I used to think I had to post every day when I first began blogging. Then I tortured myself (& still fret over it sometimes) with one of the most common "successful blogging" tips: whether or not you post daily, be consistent. Find a schedule & stick to it. We owe it to our readers.
What I think we owe readers are quality posts. My inspiration does not run like clockwork. Sometimes it is there; other days not. I prefer to take time, thinking about my photos & not rushing through the words, forcing a post out. This means I do not really have a regular posting schedule. It may not be the best method if you are trying to make your blog successful in the way many are (trying to drive traffic to it), but it feels more authentic to me.
I have also realized -- other than a couple exceptions -- I would prefer to not have to stay caught up daily on the blogs I read. In other words, I wish most bloggers didn't post every day. Full disclosure: if I have to "read" your blog everyday, I scan it more than actually read it. Unless I want to be tethered to my computer more than I already am, I simply don't have time to really absorb every bit every single day. I assume most of you don't either. This is one reason why I lean toward shorter posts myself.
Most of us stay pretty busy between all of our responsibilities. I like to do more in my free time, not surf more. I love reading blogs & blogging myself, & these are two ways I like spending some of my free time, but it is so easy to get sucked in & distracted. I need to study; I love to climb & workout; I have recently increased my yoga practice; I ordered piano sheet music over the weekend; & last week, I even started a sketch/musings journal-of-sorts.
Sadly, it has also become difficult to differentiate my online friends from those who simply contacted me in the early stages of their blogging lives to increase their readership. I feel like I've lost touch with some of those I thought were friends.
When I get too caught up in virtual living & online social life, I miss out on the real essence of life. While I'm fretting over who my friends are & getting distracted by pins, links, & staying caught up, I miss out on real people & real experiences.
I still love blogging & many of the amazing people I have met through this crazy medium. I don't intend to end it. I have developed real, authentic relationships too; though I'm just not sure which those are right now. I am simply trying to be honest & hope I don't offend anyone. This next decision wasn't easy. For the next two weeks, while I am doing my dietary detox, I am going to include a digital detox as well. I will still be answering emails & phone calls if you need to reach me; but I will not be reading blogs or blogging myself. (This vlog, answering questions about myself, will be on Tuesday Trainer at Lindsay's List this week.) I will not be Pinning or FBing. I don't tweet. I need to clear my head & reassess my online presence & interests.
I want to spend more time studying, climbing, turning real pages, scribbling actual ink into notebooks, walking with Eisley, talking to Dave, "tickling the ivory", & bending into more downward-facing dogs on my new mat (a thoughtful gift from Dave).
On that note, I leave you for a couple weeks, with a simple recipe that I hope will inspire you to get offline & onto your mat.
I have always loved my Gaiam cleaner & realized I had nearly everything on hand (other than witch hazel, which is inexpensive) to make my own. It's a nice way to keep your mat clean, fresh, & smelling calming yet invigorating.
- 1/4 cup witch hazel*
- 1/4 cup distilled water
- ~20 drops essential oils (total) of your preference
I used, in the following order:
lavender oil (calming)
eucalyptus oil (uplifting)
tea trea oil (cleansing, antimicrobial)
Mix all ingredients in a small, opaque, 4 oz bottle with a spray top. Use, as needed, to clean your mat by spritzing directly on & wiping with a clean, damp cloth or old t-shirt. *Because there is alcohol in the witch hazel, I worry about drying out my mat. After using the cleaner, I usually rinse my cloth & wipe my mat down with water. For a deeper cleanse, I will let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before wiping off. Be sure to let your mat dry fully before rolling it.
