Seeing your blog grow and expand is a pretty cool feeling. There are times though when it’s scary af.
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been MIA for the past week or so. Also, you may have noticed that TT crashed and was down for several hours, then it went up and down again.
Turns out, I did end up reaching one of the blog goals that I’ve set up for myself last year. I also ended up learning a few valuable lessons. Like this one: if you run a self-hosted website that’s expanding, you should prepare yourself for huge traffic spikes.
I’ve spent the majority of the last couple of days stressing, pulling my hair out, on the phone with my host company, and sitting in front of my computer all night, looking up all kinds of “techie” things. The good news is this: I’ve learned a whole lot of things over the last 72 hours or so and, most importantly, we’re back in business.
Edit: I also wrote a more detailed post about that experience and why you shouldn’t rely on crappy hosting when growing your blog- and unfortunately, many of the hosting companies recommended by some established bloggers are horrible and only get recommended because those bloggers get paid a LOT of money to promote them. You can read more about it here and find out why and how to make a switch to a reliable web host.
Let me tell you… blogging is super fun and fulfilling. It can also get so difficult to keep up though, especially when you’re also working full-time.
YOU WILL DOUBT YOURSELF
This is one of the things that I’ve started feeling more often over the last couple of months. With a smaller audience, the conversations you have are a bit more intimate. As that audience expands though, there comes a point where you start to second-guess yourself. “Is it okay to say this?” “will they understand that this is sarcasm?” “… but maybe no one cares about this topic?” I’ve been writing my Lovin’ Lately or What’s in My Makeup Bag monthly posts for a couple of years now. When my audience was much smaller, I never second-guessed myself when writing those posts. Now, I sometimes think to myself “well… who gives a shit about what’s in my makeup bag, really?” or “who cares about what I’m liking lately, what makes me so special?”.
Of course, those feelings come and often go away pretty quickly, but it’s important to note that they’re there. This blog started as a small space, just for me. Now, when I think of TT, I think of it as OUR space because if it wasn’t for you, it just wouldn’t be what it is. It wouldn’t feel nearly as special, as it does. So, naturally, when I write, I always think of you. I happen to think that it’s a good thing, but the truth is, growing your blog can be a bit intimidating, too.
GROWING YOUR BLOG: GUILT + OVERWHELM
I can’t even express the guilt that I’ve felt over the last couple of days. Not being able to post anything, not being able to bring the blog back up sooner, it was a really shitty feeling. It’s become a bit more than that though. I’ve noticed that if I’m hanging out with someone, my mind often drifts toward my blog. I keep thinking “I should be replying to emails right now, I should be editing photos, I have so much to do“.
That guilt and overwhelm is almost ever-present, once your blog starts to grow and your audience expands. Of course, this is also a part of my [slightly] obsessive personality and a mind that finds it difficult to be still at times.
ANXIETY
Here’s a list of few things that often keep me up at night:
-fear of misspelling a word within the post, or (God forbid) an image text overlay or a post title
-not having enough time to respond to comments
-not being able to respond to all emails right away
-fear that someone won’t love a product I recommended, as much as I do
These all seem like small, silly things, but to me, they’re important. Okay, so the spelling/grammar thing can get a bit crazy at times; I sometimes suddenly remember typing a certain word and I’ll get up in the middle of the night to grab my laptop in order to double-check that everything is spelled correctly. I’m not a native English speaker and when I moved to the US as a teenager, a lot of people would point out my mistakes, which was a fabulous thing since it’s one of the best ways to learn to correct those mistakes. At the same time though, I was very hard on myself and beat myself up for pronouncing a word wrong or not knowing what a certain word meant. Some of that stayed with me, which is why I panic at times.
See, the thing is, once a few of your posts get picked up by a different site or a big blog and you start getting some attention, a lot of different people start stopping by. Not everyone takes their time to get familiar with a blog author or their story, and not everyone realizes that as much as I love to write, I don’t always take myself too seriously.
Also, typos happen. I don’t religiously proof-read every single post I write. At times, when I write, I’m so excited that I publish the second or third draft before I even get a chance to thoroughly read through it a couple of times. I sometimes get comments saying things like “Enjoyed reading this post, but I did notice at least three grammatical errors and two words were misspelled, maybe you should pay more attention when you write“. Comments like these make me think that perhaps, I should take myself a bit more seriously. But where’s the fun in that? This is, after all, just a blog. And imperfections are always welcomed here.
Not responding to emails is another thing. Especially if we’re talking about responding to emails from you guys. If I happen to notice an email that’s a few days (or weeks, yes, it happens) old, that I didn’t get a chance to respond to, I get upset. I immediately think that I don’t want anyone to think I’m ignoring them, or that I’m not willing to share advice since usually, those are the kinds of emails I receive.
The last couple of days made me realize just how much this blog means to me. While I was waiting for everything to get sorted out, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else, I felt like I was missing an arm. Blogging has become such a huge part of my life and if I’m being honest, I can’t imagine my life without it anymore. And yes, growing your blog is fun, but it’s also A LOT of work and as your blog grows, there’s more and more work that needs to get done.
Take my FREE 7-Day *Start a Blog* Email Course
Learn how to start a blog, find passion in life + earn an income doing something you love- all in this FREE 7-Day Email Course!
104 Comments
The Gossip Darling
January 29, 2017 at 9:27 pmCongrats on reaching one of your goals!! The whole blogging thing is a learning process. Your fans will stay loyal and true! Even if you miss spell a word :)
Mel | http://www.thegossipdarling.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:00 amAww thanks so much Mel! :)
Angel Bland
January 29, 2017 at 9:29 pmWell I can tell you this… You inspired me to start my blog. I remember the day I had just bought bluehost and downloaded wordpress. I had nothing to write about at all. Had no idea…. Then I googled something like “blog posts” and your post about 50 things to blog about came up. I’ve been hooked on your blog every since. I actually wrote down some of your blog topic ideas to use. So this is a reminder to you that people do care and your blog is awesome! I don’t even know how you still work a full time job and pull off so many posts lol. I’m struggling with just 1 post a week right now lol.
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 10:07 amAww thank you so much Angel, your comment totally made my day! Thank you so much for your sweet and kind words and I wish you all the best with your blog!
Marianne Escobar
January 29, 2017 at 9:36 pmI’ve thought about self-hosting like millions of times but I just can’t put myself in that position yet. I feel like I am not ready. I just really don’t know where to start. What host company to get, will the service be worth the amount of money I’d be spending yearly. It’s just really pressuring but you know deep down you ant it. You want to better your craft but it’s just really difficult.
annewndrs.wordpress.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:02 amFunny thing, but the day when my blog went down, I had a post scheduled to go up about starting your blog, signing up for hosting and step-by-step instructions. I’m sure I’ll end up publishing it sooner or later, I just feel like I now need to add a few things to it!
Marianne Escobar
January 30, 2017 at 8:39 pmPlease do put it up. It would be a big help coz right now I’m a little 50-50 on signing up on BlueHost. Just really need that pick-me-up article. :)
Kathy
January 29, 2017 at 10:10 pmThis is all too true! Although my blog hasn’t grown huge or massively I still doubt myself all the time and whether this is something I should be doing! Great post girl and so inspiring :)
Kathy x
Alongcamekathy
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:02 amThanks Kathy!
Jaime | Girl Loves Gloss
January 29, 2017 at 10:25 pmI had a feeling this post was coming after the server not being able to handle your growth last week! I relate to so many of these, even though my blog is no where near the level yours is. I ran my own jewellery business for 10 years online ( I was one of the first Etsy shops back in there beta days!) and I harboured extreme guilt when I wasn’t spending every hour of my daylight hours working on new pieces, answering emails and doing bookkeeping. When you are your own boss it’s so hard to know when it is ok to take a break. I’m always saying to my husband, “I just need to finish this post” or “I need to take pictures while the light is good” and that makes me feel guilty as well!
I constantly doubt myself on post subjects and whether or not my readers will find it interesting. Today’s post bombed in terms of numbers, yet I was really proud of the photography. I struggle knowing what works sometimes and second guess my instincts.
Jaime | http://www.girllovegloss.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:06 amHow cool that you were one of the fist People to sell on Etsy! I definitely know the feeling of now being able to know when to take a break, but at the same time blogging brings me so much joy that I’d much rather be writing or editing photos, than watching TV or something.
I love your photography in that post! I can definitely relate to that as well- being really proud of a post, but not have it get much attention. It’s just a part of running a bog, I guess :) As long as you enjoy doing and remember to have fun, it’s all good :)
Lauren @ Lauren Does Life
January 29, 2017 at 10:50 pmDon’t forget all that you’ve already accomplished! I get upset too when I can’t respond to emails and comments promptly. Sometimes it feels like there is so much to do I just sit there and think about it all instead of actually doing anything. And don’t worry about the doubts, obviously your blog is growing because we do care what you have to say!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:07 amAww thank you so much Lauren! I can definitely relate to having so much to do and not knowing where to start haha :)
Melina Pena
January 29, 2017 at 11:09 pmI loved reading this post, it honestly just felt so real and … human? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but I’ve been only following your blog for about a month, so I feel like this was the first time I got to meet the real you, up close and personal, and I loved it! This post was also really enlightening. I started my blog not too long ago, and I already get nervous about these things, but I can imagine it gets worse as the audience increased. Fingers crossed for the future though! Keep it up beautiful xxx
http://www.ivefoundwaldo.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:08 amThank you so much Melina! So happy that this post helped you to get to know me a bit better. :) Good luck with your blog!
Kaeleen
January 30, 2017 at 12:49 amGIRL you’re not alone!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:08 amHaha, thanks!
Jordyn Lucas.
January 30, 2017 at 1:14 amThis blog post was real and honest about how I feel about blogging. The grammar and spelling error is one of m weaknesses. I don’t have the best grammar and spelling but blogging has help that. I doubt myself a lot to, its okay though.
Love Jordyn.
junerobin.blogspot.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:10 amDoubting yourself is definitely a part of not only blogging, but our daily lives in general, I think. It’s overcoming those doubts that feels pretty incredible :)
Chelsea Hodges
January 30, 2017 at 1:36 amGreat post, I feel like these are such relatable and accurate points – glad to know I’m not the only one who feels this way at times.. however, I’m still at that beginner stage with my blog and I have a very small, if anything, of an audience. But hope to grow into a blog similar to yours one day!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:11 amThank you so much Chelsea! Wishing you best of luck with your blog!
Jenelle Witty
January 30, 2017 at 1:38 amUh tech issues are the worst! It’s so scary to have no control all of a sudden!
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:11 amAhh, I know! It’s such a terrifying feeling.
Mona Ahmed
January 30, 2017 at 1:38 amI’m really happy to see your blog flourishing and you’re a inspiration for me I love reading your posts sorry you had to go through that issue I have 0 knowledge about templates and stuff so in the beginning I went through hell but I knew I wanted to start my blog and i made it happen! Hope I can continue this journey and enjoy bloggers like you :)
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:13 amThank you so much Mona, so sweet of you! It’s all definitely all confusing at first and even after doing it for years, I still continue to learn something new, every single day. :)
Janet
January 30, 2017 at 1:43 amPaula…I’ve loved your blog since the day I found it—you give good, solid advice on skin care and products, not to mention your view on various subjects.
I’m a life style blogger and I run the gamut of my everyday life to decorating, cooking, books I’m reading to self care, fashion and my beauty routines. I, too, am a make up hoarder and new products junkie.
I’ve had a successful blog for 9 years. I also write for 2 newspapers, for southern Michigan and another in Chicago. I rarely find errors in your grammar or spelling. Seriously! Do you use spell check? I do but sometimes you want rephrase things and that’s just several proofreading.
On another note, successful blogging doesn’t always mean responding to comments by email or on your blog. If a blogger leaves a comment, a visit to their blog is a really great thing to do. You not only develop blog relationships, other bloggers read your comments and just might be interested in visiting your blog much more! Other times you lose readers because it seems to be a one way street and they want comments as much as they give. Sometimes thats the most time consuming part of blogging.
Well, that’s my input. I hope it’s helpful and doesn’t insult you. Just love ya!
Jane x
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:28 amAww thank you so much Jane! I do use spellcheck but the funny thing is I usually make stupid mistakes like typing “worm” instead of “warm” or skip a word- things that spellcheck doesn’t necessarily pick up. My brain works in such weird way that I don’t pick those little mistakes up, until after I hit “publish” haha ;) At that moment it always feels like the worst thing, ever hah!
Developing blog relationships is definitely one of the things that I love the most about bogging. I always look forward to reading other blogs and connecting with my blog friends. What’s your blog address? Would love to pay you a visit! :)
Thank you so much for your feedback, it’s alway lovely to hear from you. Love you back, mean it!
Janet
January 30, 2017 at 9:17 pmThanks for being so thoughtful. I wasn’t aware that you couldn’t click on to another blogger with Discus.
Anyway, my blog is Blondiesjournals.blogspot.com. Hope you visit! :)
Cindy
January 30, 2017 at 1:55 amI think all these points are super relatable! And I for one am glad you’ve sorted out all the blog problems – I think it’s incredible how much dedication you show to your blog / readers in general! And no one can blame you with working full-time and having the blog as a side gig. I’m the same way and I definitely struggle with work-life-blog balance. Sometimes I wish I could be as responsive as others are with IG/Blog comments and responding to tweets ASAP – but the reality is that I’m trying to be professional at my full-time job and that can’t always happen too. But I think once the pressure is taken off to respond to things immediately or even letting a few posts slip a week, it’s all for the good of the sanity for the person behind the blog.
But your blog is definitely one of my favorites and I think if people take the time to get to know you (or any person behind any blog), any small details or things don’t really matter :) And I gotta say that for doing blogging as a side gig, you are doing INCREDIBLE. Your content is always A+ and always fresh – keep doing you, girl.
Cindy | http://www.cindyhyue.com
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:49 amI’m so happy I’ve sorted it out too haha, I literally couldn’t sleep at night. Definitely don’t ever want to be in that position again, but again, it’s the only way to learn. I was also surprised to learn that the world didn’t end when my blog went down haha :)
I honestly don’t know how others do it, I always admire those who get back to others so quickly but reality is, if I were to do the same, I’d have no time to create any content.
Thank you so much Cindy, I’m so happy that you like my blog, I love yours, too! Thank you for your encouraging words!
Pinja
January 30, 2017 at 3:22 amLoved the honesty in this post! There’s so many posts out there on how to grow your blog and why it’s important and how you can benefit from it, that this side of the whole thing is left pretty much completely uncovered. Blogging certainly gives a lot but it also takes quite a lot, and maybe that’s what makes it so rewarding :) Anyhow, you’re absolutely on fire with this blog and I’m always excited to read new posts from you. Oh, and I never usually notice the typos / grammatical errors ;) xx
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:52 amThank you Beauty! It’s definitely something I myself haven’t read about much and I know that a lot of people tend to ridicule bloggers (especially those who do it full-time) and say that this isn’t a “real” job, where in fact, it takes a lot more work than many other “desk” jobs.
Thank you so much for your kind words, so happy to know that you enjoy my posts!! x
Jodie Rochellé
January 30, 2017 at 3:43 amWhat a great honest post. I especially love the ‘imperfections are always welcome here’.
I always look to your blog for inspiration and you hit the mark everytime!
Jodie lazysundaymorning.com
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:52 amAww thank you so much Jodie!
Kiss & Make-up
January 30, 2017 at 4:38 amYep, I can relate.
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:53 am:)
Abigail Alice
January 30, 2017 at 7:20 amI hate that guilt I feel when I don’t upload. I rally feel it with my YT as it was a resolution to post more but University life is so crazy and I’ve been busy keeping up with my blog that my YT has suffered. This was a great read.
Abigail Alice ?
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:53 amThank you Love! Learn from me and don’t be too hard on yourself ;)
Natalie Harney
January 30, 2017 at 7:40 amEven as someone with a very small blog I can relate to a lot of this. Thank you for sharing the both the good and the bad of blogging, I hope you’re feeling good about what TT has grown up to be as well as anxious about keeping it afloat
– Natalie
http://www.workovereasy.com
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:54 amThank you so much Natalie!
Amy M
January 30, 2017 at 7:56 amBlogging is such a big learning curve and I can imagine just how much pressure there is when you have a large audience! But it’s also hugely rewarding and the amount of effort you put in definitely pays off
Amy // Snippets of Amy
Paula13t
January 30, 2017 at 9:54 amIt’s definitely one of the most rewarding things, ever. Especially when you get that sense of community around your blog and get so many sincere interactions.
Julie
January 30, 2017 at 8:12 amSo glad you discussed this. My blog is small – I started it a year ago – and like you I write in English but it’s not my mother tongue (I’m French) and last week I had the same stress feeling. I had drafted a blog post about for a friend of mine and was all happy about it when she asked for it not to be published straight away. I panicked, thinking I did not have a plan B …I realised I was totally over reacting about it, not only I am not making money with my blog but this is a creative outlet and should not be something to worry about so dramatically. But I guess when you like doing things the right way and when you enjoy something very much you always end up putting yourself under a bit of pressure. The key is not to let that feeling rules your life;) Julie x
http://www.jafinthebox.wordpress.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:58 amWhen you’re used to doing things a certain way, it’s definitely a bit difficult to cope when things don’t go your way or when something unexpected happens. It can feel so overwhelming at times, but taking time to re-center and re-focus can definitely help. :)
Amanda Elizabeth
January 30, 2017 at 9:14 amUghhhhh the worst feeling girl! Godaddy has having so many issues these past few days and my site wasn’t loading and I couldn’t edit, etc etc. It does really make you see how much my space means to me.
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 9:59 amIt really is! Sorry you had to deal with the same thing!
Dagmara Klich
January 30, 2017 at 9:34 amI can totally relate to feeling guilty of not being able to be on top of things all the time and almost constantly think about blogging. Those might be small things but once you’re serious about your blog and your audience is growing they become part of you.
You’re doing great though so be proud of what you’ve achieved and don’t worry too much about the little things :) x
Mummy’s Beauty Corner
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
January 30, 2017 at 10:00 amThose things definitely become a part of you, at the same time it can all feel a bit intimidating ;)
Thank you so much Dagmara, it means so much to me!
Caked To The Nines
January 30, 2017 at 10:56 amGirl, yes to all of these! I don’t have a huge blog following and still feel so many of these feelings. I can only imagine how they grow when your blog grows so much! Several months ago I wasn’t able to log on to my site and all it said was “error.” I literally started crying because I didn’t know what to do. So glad you got all of your problems fixed! It can be such a nightmare especially if you’re not super super techie (like me).
So proud of you, and congrats on reaching your goals, babe! You deserve so much more!! One of my favorite blogs to read, and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you better! Sorry for the sappiness lmao.
xx
Nida | Caked To The Nines
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:51 pmSo glad I’m not the only one who feels all those things. Blog issues are the worst, I was so stressed I was crying too when it happened. It’s especially stressful when you have partnerships in the works, it makes you realize that you don’t blog just “for fun” anymore and have to look at it as a “business” too.
Aww thank you so much Nida, you’re one of the girls I know I can always count on and I love your blog so much. I’m so happy that our paths have crossed and can’t thank you enough for always being so sweet and supportive!! <3
Ines
January 30, 2017 at 11:06 amWow this is amazing! Truly honest content about growing a blog. I’ve just discovered your blog and I am already in love with it. Congratulations! It is lovely to see when people are doing so good at what they love. Keep it up!
————–
witkonijn.net
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:52 pmThank you so much Love, so happy that you like my blog!!
Rachael Cargin
January 30, 2017 at 11:30 amOh I love this post! I definitely get the worrying over misspelling things. I always proof read my posts three times but I still miss some mistakes! Thank you so much for sharing this post :)
Rachael xx.
theteacozykitchen.blogspot.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:52 pmThank you Rachael! Glad you liked this post!
Stephanie Hartley
January 30, 2017 at 12:05 pmI honestly would NEVER have guessed that English wasn’t your first language – your writing is so good! I think it’s hard to not get caught up in worrying about exactly what you’re saying and how people will receive it, but in the end it’s your blog to do what you want with ^_^
Steph – http://www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:53 pmAww thank you Steph! I definitely try to think of it that way, but it’s now always easy haha! :)
Lea H
January 30, 2017 at 2:34 pmSo nice to hear from your experience and the little bits that get to you. Although I still have a small blog, I too feel sometimes like I should do more for my blog like you said editing pictures etc. and you got me with the proof read sometimes I just can’t be bothered xD. But it calms me down that I’m not alone with this feelings.
Lea, xx
http://www.asnippetoflife.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:54 pmYou’re definitely not alone Lea! It’s a little silly we get stressed out so much about those things, but I think it means that we care so much about what we do, which is why we want it to be so perfect.
Beautylymin
January 30, 2017 at 4:20 pmI can understand you feeling overwhelmed but don’t feel guilty or anxious! You do an amazing job! xx
Beautylymin
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:54 pmAww thank you so much my Love!
Ariadna Morell
January 30, 2017 at 4:25 pmI totally love your blog and, don’t stress so much about it! We all have things to learn!! x
Ariadna || RAWR BOWS
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:54 pmThank you so much Lovely!
Kelsey
January 30, 2017 at 6:38 pmI just wanted to swing by and let you know you are totally not alone on struggling with running your own site! :) While mine went down due to my own stupidity lol It can be so frustrating and scary to have something you poured hours into just s t o p.
You are doing absolutely amazing sweet girl! Don’t forget it. xo
Kelsey | http://www.abalancingpeach.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:55 pmThank you so much Beautiful! It can definitely be bit scary, but there’s always a lesson that we get to take away from those experiences :)
Jenn
January 30, 2017 at 7:51 pmI can relate to a lot of these, more so on Instagram where I have a (much) better following than my blog. I have been really behind on responding to IG comments, mainly due to constrained time. By the time I get through liking/commenting on others’ posts, I get back to my own comments to respond to and my fingers are just dead.
I absolutely love your blog, and feel so much inspiration looking at your photos and reading your posts. I appreciate the easy, approachable vibe you have, while it still being clear you work hard.
Jenn – http://www.beautybyjellybean.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:56 pmIt can get so overwhelming at times and I truly enjoy connecting with others, but sometimes you just run out of time and can’t help it.
Thank you so much Jenn, that means the world to me!
The Pale Tails
January 30, 2017 at 8:33 pmI have just came across your blog today and I love it! The contents amazing and photography is beautiful so well done you for getting so many followers you truly deserve it! I always feel inadequate and worry that I’m not getting anywhere but you’ve inspired me to keep trying <3
Beckie xo // The Pale Tails
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:57 pmThank you so much sweet Beckie! Don’t ever think you’re inadequate, we’re all so different and we all have something special and unique to offer to this world. x
silverkis
January 30, 2017 at 10:52 pmit’s amazing how much I actually find myself doing the same things as you, obsessing over my blog and feeling like I’m neglecting it when i’m not working on it! But at the end of the day, it’s important to get some perspective. The blog is “just” a blog… don’t let life get away from you!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 10:59 pmPerspective is definitely very important! It just gets hard when you start having obligations like brand partnerships, which I’m in no way complaining about since I have so much fun doing it, but as things get a bit more serious, I tend to stress out a bit more. Thank you so much for stopping by, Linda!
Saniya Mapari
January 31, 2017 at 12:37 amHey Paula,love love love reading your posts..they are always so inspiring and motivating and this one is no exception
Would love if you could do a post on how to blog even while working full time and if there already is a post would love to read it.
Much love to you
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:00 pmSaniya, thank you so much or your sweet comment! I’m definitely open to work on a post like that, since it’s actually something I get asked quite often. Hopefully, I’ll be able to publish it within next couple of weeks.
Thank you so much for stopping by! x
Darina
January 31, 2017 at 5:02 amThis is such an inspiring post! I really love it and I love your blog! So motivating!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:00 pmThank you so much Darina, so sweet of you!
Elizabeth Mayce
February 1, 2017 at 10:23 amGirl, you have an incredible blog, and your writing is both super fun for beauty lovers, and inspirational for growing bloggers (like myself)!! I found Lifestyle Gleam probably about a year ago, and it’s become one of my favorite blogs. THANK YOU for being such an authentic writer! xoxo
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:02 pmAww Elizabeth, thank you SO much! It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy reading the blog and like my writing <3
steff @ brighterdarling.com
February 1, 2017 at 6:27 pmDon’t worry about responding to this comment but know that it’s so helpful and inspiring to read your lessons learned! Also, when the day comes that I get someone correcting my grammar, that will be a rough day for me, also. So ridiculous. This isn’t a textbook (and I’ve found plenty of typos in textbooks lol). Of course, blatant mistakes are not great but they happen and if it’s super consistent, then that person should just stop reading your blog (or just realize they get the gist of it and not be a jerk lol). Congrats on your goals, girlie! XO!
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:04 pmThank you so much Beautiful! I always feel a bit self-conscious about sharing posts like this one. I have this idea in my head that because I run a blog, I perhaps shouldn’t admit my weaknesses, but I want this little space to always remain authentic so it makes me so happy to receive such great feedback whenever I open up a bit. xx
Katie @ Over The Moony
February 2, 2017 at 7:49 pmOh gosh! Your blog crashing must have been absolutely terrible! It’s funny because I always tend to scroll past Pinterest articles about “overcoming your fear of blogging” and that used to seem kind of silly to me. But after doing it for a while and now really putting effort into growing my blog and social media, it really is terrifying putting yourself out there. It definitely stops being about you and more about talking about relevant things, which is so scary!
Katie | http://www.overthemoony.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:05 pmIt was scary and so stressful. I think the longer you blog, more special it becomes to you. It’s just such a bit part of my life, not being able to even login to WordPress gave me a panic attack haha! :)
CutieandherBeauty
February 2, 2017 at 10:10 pmThanks for writing this post.As a smaller blogger,it feels comforting to know that even as your blog gets bigger some things don’t change and you don’t become an idol on this unreachable pedestal.(:
http://www.cutieandherbeauty.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 2, 2017 at 11:07 pmYou’re very welcome Love! I think that fear becomes even greater with time (at least it did for me). It’s one of the reasons why I always want to remain authentic and honest about my feelings on blogging while also working full-time and dealing with feelings of guilt. Thank you so much for stopping by! x
Bernadette
February 5, 2017 at 6:27 amI definitely have constant doubts and insecurities about my blog. Especially when it comes to photo quality and the general look of one’s blog. I always strive to improve my photo quality, I’ve definitely come a long way but it’s easy to see so many pretty blog photos out there and find that yours can look dorky by comparison. Especially one you can’t afford an expensive camera and i am still trying to figure out how to arrange my blog photo set up in a way where i can get a white background for when my beauty products are standing up. I’m also so keen on going self hosted because i cannot stand how the layout is looking inside each individual post. It’s driving me nuts and making feel insecure about the blog but i am trying to focus on how much i love blogging and creating content but all that other stuff can creep up on you and make you paranoid you blog won’t grow (even though i try my hardest not to think about the numbers). I try and channel all that stuff into motivation.
Ps. i too get so paranoid that I’ll recommend someone a product and they won’t like it hahaha. There’s always that chance since everyone’s experience will be different.
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
May 18, 2017 at 3:52 pmBlogging is a process of constant learning, I cringe at my beginnings when it comes to things like my photography, but at the same time, it’s the only way to learn :) Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who stresses about that ;)
LuxeStyle
February 5, 2017 at 8:47 amI think it’s so easy to worry about what you’re posting – what if people don’t like what you’re writing about etc – I have these worries all the time even though I try to tell myself to stop it! x
LuxeStyle
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
May 24, 2017 at 11:30 amIt’s totally normal to have those worries- I think all bloggers have them :)
Caitlin A
February 5, 2017 at 12:14 pmI can so relate to pretty much all of these things. Back in August I had similar problems with my blog and was terrified when links weren’t working and words weren’t even showing up. Moving to self-hosting was a good thing to do but definitely terrifying. Safe to say, you learn an awful lot when you make the move! Wishing you all the best as this goes forward!
Caitlin
LemonadePressBlog.com
Elizabeth Prince
February 5, 2017 at 1:08 pmThis is such an important heads up. I get all these similar feelings with my business, but I still love to do it
Elizabeth
19 by Chance | 1415
Emily Clare
February 5, 2017 at 5:56 pmI can relate to so much of this thank you! Just discovered your blog and can’t stop reading all your posts!
http://emilyclarebeauty.blogspot.co.uk
spacesXplaces
February 6, 2017 at 9:03 amAs a blogger myself I feel every single word you wrote!!
Emily B
February 8, 2017 at 2:44 pmI relate so much to the grammatical errors! What’s even worse though is when you get texts from people you know pointing it out. Like thanks but also stop.
x Emily || http://www.lifestyleofemily.com
Kristina Wilde
February 10, 2017 at 3:16 amomg CONGRATS on the huge spike in views! So incredibly proud of you! Don’t doubt yourself and still create content YOU LOVE. That is what makes us keep coming back and reading! xoxo
Sionann Starwars Ghahremani
February 17, 2017 at 4:22 pmThis is great advice and information <3
CAT
February 19, 2017 at 4:53 pmI don’t have a very big blog but I have expectations to reach because I don’t want to disappoint the people that do read my blog and right now I really understand the guilt and feeling overwhelmed from it all. I’ve been pretty awful with my emails and with my blogging at the moment and feel like I’m letting more than just myself down. Things have been pretty busy so I haven’t had much time to do blogging the way I want to but I’m taking the right steps to get back on track :)
I think we need to remember to tell ourselves its okay to have a break and no one will judge us for it.
Zoe H
February 23, 2017 at 4:23 pmSuch an inspiring post! I definitely get times where I think ‘Is anyone listening to any of this rambling on?’ although I also think ‘You enjoy blogging whatever comes off the top of your head, so carry on doing what makes you happy!’
I am forever worrying about catching up on everyone’s blogs and social media, although I feel like there’s never enough hours in the day! xx
Zoe | nuggetstumpblog.com
Tiffany Tales
February 27, 2017 at 5:01 amThe guilt is the worst thing! I’m always worrying I don’t post enough – although at the moment that is probably true x
Tiffany Tales – Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
May 18, 2017 at 3:50 pmIt’s all about quality over quantity- although it is easy to forget that sometimes when you feel a lot of pressure.
hashtagbyjvb
April 6, 2017 at 3:09 amYou have expressed everything I am feeling about my blog right now. And unfortunately these thoughts got me stuck. I can’t write anymore because I am not sure anyone cares about what I think or feel. But your post helped in the sense that I am feeling less alone now.
Thanks (sorry for my english, I am much better in french ;) )
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
May 18, 2017 at 3:49 pmYour english is perfect! :) It’s a feeling a lot of bloggers share, but it’s easy to forget that. When I feel this way, I try to imagine myself talking to just one person when I write; a friend or someone close. It helps a bit!
Lam Rou
June 10, 2017 at 2:20 pmThis is totally what i needed to hear right now to get me on track for my blog and growing it to be as amazing as yours. i fear all the time that I’m not professional in the way i write but i realize that who cares I’m doing this because i love it and i want it to sound like me not a polished professional version of myself. thanks for the inspiration
Glass of Class
July 12, 2017 at 11:01 amThis is so true! I thought it would be all roses when I started my blog and as much as I love it I get so much anxiety. But I have only just started, I’m scared to think how I’ll feel as time goes by!
I would like to thank you for your posts because they are so helpful! Thanks to your posts I know so much more about blogging and I feel like I’m getting a hang of it. Wish me luck though :D
Windows Contact Number
August 24, 2017 at 8:22 amI can’t even express the guilt that I’ve felt over last couple of days. Not being able to post anything, not being able to bring the blog back up sooner, it was a really shitty feeling. It’s become a bit more than that though. I’ve noticed that if I’m hanging out with someone, my mind often drifts toward my blog. I keep thinking “I should be replying to emails right now, I should be editing photos, I have so much to do“.
windows support number
Victoria Henderson
August 5, 2018 at 10:52 amYou’re right; blogging is both fun and nerve-wracking. We–my husband and I–do it because expressing ourselves is exhilarating, but to actually have to think about what people are going to think about what we do–and, possibly, NOT like it–is annoying. However, we know that to actually achieve any amount of success with it, we know that this is just the reality of the situation. Thank you for being so open and honest about your experience and your journey.
Victoria Henderson
August 5, 2018 at 10:52 amYou’re right; blogging is both fun and nerve-wracking. We–my husband and I–do it because expressing ourselves is exhilarating, but to actually have to think about what people are going to think about what we do–and, possibly, NOT like it–is annoying. However, we know that to actually achieve any amount of success with it, we know that this is just the reality of the situation. Thank you for being so open and honest about your experience and your journey.