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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109 Comments
Julie Russell
Great post about how to avoid feeling overwhelmed as a blogger! Overwhelm can happen as a blogger and I love the tips you give. I look forward to reading more articles!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It’s so common for bloggers to feel overwhelmed but there are definitely ways to combat it! 🙂
Alison
Great tips! Thank you for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much!
Jessica
Such good advice! I really need to abide by the suggestion of using a planner and scheduling – I’m an all or none kinda worker and that lack of consistency doesn’t fly!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I completely understand that as I’m exactly the same!! Giving yourself permission to break a task down and complete them as smaller tasks can be such a game changer!
A. H.
This is super helpful, thank you!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I’m really glad you found it helpful!
Kirsten Smith
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you!
LG
I feel as if you wrote this as an open letter directly to and for me. I appreciate you emphasizing having boundaries with ourselves. We talk a lot about boundaries with other people; but boundaries with ourselves are just as important.
Katherine McLee
I love this! Absolutely! Having set boundaries can really help with overwhelm as it keeps your mind more on track with the tasks you need/want to do, rather than feeling like you have to do everything!
Diane Houghton
As a fellow blogger, I deal with overwhelm all the time! The brain dump is genius – it works!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It really does work!
Debbie
I love everything about these tips. I’ve been finding myself overwhelmed and have been making lists. I’m going to try the brain-dumping idea! Thank you for the tip!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Brain dumping is amazing, it honestly works so well!
Holly
Love the brain dump!
Katherine McLee
It works so well!
Isabella
Great article! I completely agree with you. I’ve definitely learned to set myself realistic goals, especially since I still have a regular job and family commitments. There was a time I was nearing burn out so I decided to slow things down and i’m happier now.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I’m really glad to hear you’re happier now! Big goals are amazing to have but on a daily basis we definitely do need small, realistic acheiveable goals!
Melissa
This is great advice! I got ridiculously overwhelmed as a new blogger. To a certain extent, it’s almost impossible to avoid until you figure out what you’re doing and what tasks really do need to be prioritized. For example, I thought I definitely needed to post on FB and IG, but I found that it didn’t lead to much traffic. So I turned my efforts to Pinterest and now I’m getting traffic! I’ll revisit FB and IG once my daughter is in school and I have more time!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I agree that initially it’s pretty much inevitable, especially when it starts coming to things like SEO, DA, Keywords, Indexing etc! Quite a lot initially will be trial and error as to what’s actually important as you say, but there are other aspects I can hopefully guide people round! 🙂
Mayra
I definitely have felt overwhelm with a neverending list of things to do. I have done something similar to the brain dump. It’s the morning pages of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. But sometimes I’m so busy I have to skip it.
Will try to stick to it!
Katherine McLee
I will look into that! Brain dumps work so well! I think most bloggers have felt overwhelmed so clearing the mind is important!
Riyah Speaks
I find that not trying to be on too many social media platforms also helped me to not feel overwhelmed when I was first starting out. Great advice!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! It does noone any good to try and grow ALL social media platforms at once! Thank you!
Liv
I swear all of your articles are so relevant. Literally always what I need for tips and inspiration!
Katherine McLee
I love that! Thank you!
Tracy McHugh
I get overwhelmed all the time in trying to expand my blog. I love the part mentioning learn to say no. So important and something I’ve tried to incorporate as I’ve gotten older. Thanks for sharing!
Katherine McLee
It’s such a common thing we have all experienced! It’s an ineviatable part of growing a blog but using these tips can really help minimise the amount of overwhelm felt on a daily basis! 🙂
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Brandi
Great timing on this article! This week I was SO overwhelmed by all I thought I needed to get done. Creating a schedule and priorities helped. I found some more helpful tips in this article. Thank you.
Katherine McLee
Prioritising can be an amazing tool as it can show that some of the things we “need” to get done are only really things we “want” to do, which then instantly takes some pressure off!
Fransic verso
Great tips, honestly, having support from other bloggers helped me a lot. these are important for bloggers. Thank you for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I agree, it’s so important!
bunfuns
Thanks!! You gave really great tips and advice!! Before reading this, I’ve always just use the tip Take Breaks And Practise Self Care. lol…
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Those work well too! I just wanted to add in other options in case those tips alone didn’t work! 🙂
Charlie Karin Stewart
This is great advice! I think the most difficult one of these for me is learning how to say no, but it’s so important to be able to do so. I never thought of doing a brain dump, I will give this a go next time I’m feeling overhwelmed. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Katherine McLee
Thank you! A lot of it is practice but we don’t need to be perfect with it. Progress can be as impactful on our daily lives as making any huge changes! 🙂 A brain dump is one of my favourite things as it works SO well at clearing your mind!
Valery
This is such a helpful post! It took me a while to find a good routine but once I found one that really worked for me it helped immensely with my overwhelm! I can’t wait to try out the brain dump; thanks for putting this together for us!
Katherine McLee
I’m really glad it was helpful! A good routine can help so much! A brain dump can honestly work SO well!
Henri
This is true! Content creation overwhelm is as real as content consumption. I reduced the number of times I blog and tend to repurpose a lot, Also Mel’s 5-4-3-2-1 works 🙂
Katherine McLee
It really is! Repurposing can be an amazing tool when it comes to content as Google already knows it exists so you’re already a step ahead! 🙂 Yes! That method works so well too!
Stephanie
Great advice – I think you wrote this article for me!! I do often feel overwhelmed as a relatively new blogger. I will certainly incorporate some of your tips to help me focus and lessen anxiety.
Katherine McLee
I’m really glad you felt it was useful for you! It can be so easy to feel overwhelmed! Let me know which of these work best for you!
Anthony Pilla
I can totally relate to all of this! 🤣 I like your style and enjoyed the read.
Subscribed!
Katherine McLee
Hahaha I think a lot of us have felt the dreaded overwhelm at one point or another! Thank you so much!
Nicolle
Really enjoyed this post. A work schedule from Monday – Friday and mapping out my to-dos over the week help me a lot to stay on top of things. Self-Care is super important and a great reminder!! Thanks so much for this post 😉
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Absolutely, having some good strategies in place can make a big difference! 😀
Ann
Nice article! I already follow many of your suggestions. One way I stay focused is by using a to-do list and multiple calendars. They help me plan my writing and research topics effectively. Taking breaks and practicing self-care are crucial for me. Nowadays, I schedule specific time slots for myself to simply pause and engage in other activities, such as reading a book or watching my favorite movie.
Katherine McLee
These are all amazing ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed! I think taking time away from it all can REALLY help, especially if it’s something to get lost in such as a book or a movie!
Louise
Really useful blog! I help my friend with her blogs, im definitely the person delegated too but I love being able to take the pressure off in my free time while she works on her business! This is really helpful for is both!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! That’s perfect if that’s the system that works for you both! 😀 I’m really glad you found it helpful!
Maryanne
This is a very timely post for me. I’m just starting to feel a bit of overwhelm. All your points are great ideas to combat overwhelm. Thank you!
A. H.
These are great tips, thanks for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you!
Denise
Great post! Taking breaks and practicing self-care is so important. When I get busy I don’t stop many times and forget to eat. I am trying to get myself back on track. Thank you for sharing!
Katherine McLee
It’s crazy how we get so into things we forget the basics isn’t it! Self care is so so important!
bunfuns
As I am going into the summer, with my kid being home with me all the time, I’m starting to feel the weight. Will try to implement some of your suggestions.
Katherine McLee
It can be tricky, especially when life is busy, but I hope these help you to not feel too overwhelmed!
Haley
These are great tips. As a new blogger I often feel overwhelmed often.
Katherine McLee
It can feel overwhelming but I hope these tips help! 🙂
Valery
What a timely post for me to read. I have so many blogging goals currently and it’s definitely brining on some overwhelm in not knowing where to start! I just followed your suggestion to complete a brain dump and boy was it helpful! I now have clarity in knowing what to prioritize first. Thanks for such a helpful post!
Katherine McLee
Brain dumps are amazing aren’t they!! I’m so so glad you liked it and found it helpful!
Literally Laurie
This is very helpful becuase I have my days when I wonder if blogging is really my thing. 🙂 Brain dumping really helps! 🙂
Katherine McLee
We all have had days like that! Brain dumping can help so much! 🙂
Pantea
I love this article esp., your suggestion with a brain dump which has helped me reduce my stress and overwhelm.
Katherine McLee
A brain dump really can work wonders!
Melissa
This is such great advice! I wish I had seen this when I was first starting out. But they are also good reminders. Thanks for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Overwhelm is something we all feel, no matter how experienced!
Maryanne
It can be easy to be overwhelmed with blogging. I like that you offer strategies to overcome the overwhelm. I would say prioritising and brain dumping would be my favourites. Thanks for the great post!
Katherine McLee
Those two things alone can make such a difference in not feeling as overwhelmed!
Ann
I like the idea of a brain dump. I have just placed my thoughts on paper and it did make me feel better. I know when I first started blogging it was extremely overwhelming! It was just so much to learn and a totally new world for me. I’ve learn to take baby steps and when things start to get crazy again, I just go focus on something else and regroup.
Katherine McLee
A brain dump can really help! The early days of blogging especially can be SO overwhelming, but baby steps is the perfect way to get through the overwhelm! 😀
Winky Pink
Useful tips! Thanks for the great post!!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! ❤️
Stephanie
Great advice for both new and older bloggers that are still working on a routine. I have got to create a blog planner and stop being all willy nilly about it. I just spend so much time creating content during my free time that I want to publish it IMMEDIATELY, not wait until next Thursday. 🤣
Katherine McLee
Hahaha I’m like that! It’s only when life takes over that you realise the beauty of a content calendar and schedule as posts can still go live even when the days are busy! 😀
Michelle
I love this! As a new blogger I am definitely feeling overwhelmed. I really appreciate your tips! I have never heard of doing a brain dump, but I can’t wait to try it!
Katherine McLee
Let me know how you get on! Brain dumps are honestly amazing!!
Crystal Green
These are wonderful tips to help stop the feeling of being overwhelmed as a new blogger feeling! I am NOT a new blogger, but since I have started a new blog I was quickly falling down this rabbit hole. I’m glad I was given this reminder again.
Katherine McLee
I think we all go through phases of feeling overwhelmed so knowing how to overcome it can help no matter how experienced we are! 🙂
Jess G
Very informative post, thank you! It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone, & that we all have times when we feel overwhelmed. Thank for your insight about how to overcome it!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Absolutely not alone at all! We ALL feel overwhelmed, no matter how experienced! I’m glad it was helpful! 🙂
Sienna
Love this post! Going to do a brain dump right now! I def have issues saying no, prioritizing what’s important and really really really need to outsource some tasks. I’m a little overwhelmed but I know I can do it!
Katherine McLee
Brain dumps can work like magic! You absolutely can do it! One step at a time and you’ll get there! 😀
Tracy McHugh
I feel all of this post! Since being active with blogging, I almost feel like: where do I start and get overwhelmed.
Katherine McLee
It’s SO easy to get overwhelmed with blogging! Hopefully these tips have helped! 😀
Natalie
This is quite helpful. I can certainly relate to needing a structured routine and blogging is no different! I like the content calendar idea. I’ve been leaning toward deciding content ahead of time. Think I will pull the trigger!
Katherine McLee
I’m glad it was helpful! Content calendars are one of those things that don’t feel like a “need”, but when you start using one you won’t go back!
Elaine
Definitely some good advice. We all tend to overwork, overthink and then feel less productive. Thanks for sharing.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! We absolutely do, it’s something we all get but having strategies in place can really help! 🙂
Brandi Sunrises2Sunsets
Brain dumps have always been a crucial part of my evening routine so that I am able to go to sleep. Great article with excellent tips!
Katherine McLee
Before sleep is an amazing idea! Brain dumps work so well!
Tara B
Such good advice. Will be pinning this to my private board for motivation next time I feel overwhelmed 🙂 (probably today!)
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I’m so glad it was helpful! 😀
Adéle Land
This resonated with me today as I’m working so hard to fine tune my blog so it can start repaying me for all the work I’ve put into it!
Megan
Great tips! I will be doing some of these things
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! I’m glad it helped as feeling overwhelmed is something we all feel, no matter how long we have been blogging!
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Christine
This is so helpful! I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately and I love all of this advice. A brain dump has been so helpful for me in the past as well. Thank you for this great post!
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much! Feeling overwhelmed can be horrible but brain dumps and the other points noted can help! 🙂
kirstie
Loved these tips, definetly feeling that burn out at the minute so will be referring back to this often. Thank you! x
Katherine McLee
I’m glad it was helpful! <3
Jaqueline
Amazing tips, especially as a new blogger myself. It can get super overwhelming to prioritize tasks accordingly… Thank you for the advice!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Prioritising can make such a difference as there will always be a never ending list of things to do so focusing on the important ones first is key!
Corrinne
Amazing advice! I just blogged about unrealistic expectations. I suffered burnout recently. Great tips. Thank you! ❤️
Katherine McLee
Amazing I will check it out! Thank you! ❤️