I’m not gonna lie, I almost couldn’t log back onto my WordPress account – it really has been THAT long. I had to try three times to get the right password and voila, here I am.
I have had this blog and my connected Instagram account for almost four years and for the past two years, I have treated both accounts like my baby. I loved to write, I loved taking photos and editing them. I loved playing around with my photos so I could curate the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed. In those two years, I spent most of my day thinking of ways I could improve my blog or my feed. When Instagram algorithms changed, it became harder and harder to get my posts noticed and because of that, my blog posts weren’t getting noticed either. I had fallen into the traps of the internet and I wanted to do everything in my power to get out- even if it meant setting aside other things in my life.
It’s a numbers game.
I wanted more followers, I wanted more likes and it was starting to canvas over the original reason why I started my Instagram account in the first place. The reason I ever started my account was so I could get more people to read my blog posts and I don’t know when my focus shifted away from my original goal. I’ve said it once but I’ll say it again. I love to write – whether I’m good at it or not is a whole other story but it’s something that I enjoy. Even my blog posts started to feel disingenuous. Honestly, I didn’t want to write about what dresses or outfits I was wearing each week. Yes, it was great to do once in a while but when that was almost all I was writing about, I felt creatively drained. But, I did it because that’s what everyone else was doing. Moral of the story, I needed a break.
My year-long break away from the internet didn’t happen abruptly. I had originally planned to take a month long break from posting to focus on school. That month turned into three months and that turned into almost a year. The idea of going back onto my account and back into the routine gave me overwhelming anxiety. The pressure of keeping up with everyone on social media felt like a burden. I couldn’t stand to watch an account that I had built from the ground up fall and eventually I logged out of my Instagram account because I didn’t want to be reminded of my failure.
My almost one year break was amazing. I had more time to do other things! Most people don’t know how much time it takes to run an Instagram account or a blog, it is like a full-time job and the hours bleed into every minute of the day.
I came back because I don’t abandon my projects.
I want to take my writing to a new level, write about more serious topics but still keep some of the original. I don’t want to give up on something I worked so hard for and I’m excited for the next chapter.
Have you ever taken a break before? Let me know 🙂
Until next time,
Sindy Spencer
I took a break at the beginning. After four posts, I gave up blogging from 10 months. It does take a LOT of time, and with a full time teaching job, I admit that I can’t do everything, Consistency just doesn’t happen during the school year.
Author
You’re absolutely right! I can’t imagine blogging and working at the same time – I felt overwhelmed just handling school and blogging!
Your post was like a breath of fresh air! Instagram and so many other platforms pressure so many creatives. Very inspirational post.
Author
That means so much thank you! I’m so glad I didn’t abandon something I love!
I’m glad you decided to come back! I just found you, but I’m excited to read the new stuff you will post and go back through some of your old lifestyle posts!
Amanda | https://amandaclaise.com
Author
Thank you Amanda! I love your style of writing and read through some of your posts too!! Stay in touch 🙂
Welcome back! I completely understand. Breaks are necessary and I’m so glad you found that yours was just your mind mind and body needed. Can’t wait to see what you create!
Author
I feel so revived after my break and I am so excited to create again – it was just what I needed! Thank you for stopping by!
I hear you, I think we all need a break from social media once in awhile. I definitely need it to be a better mom!
Author
I’m sure you’re a great mom regardless! But I hear ya, it’s so hard to handle everything all at once! I don’t know how you mom and blog at the same time!
I can really relate to everything you mentioned. Now that your back at it…is it still a struggle? I feel like it can be hard to stay motivated. Did you just shift your focus and now it’s better? I’d love to hear your follow up
Author
Hi Dani! I’m finding that I was starting to fall back into my old pattern because I guess old habits die hard. I’ve been making a plan for myself on what I want to focus on and having a long term plan has really helped me stay on the track I want to be on!
I am so glad you’re back!! And we all need breaks at some point. When I can’t think of what I want to right, I take a step back and go do something for myself.
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
Author
Thank you Jennifer!! I found it so hard to balance everything with school and it was getting very overwhelming. It was a great time for me to take a break and now I’m ready to come back 🙂
omg wow that’s incredible that you were able to do that. I’ve never taken a break longer than a few days to enjoy my time while on a vacation. I totally feel you though about wanting to get back to the writing rather than just the social side of IG
Author
I’m soo glad you understand! I just find it so hard to concentrate on just one thing because the two are so connected!
I have only been blogging for about 8 months. It is easy to get caught up in the number game and compare ourselves to others. Honestly, I go at my own pace. With my schedule, it is almost impossible to do IG everyday or write a blog post once a week. I enjoy writing and sharing information, therefore, i dont want to turn my blog into the feeling of a job (that takes the fun out of it).
Author
I totally agree, it starts to feel like a job after a while! I used to IG once a day and had such high expectations so after a while I just started getting caught up! Thanks for stopping by and reading 🙂
I’ve found myself in a nasty spot of writers block. I haven’t had the motivation or inspiration to even log on to my blog in a few months now, it’s like I lost my passion for writing, and it’s bothering me. So I’m trying to treat this as a “break”, do some self-care and try to enjoy my time, and hopefully the passion will spark once again 🙂