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?
I have definitely become more comfortable in my skin. I spend far less time thinking about how my body looks to other people, and more time appreciating it for what it does. I feel best when I give it exercise and feed it healthy food, but I don’t feel guilty when I indulge in something, and I don’t feel embarrassed to post my indulgent meals. I just feel more free to eat and live and be happy with myself!
As a Reader: Just because some bloggers like certain foods or products doesn’t mean I will.
As a Blogger: Blogging is fun for sharing what I love. And just because I don’t have a lot of comments doesn’t mean I don’t have people reading. So many people tell me they have read it but just don’t comment.
love this “Just because some bloggers like certain foods or products doesn’t mean I will.” so true! I have tried quite a few foods/recipes that I didnt like! But now I KNOW!
What I have learned as a blog reader…
– There are (a lot of)other people like me, who love healthy food & excersize and want to talk about it! ;) I started reading The Fitnessista about 6 months ago and was addicted.
– I want to start my own blog!! (..but don’t know where to start)
Great post… I have got to check out Windows Live Writer! I agree with you about Google Reader. I like to visit all my favorites at their actual website!
Angela,
What an amazing post!!! You are so real, and I love all that you had to say about what it’s like to be a blogger. I hope I get to meet you someday, I know we would be great friends!
I, too, have learned so much from blogging in the past 6 months, but I also feel like I have a long way to go. My biggest challenge has been learning to find my voice – what my blog is all about, etc. Sometimes, I want to write about running. Then I go through phases where I want to log all my meals. Then I just want to post recipes. And I start to feel like I’m diluting the personality of my blog by doing that, but I suppose it’s just my own personality coming through.
Keep up the great work, Angela. Oh, and my coworkers loved the cocoa coated balls ;-)
Great tips! thanks for sharing!
Love this post!
As a blog reader, I have learned about so many new foods that I’d never even considered. Especially green monsters!
As a blogger… well, I’m still very new at that, but it’s helped me in my journey to be mindful about what I’m putting into and doing with my body on a daily basis.
Great post!
Thank you for sharing this! I have learned so much in the almost 6 months I have been blogging and reading blogs:
-People really are amazing and supportive
-Live is interesting
-Thank goodness I learned about Livewriter right away!
-I really really really want a good camera!
I loved this. It totally hits home. Especially number 8 and number 32.
As a new blogger I am still struggling to find a balance between blogging and the rest of my life. My boyfriend works A LOT and I really should appreciate the time we spend together rather than going “Ah leave me alone I’m BLOGGGGGING!” I do find myself spending a whole lot of time on the computer. I think I ought to make your rule, my rule.
And as for number 32. Before I started reading healthy living/food blogs I was in a very bad place in my life. And to top it off I was surrounded by a group of people girlfriends who DIDN’T EAT. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I also felt like a pig because I LOVED to eat. I found that with reading food blogs, it was okay to enjoy food, and lots of it (healthy food, that is!) and not be ashamed! THANK GOODNESS for healthy food bloggers :)
Congrats on one year!
I’m so glad to say I’ve been reading and enjoying your blog for a year!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
I don’t have a blog of my own, but I read a bunch of blogs daily. They have all taught me so much about living a healthy lifestyle. I now cherish preparing all of my meals and taking care of myself. As someone who used to think that eating as little as possible was what I should strive for, I now have a passion for good food and know that there is nothing wrong with eating a lot of it, especially with my active lifestyle!
My eyes have also been opened to unhealthy habits in others. People who skip breakfast, drink a lot of diet soda, smoke, etc. etc. make me SO glad that I take care of myself :)
I loved reading the 33 things you have learned; Some I can relate to, while others I have yet to experience. I look forward to continuing my blogging journey, and am so happy to have other inspiring bloggers like you whose footsteps I can follow in :-)
Through blog reading for a little over a year I learned that I wanted to start a blog! I was so scared at first, but I finally took the plunge a couple of days ago and began my blog about being positive/thankful everyday. Just like you mentioned, when I got a comment from someone who stumbled across my blog I instantly felt like I was not alone, and that blogging would be a great way for me to chronicle my journey :)
I also love reading the healthy living blogs to find great new ideas for snacks, meals, recipes, etc!
Lots of valuable lessons you learned! I’m sure if you asked everyone to post ONE lesson they’ve learned from YOU/OSG, your comment section would explode!! ;)
As a blog reader, I would have to admit that this blog is THE BEST and I have learned tons from it! Keep up the good work and the ‘quality above quantity posts’!
One thing I have learned from your blog: Put all you have into what you LOVE!
My fave recipes from your blog (so far): Super Breakfast Flax Muffins (I forget what they are actually called) and Pumpkin or PB&J Globites
One thing that your blog has inspired me to do: Learn more about health and wellness-sign up for the Can Fit Pro NWS Course
:)
I loved this post!!! And my husband doesn’t read my blog either :)
love your blog angela! & all you have accomplished. you are one seriously amazzzzeee-ingly inspiring success story girl ;)
& hehe i love photography too – “I am always thinking about how I can take interesting pictures of things in my life.” <— yesyes me too, always! i have a little blog where i post my photos and its fun to share and connect with others through that.
♥ this list!
I have learned that I am one of many many women who are passionate about real, healthy food and fitness. Like you , I have learned that healthy portions of healthy food are okay and even better than okay! I have learned about so many new nutritional studies that I could never list them all. Other positive people help me to be even more positive! It’s okay to be inspired by someone…that doesn’t make you a wanna-be. There are some very knoweledgable people who are willing and able to answer my novice questions. Everyone has good days and bad days, fun days and boring days, happy days and sad days… Healthy and happy looks different on every body!
Great list and great advice!
One thing I have learned is to never forget that it’s my blog and that I have to do what works for me at this particular moment in my life.
I’ve tried downloading Windows Live Writer like 10 times on my computer and it just wont install! I’m so sad :-(
Great list!! Love it!