Why You Need to Take a Break From Your Blog

I went out of town this past Labor Day weekend – it’s an extended holiday for us here in the U.S. and many of us take the opportunity to skip town for one last summer hurrah before the realness of fall sets in. It happened to be an extraordinarily busy week in work and life leading up to my vacation, and rather than stick to my editorial calendar, I decided not to post the blogs I’d planned to write. There’s a lot written here in IFB for the argument of blogging consistently and how to commit to it when you’re busy – but something had to give, and I intentionally made the choice not to blog.

It was freeing to feel like I wasn’t tied to my blog schedule for once, even though I’m the only one to keep myself on track. I made that choice and cut ties to any guilt that might come with it – and that felt good. I was able to savor the holiday weekend, keep the screen time to a minimum and come out of it with these reasons why it’s healthy to take a break from your blog – whether it’s for a few hours, a few days or even longer.

To Break the Monotony

Disruption to our normal routine is a good (read: essential) thing. Routine is awesome for keeping structure in our blogging amidst the chaos of the rest of our lives, but too much of it for too long opens the door for a not-so-healthy blogging rut. If you’re finding yourself posting the same kinds of blog posts without much enthusiasm or creativity, it might be time to step away from blogging for a bit. When you’re running on autopilot, the monotony can be like a chokehold on your energy & writing flow, making it that much easier to get distracted (or write something you’re not proud of!)

To Jumpstart Your Creativity

A break is the best possible way to get those creative ideas flowing again. Stepping away from your blog to do something else – some errands, a project or a relaxing vacation – puts you in a different mindset and environment. Those are the times when ideas or breakthroughs are likely to pop up. If you’re stuck on how to write your next sponsored post, or even if you just need some new inspiration for outfit posts, take a break and do something else!

Your Body Needs It

I’ve made a big priority out of self-care this year, and taking regular breaks from my blog (among other things in my life) have helped me come back stronger and more productive overall. I’m so hyped to see tons of studies out now debunking the myth of multitasking as a productivity help, and I’m so on board with getting more sleep. Burning the midnight oil and going all hours of the day is a necessity every once awhile, but when it’s the norm, it becomes a one-way ticket to burnout. Give your eyes, hands and brain a rest and come back refreshed and focused to produce better, higher-quality blog posts.

To Live Life!

It’s crazy to think that just a few years ago, smartphones and laptops didn’t dominate our lives the way they do now. I am just as consumed by blogging and social media as the next, and I hate to say it but I know my in-person conversation skills have deteriorated because of it. It’s so easy to pull out my phone to Instagram a photo or answer email than to just be in the moment. Take a break from being so tethered to a screen – maybe to meet a blogging mentor for lunch, or get some inspiration from Mother Nature, or a face-to-face conversation with a loved one.

Blog traffic, pageviews and social media follower numbers don’t mean anything if your body, mind and precious time living your life are suffering for it. Blog for you, and know when to take a break when you need it. If you absolutely can’t fathom breaking from your normal posting schedule, consider IFB’s recommendations for how to accept guest contributors.

(Image credit: Shutterstock.com)