Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut with your writing? Are you lacking motivation? Have you found yourself having a negative attitude when it comes to your blog? You may be suffering from a case of
blogger burnout!
As a content creator, you may find yourself under constant pressure to produce high-quality content — and this is
not easy.No matter if your reach is big or small, burnout can happen to
anyone.
If you feel fatigue looming, here are five things you can do that will help you get back on track:
1. Set realistic goals
Every blogger wants to be successful; having big dreams and aspirations for your blog is no crime. Where you reach a bump in the road, however, is when you set unattainable goals. Rome wasn't built in a day after all.
As a blogger, you have a greater shot at success if you are focused and able to plan your content well. Blogging is all about how well you merge your ambitions with the satisfactory execution of daily tasks — you have to put the work in to achieve your goals.
Now, what are some
reasonable achievements that you can set for yourself as a blogger? Well, you can start by
answering the following questions:
- Where do you see your blog in a month? A year? Five years?
- What does a successful blog look like to you?
- What would you like to specifically achieve with your blog?
- Do you want a platform to express our brand identity?
- Do you want to build a relationship with readers?
Once you have an idea of what you would like to achieve, you can start outlining
how you plan to do so. A great way to do this is by setting
SMART goals.
Specific — These are the goals that you set for your blog; they need to be aimed at
specific targets.
Measurable — Your goals need to be measurable so that you can judge their efficacy.
Achievable — As stated earlier, your goals need to be realistic
and achievable.
Relevant — Your ambitions need to be relevant to the reason you’re running your blog in the first place.
Time-bound — Setting firm time limits in which you want to achieve certain tasks helps to avoid procrastination, ensuring that you get things done now.
2. Consider taking a break
When you catch yourself burning out or feeling uninspired, the easiest way out is to take a break and do something else to give your mind a bit of a break.
By taking a mental break, you can recharge and restore your passion for writing. This will enable you to come back to your writing with a renewed focus, allowing you to look at things with a fresh perspective.
This also gives you time to reflect and come to
understand why things aren't working and why.
During this break, it is
essential that you completely unplug.
Don't log onto your blog,
don’t check up on followers and
don’t read any comments. It also may be advisable that you disconnect from the Internet as a whole.
3. Identify your sticking points
When experiencing blogger fatigue, you may notice that certain areas are more mentally draining than others — these are known as
sticking points. These are areas in your writing where you feel particularly uninspired and unmotivated.
Sticking points can be influenced by
external or internal factors:
External factors are obstacles that the individual has no control over such as family responsibilities, illnesses, or lack of time.
Internal factors are obstacles that you bring upon yourself such as any insecurities you have about writing or lack of knowledge.
Common areas where bloggers struggle are:
- idea generation
- procrastination
- completion of a piece, and
- writer’s block.
For most writers, reaching a sticking point is inevitable and the first step in getting past it is understanding
why it leaves you stumped.
Once you’ve determined your sticking points, you can work through them by not dwelling on or overthinking it. Found yourself stuck on a certain topic? Move on, you can always circle back to it once you have a fresh mind. By powering through and staying positive you prevent getting discouraged by the writing process.
4. Switch up your routine
When you find yourself stuck in a rut, a good way to get the creative juices flowing once again is to get out of your everyday routine.
Although your blog is important to you, your life should not revolve around it. Integrating fun activities or some ‘me’ time into your schedule will
help to alleviate stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
You can get out of your usual routine by incorporating physical activity into your schedule. No, you don’t have to go for a 5km run —
but, going for a walk or a bike ride could be beneficial.
You can also switch up your routine by:
- Changing your work environment — If you are usually shackled to your desk for most of the day, consider changing locations. This is a simple yet effective way to get out of a rut.
- Call a friend / family member — Talking to a loved one is a great way to reduce stress and boost your mood, whether you’re venting to them or just having a fun chat.
- Try out journaling — Writing in a personal capacity can be beneficial when stuck in a rut as it allows you to express yourself without the pressure of performing. This can be an effective way to bring passion back into your writing.
5. Don’t compare yourself to others
As a blogger, it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others in your field. This can be demotivating and could lead to feelings of inadequacy, which only make the burnout feel worse.
Everyone experiences feelings of jealousy or insecurity at some point — the key here is to
not feed into it.
Focus on your work and allow feelings of inadequacy to motivate you to make your blog the best it can be.
Additionally, you can also boost your self-esteem by:
- making note of all your own achievements
- looking at some positive comments from your readers
- taking a look at some of your most successful pieces to build motivation and inspiration.
How do you get yourself out of a creative rut? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
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*Image courtesy of Pixabay