How To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed As A New Blogger
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In this post we will go over how to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger.
Blogger overwhelm is a real thing!
No matter if you are a new or more experienced blogger, no doubt you will have felt overwhelmed at some point. It’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed and lose focus on your blogging goals within the chaos of daily life.
There’s a lot more to growing a successful blog than you may initially realise. This isn’t to say it’s not worth it – it 100% is – it’s just the reality of having your own blog!
Let’s dive in and look at how to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a blogger.
Feeling overwhelmed with tasks as a blogger is so common. I am yet to meet another blogger who hasn’t felt this way at one point while growing their blog.
The first step to combating overwhelm is to identify what’s causing it. Take a moment to really think about the aspects of blogging that contribute to the feeling of being overwhelmed. Is it a seemingly never ending to-do list? A lack of clear priorities? Or constant distractions?
Pinpointing the root causes will allow you to address them more effectively!
As an example in my own life, I feel overwhelmed when I can’t get myself to concentrate and the to-do list keeps on growing!
The good news is that there are several strategies you can implement to help you manage your blog workload effectively and reduce stress! Regaining your focus and stopping feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger is something you can overcome with the right strategies.
At the bottom of this post I will explain the best trick I’ve found to focus on the tasks I need to do.
Below we will go over actionable steps that can help you stop feeling overwhelmed and unfocused. This will empower you to achieve a greater sense of balance and productivity!
Steps You Can Take As A New Blogger To Stop Feeling Overwhelmed
Prioritise Important Tasks
Once you’ve identified the sources of overwhelm, you can simplify and prioritise your tasks. Break down your tasks into manageable chunks. Focus on the essential tasks that align with your long-term goals and values.
Start by creating a to-do list or using a task management tool to prioritise your tasks. This step is so important! Identify the most important and urgent ones to help your blog and focus on completing those first. Breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps can also make them feel less overwhelming.
Set Achievable Goals
Often, overwhelm stems from unrealistic expectations and a failure to establish clear boundaries – even with ourselves!
I am all for setting massive, dream worthy goals. But to stop any feelings of overwhelm, you need to set smaller, achievable goals you can work towards on a daily basis. Be realistic about what you can accomplish within any given time frame. Try to avoid overcommitting yourself and work on the tasks that align with your goals and priorities.
Establish Effective Systems And Routines
Creating effective systems and routines can greatly help you not to feel overwhelmed while blogging. Developing a work schedule that allows for focused work, breaks, and time for relaxation is key. If you don’t give your mind a break, you will start to feel burnt out. You can use organisational tools, such as a calendar or planner, to keep track of what tasks need completed by which date. Implementing systems for task management and prioritisation can also help you stay on top of your responsibilities and prevent feelings of overwhelm!
Create A Work Schedule Alongside Your Blog Content Schedule
A Blog content schedule is your schedule for when specific posts are getting published. A work schedule will help you keep on top of all blogging tasks.
Where possible, allocating specific time slots for different blogging tasks can make a huge difference. By organising your time effectively, you can ensure that you have dedicated periods of time for writing, editing, promoting, and other necessary blog related activities. A schedule helps create a sense of structure and prevents tasks from piling up.
Knowing exactly when you are focusing on (for example keyword research, writing content, or creating Pinterest pins) takes the feeling of being overwhelmed away, as you know exactly what you are working on at any given time.
Seek Out Support And Connect With Other Bloggers
Reaching out to fellow bloggers or joining blogging communities where you can share your experiences, ask for advice, and gain support can make such a difference. Connecting with others (especially in your niche) can provide a sense of community and help you realise that you’re not alone in facing any challenges you will inevitably come across in your blogging journey.
Learn To Say No
It’s important to recognise your personal limits and not take on more than you can handle. (I think we are all guilty of doing this!) Learn to say no to requests or opportunities that don’t align with your current blogging priorities, or that exceed the time or energy you have. Prioritising your own well-being and workload is crucial for your long-term success.
Boundaries protect your time and energy, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
On the back of saying no, you can also…
Delegate Or Outsource Blogging Tasks
If possible, you can choose to delegate some tasks to others. You can consider outsourcing certain aspects of your blogging work if this takes the pressure off of your day. For example, you could hire a virtual assistant or a freelance writer to help with administrative tasks or content creation for your blog. Delegating can free up your time and mental energy for tasks that require your personal attention.
Take Breaks And Practise Self Care
This one is an absolute must. Regular breaks are essential for maintaining your productivity and preventing burnout. Set aside time for short breaks throughout your work time to rest and recharge. Additionally, make time for self care activities outside of blogging, such as exercise, spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing. Truly relaxing, not just not working but feeling guilty for taking a break! Taking care of your physical and mental well-being helps alleviate any potential overwhelm.
Practise Stress Management Techniques
Try out some stress management techniques that work for you. This can be things such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness, or journaling. These practices can help calm your mind, reduce anxiety, and improve your focus.
Remember, overwhelm is a really common feeling. It’s important to be patient and kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. By implementing these strategies and finding what works best for you, you can regain control and find a better balance in your blogging journey.
Feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger and struggling to stay focused is a common experience in the blogging world. However, by implementing the strategies outlined above, you can regain control over your life and restore clarity in your own mind!
Remember to identify the sources of overwhelm, simplify and prioritise, practise self-care and mindfulness, set realistic goals and boundaries, establish effective systems, and seek support when needed. By taking intentional steps towards balance and focus, you can grow your blog with greater ease and achieve a more fulfilling and productive existence.
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, there’s one trick I find works more than any other for helping the feeling of overwhelm.
Of course we are talking about how to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger but this works amazingly for any aspect of life where you feel overwhelmed.
I learned this trick from Mel Robbins and it truly works wonders.
Brain Dump.
What Is A Brain Dump?
A brain dump is a technique used to externalise and organise thoughts, ideas, or information that may be cluttering your mind.
It involves taking the jumble of thoughts in your head and transferring them onto paper or a digital notepad. (I would recommend pen and paper but do whichever works for you.)
The purpose of a brain dump is to clear mental space, reduce overwhelm, and gain clarity.
How To Do An Effective Brain Dump?
To do a brain dump to reduce racing thoughts and overwhelm, follow these steps:
Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can preferably be alone without distractions for a short while.
Decide how much time you want to dedicate to the brain dump session. It can be as short as 10 minutes or it can be longer. It will depend on the amount of information you need to offload. You don’t have to set an exact time limit, but the idea is to get it out as soon as possible and not let it drag on.
Start writing or typing without judgement or concern for keeping things in order. Let your thoughts flow freely and write them down as they come to you. Include tasks, ideas, worries, plans, or any other thoughts that are occupying your mind. Literally any thoughts or words that come to your mind, write it down.
Resist the urge to edit or hold back on what you’re writing. The purpose is to get everything out of your head and onto the page in front of you. Allow yourself to be completely honest and non-judgmental during this process.
Just keep writing.
That’s it!
Whether it’s words, sentences, random thoughts or anything else, if it comes to mind, write it down.
It Helps Clear Your Mind
Emptying your mind of thoughts and ideas frees up mental space and reduces mental clutter. This can lead to increased focus and improved decision-making.
Offloading your thoughts onto paper can help alleviate stress and anxiety. It allows you to release all of your worries and concerns, making them feel more manageable. It may not solve the issues, but it can get them out of your brain and put them more into perspective in front of you.
Once you’re done writing, rip it up! Brain dumps provide a visual representation of your thoughts. The idea is to get all thoughts out and then destroy the paper, thus eliminating the insignificant and bad thoughts from your mind.
The main reason why a brain dump helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger is that it clears your mind. This means that you can plan out tasks with better focus and can tackle them with a higher level of productivity. You’ll have a clearer picture of what you need to do as you’ve cleared your mind of the clutter. This means you can allocate your time and energy accordingly!
This post was written to help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a new blogger – or as a blogger in general!
Have you ever struggled with overwhelm as a blogger? Or even in life?
What techniques do you use to help combat this and regain focus on the important tasks?
Have you ever tried doing a brain dump?
Let me know in the comments below!
Speak soon!
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