Hello there. Long time no see.
Going to be honest with you guys, life has become really rough. It's getting harder and harder to juggle blogging, reading, video games, my social life, and oh right, graduate school. It's a big part of why I haven't been great at scheduling posts or reviews. Which is fine, because education comes first! Though with that being said, I do miss blogging. I just am not great at taking the time to start a post.
But moving along, I've decided to list a bunch of reasons why I am just not as motivated as I've been in the past. So here we go.
1. I have nothing to say about certain books. This has also been an issue in the past, but I managed to overcome it somehow. Now that I am even less motivated than before, it's been harder to word my thoughts into full, coherent reviews. Especially when I have NOTHING to say. Sadness.
2. 50% of the time, there's a cat sitting on my keyboard. I throw her off sometimes. But other times she's just too darn cute and cuddly. Case in point BELOW
3. Current Events. I hate all the bad things happening in our country. HATE THEM. Because personally, I'm doing great. My life is great. But the rest of the world? Not so much. How am I supposed to blog, flail, TALK about books on Twitter, when the WORLD IS BURNING. Sorry, exaggeration.
4. Speaking of the above, I am constantly distracted by Twitter and Instagram. Especially instagram, as it's very easy to post photos everyday. At least for me, I end up taking photos all on the weekend. Though that may change depending on how much time I have. Who knows.
5. I can't write up posts because I have stats homework. Or other types of work. Or research. Or I have to prep a lecture that I'm giving, to a class, to about 100 students. Fun fun.
6. No motivation to discuss ANYTHING. What is there to discuss nowadays? I'm really not passionate about many things when it comes to discussion topics (and I'm not talking about discussions from Book Twitter, but more innocuous things, like Do You DNF, or Do You Watch Book to Movie Adaptions). I just don't really have full fledged thoughts on any of those topics. Which to be honest, is not a change from past Val. Past Val didn't care about ANY of those things! (and still doesn't)
7. EVERYONE IS LEAVING ME. There are fewer and fewer blog posts on my feed. WHY. WHERE ARE YOU ALL GOING. I rarely see you on Twitter anymore!
8. Speaking of, I have no time to comment as much as I used to. I used to comment A LOT. Like at least 20 to 30 posts a week. Now? If I make it to 5 I'm happy. But yeah, that definitely leads to less interactions, and that makes me sad.
9. I want to make all the graphics. Thanks to my school, I get all Adobe products for free. But thanks to my school, I want to make all the graphics, and I can't. I even opened up a Society6 store solely so I could buy my own things (and let others buy them too I guess). Like I made this "I'm A Plant Killer" mug, because I kill every single plant I touch.
4. Speaking of the above, I am constantly distracted by Twitter and Instagram. Especially instagram, as it's very easy to post photos everyday. At least for me, I end up taking photos all on the weekend. Though that may change depending on how much time I have. Who knows.
5. I can't write up posts because I have stats homework. Or other types of work. Or research. Or I have to prep a lecture that I'm giving, to a class, to about 100 students. Fun fun.
6. No motivation to discuss ANYTHING. What is there to discuss nowadays? I'm really not passionate about many things when it comes to discussion topics (and I'm not talking about discussions from Book Twitter, but more innocuous things, like Do You DNF, or Do You Watch Book to Movie Adaptions). I just don't really have full fledged thoughts on any of those topics. Which to be honest, is not a change from past Val. Past Val didn't care about ANY of those things! (and still doesn't)
7. EVERYONE IS LEAVING ME. There are fewer and fewer blog posts on my feed. WHY. WHERE ARE YOU ALL GOING. I rarely see you on Twitter anymore!
8. Speaking of, I have no time to comment as much as I used to. I used to comment A LOT. Like at least 20 to 30 posts a week. Now? If I make it to 5 I'm happy. But yeah, that definitely leads to less interactions, and that makes me sad.
9. I want to make all the graphics. Thanks to my school, I get all Adobe products for free. But thanks to my school, I want to make all the graphics, and I can't. I even opened up a Society6 store solely so I could buy my own things (and let others buy them too I guess). Like I made this "I'm A Plant Killer" mug, because I kill every single plant I touch.
Unfortunately the problem is, this takes hours. And often times, I am not pleased with the results.
10. Apparently I have friends. I'm busy every weekend, whether I'm going hiking, sleeping over my friend's house, going on trips, eating out, there's barely any time left for anything. I don't regret it, but I do wish there was just more time in the day. That would be nice.
So I think that is that. Obviously I am going to try to blog at least once in a while, but I think I'm done with blog schedules. Reviews will happen when they happen, I suppose.
Until then, you are stuck with me and my blog :P
Logging you in...
anotherafterthought 31p · 432 weeks ago
Add to that the fact that other things just seem that much more exciting and fun with immediate [often guaranteed] pleasure re: by gaming etc., the immediate gratification just isn't there. Maybe that's just my pessimistic change in perspectives though with being in Year 3+ of blogging. Yikes I'm old af.
Briana 39p · 432 weeks ago
But I also get distracted by social media, and I've actually made it a goal to look at Twitter only briefly each day, focusing primarily on tweeting myself or replying to tweets. I also think this will help with feeling drained. A lot of people are stressed with current events and such and it is leaking onto social media. That's not a bad thing, objectively. But I have personally found going on social media a stressful and negative experience recently, and I think taking a step back will help me be more productive with blogging and other things.
I've noticed fewer posts in my feed, as well. It makes interacting with the community harder because I feel like no one is posting anything, but I've been blogging long enough (almost six years, in May!) to realize that people go away and sometimes I have to make an actual effort for find new, active blogs to read. But, yeah, effort.... ;)
Jeann 122p · 432 weeks ago
Rashika 60p · 432 weeks ago
JK
Also, the world burning is probs not an exaggeration. It sure does feel like it most of the time.
Inge 59p · 432 weeks ago
kozbisa 44p · 432 weeks ago
Cait @ Paper Fury 124p · 432 weeks ago
Grace @ RebelMommyBB 72p · 432 weeks ago
Nick · 432 weeks ago
But you sound like you're having a blast outside of blogging, so go you! I'm excited that you're getting into designing. It's fun but definitely time consuming.
joyousreads 92p · 432 weeks ago
*whines* It's just...I've been so tired lately.
shannonmiz 83p · 431 weeks ago
Jordin 28p · 431 weeks ago
But I'm happy you are sticking around! And don't worry about schedules or anything, I'll still be reading :)
FoolsIngenuity 93p · 431 weeks ago
acps927 52p · 431 weeks ago
peach · 431 weeks ago
AWW. Love the cameo from your cat. She's adorb as hell, but don't worry, Val. We're all still around. haha.
books for a delicate eternity 69p · 431 weeks ago
Reviewing is almost like a chore to me now which is TERRIFYING because what would I do without reviews? WHAT WOULD WE ALL DO? I don't know. I just have this pile of reviews I have to write and I'm either like: yeah, read this book because it's good. Or: nah, this book wasn't so great. But I have to FILL that in with all this stuff and AHHH.
Anyway, I hope you're happy with where you are with blogging, Valerie <3
Nicole 98p · 427 weeks ago
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Ashley 49p · 427 weeks ago