Thursday, December 12, 2013

My Relationship with Blogging: An Update (and Big News)

If you read this blog regularly, you might have noticed that it's been about a month since I've written a post. I've been gone, but I have not forgotten about Daily Dose. I've been reflecting on it. Deeply, in fact, and this post was very near to being an "I am done with blogging" monologue. But I'm not going there. Not yet. Because whenever I think about walking away, I get this funny feeling inside. (And just writing this post gets me all jazzed up to keep going.) See, I know I'll miss it. I just know it. That said, I needed a break so I took it. I'm still taking it, really. And I'll probably continue this break through the end of the year.

Let me back up.

First and foremost, there's this:

Momma's got a bun in the oven and she...we...couldn't be happier! Baby is due in June, which means I'm fresh into my second trimester. Morning sickness? Try afternoon/evening sickness, as was the case with Miss Hannah. Which is another reason I haven't been devoting much time to Daily Dose. On a typical day, I spend my afternoons catching up on housework and working on the blog—in that particular order. But with the whole afternoon/evening sickness thing going on, I've been less inclined to do any of that lately. But I'm turning a corner. I can feel it. I've been running again. Working out with more energy again. Yes, still a bit nauseous at night, but it hits me later now and it doesn't knock me flat.

And, I'm eating healthier again. I'm a firm believer in getting through that first trimester as best you can, so I sort of strayed from my typical eats the past few months. More cheese, please.

Anyway, during my lack-of-blogging spree, I sort of got to a point where I just wasn't motivated at all. I was tired of the blogging industry itself. Tired of seeing the same people review the same products and attend the same events. Tired of feeling like I absolutely HAD to post or I'd be a complete failure. I was just...done with the business of it all. Done with the pressure.

When I started Daily Dose, I did so for two reasons:
1) I needed a creative outlet, and I absolutely loved to write.
2) I wanted to inspire others to find their own health and fitness.

But I told myself that I would quit the whole thing if:
1) It started to feel like a job.
2) I stopped being true to myself.

And that's where I've been these past few months. Feeling a bit lost in the blogosphere. I've been trying too hard to keep up. Don't get me wrong—I'm a marketing and advertising girl at heart. I love the game of promotion, be it self or any other, so working hard to gain Facebook, Twitter or Instagram followers and working hard to write the best posts I possibly could was always quite fun. But I got to a point where I was doing it from a place other than my own sense of passion for this fitness industry that I'm a part of.

I was doing it for the chase. The product. The campaigns.
I was doing it to be a part of the "cool" crowd.

But I don't want to be a part of the "cool" crowd, not if it means that I'm conforming to a certain type of fitness blogger stereotype. Or putting content out there that's not real, deep and true to who I am. I want to be me. And if that's good enough to be listed within the "cool" crowd...if it's good enough to warrant me access to those same products and campaigns, then that's an added bonus that I will be truly grateful for.

I'm not in this to be a fitness personality. I'm not in this to be a blogging celebrity.
I'm just in it to talk about health, fitness and the things I think you might find interesting.

But I lost sight of that.
So I'm taking a break.

I see you, 2014. You're my fresh start. My new beginning. And until you get here, I'll be brainstorming post ideas and blog updates. Researching potential brands to work with. And keeping an eye on the opportunities that come my way because of the groups I participate in.

Oh, and I will also be enjoying the holidays.

I hope you will, too.

9 comments:

Kara Cullen said...

I've missed your blog! I always enjoyed getting healthy recipe ideas and different workout ideas too! Hope to see more of those in 2014. Enjoy the time off and the holidays!

adailydoseoffit said...

That's all coming back, I promise! Thanks for reading, Kara!

Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness said...

A huge congrats to your family! How exciting!! For what it's worth, I've never seen you as one of those bloggers who writes with an agenda in mind. You are a gifted, passionate writer and that's why I continue to follow your blog. I hope some time off gives you the balance you need and you come back more excited and invigorated than ever. Enjoy the holidays!!

Mandy Nester said...

Congrats to you for two reasons: #1 the new baby and #2 realizing who are you are and not conforming to the world. I announced on my blog that I'm going to have a baby in July! This will be our #2 as well. :) Unlike you, I'm one of those "lucky" ones that doesn't have sickness...at all, thank goodness. But I had gestational diabetes with #1, so I'm expecting it again (darn it). Also, I went to the ACE Movement Based Exercise Seminar this past weekend and it was really good. If you can find one close to you, it's worth the money. Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

cari draft said...

Tara: Love your post! I've been feeling much the same way about my own blogging; once it was monetized and the products came rolling in to review, the pressure to "perform" took away my enthusiasm for my original reason for blogging, which was to help my fitness clients. Taking time away to focus and energize is PERFECT to find your groove... and congratulations on your Big News! Best wishes for a Happy 2014! XO

adailydoseoffit said...

Thanks so much, Kelly. Your words mean a lot! Time off is definitely doing me some good...I'm already planning out a few posts for January! (See, I could never walk away...)

adailydoseoffit said...

Congrats, girl! We're pretty much on the same track! Fingers crossed the GD doesn't show up this time around. Thanks for the tip on the ACE seminar! I'm definitely going to look into it...

adailydoseoffit said...

Thanks, Cari! Getting product to review is awesome and I will forever love the opportunities that come my way, but you have to find a way to balance all of that with staying true to your blog, your readers and who you are! I just tire of bloggers that seem to review ev-er-y-thing that comes their way. I'm trying to be much pickier about that moving forward so as not to tire out my own readers. Thanks so much for continuing to read...I still buy your bars quite often! LOVE THEM.

FitGirlCari said...

YAY, thanks for being a customer! Merry Christmas! :-)

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