7 Things
1. I needed it in the worst way. As I stated in my announcement post, I was burned out, jealous, petty, bitter, and generally unpleasant internally (not externally, I hope) when it came to my blog. Taking some time away helped me to realize just how unhappy I was. I’m glad I stepped back when I did. You should be too. I would never forgive myself if I Hulked out on all of you.
2. I’m a slow poke. I really predicted I would have an epiphany within days of my blogging break. Go ahead. You can laugh. No such epiphany occurred within a week, or even a month. In fact, the end result can hardly be called an epiphany at all. I needed to be patient with myself and trust that I’d know what’s best in time. Good lesson for the future, folks.
3. I like reading books. I don’t need to write about books to read them and love them. I don’t need to write about books to share my thoughts and feels with others. Thanks, friends!
4. I do like writing about books. I’m not exaggerating at all when I tell you I absolutely thought I would not come back to blogging. For at least the first 2 months, I thought it was over. I had no desire to blog or be near a blog. Then slowly but surely, the itch to write about books came back. I pondered what that meant and talked to my friends and le hubs about it. I was back at square one where I sincerely wanted to write about books even if NO ONE read it. That’s how I knew my decision was made.
5. I need to make changes. Changes for how the blog fits into my life and how my life fits into the blog. Changes on how often I post and what I post about. Changes for what I read and how I read it. Changes that will prevent future burnouts and result in a sustainably happy Lisa.
6. I could have prevented this. There are so many blogs out there with so much content and so many things that overwhelm me and make me a jealous blogger. It is up to me to prevent that from happening and to check myself before I wreck myself. Again.
7. I have really supportive readers and friends. For reals, y’all. You all supported me and encouraged me and were so so so good about giving me space and time. I just can’t even express in words that make sense how much that means to me. I can try by telling you it makes my heart safely swell within my ribcage to try and make room for all of the feels. And also I can say thank you.
So you may notice some changes around here. I hope you like them, because I do. I want to make you happy as my reader, but ultimately I’m here to do what makes me happy.
I honestly believe that unabashedly nerding out about things that I love with you makes for better content AND a happier Lisa. That’s what we call a win-win.
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Your new layout is super chill. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you a re back. And you know? Just do whatever the hell you want with your blog, I will still read it because you've got good taste and a great voice. :-)
Thank you, April! I'm super happy with the new layout as well.
DeleteTrue friends will stick with me no matter what craziness I'm posting. MWAH!
Huzzah! You are back! I'm so glad that you are happy and blogging again. No one else around has your thoughts to share, and your thoughts are super.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the great thing about it being your blog is that you make the calls. Do what makes you happy with it. We'll still be here :-)
I'm glad to be back too, Amy!
DeleteTotally agree with you - my blog, my rules. I can't let expectations bog me down. I do what I want!
Love you!!! New blog layout is awesome, what you've learned is awesome, and I'm so glad you're back! Just keep remembering all those great things and we'll always be around to support ya! Welcome back, friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the support! It means a lot that you're so excited for my return. :)
DeleteI'm so thrilled you came back to blogging girl! It can definitely get overwhelming and those ugly feelings that come up can really affect your way of thinking... I know I've been there many times. I'm looking forward to your upcoming unabashed nerding! xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteOh YOU KNOW the overwhelming things, my friend. It took some time to clear my head and realize that I can decide what goes up and when and to just deal with it when it doesn't happen the way I want. SO MANY of the things that frustrated me were self inflicted. I hope to prevent that in the future!
DeleteGlad to see you back my friend. Shannon & I came to the same conclusion, it is our blog and we can post however much we want or not at all. There definitely has to be a balance. So glad you found it.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about the balance! I should keep y'all in mind if I get out of whack again.
DeleteAll the things you listed are exactly how I felt this summer, which is why my postings were limited. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I felt THE URGE to blog again. We just have to do what we do and not worry about what others are doing... :) GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK, LISA!!!
ReplyDeleteYes! Waiting for the URGE was a wise decision on both our parts!
DeleteLovely design. Looking forward to reading whatever and whenever you decide to post. It's yours -- do what you want!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou're back, that's awesome! Sounds like you got your head cleared and the blogging break was a wise choice.
ReplyDeleteI love your new layout and design. It's clean and simple. I makes me want to try something new on my blog too...Nice to have your voice back on line:)
I am constantly rethinking my blog design. It's kind of a problem! BUT it is also one of the reasons I wanted to come back, so there we go!
DeleteSo happy that you're back and that your sabbatical helped! I love your new layout, and I can't wait to read your upcoming posts. (:
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou = The. Best. I'll read your blog whether you post once a day or once a year. You just do what works for you! Love ya.
ReplyDeleteYOU DA BEST, HEIDI.
DeleteI just saw your tweet and I may have shed a tear of joy! I actually had a conversation with a friend this weekend about blogging and it's not fun if we're blogging in someone else's style. I might not update my blog as much as the next guy or gal, but I'm working at my pace and having fun. I actually name-dropped you because of your sabbatical and was SO SO happy to hear that you're back in the "game" :D
ReplyDeleteahahaha you are too kind! Doing your own thing is DEFINITELY the way to go. I need to keep that in mind when I start doubting myself!
DeleteI absolutely LOVE that you're back Lisa! I've missed seeing you blog, and it will be awesome to have you back in action. I'm glad that you've come to a point where you're picking out EXACTLY what YOU want to do - it's important that you're happy with your blog and not just feeling pressured to keep it up. So proud of you and so happy you're back!!
ReplyDelete*tosses confetti*
Thank you! It wasn't easy. But after some big decisions (not pressuring myself to post, not accepting ARCs, etc) I feel much better about it. I'm ready!
DeleteI love all this. I've been book blogging for 3.5 years and I know I'll never be one of the big blogs. That's OK by me. It took me awhile to get to that point, but I'm OK with it. If blogging ever isn't fun, I take a break. I don't want reading and writing to feel like work for me. It is MY time. I still have a small readership, and that is OK. I'm always working on content or reading, but I don't want it to BE my life. I have a life and reading and blogging is part of it. But not all of it. I just take it as it comes. Slow and steady wins the race right?
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back!
Agreed. I'm not a big blog. I'm okay with that. Like, for real okay with that. I do what I want and I have fun doing it and there are some people who have a good time reading it too. That's enough! :)
DeleteYay! I'm glad you're back! I'm silent reader of your blog (I read but I never comment because I'm lame) but I can understand why you took a break! I have to say I agree with EVERYTHING you said in this post! I'm loving the new look and I can't wait for more nerdiness!
ReplyDeleteSilent reader! I love it! Thanks for breaking your silence to give me some encouragement. You rock!
DeleteWelcome back, darling! I know we were BOTH super burnt out a few months ago, given our long, drawn out emails back & forth. So I am in full support of blogging breaks. And hey, planned sabbaticals or week-long hiatuses, it's ALL GOOD. Just as long as it stays fun. I know I'll never be a big blog, and it sucks sometimes to see everyone BLOWING UP and I'm here all "oh hai," but I am super thankful for all the amazing friends (LIKE YOU!) I've made along the way <3 WELCOME BACK
ReplyDeleteYou get me. THANK YOU. oxo
DeleteWhen you announced your return a while back, I wrote it in my calendar. I am such a raging DORK. And so happy you're back!! And so happy for your seven things. I'm so ridiculously Asheley-type happy you are showing up in my reader.
ReplyDeleteAs always, you are the BEST.
xoxo
You know how we feel about lists. :)
DeleteYES!!! I'm so glad you're back, Lisa. The blogging world was missing a huge Lisa is Busy Nerding hole and it was not the better for it.
ReplyDeleteI just want you to know that I doubt anyone is immune to blogging jealousy. It's so tough when there are so many of us trying to make space in this field. It's hard to keep things in perspective and I fall into the same frustrations too.
You're awesome, a great HILARIOUS blogger, and just the best. :D
P.S. WHY YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAY?!
I think you're right - the more of us there are, the easier it is to get jealous. It sucks, but there it is. Let's be strong!
DeleteThe real question is, why do YOU live so far away!
Oh, haiiii! (Again.) Obviously I am reading posts backwards in my google reader. Anyway! So glad you're back. So very glad.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could be a blogger without having a writing partner. Estelle helps keep me feeling sane and excited when I'm feeling down and out. She helps me remember I have no obligation to read a book and i can put a bad one down to read what I want. It's hard. It feels like so much work sometimes and all of a few comments, but that's precisely what I have to remember. It isn't about the comments. It's about loving books and reading and having an outlet to post whatever the heck I want. All that rambling to say, I totally understand burnout and am so glad you took the needed time off. :)
Heck yes for you being back and love the new layout. You've brought all my colors to one place. And I adore you. So this is like a very happy place for me. ;)
** all my favorite colors. Geez, I was typing away too fast and missed words. :-/
DeleteOH HAI THAR.
DeleteI really wish I had a blogging partner. I think it would make my bookish heart so very happy.
If I could sum up blogging in one phrase that I stole from you, it would totally be "It's about loving books". YES THIS.
oxo
Wheee I feel like you just wrote me a pep talk. I feel this way ALL THE TIME, and today in particular, and this is *just* what I needed to read. Thank you, my friend, and welcome back -- I missed your face!
ReplyDeleteI'll be referring back to this post often to remind myself of my AMAZING insights...or whatever. It shall ground me, I hope!
Deletemwah!
So happy to see your blog pop up in my blog roll today :) Seriously.. MAKES ME SMILE SO BIG! I've begun to make a few changes on my blog lately (putting weekly features on hold, etc.) b/c I've realized that even though I adore book blogging - I need to make other things (my school!) a priority. I just don't have the time to put into it like I did before & I'd rather put things on hold than pump out half-ass posts just to get it done. Where's the passion in that?!
ReplyDeleteChange is good! You gotta do you and people will respect that. This I've learned.
DeletePassion and love for your posts will create good posts. Cranking them out to have content will not. That's what I've learned!
You're the best. Always.
I definitely understand where you're coming from! I just came back after taking the summer off of blogging as well. I promised myself I wouldn't come back until I REALLY missed it - and I'm glad that time really came :)
ReplyDeleteHope you make changes to your blog that make you happier with what you're doing!
I'm glad that time came too! I know that feel, girl.
DeleteYay for your come-back...I totally understand every point you made!! I'm on a blogging sabbatical myself right now and it's definitely made me re-think some things. Glad to see you're back cuz I definitely missed your reviews!
ReplyDeleteRethinking is never a bad idea! Thank you for the encouragement, friend. :)
DeleteYay for Lisa coming back! (I know I'm slow on the uptake, but I havrn't gotten to my reader in a while :P) I'm to see you back, but even happier to hear how much you wanted to /be/ back. I look forward to more posts from you :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that I wanted to be back too! :)
DeleteI know my comment is a week late, but I just wanted to say that I got book blogger burnout a few months ago and needed to back off of blogging, too. I'm still planning on blogging less as it is because I only want to review books I want to write about instead of every book I read. It's hard to keep a blog going regularly when it's not your paid occupation. I'm glad your happier now!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Cathy. It's all about finding what works for YOU. Find that balance and rock it!
DeleteWell said! :)
ReplyDelete