Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.
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Howdy strangers! I’ve been MIA for a few weeks but life is going swimmingly. I’ve been reading (a little bit anyway), gardening, playing with the pups, celebrating my birthday, watching lots of tv, painting rocks and generally enjoying the beautiful spring weather. I also got my COVID shot. My 2nd one is actually today.
I hope to get to writing a post about all of this soon but we’ll see. The laziness is strong with this one lol
I thought I would catch up on a few past TMST topics that I had really wanted to participate in. So here we go…
March 16
Q: Does blogging cut into your other chores?
A: It used to but not anymore. I pretty much abandoned every other hobby once blogging really took off. It was an all day affair – 7 days a week. I posted 7 days for years – 3-4 reviews a week, plus giveaways and hosting challenges.
It was fun for awhile but then it became an all consuming chore and now the opposite is happening. My other hobbies are pushing out blogging. What goes around, comes around I guess lol
March 23
Q: How do your organize your bookshelves (real and virtual)?
A: I don’t really. I have a very loose system for my physical books. When I had arc’s – I organized by release date – everything else (& currently) I just organize by what catches my eye and I think I’ll be interested in soon. I only have about 50 physical books left to read so I try to keep them in front of my face so that I might read them in my lifetime. It is not working.
I don’t keep track of virtual books like on Goodreads. I don’t mark books I want to read other than a short list on my Libby app to remind me of books I might want to request from the library when I have time. My kindle has a few folders like romance/YA etc. but I don’t really use them. I don’t have many books left on there either so I tend to read what I download right away.
March 30
Q: Have you ever thought of quitting blogging? What made you reconsider?
A. All the time! And I came very close a few times. Mostly from burnout or the drama of it. I’m actually in a very good place about it all now.
Blogging has returned to being a hobby without obligation for me again so I feel 0 pressure and love the engagement with (my admittedly small) group of friends now. I would miss everyone too much to leave. I just seemed to have found the balance that works for me even if it means I don’t do it as much.
April 6
Q: If you could live anywhere in the real world, where would you move?A: This is tough for me. I’ve lived on both coasts and love/hate things about both. There is no real place I would go but I’d love to be rich enough to move every 6 months and live everywhere at least for a small amount of time. Or combine things to make my own utopia – but the question was in the real world lol
April 13
Q: When is a book too long?
A: Whenever I’m bored it’s too long lol I’m not really a fan of long books though. It has to be AMAZING to keep my interest past 300-400 pages.
April 20
Q: Have you ever dreamed of becoming an author?
A: Nope.
Welp, I think I’m all caught up! Jump in with your answers or let me know what you’re reading/watching?
Apologies for being a crappy blog visitor and commenter lately. I try to squeeze in a few visits but I need to do some catching up!
I feel you on the blogging balance thing. Last year I knew I had to change how I was doing it or I was heading for serious burnout that would lead to quitting. Working full-time and trying to keep up with 3-4 posts a week was more than I can handle. Now my attitude is much more laissez-faire. I blog when I feel like it. The end. LOL Just recently I went two weeks without a single post and didn't bat an eye. I mean, if I'm not enjoying it, it's no longer a hobby... it's a job. So here's to finding that balance... and it seems we both have. :)
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun doing it the beginning that I didn't mind but I think I took on too much "obligation" type things and that combined with a few book slumps took the joy away.
DeleteI don't feel like letting it go though.
Good luck with your shot. Hope the second dose is kind to you. I never thought of quitting, but I have always made the schedule work for me. I don't 7 days a week though and never will. Glad you found a way to do it on your own terms.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam!
DeleteHonestly, I enjoyed posting 7 days a week back then. Everything just flowed so easily - until it didn't lol
It's crazy how some bloggers post every day of the week or used to. I don't think I could keep that momentum up. I'm glad you've found a way to blog without dealing with the pressure of it all I'd hate to see you disappear!! I don't really have a set schedule or routine for blogging, but I do want to get better at scheduling ahead on posts so I'm not doing thing so last minute at least. That would be helpful! lol
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday! I hope your second vaccine goes well. Glad you are doing well and reading a tiny bit. :)
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I enjoyed it so much back then that it was easy. There's no way I could do that now - obviously lol I don't have the passion or drive anymore.
DeleteThank you!!
I just only realized how much better it is when we remove the pressure off ourselves. Blogging is now a hobby again. :) My circle has gone smaller as well, but I don't mind.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to let some of it go after so much effort to grow it - because you definitely lose followers this way but I'm happy.
DeleteHappy birthday! And yay on the vaccine! That's exciting and a relief. I'm loving hearing about people being vaccinated... Feels like we're finally getting somewhere with this thing!
ReplyDeleteI thought I was ready to get back into some kind of blogging rhythm but it turns out I'm not, lol... I'm just winging it now but, like you, I'm happy pottering about doing other things so it's all good.
I'm currently engrossed in Falcon and The Winter Soldier and have immersed myself in all things Bucky Barnes. Gawd, I love that man. 😆 Have you seen it? Final episode is this week so if you haven't it's a good time for watching! The week on week break has been killing me!
Are you able to get vaccinated yet? My arm is more sore this time around and I have achy muscles and tired this morning. Not too bad but more than the first.
DeleteHey there you are! I was thinking I hadn't seen any posts for a while. :) But I totally get it too. I'm the same way with bookshelves, I don't really organize them (or do TBR's) in any meaningful way.
ReplyDeleteHappy bday!!!
Blogging has definitely cut into my other hobbies- i blog more than I read lol.
Here I am! lol
DeleteThat's exactly it Greg! I was blogging (or trying to stay up on blogging) rather than being able to do the things that drove me to blog lol
When I live in the city I miss the country. When I live in the country I miss the city. I need to be rich enough to have a summer cottage in the country, so I feel you. Ha ha. 🏡🌇
ReplyDeleteI've only been posting once a week, basically. I've had too many other things to do. 😛
Exactly. There are things I really miss about FL even though I don't want to live there. We really just need to be rich! lol
DeleteYea for having fun at home! And happy belated birthday. I love reading all of your catch up posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI was on time this week lol
Omg look at you, all caught up :D
ReplyDelete2 shots too! yay
Done! Have you gotten a shot yet over there?
DeleteLike you, I've been watching lots of television, and there have been lots of good things on to keep my attention, when I should be doing other stuff.(lol) I agree, and used to blog all the time, and it seemed like my mind was a whirlwind of ideas. Now I've been doing so many other things that the blogging took a back seat. My plan is to blog one or twice a month starting next month, hopefully. Happy belated birthday and sending lots of hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteI'm just getting so caught up in other things. Some days I don't even turn on my computer. That's fine though - hobbies ebb and flow.
DeleteI'm not being the best at visiting blogs lately either. Things are just too crazy sometimes, eh? Glad you're getting your second vaccine! Also glad you never quit blogging :)
ReplyDelete:-) Thank you!
DeletePlaying catch up like a champ!
ReplyDeleteOmg I can't believe your answer to the last question is just "nope." KAREN.
Sorry - I have never wanted to write a book. Reading and reviewing is enough pressure. I could never be creative on demand (or probably at all lol)
Delete"It was an all day affair – 7 days a week. I posted 7 days for years – 3-4 reviews a week, plus giveaways and hosting challenges. [...] Blogging has returned to being a hobby without obligation for me again so I feel 0 pressure and love the engagement with (my admittedly small) group of friends now."
ReplyDeleteEvery time you talk about your old blogging days, I feel like you've been body-snatched LOL. Blogging is a hobby for me too, and a lot of the pleasure I get in doing it comes from my interactions as well, but on the other hand I'm scheduling my posts and writing time-consuming reviews...Anyhow, the important thing is, neither of us is leaving LOL.
"There is no real place I would go but I’d love to be rich enough to move every 6 months and live everywhere at least for a small amount of time."
Ha! That's cheating! 😉
I really loved doing it 7 days a week back then though. It wasn't any pressure. It was just a different time when it was more fun.
DeleteI'll never go back to that but I can't quit either. I do enjoy all my friends here.
Balance for blogging is everything. I've taken breaks but never wanted to quit.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about it but never wanted to take that last step. I go with breaks too.
Delete