Should You Take a Break From Blogging?

Posted on by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

It seems like you have clicked on an article posing a very interesting question that has maybe crossed your mind a couple of times in the past. Or maybe you have just seen a couple of other individuals out there who contemplate such a question on a daily basis. It is no surprise that it is an unpalatable subject for those who partake certain activities that take up a lot of time and even more if they are always conscious of the quality of their execution.

While this could apply to just about anything in our lives, I thought it was important to speak of the world of blogging, especially with the years of experience I now have to speak about the matter. While I have not yet experienced a need for a break or to call it quits, I feel like there are many elements that everyone should reflect on to figure out the answer that they seek here.

However, if you came here thinking that you might indeed find this answer, then it might be time to sit down, to put your denial on the side, and take a moment to realize that there might be something niggling you, something that needs to be addressed before it grows too big to contain.

Without further ado, here’s what I think you should take into consideration when you’re wondering if it might be time to take a break.

Health.

To continuously add stress onto yourself while feeling unwell seems counter-productive to me. If you know that you do not have the mental or physical energy to do what you usually love to do, then you should think about resting before getting back to it. Speaking out of experience on how some things can be painfully exhausting, rest will allow your mind and body to become one again. For you to feel whole, replenished, and ready to take on the world when the time is right.

Image result for joaquin phoenix gif

Time.

Life has a way of making it near impossible for us to do just about everything we want to do within 24 hours, over a week, in a month, throughout the year, or even in our whole life. This is where you need to take the time to reevaluate your time management abilities, to let go of certain things, e.g. blogging, and to make time for what makes you most happy.

Image result for joaquin phoenix gif

Responsabilities.

While these come over time and take many forms, no one is ever spared of their wrath. It could be your education, it could be work, it could even be your family. Anything can happen to you and those around you and it’s your duty to help when needed. After all, your hobbies will not go anywhere. You just have to set your priorities right.

Image result for joaquin phoenix gif

Self-Discovery.

Sometimes the issue is not really blogging. It might not even be you. Nah. We’re always at the heart of all issues. What am I saying. But sometimes you just want to try something new and to do so, you just have to make some sacrifices. Drop whatever you’ve been lugging around for too long and go do what motivates you, what puts a smile on your face. It is okay if others won’t understand you though. What counts is that you get it.

Image result for joaquin phoenix gif

Goals.

What do I mean? I refer to what your hobbies were meant to be for you. Most of you started them for self-growth, for personal needs, to simply be happy. But if you feel like things have changed since then, that you have been doing things differently, doing them for reasons that don’t fit with you anymore, it might be time to hit that pause button and make that change in you.

Image result for joaquin phoenix gif

I always find myself completely enthused by the idea of blogging. With all the things that I need to do for my Ph.D. and for work, blogging remains my ultimate outlet for creativity. Over the years, it became an extension of my life, a part of me that needs to be expressed through words, and it’s what keeps me going to this day.

Sometimes we just need to remember why we do the things we do and then make the right move to avoid digging our own graves.

What do you think?

What should everyone take into consideration to know if they should take a break from blogging?

Till next time,

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Published by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

Reader. Reviewer. Researcher. Criminology Ph.D. Candidate. Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Want to know more? Connect with him!

67 thoughts on “Should You Take a Break From Blogging?”

  1. I think that about covers it.
    I thought the conclusion of this post was going to be “I’m taking a break from blogging.” I’m glad it’s not.
    Many people feel the obligation to blog and that ends up making them miserable. One has to be constantly checking with themselves if that’s what they still want to do and how possible it is.
    It’s no secret that I often feel overwhelmed with the amount of stuff going on. Maybe sometimes I don’t feel like sitting down and writing a post. But then, other things take over and I remember that I WANT TO write. And then I think of all the benefits of it and I do it. We all have different motivation factors and different levels of tolerance.
    I know it’s cliche, but just do you.

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    1. Hahah it would’ve been quite a shocking end to this post! I didn’t have my plot-twist-Goldie pants on when writing this up!

      And yes, it’s a bit sad when blogging turns into an obligation. Sometimes you just got to be real with yourself.

      I’m glad to hear your side of it. That’s exactly how people should realize how much they WANT to do it.

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  5. I haven’t yet felt like I needed to take a complete break. For me, cutting out a post for the week seems to be a good option if I’m having a crazy week. I have also found that a wider variety of posts helps avoid burnout. I love the creative process, so varying the content helps keep me fresh. Great post and discuss topic!

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  6. Lol, I think you wrote that post mostly to show off all your Phoenix gifs in a descending-to-madness order… I kept reading and thinking “where will be the transformed Joker” gif? 🤣
    …maybe in the post where you actually write you’re taking a break from blogging!

    That’s a scary thought… Then I will now to alert authorities! 🤣🤣🤣

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      1. I’m glad I made you laugh 😀 Hopefully, Lashaan will find it funny as well – otherwise, I might be in trouble, given his propensity for Joker themes! 😉

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  10. Ohhh, this hit home for me!
    With the foot off the gas when it comes to blogging, I have to say, I really miss it. The thrill of it all but as you point out- priorities!
    I still read to review and do the occasional blog hop and whilst my slower pace totally mirrors the activity I get back on my blog, it’s a sacrifice I had to make…slow down and do what I can, Shen I can because I am reluctant to give it up altogether!

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  11. Great post. I think that how many people you follow/interact with is also a factor to consider. When Mrs B and I were dealing with changing churches a couple of years ago, I still blogged but basically cut my interaction down to zero. But I didn’t stop writing.

    As others have noted, when it becomes a burden, that is a real sign that it might be time to take a planned break. I do think that a lot of bloggers stop without making a plan and then just never come back. I’ve seen SO many “taking a break” posts that turn into the death of the blog that I now equate the one with the other.

    At the same time, blogging, while a hobby and being low on the “must do” list of things, is still a discipline. It takes discipline to write week after week for years. And while breaks are good and necessary, fully stopping isn’t good discipline. Changing how often you write, or what you write about, is usually better than coming to a complete stop. It is much harder to start again from a dead stop than to pick up the pace from a reduced writing schedule.

    And like everyone else, I am glad to hear that this was a “I’m stopping” post 😉

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    1. Same. I see people take a break and never come back. I’ve seen people disappear without a word and then show up one day and claim to be back. 9/10 that only lasts for a post or two and then they’re gone again.

      You mentioning discipline is spot on. It’s not easy to keep to a schedule and it’s not easy to come back after a break. Yes, I’ve taken breaks before, but they’re not “from blogging.” Instead, they were to take care of other things. In the end, it was the discipline and the need to breathe, I mean write, that pulled me back.

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    2. Thanks, my man! I really like your point about interactions. It’s definitely key to a healthy blogging experience.

      I’m with you there. I too have seen my fair share of blogs die from those unplanned breaks, making it so hard for them to get back at it afterwards…

      Well, well. You nailed it there. I too envision it as a discipline, one that is made for the mind and that not everyone is capable of mastering. You just need to understand yourself, your limitations, and to organize yourself according to your mindset/life, and to see some people struggle with this is somewhat irritating…

      Hahaha I think such a post would have a much more dramatic title though. 😀 Hope I won’t be doing one of those for a long time, if not never!

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  12. I am very happy to hear you’re not thinking about quiting blogging!

    And it’s a good post. It gave me a lot to think about. I’ve always struggled with consistency in my blogging, but that is more about mental health than my heart not being into blogging.

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  13. I think you’ve covered it well.If you don’t enjoy it there’s likely little point doing it. But if it still excites you then it’s worth trying to fit it into your schedule, life allowing. For myself, I do occasionally think about a break. There are times I feel less inspired, times I feel I’m running out of ideas. But I am concerned if I took a short break it might turn into a long break, and then a longer break… So I try to keep a schedule as much as I can, figuring I still enjoy putting these posts together, so it’s better to work through the occasional slumps if that’s all they are. Perhaps that’s why so many professional writers don’t just write when they’re inspired, but set a goal of X words per day, regardless of how they’re feeling. It becomes a habit and habits are difficult to break, which can help us work through the slow times and avoid the regret of stopping.

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    1. I think that’s very wise.
      When I didn’t have a “schedule,” I found it much easier to skip a post. The schedule of sorts holds me accountable. Additionally, I do try to write every day for at least 30 mins. It holds me in check and motivates me to keep going.

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    2. Absolutely, Todd. I can see how even small breaks can be so dangerous for some, but I love what you had to say about habits though. It was actually mind-blowing for some reason. I never realized how we could totally make it a habit, even if we push through it, unhappy about it, since we’ll make so rooted in our daily activities that we’re bound to enjoy it more often than not. Thanks for sharing that, Todd!

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  14. I love blogging but once in awhile, I do feel the need to take a break. More so recently than ever before. For myself, I think it’s mostly real life stress that makes me just not in the mood to be creative sometimes. I just want to veg-out and not think about anything. BUT I don’t want to fall into a slump either so I usually just slow down my posts.

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  16. As usual, an intriguing, food-for-thought post! 🙂
    Over time, I have seen my share of posts from bloggers who needed a break, and I understand how the pressure might become too much when an activity that started as “fun” turns into something approaching “work”. There is no clean-cut rule to the art of blogging or how to keep it in the fun zone, but I think that pacing oneself, not wanting to do too much, might be a good start. Bookstooge’s comment about discipline led me to think that each one of us should find the right pacing, the balance between fun and commitment that helps us keep going, not unlike an athlete who needs to know how to keep running that… marathon 😉

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    1. Thank you so much, Maddalena! 😀 I too believe that pacing and knowing what’s too much is a step in the right direction, a step towards understanding how to keep something fun. And yes, discipline is an excellent factor in all this. I sort of took it for granted and realized it only when Bookstooge mentioned it too hahah

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  17. I think …that you are in love with Joaquin Phoenix! LOL That being said your points are all valid. I try to listen to my body these last months and I post less often than last year as I simply can’t go on at this rythme anymore. I don’t want blogging to feel like a chore, just like a passion and a hobby!

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  18. I enjoyed this post, Lashaan. You made some valid points to ponder and I agree with all of them. I also believe that if you are into bookblogging for reasons of popularity/ego validation…it may be a dissapointing experience. Reevaluation of expectations should be kept in check, especially on social media and the consideration of a break close at hand if so determined without haste.

    Happy creativity, Lashaan 🤗

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    1. Thank you so much, Scarlett. I really appreciate it! 😀 I agree that ego validation is another one of those things that I don’t enjoy seeing people do but I also assume that it is only going to bring those people some joy for a very short period of time and there’s nothing worth maintaining in such a blogging habit. Thanks for sharing, Scarlett! I hope you’re reading some great books yourself! 😉

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  19. Great post! Love the Joaquin Phoenix theme 😉
    I haven’t felt the need to take a break from blogging but I do take a break from commenting /checking my comments – but because I have posts scheduled a few weeks in advance always, it doesn’t affect how often I post.
    I think the time to take a break is when it feels like a chore and not like fun.

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    1. Thank you so much!! 😀 I’m glad that you enjoyed it. 😛 I too like to let my posts go wild after its publication before returning to it in a couple of days as a way to not overfocus myself on them hahah And yes, the moment the blog becomes a burden/job/chose, it’s clearly time to think about a break!

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  20. Excellent post! I think you mentioned the main reasons why you should consider a break. Although technically, I don’t think you need a reason. If you don’t feel like it, stop. And if you at some point decide not to come back that is fine as well, it probably means you do something else in your spare time, which you enjoy more.

    Being a new blogger, I’m always happy, when I have time to sit down with a coffee and see what my blogging buddies have posted and I still get excited, every time I get a comment. And yet, I still take breaks (well, only one so far).

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    1. Thank you so, so much! Absolutely. Some people might indeed feel like the magic of blogging just vanished and they just need to accept that and move onto something else instead of being toxic in one of way or another. 😮 😮

      And I’m really glad that you’re enjoying your time as a blogger and hope that you’ll grow to love it even more throughout the year! Breaks, whatever the length, are indeed necessary to keep it a sane activity hahah 😀

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  21. Lol I’m digging the themed GIFs you add to these posts.
    Totally agree with your reasons above, but I also think sometimes one needs to take a break just to take one. I did that last week. I just wanted to read books and not post anything or read other blogs for a while. We all need a break sometimes.

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    1. I love doing these for these bookish posts too hahahah

      I totally understand that. Some people just know that it’s time for one, or even go on one without realizing, and it’s okay to do so, to some extent (I mean… if you just disappear from you blog without warning your followers, it feels a bit inconsiderate, to be honest hahah). At the end of the day, it’s just important to think of going on breaks. They can save us from a lot of headaches! 😀

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  24. Great points Lashaan, and I think they actually apply to every “hobby” or side-activity in life, and it is so important to keep them in mind!! That said, finding what makes you happy is also hard as most hobbies or activities take time, money or discipline, which are all hard, compared to pressing play on Netflix or Youtube 😄 (not that this isn’t an acceptable hobby but you get my point… I think)!
    What I find works well for me is re-evaluating things: 1. not seeing my hobbies as a “to do” or an obligation and 2. adjusting them to my life, and making small changes that will make it more achievable (like engaging in that activity only once a week instead of twice)!

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    1. Thank you, Juliette! 😁 It’s quite sad that we’ve come to a point where it’s hard for many to not be able to understand what a hobby is meant to be in a life filled with responsibility and that things that are super convenient and easy to do (e.g. watch Netflix) just becomes the easiest choice for them. 😂

      I like your adapted approach to hobbies and I think everyone should figure it out like that. It might not be easy, but it’ll certainly help in extracting some happiness in what you do hahah 😁

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      1. Exactly! But sometimes it is also good to push ourselves a bit – even to engage in a “hobby” – because it might not be as easy as watching Netflix but it is way more rewarding! 😊 My adapted approach definitely has its flaws but it’s getting better I’d say 😂

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  25. I loved the introduction/beginning of this post! For me health and my family’s health is always my number one priority so if I have to take a break from blogging to focus on that I will and I have done in the past. I also agree with you that it’s always good to reflect and think about your goals and where you want the blog to go and sometimes that means taking a break which is also fine. Blogging is personal so everyone should have the opportunity to take a break without feeling worried about missing out or losing readers. Great post, Lashaan!

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    1. I’m so glad to hear that, Darina. Some people don’t understand that it’s not necessary to so both (blog and take care of family) and this can be counterproductive in so many ways. And yes, to reflect on the reasons you blog should tremendously help in figuring out if you’re on track or off-track in your activities! Thank you so much, Darina! I appreciate it a lot. 😁

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  27. Ooooh I love how you approached writing this discussion Lashaan! And you hit every single point that I take into consideration when the thought crosses my mind to quit. This last year I’ve been struggling with my health and have had to teach myself to not be so hard on myself. Now with some obligations to my family I’ve had to step back even more. But other reasons like goals and enjoyment have me sticking around. It’s a hard decision as with anything you’ve sunk time in, but you’re right only keep doing it if it all weighs out to your benefit. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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    1. I’m glad you approve of this post, Dani! 😛 And yes, it’s always going to be a constant evaluation of all those factors. The most important though is to remember why you do it and if you’re happy doing it despite everything else. And sometimes, going on a break helps realize these things too. 😀 Thanks for reading, Dani!!

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