Some Things are Bigger Than Blogging
- On Taking an Hiatus & Giving Yourself a Break
I'm here with a different kind of post today. I've been wanting to write more personal posts, the "get to know the blogger behind the blog" kind, as I haven't really done many of them, and while this isn't exactly what the kind of thing I was hoping to write, it's something I feel is important to discuss.
So there have been things going on in my work life for the most of July - unfortunately, nothing I can really talk about. However, it brought about a lot of uncertainty. As you may know, I have anxiety, and this uncertainty triggered it big time. Since having CBT several years ago, I've got quite a handle on my anxiety; it would bother me maybe two, three times a year, and I'd be able to manage it ok. I averaged maybe one panic attack a year, which was huge compared to what I was dealing with before CBT. But then the uncertainty at work, and my anxiety was a heavy weight on me every day for weeks. Multiple panic attacks. So much stress. Sleepless nights. Despite trying not to consciously worry about things - it wouldn't be the end of the world, whatever happened - I couldn't shake the anxiety.
And I'd been really struggling with my blog, too. I was having severe writer's block when it came to content outside of reviews. I've struggled with this in the past, but had been doing fairly well for months, and even when I had little blips, something would come up in my reading that made me think, or another blogger would write something that inspired me, or something on Twitter that would spark an idea. But nothing was coming to me, so as well as the anxiety, I would also be stressing out about my blog. I have a blogging schedule, and when I'm doing well, I'm normally writing posts two months in advance, give or take a couple of weeks. This post was written at the end of July. I was falling behind, and that was getting to me, too.
Then we got some really bad news in my family. My uncle has cancer. It's bad, and he doesn't have long. It was a massive shock, and so very upsetting. But it also put things into perspective. The things happening at work are still up in the air, but it no longer worries me. No matter what happens, it doesn't really compare to my uncle dying. I'm still really struggling to come up with ideas for blog posts, but I've decided not to worry about that, either. If I end up not being able to catch up, so be it. If I end up not having any posts to share... it really doesn't matter in the great scheme of things. There is far too much on my mind, and I just can't worry about the blog right now. I'm not going to purposely take a hiatus unless I need to, but I'm not going to stress about it.
And that's what I want to discuss. Once Upon a Bookcase is hugely important to me, and I adore working on this blog. But sometimes life takes over, and blogging has to take a backseat. Sometimes the words won't come. All of this is ok. It's absolutely fine. I feel, sometimes, that people feel there needs to be a reason for a hiatus - exam season, holiday, etc. - but to not be doing something instead of blogging rules out a hiatus. But your mental health and your well being are reason enough. My brain is just not up to it with the emotional overload, so what happen with the blog will happen. My blog will still be here - and so will yours, if you need to take a break. Taking a break, or not stressing about staying on schedule is ok, and sometimes needed. The blogging is a hobby. after all. I'm going to keep on keeping on, until inspiration strikes. If I need to take a break, I'll let you know. If I do, hopefully you'll still be here when I return.
Some things are bigger than blogging, and it's ok to look after you.
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What do you think about taking an hiatus? Do you give yourself breaks when you need them? Should taking an hiatus be something you should consider now? Let me know in the comments!
So there have been things going on in my work life for the most of July - unfortunately, nothing I can really talk about. However, it brought about a lot of uncertainty. As you may know, I have anxiety, and this uncertainty triggered it big time. Since having CBT several years ago, I've got quite a handle on my anxiety; it would bother me maybe two, three times a year, and I'd be able to manage it ok. I averaged maybe one panic attack a year, which was huge compared to what I was dealing with before CBT. But then the uncertainty at work, and my anxiety was a heavy weight on me every day for weeks. Multiple panic attacks. So much stress. Sleepless nights. Despite trying not to consciously worry about things - it wouldn't be the end of the world, whatever happened - I couldn't shake the anxiety.
And I'd been really struggling with my blog, too. I was having severe writer's block when it came to content outside of reviews. I've struggled with this in the past, but had been doing fairly well for months, and even when I had little blips, something would come up in my reading that made me think, or another blogger would write something that inspired me, or something on Twitter that would spark an idea. But nothing was coming to me, so as well as the anxiety, I would also be stressing out about my blog. I have a blogging schedule, and when I'm doing well, I'm normally writing posts two months in advance, give or take a couple of weeks. This post was written at the end of July. I was falling behind, and that was getting to me, too.
Then we got some really bad news in my family. My uncle has cancer. It's bad, and he doesn't have long. It was a massive shock, and so very upsetting. But it also put things into perspective. The things happening at work are still up in the air, but it no longer worries me. No matter what happens, it doesn't really compare to my uncle dying. I'm still really struggling to come up with ideas for blog posts, but I've decided not to worry about that, either. If I end up not being able to catch up, so be it. If I end up not having any posts to share... it really doesn't matter in the great scheme of things. There is far too much on my mind, and I just can't worry about the blog right now. I'm not going to purposely take a hiatus unless I need to, but I'm not going to stress about it.
And that's what I want to discuss. Once Upon a Bookcase is hugely important to me, and I adore working on this blog. But sometimes life takes over, and blogging has to take a backseat. Sometimes the words won't come. All of this is ok. It's absolutely fine. I feel, sometimes, that people feel there needs to be a reason for a hiatus - exam season, holiday, etc. - but to not be doing something instead of blogging rules out a hiatus. But your mental health and your well being are reason enough. My brain is just not up to it with the emotional overload, so what happen with the blog will happen. My blog will still be here - and so will yours, if you need to take a break. Taking a break, or not stressing about staying on schedule is ok, and sometimes needed. The blogging is a hobby. after all. I'm going to keep on keeping on, until inspiration strikes. If I need to take a break, I'll let you know. If I do, hopefully you'll still be here when I return.
Some things are bigger than blogging, and it's ok to look after you.
What do you think about taking an hiatus? Do you give yourself breaks when you need them? Should taking an hiatus be something you should consider now? Let me know in the comments!
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Sorry to hear about your uncle. I like what you've written about letting go of the stress over whether you take a break or not - it took me a long time to let go of that stress as well. If you do take a hiatus, I will be happy to welcome to back whenever you're ready to return.
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