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Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

October 27, 2015

How to know when you need a blog break

October 27, 2015

Okay. So. Not to be entirely self-pitying, but I’ve had a rough couple of months. Between moving, problems with my mom, fluctuating responsibilities at work, and trying to keep personal relationships from sinking…things around here got a little quiet. Anything that wasn’t absolutely essential to keep in the air got dropped.

I really turned inward and didn’t want to broadcast my problems for the internet. Airing dirty laundry takes on a whole new level when it’s available world-wide (not that I flatter myself that someone in Paris is reading this, buuuut….)

And while I wrote about what I learned from blogging every day, I didn’t write about what I learned from not writing when my heart wasn’t there and how to know when you need a blog break.

How to know when you need to take a blog break (and a giveaway from Gardening In High Heels)

How do you know when you need a break? When you’re heart isn’t in it. It’s that simple. You need to take a step back to reconnect with what you love doing. Creatively rejuvenate yourself. That’s a post for another day, but I know my writing struggles when it just isn’t exciting me and I can bet it’s the same way for you, too.

So what did I learn from taking a blog break?

Of course, there are the practical things I’ve learned like I should have kept up with the promotion and sharing old posts through Facebook and Twitter. I mean, it makes sense. But again, my heart just wasn’t there. So do as I say and not as I do: still go through your popular posts and promote the hell out of them. Even if you aren’t producing new material, still share old material.

Find a new outlet. I turned to Instagram to document what was happening in real life. #BecauseImKeepingItReal

I don’t want to always have this picture-perfect portrayal here because life isn’t picture perfect. And while I want this to be a reintroduction to me and a hello to a new business of sorts, I also want to recognize life’s stumbles. Yes, you need to make sure you’re spelling is correct and your pictures aren’t fuzzy, but you also need to connect with people’s hearts. That’s my belief.

If you don’t have their hearts, all you have are numbers. And what good does that do you?

Another thing I learned from taking a step back is that it’s okay to change your path. You aren’t stuck in one niche forever. You can evolve. You can pivot.

I know, these are all things that are like, “Angelica, you seriously didn’t realize that??” but there’s a difference between knowing something and getting it.

So, back to pivoting on what you’re doing. Jenny Blake is the pivot queen. (She actually wrote about what happens when you try to nail your niche.) I love that we don’t have to keep doing the same thing over and over. Especially if you want to go in another path but feel like you should stay on the route you’re on. That “should” word is a red flag that you need to mix it up.

I’m redefining what I want to write about and letting this be a place for people to learn more about me and my work in a real way. I’ll still write about makeup and the trials of cultivating a beautiful life, but on a more consistent basis again. I’ll also be focusing more on letting this be my outlet and a way to highlight my writing strengths in the hopes that people hire me to write for them (because I love sharing my thoughts with you, but thoughts don’t pay the rent, y’hear me?)

As a thank you to people who have been with me through it all and a welcome for any new readers and friends I’ve made along the way, I want to share some of my favorite things (and let you win them).

How to know when you need to take a blog break (and a giveaway from Gardening In High Heels)

How to know when you need to take a blog break (and a giveaway from Gardening In High Heels)

Of course, my favorite pens, Post Its, and copious amounts of Target dollar spot stationery. My favorite balm + stain that looks great on anyone (it’s the Revlon Balm Stain in Honey) and a few other lip products. A freakin’ hilarious letterpress notebook from Sapling Press in Pittsburgh and purchased at my favorite card shop in the city, Wildcard. And this lovely scarf, of course in gray like everything else I wear. I seriously almost kept the for myself, yo. But I love you guys, so you win. And a few other things I may pick up along the way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can you pick out a theme? Me neither. It’s pretty much me in a box. And hopefully if you’re like me, you’ll love this all, too.

What’s your sign to know when you need a break?

PS: You guys rock. Just sayin’.

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10 Comments · Labels: Digital Creatives, Giveaway Tagged: blogging, break, giveaway, how to, learning

  • Laura @ Life with Lolo

    Really there’s a lot of good that comes from a blogging break. And when life is getting in the way blogging is the last thing that should stay afloat in the chaos, so you shouldn’t have to feel bad about being away or not promoting old posts. I’m excited to see where this new shift is taking you and to have you back around blogland more frequently friend! And I hope I win the goodies!!!!

    • Angelica @GardeningInHighHeels

      Thanks so much, Laura! Yes, if your heart isn’t in it, I don’t care what you do, nothing is going to feel the same. I’m so excited to be going in a more me direction. And keep up with your posts and Hashtag Humpday again!

  • Ashley Kress

    Blogging breaks are so important! I got tired of feeling chained to writing on my blog, so now I only write when I feel inspired to and about things that matter to me. Welcome back, lady! 🙂

    • Angelica @GardeningInHighHeels

      Thanks for reading, Ashley! It’s hard to keep up a steady stream of (useful and inspiring) posts when you feel drained. I’m glad you can commiserate. I love your strategy of only writing when you’re hit with the right feeling

  • Mel

    Let me tell you, I seriously Googled Jenny’s book today because I couldn’t remember when it would be released. (Unfort, not until next September.) I’m feeling a LOT of must-pivot emotions right now and feel myself pulling between what I *should* do and my current identity. As much as I spent this last year saying “this isn’t me anymore!” I find myself wanting some of the things (professionally, mostly) that were parts of my former self. I CAN’T DEAL.

    But yes, breaks are important and necessary and good for us to recharge and refocus. 🙂

    • Angelica @GardeningInHighHeels

      Damn, next September?? And ugh what a tricky place to be. Maybe instead of thinking of them as your former self, this is your new pivot. So you aren’t returning to who you used to be, you’re applying lessons you’ve learned and integrating them into your new self moving forward. Maybe? If you need some directional hand-holding, I’m happy to listen. And Emily Cassel is a great coach if you want to go in that direction.

      • Mel

        Yes! Would you be up for meeting for coffee some time in the next couple weeks. That might be helpful for me!

        • Angelica @GardeningInHighHeels

          Absolutely! Let’s plan this. My email is gardeninginhighheels@gmail.com – let me know when is good for you! 🙂 Yay!

  • Sara Strauss

    I took a short two week blog break over the summer and it was wonderful! Although the whole time I was like I should be blogging. I should be preparing for when I go back to blogging. Or think I forgot to write a post for the day when I obviously wasn’t blogging. I think next time I take a blog break, I need to take a longer one, so I can prepare some posts ahead of time and then really relax!
    ~Sara
    Sincerely, Sara

    • Angelica @GardeningInHighHeels

      What is this disease we have where we worry about not working when we’re not supposed to be stressed because we’re taking a break? Myself included! Girl, a break is a break so necessary sometimes, but I agree, next time it needs to be better planned to eliminate that pressure.

Who’s Angelica?

Life Un-styled Blogger, Gardener, Shoe Lover..among other things

I'm here to encourage and empower you to grow where you're planted and embrace the weeds that sometimes pop up. I'll share inspiration, products I like (and you may too), and stories from the garden.

Gardening In High Heels is for badass babes who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Want to learn more? Start here.
           

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