break for a couple of weeks in July/August. Like you, focusing on family is something that's every bit as important and I'm looking forward to creating some more memories to last a lifetime soon! x
Blogging breaks are so healthy! I say that but I definitely forget that myself some time and then put so much pressure on myself. It's maternity leave that's gonna be the tester for me haha xx
Oh thats true! That's been playing on my mind a bit too recently! I'm hoping things will just 'work out' haha. I'm very much on the 'lets wing it' train at the moment when it comes to the toddler/new baby/blog juggle. X
The only time I’ve truly taken an extended break was shortly before Christmas when we went back into lockdown, I was about to homeschool three children and didn’t have the time. I started back up once they returned to school. Praying there is not another lockdown and homeschool.. I cannot do it again haha
It's ridiculous to think that we have to be reminded that it's ok and healthy to take a break from blogging. One thing you said that really resonated was that if you were working elsewhere, you would have taken annual leave already. That's so key to remember. We need to give ourselves similar benefits to what we would enjoy if employed by someone else. I need to keep this in mind as I continue building my blog.
Thank you!