Hi everybody! How are you today? I hope you are doing fantastic!
You ready for some more keeping it real? Let’s talk about having too many projects and continuing to add new projects. Hmmm…sounds like I might want to give you a little back story.
I was on vacation last week and just got home a couple of days ago. I’m actually writing this before so I don’t have to rush and hurry when I get home in order to get posts up and ready for you. I often work at least a week in advance. It is one part of the story of how I have so many undone projects.
For the last year or so here at The Real Thing with the Coake Family I’ve worked at narrowing and refining the focus of this blog. I think like a lot of bloggers, I started the blog without a defined mission or genre I was aiming for. Over time, I’ve discovered what I really enjoy writing about and what I enjoy creating. To that end, each month when I sit down and plan out my editorial calendar, I try to hit all those categories each month. I have a wide range of things that I write about. I like variety. To do Ā only one category would get old really quickly to me.
Each month, I try to write 1 Keeping it Real post, 1 family activity, 2 recipes, 1 organizing post, 1 Girl Scout post, 1 post of something I’m working on in the house, and at least 4 creativity posts with one of those being American Girl related.
Here’s the deal. I love those categories and between sponsored posts, life and projects that ended up needing more than one post (that I thought would only take one post), I am now in the place where my house is full of projects that have been sitting around waiting for me to finish them.
I realize that this is the totally normal life of a blogger and of many people who have DIY ADD (like me). The thing is, I really want to finish these projects up before I spend more time and more money on the million other ideas and projects I have. It would feel so wonderful to me to clear the board and start fresh.
Why am I not doing that? Because of you. Ooops…did I really write that? Is it really your fault? Absolutely not. It is because of my perception that I had to hit each of those categories each month or my stats and readership would fall. It is because I’m reaching hard to take this blog to the level I want it to be at, to have the pageviews I want each month, and to be earning the income level I have in mind. It puts stress on me and on my family and on my blog budget. That being said, I absolutely love this blog and I LOVE blogging. This is just an adjustment in my thinking and philosophy.
Rather than be so worried about you and what you will do and what you will think if I skip a Girl Scout post this month and if half of you will leave because of it, I’m going to tackle my list of projects. I’m going to clear my hallway and office of projects that are halfway done or sitting there screaming for my attention. It is going to be so fun for me. I love checking things of my to-do list. It is such a nerdy compulsion with me, but it makes me feel like I’m getting somewhere. It makes things feel more manageable, less overwhelming and less stressful. I don’t have that looming list of things to do.
I know myself well enough to know that this isn’t the only time this will happen. I am always working on many projects at the same time. I love working on lots of different things. It is justĀ the beginning of me saying I’m more important than the numbers. My quality of life needs to come before the blog.
We used to live in Oregon. I loved it there. One of the things I loved about Oregon was that the culture as a whole has a philosophy/vibe of working to live rather than living to work. I am making a conscious choice to stop living to work as well as working for you rather than meeting my needs. I need to work to live.
I hope and have my fingers crossed really tightly that you will enjoy taking the journey with me. I hope that you won’t miss it if I don’t post a family activity for a month or two. This blog is really important to me. I also need to take care of my own sanity/stress level and create a better work/life balance. So, I need to take a deep breath (breath in….breath out) and let go. In the end, I believe it will be good for both of us and that my not feeling overwhelmed and stressed will show here on the blog and that you will enjoy that as much as I do. Maybe none of that shows through, so maybe you won’t notice a difference. I will.
I have already made plans to move forward with my long list of projects that need to be completed. Between those projects and some fun summer projects I really WANT to do, my editorial calendar is full through August! You see what I mean…. I have a lot of projects I want to get to!
I hope you will continue to join me for the fun of seeing all these fabulous projects I have in mind.
So my question for you is, would you like to see my project to-do list and see in the posts that I write my getting to check those projects off? Or would you find that annoying? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
I don’t blog, but I’m in about the same predicament that you are. I, too, have many in-progress (unfinished) projects. It drives me crazy to have the ‘stuff’ sitting around!
I had no idea that blogging was little more than a journal of sorts. Guess I also don’t understand how the money-making aspect works. But I would be interested in your process of attacking these projects, as well as, watching your progress. Those things ring a bell for me since I’m working my way through many of the same issues. Actually, I think there are many, many people ‘in the same boat.’ Life has become too full of all the things we have to do and want to do. Sometimes, we need to face reality and simplify (eliminate) some of those projects – or at least start by prioritizing.
I think you are right that there are a lot of people in this predicament….just based on the number of comments I’ve gotten. I think you are also right that we have to face reality and simplify…there are just too many cute projects. It makes it hard. š
I say go for the checklist. I wouldn’t find that annoying at all. I love seeing progress.
Thanks! I think I will add the checklist. I just have to figure out everything that goes on it…lol!
KC- If I have learned one thing as a blogger myself, it’s that you MUST do what works for you! Readers and commenters (or blog stalkers) will come and go, but you need to remember the passion you have for blogging comes from a personal desire – not what other’s opinions are of what you should or shouldn’t be writing about! I love your projects, recipes, etc and I read your blog because the content is worthy of my time – honestly I hadn’t put 2-n-2 together to realize there was a schedule of sorts HAHAHA.
Unfinished projects are the norm,not the exception. At least, I have always considered myself normal and I have too many unfinished projects to count, as well as a huge list of future to-dos. I would love to see how it goes-the checklist sounds good to me!
Thanks…I think I will add the checklist. It is also nice to know I’m not alone in my too many projects syndrome!
I think you would help all of us that have too many things we want to do as you show us how to prioritize all these “to do”‘s.
Everyone who has commented so far has liked the idea of the checklist. So, now I need to start my to-do list with adding “make to-do list” to the to-do list. Haha!
I know what it’s like all too well to have so many projects lined up. Completing them is supposed to be fun, but sometimes we can stress ourselves out trying to “keep up” online when we have other things that take precedence. You really have to do what’s best for you. It’s ok to post less. As for me, my feed still works and so when you can post, I’ll be watching. š
It is your blog. Post what makes you happy.
Can you explain how you make money from a blog? I am guessing it must have to do with sponsored-posts, but haven’t a clue how that works.
Thanks, Joan.
I make money many different ways. The primary are the ads that are on my site, sponsored posts and affiliate links. Let me know if you have other questions and I will try to answer them.
I feel as though I could have written parts of this post. I don’t have a schedule like you but I do feel like I’m drowning in projects. I’ve been joking that for the last few days my office/craft room looks like an episode of Hoarders so I’ve spent a good chunk of the day getting it organized. I’m not allowing myself to take on any new projects until I’m caught up either. Here’s hoping that getting everything done will make us both feel great!
Good idea to not take on any more projects until you are caught up. I know it will make me feel so much better to not have all these projects hanging over my head…or rather hiding all over the house. lol! I bet it will make you feel great as well.
I love blogging but do it for the simple enjoyment of the whole thing. I do not blog as a business, so I cannot truly walk in your shoes. What I do believe is that first and foremost, you should always be true to yourself first. I wish you much good luck!
I’m the same way. I have so many goals, but there is just one of me going in 20 directions. I always make a longer to-do list than I can really accomplish on any given day. I think when the kids get out of school for summer, I will have to slow down.
Glad to see someone else has as much on their “to do list” as I do! I will definitely never be bored!
Well, I’m glad to know I’m not alone. Yep…never bored here either. It is both a blessing and a curse. I wouldn’t have it any other way! š How about you?
KC~ you really do need to do what’s great for you what works for you. I’m really excited to start following your blog and see how your checklist goes I am overwhelmed in all these projects and my husband is frustrated that things are laying around the house because I don’t have enough room in my craft room that they’ve moved out of the craft room and overtaken are home lol. What part of Oregon were you from we live in Oregon I was born and raised in Oregon and where do you live now? We live in Sweet Home but I spent a few years in Bend and the same for Powell Butte, and I grew up in Roseburg area. I love Oregon!
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has way too many projects going on at once. Of course, I’ve come up with more ideas since the writing of this post (and started a few). It may take me a much longer time to get to everything if I keep this up. Yet it is so fun!
We loved Oregon when we lived there. Still miss it 7.5 years later. Enjoy your gorgeous summer!
I think it would be so much fun to see your list as you check things off. What a great way to feel even more excited about checking something off your list. I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’m drowning in projects and chaos myself and have also reevaluated how I post on my blog. I look forward to seeing your creations!