Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Marvin and I’m a blogaholic.
I don’t know about everyone else but it seems like there are not enough hours in the day, especially for someone working diligently on a side business. Maybe its just me and I need to suck it up and drive on but I’m find spare time more and more scarce.
Case In Point
I use to be an athlete and after that a soldier, needless to say physical fitness has been paramount for the majority of my lifetime. However, over the past two years I have seen a steady decline in my diet, sleep, and consistency of workouts. Obviously a lot has changed in two years, we have a daughter and are expecting a son any day now but I find myself wondering how did I get to this point. My father says my priorities in life have changed, which I agree and can see his reasoning. I just wish priorities changing didn’t add 20 pounds to my waistline!
Today was the day I was going to stop complaining about not having time, get up off my butt and go the gym to get a good sweat in. Well…. I actually just got back from the gym and all I could think about during my “brief” workout was:
“I wonder how many unique visitors I have today?”
“Did I forget to properly categorize the article I wrote last week?”
“Do I have anymore fans on my Facebook Page?”
“Oh no! I still need to submit my article to the carnivals!”
“Will my Google Page Rank go to 3 today?”
“I still need to check my Alexa Ranking”
“Who has emailed me in the last 45 minutes? I should go check my phone after this set!”
“Has anyone tweeted one of my articles?”
“Can I keep up with this blog once my son is born?”
I’ll stop there, but trust me there were many more questions running rampant in my head at the gym this morning.
Are any of you out there blogaholics? Possibly recovering blogaholics? If so, I’d love to hear some of tips and tricks you’ve done to streamline your efforts while blogging.
March 7, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Sounds like you’re a chronic stats checker. I can cop to that. I sometimes have trouble turning my blogging brain off at night when I’m trying to go to sleep. Maybe I should try going to the gym instead.
March 8, 2013 at 7:51 pm
It’s hard to shut off right?!
March 7, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Alright, I admit it I am obsessed with blogging. I think it can be very addictive, but you need to limit your time. I reduced my 40-50 hours per week to closer to 20 hours per week.
March 8, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Right now I’m clocking in about 50 hours a week. The main thing I need to do is streamline my tasks.
March 7, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Marvin
I’d love to answer your question but I’ve just had a notification to say that someone has viewed my linkedin account and I need to go and check out who that was
David
March 8, 2013 at 7:57 pm
haha! I understand
March 9, 2013 at 1:22 am
David, this is funny!!! LOL
March 9, 2013 at 5:48 am
Funny because its so true. Lets all just focus on providing great content, easier said than done though.
March 9, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Agree. Not an easy task.
March 7, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Blogging can be pretty addicting. The part I enjoy the most is the actual writing, but there’s so much involved with the carnivals and social media that it’s sometimes hard to stay up to date with everything. I still am pleased/excited when I get new comments and readers, but I try not to let it take over other parts of my life (I can see how it quickly could get to that point if I didn’t keep myself in check).
March 8, 2013 at 8:00 pm
The learning curve has been huge. I initially started out thinking I would just write content and continue posting my investments. When in actuality I haven’t been able to focus much on investing because I’ve been learning so much about blogging, building a website, SEO, the list goes on and on.
March 8, 2013 at 8:08 am
I find myself checking up on my blog pretty constantly when I’m at work, of course I sit in front of a computer just monitoring things so it isn’t hurting any work related activities. It is very easy to get addicted to this, especially if you’re trying to really grow the blog. If it’s for pure entertainment purposes then it’s not as bad, but once you turn it into a potential side business it’s very easy to get wrapped up in it.
March 8, 2013 at 8:03 pm
I agree completely! As a hobby it’s kind of exciting but when you have goals of hopefully monetizing your site it turns into a small business. As a financial blogger you have to constantly add value to the blogosphere which is a task in itself.
March 8, 2013 at 10:04 am
Definitely checking/thinking/working on my blog constantly, even when I’m not in front of my computer. Even though I haven’t given much thought to the business potential of my blog, I have developed a love affair with it regardless.
March 8, 2013 at 8:04 pm
One of the most exciting things for me was connecting with other like minded individuals.
March 8, 2013 at 10:13 am
Oh, I can so relate Marvin! I am a “checker” as my wife likes to call me and I am always checking different things. I don’t know that I am addicted to blogging, as I do the same thing with our business…I think there is an underlying issue.
March 8, 2013 at 8:05 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one John. My wife has to pry the computer from me on some nights and force me to sit down and watch a movie with her without checking up on my blog.
March 10, 2013 at 9:32 am
Luckily when I’m home I usually get up an hour or two before my wife so I try to get my blog checking done then because once she’s up I’ve got to shift my attention or she’ll be taking the laptop away.
March 8, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Marvin I’m in the same situation as you. A couple of years back when I discovered blogging and how I could create my own small business online it was exhilarating. Since that time I have let a lot of important things sit at the back burner including family and friends – all for more publicity, readers and eventually a payday.
Only within the last few months did it become more apparent to me and where my prioritizes are. I have gotten back into better health, my hobbies, spending time with my family and treating my career with greater appreciation.
What sparked the change? I noticed I was burning out and the quality of work I was putting into my online businesses and blogs was declining rapidly. There was little to no direction and my eyes were hurting from looking at the screen all day. In response I stopped a couple of blogs and will hopefully sell them soon to focus on my favorite one. I have goals and a firm long term outlook for it as well. That is what enabled me to get back to my regular life.
This was a great read. Thanks for sharing
March 8, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I can totally relate to your experiences and appreciate you sharing with all of us. At the end of the day nothing can replace our relationships with friends and family.
March 8, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Man, you are crazy. But you know what? I am heck doing the exact same thing last couple of months… we need medical treatment… Funny reading, like looking at the mirror.
March 8, 2013 at 8:14 pm
It was hard to come face to face with what we’re suffering from Martin =)
March 8, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Ha! Sounds like you’ve got it bad, dude! I used to be there with you. Mine has morphed into everything being a good idea for a story. “Wow! A new restaurant in town? That’d be a GREAT story.” or “Check out these new running shoes…hey, that’d be a great article!” It’s pretty annoying.
I spent 16 years building the financial planning practice and totally avoiding workouts. Now at 45 I’ve realized for good that I have less ideas and less energy for my kids and biz if I don’t exercise. I still have all my best ideas working out…which makes me want to do it more!
March 8, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Ha! I’m the same way, I swear I think of two new articles on my way too and from work. I’m looking to become a registered investment advisor myself and I know it’s a huge task starting from scratch. Thanks for sharing your story.
March 9, 2013 at 8:21 am
I’m in the same boat Marvin. It’s so exciting when things begin to move upward. And turning my brain off at night, sometimes I lie there for thirty mins thinking of what I should do next. A weekly checklist has greatly helped me in this area.
March 10, 2013 at 10:15 pm
It’s crazy right! The last thing I thought would keep me up at night was my blog, but sure enough it does. And of course when I finally do fall asleep, our toddler starts crying in the middle of the night
March 9, 2013 at 11:33 am
I can definitely relate. Luckily my site is fairly new so I haven’t been checking my stats too much, but I’ve been working on my blog probably more than I should…to the point that my weekend and workweek are blending together, because I come home and work on the blog until bedtime, wake up, head to work, come home, and then get back to my site. Rinse and repeat.
I can’t imagine trying to juggle a kid, especially with another on the way. My hat goes off to you Marvin!
March 10, 2013 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for the kind words Kris. Its amazing how that work week starts to blend and everything else (tv shows, sports, etc) takes a backseat.
March 9, 2013 at 11:43 am
Hey Marvin I definitely understand what you are talking about here. I started my blog a little less than a year ago and I find myself constantly logging in to check my stats. One problem I had is that I would check too often and nothing would really change since I’m a beginner and stats aren’t that wonderful (although they are growing!). By checking too often and not seeing much progress I would get down on myself and be bummed out. So I’ve tried to implement a rule in my life where I can only check my different stats once a day. This is very difficult to actually do though and requires tons of self discipline. However, I find I’m much more pleased with the results and happier overall if I am only checking once a day compared to every half hour or so because usually things are heading in the right direction.
So for me the routine I have recently gotten into seems to be working. Checking stats once a day, setting out a specified time to write content for my blog and work on other projects, and setting out specified times to check and reply to emails. Just trying not to let it overtake my life!
March 10, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for the input Dan! I really appreciate it, I’m still the same way with stats, I’ve tried to limit myself but then I’ll write (what I think is an epic post) and be so stoked to see how many people check it out. If I was a programmer I’d write a WordPress plugin that limits you to only checking stats once a day. [To all you programmers out there I just gave you a free idea, ha!]
One quote that I did hear the other day from a podcast with Amy Porterfield was “No two things can occupy the same space at the same time” Therefore as of late, I have been focusing on one small task and literally putting everything else to the side until it is completed.
March 9, 2013 at 12:45 pm
The true metric is “How many times do you check Analytics a day?”
For me? Haha, probably around 3 (and I have the App on my phone). But I could quit at any time!
March 10, 2013 at 10:22 pm
I’m actually good about analytics, probably because I’m not too spun up on them yet other than the basic metrics.
March 10, 2013 at 10:26 am
I find myself doing a lot of those. I think it’s because blogging is still new and exciting to me. I’d expect that as my blog growth levels off that I’ll become a bit less obsessed with checking stats, and probably go back to primarily focusing on comments and content.
I think it also depends on whether you blog for fun or as a business. If you’re blogging with the goal of making money, those stats are critical and it’s hard not to obsess over them.
March 10, 2013 at 10:23 pm
You hit the nail on the head. If you’re trying to build a business, community, and brand stats is the one metric that shows you if you’re adding any value to the community.
March 10, 2013 at 11:13 pm
When I started, every free minute was spent checking or learning something. I am still pretty anal about checking email and comments, but I try to take time for other things as well. Blogging could consume all of your time. There is always one more post to read or one more thing you could share. It’s hard to find the balance, but at least it is time spent using your mind in a productive way instead of using it for something like Angry Birds.
March 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm
I agree completely. Blogging has been one of the most beneficial things I have done in a long time. The relationships you create alone are invaluable!
March 11, 2013 at 12:57 pm
I’m a retired blogaholic. I just blog without disruptions.
March 11, 2013 at 2:37 pm
I’m glad you were able to break the cycle! That is ultimately what I’ve had to start doing. I basically create tunnel vision on one goal and don’t do anything else until it’s accomplished. Thanks for stopping by!
March 13, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Great post. The interesting thing for me is that I have always been constantly thinking about finance and investing, different ways to invest, this stock, that stock. The blog now becomes an outlet to let all those ideas flow out. I already had a huge list of topics to think/write about before I even started the blog that I don’t need to spend to much time thinking about the ideas, but more time putting them to paper.
With a couple of young kids, I make sure that I don’t spend more than a few hrs on the weekend crafting the posts (3-4) and a couple of 1-1.5 hrs each night interacting with other bloggers, which you really need to help keep sane!