10 Reasons Why I Love Blogging

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday? Yes, those do exist, and they’re the reason for this semi-sorta-very-cheesy post. Lately I’ve gotten the chance to do so many cool things because of this blog—a shopping spree at Sur La Table (!!), an upcoming trip to South Carolina (!!), fun projects with brands I love—and it’s all had me feeling extremely appreciative that I can do this for a living.

Mondays don’t suck anymore! And as a little gratitude check, I thought it fitting to spend this chilly Monday morning writing out 10 of the countless reasons why I love blogging, both as a hobby and a profession.

1 | I get to write every day.

Writing is my first love. Long before I discovered this passion for health and fitness (long before I could even spell “health” or “fitness”), I started writing. Daily diary entries (which are HILARIOUS to read through), fictional adventure stories about my cousins, school assignments—I’ve been writing nonstop since I figured out how to hold a pencil. And now, not only do I get paid to do it, but I’m writing about topics of my choice and in which I’m deeply interested. Sure, writing descriptions of how to properly do a burpee doesn’t exactly ignite a creative flame in me, but every tangent, long-winded intro and random aside on the blog is an instance of me getting to do what I love.

2 | I can work from anywhere (or nowhere).

The flexibility of being able to work anywhere with an internet connection is amazing. I can extend weekend trips into the work week as long as I have my computer with me; I can explore different coffee shops; and I can take my “office” to the Boston Public Library and sit outside in the courtyard (it’s gorgeous). On the flip side, I can also go absolutely nowhere and work from my apartment, or even my bed, which can be equally amazing.

3 | The blogging community is supportive.

It’s been my experience that the blogging community is extremely supportive of one another. The mindset is one of helping lift each other up, rather than of cutthroat competition. Because blogging is still a relatively new career choice, it seems like most successful bloggers are more than willing to share their experiences and advice—of which I’ve been so appreciative! Whether it’s sharing someone else’s content, leaving comments on other blogs, collaborating on guest posts, or giving advice, there’s a lot of “building others up” constantly going on in the blogging community. It rocks.

4 | Blogging allows me to be self-reliant.

It’s admittedly to a fault, but I HATE relying on others to get things accomplished.

“when i die i want my group project members to lower me into my grave so they can let me down one last time”

— no (@tbhjuststop) June 20, 2014

I recognize that the key to success will be to eventually delegate some work to other people as my blog grows, but I love that for the most part, I can create everything necessary for a blog post all by myself. If you’re like me, a Type A Capricorn perfectionist with mild-to-severe OCD, you’ll understand what an amazing feeling that is.

5 | It’s creative.

I’m never bored with blogging because each post and project allows me to be creative. There’s a certain level of busy work that inevitably comes with any job (in this case, categorizing blog posts, organizing the site, etc.), but for the most part, every day is a little different from the last and I never feel the weight of monotony. Whether it’s figuring out the best aesthetics for a picture layout in Photoshop, trying out inventive exercises, or experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen, the blogging process is one of creation, which I love.

6 | When it comes to connecting with people, your reach becomes boundless.

Thanks to the internet, it’s possible to connect with people across the country and globe who you’d probably never otherwise meet. This allow me to share what I love with a larger network of people, and you have no idea how amazingly rewarding it is to get an email from Joe Schmo from Idaho saying that my blog is in someway helpful, impactful or entertaining. Without the Internet, I’d never have made that connection with Mr. Schmo.

And it goes both ways! I also get to learn from all of you, and access this whole massive network of experiences and knowledge. A post I did a few months back about finding it difficult to run long distances while also regularly doing other modes of exercise is a perfect example. The comments were so informative and helpful, coming from runners much more experienced than me.

7 | Half the time, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.

The business side of blogging and the technological side of blogging are like foreign languages to me. Tax write-offs? HTML coding? You might as well be speaking to me in Russian. I love the challenge of being a fish out of water because it’s forced me to learn and constantly grow. It can be uncomfortable, overwhelming and frustrating at times, but every day I’m getting better at running a business, managing a website and blogging professionally.

8 | You eat what you kill.

Ok, that’s a little dramatic. To a much lesser extent than, say, a full-commission sales job, there’s an eat-what-you-kill income structure to professional blogging. I don’t have the reliability of a steady paycheck from a salaried position. If I’m not creating content and consistently working, that’s immediately reflected in my income. I can’t just “show up”—I have to work. I can’t just go to the office, decide I’m having an unproductive day, and sit in my cubicle on Facebook passing the time until 5PM. If I don’t do stuff, I don’t get stuff.

I love this because it keeps me motivated and engaged in my work. It also gives me a sense of pride in each paycheck I get because it’s truly earned.

9 | There’s endless material for the self-deprecating comic. Endless.

There are days when my job entails pushing the couch away from the window so that I can get natural lighting for my smoothie, which needs to be arranged with its ingredients artistically sprinkled around it before I take approximately 900 pictures of it from various angles. COME ON.

There are days when my job entails bribing my mom (I’m 26 years old) to take pictures of me doing push ups in an alleyway behind my apartment while confused construction workers look on trying not to laugh. GIVE ME A BREAK.

I’m not delusional, nor do I take myself too seriously—I see the humor in blogging, and laugh at myself just about every day.

10 | Freebies.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love getting free stuff. And it’s not because I’m a materialistic a-hole—the experiences are the best freebies of all! Whether it’s the opportunity to take an amazing fitness class free of charge or an all-expenses-paid trip cross-country, blogging has given me the chance to do so many cool things without breaking the bank. And, yeah, free sneakers aren’t a bad perk either.

BONUS | No pants required to blog.

…Taking pictures for workout tutorials notwithstanding.

What’s one reason why you love your job? Or, if you hate your job, what’s one quality you’re looking for in your next job?