Home Blogging Tips Why Blogging Is The Hardest Job I Have Done & Why Yes, It Is A Job.

Why Blogging Is The Hardest Job I Have Done & Why Yes, It Is A Job.

by Author: Jade Lloyd

Job title: Blogger? Freelancer? Writer?

‘Oh so you are one of those ‘mummy bloggers,’ alleged the man on the train wearing too much aftershave, barely containing a smirk. Sigh. Yes I like gin, yes I ate six mini sausage rolls for a snack today, and yes there are times when I hide from my son in a cupboard and then tell people about it.

When did being a mum, or a blogger, or a mum blogger become a dirty term? Would influencer sit better?

Or is it the combination that creates offence, like Katie Homes and Tom Cruise, or cheese and peanut butter in a sarnie? Also, it is not just mums in the parent blogger category, I know plenty of magnificent individuals with testicles who write too. Perhaps people mistakenly believe we all buy rose gold Tupperware, type about how shit life is on gifted Apple Mac’s, give zero f***s about our offspring and can only wear clothes from Joules.

But blogging is not a job.

Mr smug train man would probably roll his eyes at my suggestion that blogging is a ‘difficult’ job, or a job at all. He would likely suggest that I have candyfloss for brains and should go out and seek ‘real’ employment. The Daily Mail type ignorant comments that can make the most nonchalant person want to stab someone in the eye with a plastic children’s Peppa Pig fork. Would the sneer fade if I said I had multiple degrees? Had articles published in newspapers? That I have spent the last eight years working in rehab, with sex offenders, in social services, with trafficked children, with victims of revenge pornography and sexual exploitation? I think I have earnt the change (note I said change, not break).

But blogging is just fannying about on Twitter isn’t it? No it is not, and in some ways it’s harder than any role I have had before. The blogging world is a hybrid cousin of marketing, of journalism, of advertising. Last time I checked these are real working sectors, you earn money, you pay taxes but grey spaces mean you lose out on things like working tax credits.

So what about it is hard?

If you want to turn blogging into business then you have to ask what success really takes. The answer to that is time, effort and discipline; working on a blog every day for years. For 35 hour a week. Ping go your emails, ping goes Instagram, and ping goes Facebook. I lie, my phones doesn’t ping, it moos. You have to love a novelty tone.

It takes hard work and dedication. You can get caught up in photography, fonts, sharing, expectations, publishing and promoting. More, more, more. Building an engaged audience and contacts sitting on your laptop until 1am. Feeling the stress of deadlines. Trolls. Blogging can feel like parenting in that you are never achieving enough, struggling to finish daily to do lists. Has anyone else been in these shoes?

It can be thankless somedays when your inbox is full of generic requests asking if you would just promote this, or write this, or take hours editing photos for free…because you know, blogging isn’t a job.

I’m going to ask my plumber if he will fix the tap tomorrow for a bit of exposure…I will probably end up arrested.

Is blogging bad for your health?

I agree to watch a movie with my partner but have my computer on my lap. I love spending time with you darling, can you just proof read this paragraph? Date night has turned into dictionary hour. Writing can swallow time. It can be easy to forget to stretch, to stand, to take a walk. I was definitely healthier before I started blogging. It can be a sedentary lifestyle in front of a screen. Do you feel like you are always plugged in?

You push, push, push and that love of writing, that delight, flutters and flounders like a moth in a glass.

So how do you not turn into a blombie?

(See what I did there blogger/zombie…)

This is not a Zen, drink herbal tea and reach enlightenment through Twitter post. I am a girl that on occasion eats snickers for breakfast. Clean living for me is wiping my kitchen with baby wipes. That said, whilst I may not be a health guru whether blogging is your job or your hobby take time to recharge and refocus. How can you be a healthy blogger? Physically, mentally, the whole shebang. You can drink smoothies with Chia seeds if you want.  Find a workflow that suits you and create good habits. Set goals but recognise your achievements. There are fantastic courses on productivity and how to manage your time.

Be mindful that blogging doesn’t take as much as it can give.

We all have those dark blogger moments. The ‘why the hell are we doing this’ sessions whilst holding a glass of wine. Or a bottle. Be kind on yourself, an organised blogger is a successful one. A self-aware blogger is a happy one. We are all seeking that elusive blog-work-parent-partner-me balance.

So no, blogging for myself and many others is not just a job, it’s become a life choice too.

Bringing up Georgia

 

You may also like

9 comments

Emma Reed 27th August 2018 - 10:19 pm

Oh I love this! It is sooo funny and yet spot on at the same time!

Reply
The Pramshed 10th October 2017 - 8:02 pm

IIt’s a rough gig this blogging malarky, and I don’t think that anyone fully understands it at all. It’s long hours and constantly responding to things. A fab post and thanks so much for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x

Reply
Vicky 9th October 2017 - 1:59 pm

I I nearly spilled my coffee when I read ask your plumber to do a repair fora bit of exposure. That’s hilarious and somewhat accurate. It’s a hard job. Everything you publish has to reflect your brand. I’m new at all this, but can attest that a big portion of my blogging time goes out to commenting and sharing online. Well said! x

Reply
Jade 10th October 2017 - 10:58 am

I have had to step back and refocus on the reading and commenting and sharing, I think as your blog grows you loose that and it is my favourite part of being a blogger…the community is amazing x

Reply
Mrs Mummy Harris 8th October 2017 - 10:36 am

Come March I will be doing it full-time and plan to have a schedule set out so it turns into a weekly routine. Bit like a school planner where one morning I’ll focus on twitter and all the crap that goes with that, another afternoon with be Instagram so block photo’ing etc, another day dedicated to writing posts for the week.
Right now I get away with blogging at night as with working full-time this is the only time I can do it. But I know come March Hubby won’t appreciate the lack of attention I give him. I might do one or two evenings as no doubt he’ll expect a clean house so he’ll have to suck it up hahaha! #fortheloveofBLOG

Reply
aliduke79hotmailcom 7th October 2017 - 4:56 pm

I blog as well as work part time and I definitely consider my blog a job. Ok, so I am not at a point where it is making me loads of money (fingers crossed for the future!), but I put a lot of work into it. When I am not writing I am promoting or reading others posts. I also spend a lot of time reading posts etc to help me with my blogging, I am always learning something. Hope you “accidently” steped on that mans toes as you got off the train lol.
#fortheloveofBLOG

Reply
mummyhereandthere 4th October 2017 - 7:42 pm

Nodding alone, it is bloody hard work and people don’t realise how much, but you know what fuck them I love it and has really helped my mental health bonus! X #fortheloveofblog

Reply
Daydreamer mum 14th September 2017 - 11:14 pm

YES!!!! Though my blog is my hobby only ,the sneering really grates. Why shouldn’t we take up a bit of space !!! #BlogCrush

Reply
SpookyMrsGreen 7th September 2017 - 8:40 pm

II am currently still building blogging into a “job,” alongside my career as an indie author. Perhaps I might find more time and energy now that my children are both at school. I gave up writing “for exposure” except on selected projects, because, you know, I kind of need some money to pay for life… 😉

Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept

%d bloggers like this: