When Blogging is put on Pause

As you have probably noticed it has been pretty quiet on the blog this last week.

Everything has been hectic here. Last week was a bit of a muddle and to be honest I failed massively at juggling everything!

The boys Mum was in hospital which meant that I had some extended time with the boys.

Within this I had to juggle work as well. I had the quiz night and the preparation that goes with it. Then I still somehow managed to teach the piano and the guitar and in each case I had to move a few lessons around, find cover and get a babysitter; this alone was a nightmare.

This week also meant that I had my article deadlines for the magazines that I write for which, the majority of them, needed to be written as well as edited.

Between Home Ed, Parenting, general housework and the many jobs that I do meant that blogging needed to take a back seat.

It was important to put these areas first. The boys and their education will always come first and maintaining the housework is included in this. (Can’t have the boys running out of clean clothes and living in filth)

I also couldn’t give up the hours of work.  I will always remain professional, work my hours, arrive on time, and produce the work that I have agreed to do and importantly do the work to my best ability and earn for us.

So, to maintain this strong work ethic, as well as putting the boys first, I needed to give something up for a while: blogging seemed the only option.

As always, I have lots of posts partially written sitting in my drafts as well as several reviews partially written. In reality I could have published content but I just failed with time.

Most evenings I was working until 10pm to get most things done and although this, in many ways, isn't unusual for me this time was different.

Mentally and Physically I was feeling exhausted; I would get to bed and was left exhausted but when it comes to sleep I am having to take extra medication as well as having cream to rub over my muscles to help relieve part of the pain that I am.

It was clear; the sheer time spent juggling all of the above took its toll.

When Friday afternoon came and I finally had some free time, where the boy’s maternal aunt had taken them, I sat at my laptop to catch up. The time was free and I was motivated and I felt that I NEEDED to get some blogging done and maintain my regular posting but my brain had decided to stop.

I wrote for a few hours and when I went to read and edit the effect of mental exhaustion was clear; I had written absolute gibberish.

I know this isn’t a shock where the majority of my writing is rather shoddy but honestly this was horrendous even for me.

Instead of sitting there and pushing myself further I shut my laptop down and just stopped.

Blogging pretty much started out as a hobby and a way to keep record of what I do with the Boys.

This is still true, and I needed to remember that this is the main goal for the blog. It is quite easy to allow a hobby to become a part time job, even worse to feel pressured and lose the enjoyment of it. It becomes exceptionally more difficult when you are seemingly doing well with statistics, emails, comments and people genuinely taking an interest in what you’re writing as well as your life.

However, life can often get in the way and when it does you have to let some things slide. I have learnt that I can be stubborn and that I need to rest and that I shouldn’t always feel consumed to constantly write.

I am sure I’m not alone in feeling like this and also not the only person where life jumps in the way and sometimes you have to put yourself first for the sake of your family. Hopefully this week will be a bit better and I can relax as well as write but if not, then that is just what happens.