Given my recent OSG 1st Birthday celebration (don’t forget to enter the contest!), I wanted to take some time to reflect on the past year and what I have learned from blogging.
Here are 33 things that being a health blogger has taught me:
1) Blogging is hard work, but it is also fun and inspiring so I don’t mind it. I spend a minimum of 3 hours a day blogging. That doesn’t always include the time spent prepping/styling food, photography, emails, creating recipes, etc.
2) There are so many amazing people out there who have the same interests as I do! I have met so many fabulous people since I started blogging. I really feel like I am a part of a wonderful and supportive community.
3) Photography is a huge passion of mine and the blog has only solidified this. I am always thinking about how I can take interesting pictures of things in my life.
4) Our Canon 30D SLR gets more use than it ever did! I now feel like it was a worthwhile investment because I use it every single day. A SLR and macro lens will take average looking pictures to incredible looking pictures, but you need to know how to use the camera. Lots of practice and trial and error!
5) We all just want to be loved and appreciated and acknowledged. We want to be understood. We want to connect with others in a meaningful way. I think about all of the wonderful bloggers out there and I see this common theme everywhere. We are all the same…going through this life and trying to do the best we can just like anyone else!
6) Find what you are passionate about and then write about it. Energy and enthusiasm is really contagious. No one would read my blog if I was blogging about politics because I have no passion in writing about that. FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU LOVE and then go write about it!
7) Negative comments are draining; positive comments are energizing.
8.) It is easy to let blogging take over your life…your social and home life. If you are spending more time on your computer than with your partner or friends, it is time to change it up. I have a rule- I don’t blog when Eric is home from work and we have our together time. I used to do that and I think he really felt disconnected from me. I do my blogging on my own time.
9) I fall in love and out of love with blogging, depending on the day. Just like any other job or hobby, you will have good days and bad days.
10) 99% of all of the ‘good blog topic’ ideas I think of are soon forgotten because I don’t write them down! I need to reintroduce my voice recorder. ;)
11) Editing is a pain in the ass. Especially when you just spent 2 hours writing something and you need to get to bed.
12) Windows Live Writer is essential for all bloggers. It cut down my blogging time in half. However I have had a major bug in my WLW the past month and it is quite frustrating because I can’t fix it! You win some, you lose some I guess!
13) Blogging after a bad day is therapeutic. I feel like I get free counseling sessions every time I talk about something that is bothering me because I have so many wonderful people offering their own advice and experience. However, sometimes when I have a bad day I have no desire to blog at all. It’s hard to feel vulnerable sometimes and face the world when you just want to crawl under the covers.
14) I never thought I could learn how to redesign my own website, but I did- twice! Thanks to Eric for teaching me how.
15) Doing giveaways takes up a lot of time. Try to get the company to agree to ship the product themselves and it will save you time.
16) Blogging can make you obsessed and crazy. When I feel like either, I know it is time to take a step back and take a day off the computer entirely.
17) Be careful about what you say, but not too careful. I try to always speak from the heart even if I know that I am going to upset people who don’t agree with me. I figure the day that I start censoring myself too much is the day when I need to quit. Otherwise, what is the point if I am not being true to myself?
18) It is almost impossible to make certain foods look appealing. Like black bean hummus or chia pudding for example. ;)
19) Some things should always be private- in my life anyways! I get emails asking me to write about certain things and I politely decline if I don’t feel comfortable about revealing certain things about my personal life.
20) People like when you blog about screwing up. It humanizes you.
21) I will never enjoy Google Reader. Call me old school, but I prefer to visit my favourite blogs the good old fashioned way. I find that beautiful websites look horrible in Google reader! I love the entire experience of viewing a blog in its’ intended format. I still use a favourites list in a special blog folder to this day!
22) Not everyone in your life is going to like your blog or even read it….it’s no biggie. Eric doesn’t even read my blog!
23) Sketchie needs his own blog, but I’m scared if I do, no one will visit me anymore. hahah.
24) People will say things to you or about you that they would never say to you in real life. C’est la vie.
25) Variety is the spice of life. I listened to you guys when you said that it wasn’t necessary to post a picture of my green monster every morning. Mix it up and change it up! Repetition of the same foods is not very fun to read about. If I find that I don’t have anything new to contribute I often won’t post at all.
26) It is OK to say no. Each week I receive a lot of requests to do things. I started to get overwhelmed by it all and I had to learn that it is OK to say no. Don’t let yourself feel guilty over things that you can’t do. Do your best and that should be good enough.
27) Don’t accept every product offered to you by a company. I am very discerning with the products I agree to review. I turn down about 80-90% of the offers that companies send me because I simply don’t need it. I am still flabbergasted when companies ask me to promote a weight-loss product…how off-putting!
28) Respond to emails right away whenever possible. I used to leave emails marked as unread and then have to go back to them. It is much, much quicker to just answer the question immediately (if possible) then to have to go back and find all of them.
29) Bloggers are just normal people! I remember being SO intimidated when I first emailed some of my favourite bloggers and then I found out that they are just normal people too! Drop me a line to say hi anytime! [email protected]
30) Don’t make yourself adhere to a specific blogging schedule (unless you really want to of course). It stressed me out posting content-heavy posts 3 times a day. Do what works for you and you only! When I feel inspired, you will see a post from me. That I can guarantee. Luckily I feel inspired quite a bit with this blog! ;)
31) I’ve never done so many challenges in my life or entered so many contest giveaways!!!!
32) It is ok to EAT (healthy portions!!!) and not feel ashamed!!! I used to think it was a crime to love food, but now I realize that there are so many women who just love to share their passion about all these amazing foods and recipes. Food is now fun in my life again. The first blog I followed was Eat Like Me. I remember being shocked at how she could eat without worrying or counting calories, and here I am today doing the same thing and I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.
33) Most of all have FUN, grow, laugh, live, and learn!!!!! We are on the brink of this amazing movement right now and we can all benefit so much from sharing our insights and experiences with each other!
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I’m curious- what have YOU learned as a blogger or blog reader?
wow ange…amazing journey over the past year…but yeah, you’re eventually going to have to have a sketchie blog…we won’t leave ;-)
Amazing lessons learned Ange! As much as I love Sketchie, I will always need a little “Oh She Glows” in my life!
Hello!
I love your blog! I have to agree with Number 21. I’ve never tried google reader, but I’m all about the old school favorites folder.
Things I’ve learned…
As a reader:
That food can be amazing and healthy. That skinny girls can eat real food in real portions and not be fat. That you don’t have to be ashamed about eating or loving food.
As a blogger:
I’m still so new! I don’t know what I’ve learned yet. That I really do love writing. I like thinking about interesting things to post about and finding new readers or new blogs to read. And that it’s tough to balance it all!
Love this Ange! I have only been blogging for under 2 months, but I can relate to sooo many of these. I also despise google reader. I just use it to keep track of the blogs I like to read. :)
I love this!! Esp # 18 ;)
Nice post! I used to avoid Google reader as well, but now I just use it to keep track of my favorite blogs and click through to the webpage to enjoy it in it’s proper environment! Oh, and I think we are due for another Sketchie pic, I adore your kitty (don’t tell mine!)
As a blog reader I have learned to eat more and try new foods! Also, thanks to you, as well as other bloggers, I have pushed beyond my comfort running wall & made it to the 8 mile mark on Sunday (I have been running since I was 19, I am now 32, but I was always comfortable with 3,4,or 5 miles.
Congrats!
Great tip about using the reader as an organizer…never thought of that!
I haven’t been blogging long, but one of my favorite things is when you are having a rough day, and you think you are alone in feeling a certain way or going through something…and then with a single comment, someone can let you know that you are totally not alone. Best feeling.
totally agree
one of the best giveaways ever!
I would LOVE to try esp the GLObars!
Great post! I totally agree with you re Google Reader.
Even though I am very new to the blogging community I am so amazed at how welcoming it is! I am so thankful that my blog has enabled me to meet so many other women who share the same passion as I do! My blog has taught me that it’s ok to be me and to stand up for the things I believe in. I used to feel very guilty about not eating meat or dairy when I was out or visiting friends/family as I felt like I was “high maintenance” or a complainer. I am now confident in my choices and my lifestyle and just politely explain what a vegan diet is all about! :)
Amazing post like always – I heart you! xoxo
Angela, I love your blog and look forward to your posts everyday. I am happy that you have learned so much in your first year of blogging. To be honest when I first came across your blog a few months ago I thought you had been blogging for much much longer! You are a great writer.
I am also pretty new to blogging. I have a blog that I use for my business, but just recently started a more personal blog as part of my 2009 New Year’s Resolution.
I really admire you for taking control of your life and putting your needs first. Your story about how Oh She Glows came to be was really inspiring and is helping me get through a rough patch in my life right now.
I too am currently going through a similar situation with my job. I have my side business, but I really feel that it won’t take off unless I take time and “invest” in myself. Your story has really made me take a closer look and evaluate my options. At this point I am still stuck, but I know I will get through.
I have never left a comment this long.. so I will stop rambling on and leave you with…
YOU ROCK! ROCK ON!
You weren’t rambling! Just sharing your experiences and allowing others to learn from them too :) Goodluck!
Before OSG……I had no idea what a blog was!!! Thanks for letting me in on a whole other world! :)
Congrats on your journey and all you have achieved in such a short amount of time. You are an inspiration to so many. I look forward to many more posts!!!
xo
As a blog reader, I learned that there are beautiful women out there who eat and live like real people without restricting themselves. Before, I never thought that was possible, and it totally opened my eyes (and stomach ;) )
As a blog writer, I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone all the time. I used to try to adhere to everyone’s preferences, which is really boring! Now I write what I want and how I want it, and attract wonderful readers I can relate to in the process :)
I couldnt agree more with realizing that there were woman out there who ate and didn’t obsess. I had never experienced that before. I always say reading food blogs is one reason why I am now eating disorder free. pretty amazing!
Great recap :o) it’s always fun to look back and see how far you’ve come and what you’ve learned!
Great list! I can totally relate to falling in and out of love with blogging! And I read blogs on the train so it doesn’t interfere with my time with my husband!
We started a blog for our cat but we haven’t told many people about it yet. We just love to take pics of him!
do share!
Wow…what a list!! Thanks so much for sharing! I am still working on exactly where I want to take the whole blogging thing! But I am definitely having lots of fun along the way:)
Great list, I just wanted to say that I appreciate how much time and effort you put into this blog, it really is inspiring!
I agree with all your things learned, I don’t like the negative comments as much either, but I guess they keep me in check/allow me to see another (as long as the person is being fair). Still some people just can’t help themselves!
In the same vein, differing viewpoints have made me realize that it is OK if someone doesn’t share your opinion/idea/interest. That is what makes the comments section so unique!
I can substantiate your claim that bloggers are normal people – we didn’t know each other from a hole in the ground, and we ran like, what… several grueling km together? Not scary in the least. :)
“If you are spending more time on your computer than with your partner or friends, it is time to change it up.” Such a smart lady, you are! Between work and unwinding, I would say about 80% of my day is on the computer. On that note, it’s time to go cuddle the kitties and eat brownies with the hubster!
haha that was awesome wasn’t it??
I love this post, Angela! You are so right about it all! Blogging has been one of the greatest tools for me in my weight loss journey, but it can be overwhelming at times. I have had to back away from the computer quite a few times because I was letting it take up too much of my time! Gotta make the family come first!
Great list Angela! Your blog is one of the first I go to every day and if I only have time to read one, it’s yours! You are always so positive and I really enjoy the energy you give off through your posts!
One thing I’ve learned as a reader: Try new things! Even if you don’t like it, at least you can say you tried. And you never know when you’ll find something you were missing out on.
As a blogger: I’m still learning – even after blogging for more than a year – and I’m looking forward to learning more about photography! I blog when I feel like it and that takes the pressure off. Sometimes I think people don’t really care about what I have to say, but then I get a positive comment and it makes it worth it. Everyone is SOOO nice! I’m still trying to find a balance of health/wellness/food for my blog.