Normally I would never blog about another blogger’s health. It’s just too private, in my opinion.
However, when I came across this article in The New York Times, I realized that I had to make an exception in order to talk about stress with my readers.
Since the article appears in The New York Times (it doesn’t get much more public than that) and since the blogger appears to be talking about it publicly, I’m guessing it’s okay.
My question to my WritingThoughts readers (and anyone else who is dropping by) is whether or not you find blogging stressful. You can leave your answer in the comments, take the survey in this post, or both.
For myself, while I can see how blogging could become stressful (especially for a high profile blog), I try to keep my blogging fun and stress-free.
I do confess that I feel guilty when my life obligations cause me to skip a post. I practically had to force myself to take a break at Christmas. However, I keep reminding myself of my priorities – while blogging is a great way to reach out to people, it’s not the only responsibility that I have.
What’s your opinion? Why not take the poll?
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
17 responses so far ↓
1 --Deb // Jan 16, 2008 at
Well, I don’t THINK I feel stressed about blogging! My knit-blog (www.chappysmom.com), which is where I also talk about books and my dog and other life things just had its third anniversary yesterday. The weekly reading meme I host (www.btt2.wordpress.com) is pretty simple–one question a week isn’t exactly a strain.
And then, Punctuality Rules? Of all of them, that would be the most stressful because it’s the most “serious.” I can’t blather on like I do on Chappysmom, but since I’m satisfied (for now) with two posts a week . . . it’s not unduly stressful, either.
I’d say that I’m a fairly laid-back kind of person so far as stress goes–and I am–but still, there was that case of Shingles in November, which can apparently be triggered by stress, so maybe I’m just really good at hiding it from myself! (grin)
2 laura // Jan 16, 2008 at
Thanks for sharing your feelings Deb!
3 lornadoone // Jan 17, 2008 at
Having two of us writing for Freelance Parent definitely helps keep the stress level down, becaue one or the other of us generally has plenty to say! On the other hand, I start feeling pretty guilty for not doing a better job of keeping up my Something Good blog. It’s funny, because SG is supposed to be just for fun.
4 laura // Jan 17, 2008 at
Hi Lornadoone!
It’s funny how we become attached to our personal blogs. I do the same thing.
5 Mihaela Lica // Jan 17, 2008 at
My blogging doesn’t stress me. Your blogging doesn’t stress me.
What stresses me out is the unethical approach to blogging. This lowers the value of blogging as a whole.
I am pissed when people steal content, pissed when they scrap. Comments spam in any form is quite annoying too.
As you, I spend some time trying to provide quality for my readers, because I respect their intelligence. And because I care it is really aggravating to see that some bloggers (once they get popular) lower their standards. Shame! Shame!
6 Krissy // Jan 17, 2008 at
I feel stress when blogging takes me away from my daily activities, and I blog too much and don’t do a lot of other things. Because sometimes I chose blogging first, daily activities second. And I know this is wrong. That’s where the stress comes from.
7 laura // Jan 17, 2008 at
Hi Mihaela!
I certainly agree that scraping and comment spam are unethical.
I guess I have a little more patience with bloggers who lower standards since I know that this can happen quite unintentionally. Plus, nobody can create thought-provoking stuff 100% of the time. Everyone has a a few duds.
Hi Krissy!
I think you express what probably does cause stress for most people. For most of us, blogging is not our main responsibility.
8 Wendy // Jan 17, 2008 at
The only times I’ve felt blogging related stress is when I’ve encountered template problems or have had a long spell where my blogs were failing to earn me any money. Other than that, I’d say they’re a great stress reliever!
Wendy
9 Wendy // Jan 17, 2008 at
Oops! I think I highlighted someone else’s blog in my previous comment! lol Wouldn’t you know it. If I did again, I’d rather not even know about it. I’m such a mess!
Wendy
10 Robyn // Jan 17, 2008 at
Laura, I’m with you – keep your blogging fun and stress-free. When you can make it more like play you make it an adventure. I love it and probably that’s why I’m addicted.
11 Vivienne Quek // Jan 18, 2008 at
My blog, as you know, is a corporate blog. I believe I have a responsibility to add value to my readers. If I can publish a blog post a day, fine. If I don’t have anything good to offer, I’ll not even put up a “filler” post. Quality is more important than quantity. With this objective, blogging is mostly fun and stress-free. My stress comes when I cannot effectively communicate my opinions and feelings through words.
12 laura // Jan 18, 2008 at
It looks like most of us are not greatly stressed by blogging, which is a good thing. I’m interested in seeing how the final poll turns out.
I think there’s a constant tension between posting often and posting well. What do you think?
13 Stress Guides // Jan 18, 2008 at
I occasionally feel stressed and have to remove myself for ten minutes. For people who don’t blog that much thinking of a good post or just putting something you want to say into the right context is the most stressful of all. I’m not a good blogger and never will be but giving yourself a break always seems to reduce stress and calm me down.
Andrew Holmes
Stress & Anxiety Guides
14 Mihaela Lica // Jan 20, 2008 at
Haaaa! I have nothing against something that happens every once in a while. Constant laziness bothers me though. The game of let’s pretend we are blogging. 😉
15 Laura // Jan 20, 2008 at
Thanks for your answer Mihaela!
Of course, there are many different blogs out there. I’d say, by and large, most of them are owned by hobbyists. (Non-paid individuals)
Some of them start and drop it, losing interest. Other perservere, but lose quality. A few are able to maintain a high level of content throughout.
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