On Blogging

The Bloggy Chiropractor, Step 2: Controlled blogging

This is step 2 in The Bloggy Chiropractor 3-step program, in which we work on correcting our blog/life balance.

For the first part of this journey, you were told to take a 2-week blog vacation.

Did you do it?

If yes, good for you!  Now we can get down to the rest of the readjustment.

If no, I’m sorry but I have to tell you that you DO NOT PASS GO.  DO NOT COLLECT $200. GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL.  And by “jail” I mean, step 1.  You should be ashamed of yourself.

For the rest of us,

Now that you have some perspective, and maybe even a clean closet, it’s time for step 2.

During the bloggy vacation you might have found that it was uncomfortable at times.  You found yourself with a few minutes and nothing to do and your instinct was to turn to the computer… but wait! You’re on vacation from that!

This discomfort is good, because it means that you are RETRAINING yourself.  Your old (BAD) habit is to turn to blogging all the time.  You are creating new (GOOD) habits in which you refocus on life.

You know you’re on the right track when you have an hour before bed and you decide to pick up the house… plan dinner for tomorrow… read a book… use that dusty old treadmill… 

Once you get to this point, you’ll remember how it was that you USED to get things done. You did them.

You are on the path to recovery.

In step 2, we will reintroduce blogging while keeping it from becoming an all-consuming life-sucking creature.

There are two options for doing this.  Choose the one that feels most comfortable for you. 

Option 1: scheduled blogging

In option 1, we set a firm schedule for blogging and stick to it.  Maybe it’s every evening from 9-11pm.  Or in the morning at 6am.  Or during the kids’ naps for an hour.  Whatever makes sense to you; the trick here is to set a schedule (write it down! post it!) and then follow it.

Option 2: blogging within guidelines

Option 2 is more flexible, less rigid, but possibly more risky.  It can easily morph into out-of-control, addictive blogging, so watch yourself.

In this option, we prioritize blogging by setting clear guidelines about when and how much we blog. 

For example, “I blog for no more than 45 minutes each day,” or “I may only blog if I’ve exercised and the dishes are done,” or ”I only blog when I’ve accomplished three items from my to-do list for the day.” 

The trick is to create guidelines that are: 

Explicit - it should be absolutely crystal clear when you can and cannot blog.  Nothing wishy-washy like, “I’ll blog when I have most of my stuff done.”

Realistic- set guidelines that you can actually follow.  Although it would be nice to say that we’ll only blog after we’ve done EVERYTHING on our to-do list, if your list is like mine, that’s just not gonna happen.

Making yourself accountable

For both of these options, the trick is in policing our own behavior.  As you and I both know, we wouldn’t be in this three-step program if we were good at that! 

First off, write down your guidelines and post them in a visible place.  Tell your family members so that they can keep you accountable. 

Remember that list of things that you need and want to do, that you made in step 1?  Keep that list!  Hang it next to your guidelines!  Each and every time you find yourself sneaking over to the computer, look at the list and pick something else to do besides blogging.

© Jenny Blackburn. All Rights Reserved.

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Catch more of Jenny Blackburn’s humorous anecdotes on being a mom, a woman, and a whole lot crazy at Absolutely Bananas. If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for “On Blogging,” email jenny[@]seattlemomblogs[dot]com.