A few months ago, I wrote a post called, “On Blogging & Bacon,” which covers the top three things I’ve learned about blogging. Essentially, I said in a super charming and funny way I got out of blogging what I put into it.
Ironically, shortly after that, I realized I’d put too much time into blogging. I wasn’t able to write new blog posts, respond to comments, and read and comment on other blogs without devoting several hours a day.
I’d been eating way too much bacon (is that possible?) and neglecting other responsibilities and relationships. It wasn’t healthy.
Between working full-time as a project manager, part-time as a freelance writer, earning a web design certification, maintaining personal relationships, a marriage, home, and dog, I had to find the right balance between blogging and the rest of my life – fast.
But one thing was certain:
I needed this blog.
I needed you.
You were, and are, my Jack Dawson (go with it). You opened my eyes to a whole new world, and if you jumped, I’d jump. And I think we all know there’s enough room on this blog for both of us.
Rather than struggle alone, I reached out to some of the busiest bloggers I know. Bloggers juggling kids and/or full-time jobs and/or other writing gigs. I wanted to know how they struck the balance, and where blogging fell on their priority lists.
How, for example, did they make time for both family and blogging? Angie from Childhood Relived shared her 9pm cut-off rule, at which point the computer goes away and she spends time with her husband. Darla, from She’s a Maineiac, took a hiatus for part of the summer to spend more time with her children.
And what about how often to blog? How important is it to post regularly? Would I lose readers if I started posting less, or more sporadically?
Nina Badzin posts once a week. “If I’m guest posting elsewhere,” she says, “then THAT is my post of the week.” Deb Bryan blogs 1-2 times a week in the hopes that it will allow her to “maintain an online presence without doing so at a huge cost to [her] offline life.”
One of the most comforting pieces of advice came from a phone conversation with Renée Schuls-Jacobson. In a [chipmunk] nutshell: No one was going to stop following me because I didn’t publish a certain amount of new posts every week. Her words reminded me that while I want to hold myself accountable to writing goals, I never want to stop having fun. And ‘forced and rushed’ don’t equal ‘fun.’ For anyone.
One of the biggest struggles for me was finding the balance when it came to reading other blogs. If I tried to keep up with more than a few blogs a day, minutes turned to hours and Peppermeister (Husband #1) got that puppy dog look.
The bloggers I interviewed also agreed that they had to get real about how many blogs they tried to read each week. Following more than 30 blogs was unanimously impossible, though some of us had, at one point or another, tried to follow over 100.
Renée shared my desire to want to get to everyone, but she also reminded me that using all my time to follow the same blogs meant denying myself the opportunity to meet new people. I decided I didn’t need to read and comment on every post. Even my favorites.
It’s still a hard pill to swallow. I still worry people will take it personally.
After all, we bloggers rely on our community.
As Darla put it, “I am grateful that I have a chance to show a slice of my world to people and they respond in a positive way. So over time, we are able to form a relationship that’s full of laughs and tears. That is my favorite part of blogging. Making a genuine connection.”
“The best part of blogging,” according to Angie, “is friendships with the other bloggers.” Deb said, “Thanks to blogging, I’m able to see life through the eyes of so many other observant, compassionate eyes.”
And if you’re still wondering why I called you my Jack Dawson, I’d like Nina Badzin to speak for me: “I love that blogging has allowed me to just be more ME. …Even in real life now I feel more confident and have a stronger sense of self.”
Thanks to all of this wonderful advice, I feel much more comfortable reading blogs and writing new posts when I genuinely have the time, and hope that this approach won’t alienate the community I’ve come to cherish.
But if there’s one thing I could change about my blogging experience? I’m with Darla: “I’d have WordPress install a button so that every time I clicked ‘publish’ I’d get five bucks. Or some beer. Or Skittles. Something.”
A heartfelt thank you to Darla, Renée Schuls-Jacobson, Nina Badzin, Deb Bryan and Angie Z. for taking time out of your busy lives to openly share your experiences. I look forward to blatantly misquoting you in the future for my own amusement. My blog and I are the better for knowing you!
How do you strike a balance between blogging and everything else? To non-bloggers: How do you balance work/family life with your other passions? If that question bores you: What’s the coolest bacon-themed product or website you’ve ever seen?
And okay – enough of the serious stuff – on Friday we kick off the September ‘Stache Glasses Giveaway!
Go Jules Go 
These are things I’ve been grappling with lately. Thank you for this great advice!
Thank YOU (and I agree these ladies offered some great advice; I may even have to do a ‘part 2’ to share more of it!)! Sadly I think it’s one of those struggles that never really goes away… but I’ve found people to be VERY understanding when I don’t get to their blogs regularly.
Hiya Jules! Thank you so much for this wonderful post and gathering lots of bloggers to get their opinions on blogging and bacon ;-). Like everything else in life, it’s definitely good to find balance in the virtual world, too. Being a full-time Mom, sometimes I find times that I can’t write anything as much as I want to post regularly. For weeks, I’ve been trying to put a blog schedule that I could follow so I don’t end up neglecting my blog, or even worst, end up blogging excessively! Blogging can become an addiction (let alone eating too much bacon, for that matter haha) and any addiction on anything doesn’t really benefit us in the long run. So, I always drag myself away from my Mac and my phone and have a stroll in the park! It’s hard, but it has to be done, otherwise AJ will drag me away from them ha ha.
But yes, I have a long way to go when it comes to balancing things out. I need to train myself even more into thinking that my loyal followers won’t leave me just because I went MIA!
Thanks again Jules! You’ve always been a very good blog mentor for me 🙂
Hiya Donah! I have to say, I was excited to see you add your name to your handle! I’m always paranoid I’m going to accidentally use people’s names in the blogosphere when I’m not supposed to, OR, make it look like I don’t know their name because [I err on the side of caution and] don’t use it even when it’s okay.
Thank YOU for being such a source of inspiration and support to ME! You are spot on that blogging can become an addiction – it’s fine to commit to the writing itself, but I think the negativity/addiction seeps in when it comes to getting hooked on feedback and praise and stats, etc.
I still worry people will give up on me if I’m not reading their blogs often enough; that’s the biggest source of angst for me. It’s not that I don’t love reading other blogs, but there’s only so much time I can devote, which sadly, doesn’t even BEGIN to scratch the surface! Luckily, most people understand, because the’yre in the same boat!
Wow. I only follow about three blogs, and I sometimes think that’s too excessive! Now you feel honored, right? ‘Cause I don’t have any Skittles or bacon on me . . .
Whoa, Louise, I DO feel honored. Crap. I’d better stop having chipmunks write all of my posts for me.
Great piece, Schmooples. And I’m glad that I was able to help. I like Darla’s idea. I would totally take payment in the form of Canada Dry Ginger Ale. (It’s not too sweet.)
Long, long ago (before I ever knew I could ask people in the blogosphere for help, I had a very ugly and very public meltdown over this stuff. People like Leanne Shirtliffe and Clay Morgan and Dances With Chaos were extremely helpful to me.
I hope you are finding a greater balance between work, friends, family and writing. But I have come to understand why most writers are drug-addicted and divorced. This writing stuff… I don’t know. It’s not for everyone. It is brutally hard. Especially if your dream is to be published.
Thank you, Ren-zay, for letting me squeeze this delicious bloggy-goodness out of you, much like I squeezed the life out of your car battery.
I wish I had been there during the meltdown so I could have thrown back a few ginger ales with you. We could have cried, then laughed, then cried some more. Then you could have given me an A+ in meltdowns.
AMEN. I’ve been well on my way to that fate many ‘a time.
Signed,
Schmooples (I love it.)
P.S. – YOU WILL be published.
I try to respond to comments one day a week, so I don’t feel obligated daily to hop on and catch up with people right after they’ve responded. I also do a lot of following/unfollowing. Test driving blogs, if you will 😛 The bloggers I’ve established a real connection with will always stay, but the others come and go as they hold my interest, or fail to! It’s definitely hard to strike a balance though, and I always feel overwhelmed when I come back after a few days away from the computer.
Ooooh. I like this idea of leaving comments one day a week! That’s about where I’m heading recently, but I’ve been feeling guilty about it instead of embracing it as a positive choice. Which it is. It helps keep the good boundaries up. 🙂
It’s been really helpful! But, I know what you mean, I sometimes worry people will think I’m ignoring them…though I hope the fact that I eventually get back makes up for it 🙂
This works well for me, too. I try to do comments on Monday. Some blogs will appear in my in-box 2-3 times a week, but I can only get to them one time. I know I’m missing some good writing, but it has to be fun and a balance with real life.
I know, it’s so hard to realize you just can’t read everything! But the trade off would be missing too much real life – it sounds like you’ve found the right balance! 🙂
Only on days that I don’t sleep.
Haha, I know the feeling! 😉
I agree with Deb – that’s a great idea, Andrea! I realized yesterday I had comments that were two week’s old and I couldn’t believe I’d let it slip that long.
Is it bad that I can’t bring myself to unfollow someone? So now I won’t even LOOK at my WordPress Reader. It’s hard, because some blogs you connect with, and some you don’t, but you never want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Yes – that return to the computer is so rough, even if you were only away one weekend! I was just saying to someone offline: when you lose a little momentum, it seems like it all goes up in smoke.
It took me a while to get there, but after trying to wade through posts on my reader one day, I decided I’d finally have to give in and delete a few…and I’m not gonna lie, I always feel a bit like a terrible person when I press the “un-follow” button…but you’re right, there are some you connect with, and some you don’t! I decided the best way to cut down my online time, would be just to focus on the blogs I enjoy the most…Like yours of course!! 😉
All great advice! I’m glad they were able to help out. I don’t think anyone would leave you if you started posting less. I’d just be a little sad, but I’d understand! I admire everyone who juggles work and family and blogging. When I was laid off, I was like, SWEET, I can blog all I want! But I know when I start working, things will change. I follow about 100 people and I feel like I HAVE to post 3 times a week. I’ll have to work on that. Good luck to you, and thanks for sharing!
Lilykins, [hot, hot, super hot] people like you keep me going sometimes, I swear to chipmunks! You are AMAZING when it comes to keeping up on blogs – I always see your adorable gravatar out there.
Luckily, I can sometimes answer comments/read blogs during a lunch break or what have you, and check email from my phone between meetings to make sure I haven’t missed something, but posting 3 times a week (which I was trying to do, too!) just isn’t always realistic. I like to do a lot of stuff with pictures in my posts, which doesn’t take long to read, but takes a cute-little-white-dog’s age to put together!
The answer is clear…be unemployed! Just kidding…you do NOT want to come to me for advice. 😉 I know those pics take a lot of time to put together and they’re awesomeness. I know you’ll find the balance. Maybe 1 post a week? A weekly dosage of chipmunks! (If it’s less than that, I’ll cry…but I mean, no pressure.)
What I wouldn’t give to blog fulltime! I DEFINITELY don’t want to fall to less than 1x/week (unless something drastic happens), and see myself averaging 2x/week. You made my day for saying that! 🙂
I am running into the same issue. I follow too many blogs. I try to read them all and comment, but I need 75 hours in the day, which cuts into my full time job, the watching of stupid television…oh yeah, that family too. What are their names again? Guy and the little kid?
Speaker, I know, you are INCREDIBLE about keeping up with so many people!!! I don’t even think I responded to your last EMAIL from a while back, which makes me the worst chipmunk ever. Please don’t tell Hugo. I don’t want him to think less of me. SH*T! I brought up Hugo again. I swore I wouldn’t do that every time.
Paying attention to one’s kids is so overrated. Didn’t you hear? The new thing is to tell them they’re not special and they can’t do everything.
It is very comforting to know other bloggers feel the same way. I am getting to the point where I need to give myself permission to just read another blogger’s post, or just click the ‘like’ button. But my problem is, I WANT to comment because I truly love that connection! Sigh.
Now I’m slowly transitioning to posting only once a week. But these blog ideas pop up and I almost can’t stop myself from posting. Grr. What is wrong with me, Julesy? Would bacon cure it?
By the way, the Jack Dawson comment and photo absoluted killed me this morning. Haha!
uh….absolutely not absoluted. Absoluted is when you’ve absolutely had too much Absolut vodka.
What do you mean? I was absoluted last night. And the night before. That is the perfect word.
Huh. I replied to your reply and now it’s not here….?
anyway. Yes. We need to get the word ‘absoluted’ into mainstream language, stat. First thing I’ll do, get totally absoluted tonight after my class.
I love that you explained ‘absoluted’ like there isn’t a picture of me next to the word in the AA Dictionary.
THANK YOU for being so willing to answer my questions; I know I said this already, but I had SUCH a hard time picking just 1-2 quotes from you! I honestly don’t think I’d keep this up if people like you weren’t around!
I think 1x/week is a great target for anyone with a crazy schedule like yours, and laying off on some of the blog reading is key. Isn’t it always the case – when we can’t do something, suddenly we want to? Having that list of ideas will come in handy, though! That’s like every writer’s dream – a whole LIST of ideas.
I found some stache glasses at a local store (made popular I am sure by you) and bought them for my youngest son but may keep them for myself–except I already wear glasses and it gets crowded
this was a great post and may have persuaded me to give myself permission to post less– though I am the type of person that the saying “out of sight, out of mind” was coined for.
My husband also gets very hang-dog when I am at the computer but I kind of resent it, cause this is also where I do my work–I am not always blogging or reading other blogs — this is getting too long but enjoy your posts and will follow you anywhere
You know, I think it’s been scientifically proven that blogging with ‘stache glasses on increases your ‘likes’ by at least 20%. So tell your son to get his own pair.
I think that’s the real toughie – the balance between holding yourself accountable and not killing yourself. It’s also tough if you’re working on other writing projects. I’m passionate about this blog, but there aren’t any ACTUAL deadlines.
Your comments are NEVER too long (did you see how long this post was?! LOL) – I can’t tell you how much I enjoy ‘seeing’ you in the blogosphere 🙂
okay – I might just keep them – 20% more is substantial – glad you like “seeing” me – from my comments I know your know I like “seeing” you except I fold sheets like Byronic Man and not you mom (sorry)
Don’t tell Babs, but I think I fold them even worse than B Man. Actually, I just put them right back on the bed after washing to avoid folding them at all!
smart girl – that saves folding or balling them up!
The fact that I am posting a picture a day has really changed my blogging habits. I’d like to write more – but it is hard enough to think of new pictures, etc.
Like Andrea Kelly, I respond to comments once (maybe twice) a week. I also try to set aside one day to go through and catch up on the blogs I follow, find, etc. I’ve decided when I get the sense the writing and reading is not enjoyable, I need to take a break for a bit. I still need the outlet, but I need the pause, too.
That really is such a good idea, Lenore – to schedule in time to respond to comments! I’ve found I sometimes let it slip if I don’t do it right away, but I don’t know that that’s a ‘healthy’ habit. And I love how you put it, “need the pause, too.” I journal for 30 minutes every morning (sort of stream-of-consciousness) and they call it “resting on the page.” As long as I do that, I don’t worry if I’m feeling writer’s block. That and going for long walks are some of my favorite ‘pauses.’
Comment responses are a double-edged sword. You always respond which people love, which means more comments… which means you’ll probably get to the point that you can’t always respond. For smaller blogs though, or folks just starting out, comment responses are more essential. Even for large blogs, some responses are necessary because if everyone feels ignored, comments will dwindle.
As for finding a balance, most of it happens organically. If I can tell my husband is feeling ignored, I’ll go offline for a few days. If school is crazy, I’ll go offline for a few days. I try not to go longer than a week without posting something, occasionally that means hitting the hard drive and posting something that’s older. The other element is finding a creative balance between writing and reading. Sometimes I deliberately don’t read anyone in order to concentrate on my own writing. Other times I’ll start but not finish stories. I think I currently have fifteen half-written blog posts… and I haven’t posted in about a week.
On the other hand, I won’t read anyone who posts daily, but clearly pays no attention to quality. I currently read about sixty, but I don’t read and comment on every post. I’ll decide who I’m in the mood to read that day, and that’s it.
I hear you! I feel REALLY strongly about replying to all, or almost, all comments, since that’s my favorite part. And there were many months in the beginning where I didn’t get a single comment; I am grateful for each and every one!
I am SO happy you have the organic balance in your life – I think it’s what we all aspire to. I’ve gotten better, but I still grapple with the guilt and anxiety I feel when ‘ignorin’g my own blog and/or other blogs.
I struggled with the ‘quantity’ bit, because a lot of big-name bloggers advise you post every day (at least Mon-Fri). I suppose if you have a million followers, they like to see you every day, and you don’t have to respond to comments/read too many other blogs (and you’re making some money), but still…
I know we talked a little about this at BlogHer, but thank goodness it’s not just me! I need to cut back, too. I’ll start with cutting back on posting. Starting tomorrow…well, maybe next month.
Thoughtsy, I know, you’re SO GOOD about keeping up with everyone, but it really does get to a breaking point, doesn’t it? Even though I still feel a lot of guilt, it’s definitely eased as I’ve realized people aren’t burning me at the bloggy stake.
Trouble is there are just too many great writers out there and I follow a ton. I was lucky as I blogged at work but suddenly we got busy for the first time in years so I had to step back a bit. Now I just write my posts at work and read others at home before going to bed, but then it’s on my phone so I can’t comment properly so I wait til I’m back at work before responding to them.
Joe, is your workplace hiring?
yeah! but it’s one in one out, someone may be up for the chop. You’d assume it’s me doing my blogging at work but I’m a permanent fixture after 14 years. It’s a long commute from Maine though
If I was guaranteed to be able to blog at work and drink a few beers here and there with you during breaks, the commute would be more than worth it.
I’m with Darla, ha! I’ll send you my resume! But yeah, another driver in needing to find a balance was that work just kept getting crazier. The stress of hectic days (we work 8.5 hr days, and I have a long commute) makes me sometimes not want to do ANYTHING when I get home.
Doing nothing is a chore in itself, it’s very time consuming! How do the blogging parents do it, I really have nothing to do but feed a partner and a cat, they don’t really need raising like offspring.
Well, I don’t know, Joe. I basically come home from a long day, set down a bowl of Cheetos and a fresh litter box and I’m good to go.
Wow, D-Pants. Your kids get the name-brand cheez puffs? I’m going to have to have a talk with Babs.
:o)
I so needed this today, Jules, especially as I sit here at work and try to blog, read blogs, and oh yeah, do my job. I tried to create balance by writing only when I’m truly excited about an idea, which honestly, happens A LOT! I have a “to blog about” list that keeps growing. So now I’m limiting my blogging time to create balance. No computer after 9 and I write mostly on Sundays and Tuesdays. (Or when I have a pocket of free time at work. shhhhh.) I used to try to post every day, but now if I post two a week, I’m cool with that (but of course, I would prefer to post three. Never satisfied.)
As far as other people’s blogs go, I read many, but only faithfully read about six, and those are the ones I comment on. I also try to read and comment on a few Freshly Pressed during the week, but only if the title grabs my attention–mostly food ones.
Thanks so much for sharing this advice from your blogging lovelies! You are a blogging marvel!
Rache, you mean you needed this post to make you feel better after barely recovering from a non-local-sushi coma?
I’m so glad you have that excitement for blogging – I think that that’s the perfect gauge for when you need a break – when that feeling goes away. I really think the enthusiasm translates into the post (and comment replies), so I try not to force it if I’m not feeling it. Having said that, I’ve made MANY blogging commitments (like this post, actually) that I’ve had to just buckle down and write, and have THEN found I really enjoyed the process! It’s that balance of ‘discipline’ and ‘fun’ that can get a bit tricky.
Thank YOU for making this bloggy experience worthwhile, you HOT thang, you.
Arg…I ESPECIALLY feel this on Mondays. I rarely (never) turn on a computer on weekends, and so trying to catch up on all the blogs that I follow on Monday mornings often takes far too many hours. And I do it from my desk at work. Oooooooooooh the guilt. It’s probably bad for my insides.
I don’t even dare FACE my WordPress anymore because I followed too many blogs and it gives me a heart attack to look at (and that darn thing is so unreliable anyway)!
Why does Canadia (yes, Canadia) not want you to have your ‘stache glasses?!?!?!
WordPress is the only place that I really look (all thebloggess.com aside) because I haven’t figured out how to reliably follow anything from anywhere else. Smart is NOT my middle name.
Has Canadia said anything? Maybe they’re waiting for me TODAY???? Or maybe Canadia is mad because you spelled it’s name differently (not WRONG, just DIFFERENT) and it’s being persnickety?
Firstly – great post. Secondly – on tough days, I opt to go without pants. Thirdly – I’ve cut back to posting one GOOD post during the week, on Wednesdays. Weekend posts are easy since they are cookie-cutter projects for me. The rest of the week is bonus material that I don’t think about much. I found that has made me less stressed.
My relationships? Well, I’m a friendly person but I DO like my alone time and while my husband understands, I know there are days where he wishes I wasn’t spending so much time inside my head. We communicate well, so when he needs attention and time with me – he tells me, because I’m oblivious otherwise. I really end up having to schedule time with people otherwise I’ll get too involved in my head and not think about it. At least I know that about myself.
Career? Well… that’s in the process of being intensely thought about.
I look forward to your posts, daily, weekly or otherwise. Whatever you do – keep writing!
You know, I keep forgetting I just need to whip off the pants when the stress starts to build. I don’t even think my boss would mind if I applied the same logic to my 9-to-5. She’s cool like that.
I think one quality post a week is so admirable for people trying to manage a hectic lifestyle. And I do find that bloggers (like you) who do that consistently put up truly good stuff. It always feels worth my time to read.
I also have to make sure I schedule time with ‘real life’ peeps so I don’t let that slip – I am terrible with the phone, and we don’t usually take the time to email!
Thank you so much – and same to you! 🙂
It’s difficult to be too serious when you’re pants-less. 😉
I run 3 blogs of varying crap content. I don’t mean “stuff,” I mean crap. MT used to be a creative place but I removed years of content. Now, it’s just where I fling things now and then. RealMe is the place I try to be positive (not nearly as “charming”) because that’s honestly more for me: reminders of what TO do and how TO be / think. If others get a boost, good for them. The other one is private.
When I have time, I pre-schedule blog posts. That’s true. I’d rather see somebody less frequently with good content (unlike my own method but I’m not trying to be famous; my blog is blocked from search engines).
I feel like I always learn about the ‘history’ of blogging from you, and about these other forums. I really was so naive about blogging until I started this blog last February.
I definitely preschedule almost all of my posts! Which gives me peace of mind, but at the same time, gives me more time to nitpick and wordsmith (not always good)!
TOTALLY agree with quantity over quality. If I get two posts up in a week, I feel satisfied.
I, on the other hand, don’t produce quality but I can enjoy it when I see it…like in YOU!
I started blogging back in the mid90s when you had to know HTML. This is back when almost everybody only did BBS. Since I didn’t “know” HTML, I learned quickly how to skive code…
From that, I’d experiment and sometimes be able to get a sidebar going with widgets but I don’t think we even called them widgets back then…and they weren’t like they are now! Everything is so easy… But you felt VERY close to the people who read you. One of the things you used to see pretty often was the highest compliment:
“I just found your blog. I went back and read the past 3 years of entries…” and then it’d be followed by some personal story that showed they related or perhaps even questions, like, “Did you ever get another dog? If so, you never talk about it. I loved the Fluffy stories! I bet you miss him.”
It felt very close.
Great, thought-provoking post on a topic I think all of us struggle with at some time or another. I guess all we can do is our best.
And I did not get that No Way Girl series of photos at all until I looked closely. Now it’s – duh! Of COURSE Leo could have fit on the raft!
Ahem. I’d like to point out that although Jack could have fit, and those photos were indeed, hilarious, it was the buoyancy of the raft that was at issue. In other words, the door would’ve sunk like a stone. (so says James Cameron….I just read this on the Internet last week)
(Also, can you tell I’m procrastinating my studies by trolling JD’s comment section?)
Peggles, I don’t think I’d have made it this long without people like you to talk to! Your blog is also an inspiration (awww).
Well, if you listen to D-Pants and B, apparently James Cameron said it was an issue of “buoyancy,” not space (if they were both on, they would have both been partially submerged in the freezing water). But as I told B, I think it’s very rude of them to undermine my exceptional metaphor.
I find it hilarious that B wrote my reply almost word for word. Great-cynical-metaphor-crushing minds think alike, I guess.
P.S. Love you XOXOXO!
P.P.S. Did the above P.S. work in erasing the previous statement?
P.P.P.S. Love you!
B is such a hack, even in comments. I’ve only stuck around his blog in the hopes that he’ll finally give away some swag one of these days.
No kidding! I also stick around because he posts unbelievably hilarious, yet oddly sexy housework videos. (that’s right, I said sexy–nice tattoo by the way, B, I forgot to point that out earlier)
Julesy, this thread is getting smaller by the second. Aren’t you supposed to be working? Aren’t I supposed to be studying? I am sooooooo screwed.
Best bacon themed product… oooh tough. Either Bacon Band-Aids, Bacon Flavored Toothpicks, or Bacon Candy Necklace. My favorites.
And to be honest, I still haven’t come up with a good balance between blogging and other stuff, Right now, there isn’t a whole lot of other stuff going on as I am in sort of a waiting period between going back to school/getting jaw surgery/etc… so I have been spending a lot of time with blogging, and I still don’t have enough time to comment on everything and blog my own stuff… it’s tough!
Bacon Candy Necklace! I NEED THIS. Thank you for enlightening me. I can always count on you, Cassy.
I hear you – I started blogging at a quieter time in my life, which I’m eternally grateful for, because blogging turned out to be a game-changer for me. But eventually it got to where the time I devoted was COMPLETELY unrealistic to maintain. I’m sure you’ll find the balance, too, though!
And good luck with your jaw surgery!! 🙂
Of course! Always here when you need bacon related products. haha
And blogging is definitely a game changer! Totally awesome environment! And thanks for the good luck! I am definitely a little nervous!
Coolest bacon themed product = bakon, bacon vodka. Who wants to drink bacon cocktails? Me!
Honestly, I am an unemployed recent college grad (though that might change soon, hooray! I need income!), but I still only blog 1-2 times a week and then a bit for my joint blog while following about 20-30 blogs because I am afraid of getting burned out. Maybe at some point I’ll be at the point where I want to blog all day, everyday, but not right now.. Hrm.
Ooh, yes, I’ve heard of this magical thing called bacon vodka. My problem is I don’t like tomato juice and I don’t know what else you’d mix it with? Oh, who am I kidding? Like I need a mixer!
Good luck re: the job prospect(s), and congrats on graduation!! Are you really only 22(ish)? You are wise beyond your years.
I’m at about the same blogging pace as you right now, and it seems to be a good balance. It’s still a significant time commitment, but I love it.
23 here! Wise beyond my years… I wish.
So with bakon, while I haven’t had it, they list plenty of stuff to mix it with. Have you ever heard the Bacon Law? The Bacon Law states, “No food becomes worse when bacon is added to it.” Note: it doesn’t say the food gets better, just that it doesn’t get worse! That said, the bakon website has a whole list of cocktails. The one that sounded most intriguing to me had pineapple and apple juice!
I struggle with this all the time. My problem is I keep finding more blogs to follow and I just don’t have the time and then I feel guilty and like I’ve neglected my new friends by not commenting for a while. I do try to do something bloggy every day, but it does take away from real life quite a bit. I think I’ve found a decent balance with how many times I blog, but I find it difficult to respond to the comments, which makes me feel EXTREMELY guilty because I really really want to acknowledge the time and effort someone put in to commenting on my posts. Sigh. I just think we are all spread too thin and something always has to give. The life of a writer is indeed a difficult one.
That’s exactly how I feel, Misty! I can’t even get to all of my bloggy friends consistently, so whenever I find a great new blog, part of me is like, “Oh CRAP!”
Nina was saying (in the below comments) that stopping by someone’s blog is generally preferred over responding to their comment on your own blog (i.e., using that ‘comment reply’ time to visit them instead). I agree with that, but I am SO BAD about actually doing that, because if I get sidetracked it’s hard to make my way back to comment responses. (And if I don’t do it sooner rather than later, two weeks go by before I know it!) Having said that, I know we both agree talking to bloggers/seeing their comments is THE BEST part of this! 🙂
Someone recently said to me (in explaining why a non-blog project he’s working on isn’t farther along than he’d hoped) that he believes the old saying, “Don’t give it to me Tuesday, give it to me good.” I decided to adopt that, but then there was pressure for what I wrote to be good. Who needed that?!?
Whatever you post is good (even better than good). Especially wrapped in bacon!
Ooh, I love that, Debbie. But you’re right – I think a lot of writers/bloggers suffer from perfectionism. I have that in me, but I’m pretty good about just ‘letting it go’ when it comes to posts. And, in the end, I think that’s why people who want to write START a blog; it forces them to just keep going.
And right back ‘atcha! So glad we ‘met,’ thanks to B! 🙂
Really good thoughts here! I was struggling with the same question over the summer. Things get busy and I realized that I like the challenge of posting regularly but I can’t be religious about it because sometimes it gets busy and living life is more important than blogging about it for me. Everything’s a balancing act, right? 🙂
Thanks, Audrey! That is a perfect way to put it – “living life is more important.” Peppermeister said a long time ago (cheekily, but it still stands): “Do you wish your whole life was blogging? …You wouldn’t have a blog if you didn’t have a life, though.”
I hear you. I basically disappeared and took the summer off from reading any blogs (and writing very few). If I don’t fit in time to live, how do I have anything worthwhile to blog about?
Leanne! You SO almost got accosted for feedback for this post, but I wouldn’t do that do you knowing you’re working ON YOUR AWESOME BOOK (SQUEE)!!!!
Amen. AMEN.
And thank you so much for taking the time to read ANY of my posts – it’s always a thrill for me 🙂
How dare you implant a transmitting device in my head … A few months ago work starting getting nuts. Prior to that, I was able to do stay up late work on my blog. I do like Renee’s advice that readers won’t go away if you’re blogging less. I’ve been doing 3 posts a week since inception and I’m considering scaling back to 2 for more time and to improve quality of my posts… OK, OK, I had to laugh at that myself – quality and my posts should be kept in separate rooms.
As for reading, I still all those I subscribe to, which are several. But I’m very choosy in terms of who I follow. I’ve also saved myself a ton of time and angst by ignoring Freshly Pressed. There’s a ton of garbage there that gets me questioning how they got selected. Except yours, of course. 🙂
You are a blogging pro, FWH! I know you have your hands full, too, and you’re so good about keeping up with everything. I feel good about the 2x/week (for new posts) schedule, too – even 1 if things get REALLY hectic.
And I am personally appalled at your lack of Freshly Pressage. Your posts are funny, informative and -and this is actually REALLY important to me- well formatted with high-quality pictures. It’s professional, but fun. So there, WP overlords!
You have just done for me what months (OK, years) of therapy could not. I’ve felt guilt over not blogging, not reading, not commenting when I do finally read, not being fully present for my family because I’ve been feeling guilty over not blogging, reading, and commenting. Shall I go on? Though I think you get it, guilt has sucked up far too much of my energy.
Today, I’ve discovered I’m normal. And, what’s more, I’ve learned some really, really great tips!
My sincerest thanks to you and to all the terrific bloggers whose advice you’ve included! You have no idea how timely this was/is for me!
We’re all in this together. 😉
Oh man, you really, REALLY made my day with this comment!! 🙂 I was worried I wasn’t giving people the answers they might have been seeking when it comes to balance. Thanks to your comment, I realized that just having the discussion can be enough.
So thank YOU for the free therapy – as Renee said below, we’re all in this together 🙂
P.S. – But I should clarify – the advice I got from these lovely and talented bloggers is INVALUABLE, and I’m so grateful I could pass some of it on (I might have to do a follow-up; it was so hard not including every delicious word they sent)!
Omigod this post is soooooo long.
Since you and I have talked about this before instead I will comment on the fact the James Cameron has come out defiantly swinging against the “Jack would have fit” crowd. It is, he says, not a question of SPACE, it’s a question of BUOYANCY and the fact that they both would have been PARTIALLY SUBMERGED thus hastening HYPOTHERMIA and that he is JAMES CAMERON so don’t mess with him.
I’m skipping to your comment because there’s a Hewlett-Packard ad on my blog now and Mondo said I should.
I was going to break this post into 17 parts so it would get me through to November. But then I remembered I have a box of free ‘stache glasses burning a hole in my craft/sell-out room table.
Frankly, I think it’s rude of Jim -and you, for repeating- to make such logical assertions in order to undermine the greatest metaphor the blogosphere has ever known.
B–see my above statement to Peg. All I can say is, I get you, man.
On a completely separate note, you HAVE to change that photo of me in the chipmunk bikini. That was a one time thing, ladybug. I’ll send you my avatar. Seriously, that is awful. 😉
REALLY?!?!?!! It is the best thing I’ve EVER SEEN. Nay!! ANYONE’S ever seen!!!!
But now I feel terrible. And I will do anything for you!
P.S. – It took all of my willpower not to hyperlink the new photo to the bikini pic [post]. I love you.
Omigosh! Do you want to kill my odds of ever working again? LOL! THank you for thinking my cellulite is hawt.
EVeryone else looks so professional, and there I am.
You know.
With my chipmunks hanging out.
That will not do. 😉
And you are soooooo not commenting less.
Cellulite?! Please!
“Awful” is not the word that leaps to mind, my friend. Although a certain Van Halen song comes to mind…
Booya. THANK YOU, B. This is what I’m saying.
RAS, please raise your right paw and solemnly swear: “All future references to me, Ren-zay Schuls-Jacobson, on GoJulesGo.com, will include that hot-a*s picture of my chipmunks.”
99% of my blog is written at notwork, and nearly all my reading done at the same place. (Essentially that makes me a paid blogger, but also a mad queen.) I limit the number of blogs I read because I could be 20 years older by the time I got out of the chair. I always comment on posts that warrant it, or at least hit the like button, because I know how much that means to me at my blog. I do have one follower who thanks me for not posting too often. Hmm. I have no posting schedule, which ties into my goal of eliminating all rules, restraints, shoulds and musts (but not chocolate, vodka or beer) from my life. And I think a bacon windchime would be nice.
Hiya Linda! “notwork” – I love that! Ha! I’m sort of the same way – I was trying to stick to M/W/F, but I don’t force it if it’s not working. And it really IS hard to keep up with people who post more than a few days a week… (Geesh, I can’t even keep up with some of the people who post once a week! Just too much mad talent out there, argh!)
I’m new to the blogging world and I’ve been wondering how you guys do it! Trying to do my blog homework while not ignoring my job that actually pays me money. I appreciate your wisdom – keep it coming!
Thanks so much, Jill! And I HEAR YOU.
In the beginning (Feb 2011 for me), I was brand new to the entire world of blogging, and didn’t read more than 1-2 blogs, and no one read my blog, either. I don’t think things got hectic until over a year of blogging, when I was literally trying to keep up with 100 blogs! One great blogger leads you to another, and then suddenly… ACK!!
Oy–I was here this morning but only had time to comment now. I leave you alone for two seconds and you have like 1000 comments. I can see why it’s so hard for you to keep up!
Sometimes instead of responding to comments I visit the other blogger, using the time to give their blog a visit and quality comment instead of just adding more me, me, me. Ideally I like to do both (respond AND leave a comment.) If time is a real crunch, I think people prefer to see your chipmunk love on THEIR blog more than anything else. We bloggers/writers are a little on the narcissistic side, no? It’s ugly to say, but hard to deny.
So, this wasn’t really a helpful comment from me, I guess. Like Renee said, we’re all in this together. Kind of like those crazy kids from High School Musical sang. In the first movie, I think.
I try to visit a few new folks every day. They need my time attention and stroking. I think Nina knows I love her and I have stroked her enough. She knows that I will eventually make it over to her place/places. (Did you know she’s the new monthly columnist at Writer UnBoxed!) It’s true. So psyched for her. What I don’t understand is how she does this with 92 children.
I gave up on writing a novel–for better or worse, I guess.
I DID know that, Renée! Nina is a rock star. And by that I mean she knows how to get around.
Did you see that Zac Efron gif (in my comment reply to Nina)?!
Nina! Thank you again so much for letting me bombard you with questions. You are such an inspiration when it comes to balance. Especially given that you have eight thousand kids. 😉
Now, let’s talk about me. *I* totally agree bloggers are narcissistic.
I am SO BAD about going over to other blogs, but YES, that’s definitely a better use of the time. You and Renee are both so good at visiting new people. I’d start doing that right now, but now I’m too busy picturing Zac Efron like this… http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2hww4IA3T1qfdi8e.gif
You’re welcome.
I am feeling the love. This was swell, Julesy. You done good by us. Except, thanks for misquoting that my favorite thing about blogging is the friendships. Hellllloooooooo? Did you not read in my post last week that I blog for “the stuff”? You’re making me look soft here.
Nnng, you should be feeling the love. Because my love for you is what keeps me going, quite frankly. Just the fact that I knew, without a doubt, that I could use that picture… I don’t know. Sometimes I’m so overwhelmed by my feelings that I have stop and stare at a picture of a chipmunk surfing.
Chipmunks bring out the softie in everyone.
As a brand-new blogger (piled onto my seasoned roles of single, disabilities-savvy mom and translator word-geek), I found this post eye-opening. When I launched I didn’t think of blogging as a community, my main goal was to scratch my writing itch and subject hapless readers to my life frustrations-slash-lessons. Thanks for the guidepost to a whole new world…
Thank YOU! And I completely understand! When I started my first blog (this one) last February, I had NO IDEA it was a community. I read maybe 1-2 other blogs and my mom read mine. I think some people stay in that place, but most wind up slowly branching out as they begin to read and comment more and more.
I was in it for the exact same reason – to ‘scratch the writing itch’ (well put!). But I’ve found that the support of a writing community has become invaluable, and absolutely the best part of my blogging experience! I’ve actually met and talked to so many bloggers now, that it’s become part of my ‘real’ life. So it’s hard not to feel guilty about not keeping up with everyone’s blogs!
Thanks Jules!! Sometimes I’m afraid that as a new blogger, nobody will ever read me.
Thank YOU! And people WILL read – it just sometimes takes a lonnnnng time. It was at least 6 months before I got a few comments on each post, and even then I’d put up things that wouldn’t get any. Reading other blogs is a surefire way to increase traffic, though, and it’s a happy coincidence that that usually winds up being the best part of blogging (the community), so it doesn’t feel like ‘work’!
I suspect we all struggle with this issue, you have provided marvelous advice. Me, I just do what I can when I can.
Thanks so much, Val! Although I can’t really take credit for the amazing advice here 😉
I think that’s the perfect way to look at it – “what I can when I can.” I’m trying to do the same without feeling too much guilt!
Jules, I love your honesty and if anything, your genuine interest in other bloggers shines through the whole post. I agree, no-one will unfollow you because you’re posting less. On the contrary, I tend to unfollow people who post too much- I like to have something to look forward to.
As for the time blogging takes, I follow quite a lot of blogs but I don’t read every single post of all of them. I like the reader feature because it doens’t intrude your email all the time and allows you to select which posts you’d like to read (it’s impossible to be interested in every single topic there is out there). I use the reader 2 or 3 times a week for 2 hours approximately and that’s it.
Thanks for sharing all these other blogger’s opinion and advice… And don’t forget that quite a lot of us take YOU as a blogging model 🙂
Awesome blog! I’ve been thinking and I still don’t have an intelligent response, LOL. Perhaps that is because I have no balance! Gah!!!!
Blogging is a huge commitment. I guess I balance my blogging life by trying to think of it as an extension of my creative self. For years, I kept journals. What I found over those years is that no matter how many journals you keep, someone will find them. When I was fourteen, my parents read my diary. When I was nineteen, my boyfriend. And I’ve never been able to keep a diary since.
However, it is nice to share. It is uplifting when someone reads my blog and says, “Hey that’s cool.” Or “this is what I think”.
Blogging is the dialogue that can help bring together all our own thoughts.
I guess I balance it with my own individual passion to share, and that’s important for me.
Then there are nerds like me who might post once a week, or once a month – you might find the first paragraph of the blog post I wrote this week refreshing, there is just no way I could do anymore and I try not to beat myself up over it. We blog because we enjoy it 🙂 and I read your blog because I enjoy reading it, if I didn’t – I would stop, but I don’t see that I happening any time soon. Thanks for sharing your insight.
Queen of the Chipmunks, Daughter of the Golden Mother Chipmunk, Wife to Peppermeister, and Mother to Uncle Jesse: no matter how frequently you post, your loving followers will keep following. It all goes back to the phrase “quality over quantity.” You, my dear, are quality. I love your posts because they are hilarious, fun, and downright ‘stache-tastic! Don’t beat yourself up over not being able to comment on or read every post you come across. It’s impossible to think of something smart to say on everything. Keep doing what you’re doing and I promise, we will all be along for the ride. xoxo
I agree, it’s about finding balance. I think experimenting is the best. Will numbers drop if you don’t post or comment as often…possibly. But then comes the hard question: why blog? The answer lies there. If it’s for profit, then you’ll be putting in many hours. If it’s for fun, then let fun be the guide. Good luck, funny guy.
Oh, Jules. I’ve been waiting for you to write this post. Because I think it’s something we all struggle with as bloggers and because you make it look so darn easy. You go above and beyond, and we all appreciate it so much. But it’s absolutely FINE to scale back. When I first started blogging, I freaked out about this, thinking people would want me to post 3-5 times a week (I’ll tell ya–reading blogging advice can seriously backfire). I absolutely couldn’t do that and maintain the quality of blogging I was aiming for. So I went with twice a week. And this August, I only posted once a week so that I could focus on other aspects of my life a bit more.
It’s a constant challenge to find the sweet spot. This week, I worked a couple of seriously time consuming jobs and my blog suffered as a result. But you know what? I’ll get back on the horse next week. Miracle of miracles, no one unsubscribed because I didn’t post enough 😉
I would definitely miss you if you disappeared completely but I think it’s totally natural for you to only comment on blog posts that you relate to and find interesting. No need to force it! As you can see, my busy week means catching up on blogs today. Is it my ideal? No. Is it okay? Yes. We’ve all got busy, interesting lives that are the fuel for our interesting posts. Without a life, what are you going to write about?
You already know this, but you rock so many people’s worlds. We’re happy to read about your hilarious adventures whenever you choose to post them! Now get out there and have an awesome weekend 🙂
Egads, that’s a long comment! 😉
I was in process of typing a comment on how lucky I was that my wife needs 2 more hours of sleep every night than I do, when my wife kicked me off my own computer and took it over for her work project for several days straight. Including working those 2 extra hours each night. So yes, this blogging balance thing is harder than I thought. I still consider myself lucky that I don’t often have work projects like that.
Um, the fact that I am commenting on this post over a month after it was written should suggest that I have *not* yet struck a balance between living and blogging. I want to keep the past in the past– really, I do– but had that happened, I would have never had my mind blown by Babs folding a fitted sheet, nor would I have guffawed over that crazy bag of back hair you have! (Not your back hair, in case somebody is reading this out of context. A bag of *somebody else’s* back hair.)
When I was crazy busy with work over the summer, I found that I was able to let blogging slide without feeling terrible or guilty about it. Now that the busy season is over, though, I find myself gravitating towards the WP blogging community again, mostly to inject a bit of fun and laughter into a life that was pretty much consumed with non-fun work for the past half year. If I ever get that balance, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, though, I enjoy reading your posts– no matter how in/frequent!
Great post. I am struggling with this right now when things at work are crazy. But I like the idea that forced and rushed don’t equal fun. And for me, forced and rushed also don’t equal quality posts. Ain’t life the craziest balancing act ever??? I am so glad my life is so full and greatful for the friends I have made here in the blogosphere. But sometimes, the kettle boils over, doesn’t it? Thanks for a thoughtful post, my friend. And congrats on the Daily Post highlight – if i had time, I would figure out what that is – maybe next week! 😉
I”m so glad you were featured on The Daily Post or I never would have seen this post from you. And I desperately needed to read it. You are one awesome chipmunk. 🙂
I wonder about this. I have time on my hands now, but what when real life starts again?? What do I do?? When will I have time?? I NEED TO WRITE — ok, so I don’t need to worry about that now. I won’t. I just needed to have said it. And now I have.
Thank you 🙂