Hello and Happy Thursday Jersday! Yeah Buddy.
I am going to be at an expo all day tomorrow so I wanted to be as efficient as possible today. I blogged, emailed and then cleaned. Fuel for the journey – apple and trail mix.
Confession Thursday…
1. I cut Ben’s sandwiches in half so I can cut a sliver off the middle for myself. No bite marks, but I still get a taste! Genius or tragic – you decide.
2. I always stick fruit or vegetable sticks in the weirdest places to get them out of the way… my hand, computer, Ben’s butt and then he goes to work and doesn’t realize…
3. I double dip at home. 
Lunch was going to be a wrap, but it was too hard to roll up so I folded it over and grilled it up. 
4. IVE DRANK A LOT OF ICED COFFEE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like a lot a lot. As in I don’t want to tell you how much.
This morning I got an email with the subject line “Ask a Monican Emergency!”
I pictured someone emailing me from their phone on the side of the road, lost on a run and without proper hydration and a mountain lion on their tail…
Luckily, that was not the case.
This reader recently started a blog, but thinks it’s boring and doesn’t have many readers. She wants to know, “Should I quit blogging?”
Ask a Monican #31 – Should I quit Blogging?
Question: Have you ever considered quitting blogging? Considered that you’d quit reading blogs?
Winner of the CLICK protein powder giveaway: Liz who said, “My last cup of coffee for the day is brewing right now 
“ Email me your info please!
I’ve wondered the same thing about my blog. I don’t advertise it much because I kind of don’t know what direction it’s going. And I also don’t have a whole lot of time to blog. But I do enjoy doing it. I blog for myself mainly. And I do get very excited those rare times when someone actually reads and comments.
I’m glad I found this. I started my blog a couple months ago and while it takes up A LOT of my time (I’m also a working mother of two) I don’t think I could ever give it up.
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I’m glad you had this as a topic. I started a blog and really enjoy getting my thoughts out…but I struggle with documenting the monotony of my day. I started a blog post on Wednesday and never finished because I felt like I was just retelling the days (which I guess I was lol)…I struggle with thinking every blog post should have a point and be poignant.
Anyway, I am glad that other people think they are as boring as me! Lol
I’ve just discovered the joy of reading blogs like a month ago. (I know, I’m behind the times in everything. I don’t even have a smart phone.) I decided to start my own just to see if I like it and I’ve wondered the same thing as the blogger with the question. I keep checking to see if anyone is reading and they’re not, but I keep writing boring old posts. There’s no direction on mine either, but I’m going to keep at it for a bit longer to see if I like it. Your vlog really made me want to keep at it.
I totally stick stickers to Aubrey when he isn’t looking. He usually noticed though before he ever leaves to go anywhere. Bummer. 😉
I have thought about quitting blogging before because one of my favorite parts of blogs is the back and forth conversations in the comment section. And my comment section is completely bare the majority of the time. But I keep blogging my random musings and someone must be reading because I’m getting visits somehow!
Love your advice, Monica! There have been times when I thought about quitting blogging but blogging gives me an outlet, so instead of quitting, I take a few days off. It usually helps recharge my batteries.
First – did you see Pauly D has his own show that starts in a few weeks? Amazing.
I blogged off and on for a few years, but haven’t posted in months. I realized I just enjoy reading so much more than writing.
Yeah, I caught a long-ish clip of it last week. I thought Snooki and Jenni were supposed to get a show too?
I understand what she’s saying 🙂 I think I’m boring, too. BUT, we are definitely our own worst critics. I have an old blog that I started 5 years ago, mostly based on my (then new) daughters life. But I started writing less and less, and it became a chore. I recently started a new one that took a different approach (because it’s what interests me now)- a mish mash of my family happenings, healthy eating and photos. Sometimes you question the idea of keeping it going when you feel like NO one reads.. because, let’s face it, even though it’s a hobby and should be for “yourself”, it’s always nice when you THINK people may read and when you get a comment here and there. It makes it a bit more worth it. So, I DO understand. But, I also enjoy just reading blogs (such as yours!) and would never stop that.
Ok this is totally random- I have been having crazy weird dreams lately, I think it might be from the meds I’m on. Anyway, last night i had a dream that I was meeting up with you (i guess i was also a blogger in my dream) and we went to target to get fun running clothes, and then we went to DD for iced coffee. For some reason i couldn’t remember your name in my dream so i just kept referring to you as RER.
I’m totally not a stalker, i love your blog but i swear i don’t think about you all day long or anything haha.
Ha! I love that 🙂
Hahaha. Ohmy. This is the funniest ……
Now I know why I just l-o-v-e reading comments. Honestly, they make my Sunday better!
See Monica …. now you have fans dreamin about ya. Jeez.
I love the sticker! Once when my son was a baby, there was a sticker on the bananas that said, “I’m special.” And I stuck it on his forehead and he loved it. Still not sure why those bananas were so special.
I think if you find blogging boring and not fun then you should stop. I am a fairly new blogger and I feel like I started blogging for myself, not worrying about who read it or how many followers I had. I do it because I enjoy it and my family likes reading it.
HA! I find fruit stickers all over the place. I think as long as I am still getting some sort of satisfaction out of blogging, I will keep doing it.
The Kidless Kronicles
I’m just so glad this post didn’t end with you asking us if you should quit blogging! (that’s what it sounded like when I read the title!)
Nah, you can’t get rid of me that easy 🙂
Interesting post and thoughts. I haven’t been doing it long enough to consider quitting. Have YOU ever considered quitting blogging or reading blogs?
Yes, I’ve totally considered quitting. I’ve thought about what I’d write on my last post too…kinda sad.
OMG, please do not quit. Your blog is the most important blog in blogdom!!!!
Not much but content quality goes way down. Then I remember that I’m blogging for me, something I could go back to and read a few years down the road…so I’ll know that I was going thru’ some difficult times now.
Oh wait, there wasn’t any quality to begin with!
Great post! And I’m loving the comments here, sounds like everyone has had such different and unique experiences with blogging…ultimately I agree, if it’s fun, stick with it! If it becomes a burden, reassess your intentions and take time to find what your real passion and purpose for blogging is. I don’t have a lot of readers. I don’t get a lot of comments and at first that bummed me out BUT I realized, I work full-time, have a long commute, have a husband who needs attention and am a runner – so I’m busy. If I did get tons of comments and e-mails from readers than I feel like it might overwhelm me and put too much pressure on me to always have awesome posts and respond to every comment.
I blog because it’s totally for me. It’s like running, it’s something I do totally for myself because it’s great therapy.
🙂
Good outlook!
I think it depends what your motivation for blogging is. Mine is pretty much like a training log (because I’m too lazy to do it any other way), so I don’t give advice or anything like that. No one knows that I blog either.
I think if I was writing a ‘help’ type blog I’d be more concerned about whether it’s boring, but I’ve never been a great writer so the blog is just about me!
is she willing to share with the rest of us? Maybe we like “boring” blogs..(because I am boring too 😉 )
Ohmy, the title scared me. Thought you were thinking of quitting. While on the subject, please don’t even consider it 😉
Ice coffee, your not alone, I spent hours at Starbucks having endless refills. I think they are starting to think I have a problem lol ( free refills with a Starbucks card :):) )
I didn’t know that refill rule!?!?!
Oh yeah!
Register for the Starbucks club, its free! and after I think 5 purchases (not coffees) you become a silver member and get free refills, free milk (like soy) and free syrups. Good deal, ohmygod, Its my favorite things about America lol
Seriously?
Thankfully, I do not like Starbucks.
I love the sandwich trick.
I’ve considered stopping blogging because it’s just a hobby and it takes up quite a bit of time each night. However, when I don’t do it – for example, on family visits to the hicks of Minnesota – I really miss it!! And I almost consider it like a journal. Plus I haven’t lived near my family for about 8 years, and it’s a good way to keep in touch… at least a one-way street since they mostly just lurk!! haha
I eat an apple every day at lunch and put the sticker by my phone list. My students caught on and have started making fun of me. Good thing I don’t care what teenagers think!
No one reads my blog, but I do it for myself. It’s some what of a journal and may have landed me a job.
This is such a great post! Thank you Monica.
I quit blogging for a month and out of nowhere someone left a comment on my blog. It inspired me so much that I started blogging again. When I started again it was about getting comments/readers now it’s about me and my enjoyment. Furthermore, I cannot compare myself to others and especially to a blog that’s been around for years. That’s not fair or realistic.
Not only is it my mission to be authentic, it’s important for me to give support to others in the blogging world so I purposely seek out less known bloggers and leave comments in order to encourage someone else, like I was encouraged. So my advice is to: 1) be patient; 2) be more patient; and 3) start thinking of others – support someone else on their journey and before you know it, you will be supported and encouraged as well.
Thanks for letting me share. Blessings!
people only rain on your parade because they’re jealous of your sun and tired of their shade 😉
I have totally done #1 !?!? I thought I was the only one ;0)
I just started blogging and have wondered if it’s worth the time and effort and whether or not anyone reads my blog. Then I think back to the reason I wanted to start a blog–for me; to allow me to document things important to me–and realize it doesn’t matter if I have one reader or one hundred readers–I like my blog! I’m still in the process of finding what works for me, but I’m not going to give up (yet).
Ass.
Phew. That felt good.
Everyone is excused today from uttering not-so-nice words.
Ughhh. I feel her pain. I started blogging because I thought it would be a good way to process my recovery from an eating disorder, and then I realized I didn’t like having something so personal online that people could see. A year later I thought I would blog about grad school and life and marriage – a smattering of all topics – but when I didn’t get comments I felt like a total loser. L-O-S-E-R. So I stopped writing that one too. The truth is, if I had enjoyed the process of writing, I wouldn’t have cared whether people read my blog. So my advice to her is DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. That’s really the only thing that matters. In the end, I’m much happier commenting on other people’s blogs than writing my own. 🙂
Me too.
This is coming at an interesting time because I just disabled my blog a few days ago. I haven’t been able to keep up with it and it was becoming a bit of a stresser for me. I love reading blogs and will continue reading/commenting, and I might end up starting a blog again in the future when I have more time (or make the time), but for now, I’m blog free. Love your advice, if it makes you happy, keep doing it!
See? It takes all kinds! Glad you’re doing your own thing un-apologetically 🙂
double dipping at home is the bomb! I’m at starbucks right now and feel like I should ask why iced is more cause honestly it makes no sense to me. Reading blogs to me helps me to feel connected to the world without actually having to go out for drinks/dinner with others when i want to be lazy/in sweats/talking about food and fitness. honestly blogs inspire me however also aid in my procrastination like no other!
Loved you vlog, you are too cute. I always do the cut down the middle and sliver for myself with my kids food. It works on many things, not just sandwiches. 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Valid question I think. I have just started as well and it can be hard at times to figure where your footing is, why are you doing this, is anyone out there? But in the end I think I would miss it if I stopped. I would guess she would probably feel the same way.
I went on a hiatus during my injury because it was just too damn hard reading about other people running every single day while I grasped at straws to come up with my own content that wasn’t “I hate being injured. Life sucks. Shoot me now!” every day. (Which was how I was feeling at the time.) The hiatus made me realize that there’s no right or wrong way to blog, you just do what works best for you and if people care enough they’ll stick around.
I hear ya, Morgan! When I was injured I stopped reading all running blogs because it made me so depressed and angry and jealous! GAWD!
🙂
When I’m feeling uninspired and sick of the blog world, I sometimes want to quit. Usually what helps is taking a break and not blogging for a weekend, a week, whatever and then I get inspired again.
As for the reader, she should give it time. When I first started I didn’t get much traffic and very few comments. I felt like quitting a few times but now I get tons of traffic!
Are you kidding? I’ve quit. Started. Restarted. Set my blog on fire. The list goes on…
For me it all comes down to doing it for me. When I made it a stream of income I felt like I had to do it and then my content sucked ass. Can I say ass on this blog?
When I was trying to write posts that would blow the minds of the masses I came across as overly zealous and no one was buying into it.
I think with this last iteration of a blog I’m starting to figure things out a little bit. I only write when I have something to say. If I feel like I’m forcing a post I walk away and wait for the thoughts in my brain to get organized or I scrap the idea all together.
Bottom line is that I just blog in a way that works for me and feels natural. If I do anything outside of that, I get a really strong urge to explode my whole website and hide from the internet forever.
Bet your ass you can say ass on this blog.
OMGosh.
You said it before you asked RS.
Excused as per Monica.
I haven’t considered quitting blogging. I don’t have many readers and rarely get comments, but that isn’t going to stop me (Nice try non interrested people!). I blog because I like to do it. I like to write about what’s happening or whatever random stuff comes to my mind. I like being able to look back and read through my memories. Someday I’m going to be old and my brain is probably going to turn to mush, but I’ll always have this written down so I can read about what my life was like back when I was young, wild, and free. Ok, maybe not so wild, whatevs.
Don’t get me wrong, I love when people read my stuff. And I love it even more when they comment! but ultimatly, I blog because i just like to do it.
I could never quit reading blogs! I like being in everyone’s business too much to do that!
That was sneaky with the sandwich…but I’ve totally done stuff like that too!
young, wild and free <- if that's what your blog is about more people should be reading!!!
Tried to check into your blog (IDK MY BFF Jess) but was turned away. Wah.
Maybe it will work another day.
I think about this sometimes because there are bloggers who I have LOVED and they just disappeared. I don’t think I will stop blogging, I love it, but I do think about all that time I had before I blogged and read blogs. What the shit did I used to do?!
Yeah, I still miss Couch Cubicle from 4 years ago!!! (Wonder if she still reads?) I think I used to pay more attention to Ben before blogs?
My hubby doesn’t like that I’m on the computer so much. He didn’t initially want me to have a blog, but now he says I can have one if I want. He calls the internet my boyfriend and always asks how’s your boyfriend. But, I try to limit my evening time on the iPad, laptop, etc so I can spend time with him. soooooo, gotta go now. It’s evening here!
I sometimes get writer’s block, otherwise the reason I blog is for me alone. If other people enjoy it, GREAT. But, I use it to process my journey. I think you have to find a blogging schedule that works for you.