It’s happening again. Bloggers are saying that blogging is stressful or makes them feel guilty.
Blogging is becoming a chore.
They don’t have time to read and comment on all the blog posts of all the blogs they follow.
They’re constantly apologising for not reading, commenting or publishing new blog posts.
They don’t have time to keep up with a blogging schedule they set themselves.
They feel obliged to read and comment on everything because those bloggers read and comment on their blog posts.
Let’s get something straight about blogging. Nobody expects you to read and comment on all their blog posts.
Just because Susan and Jenny read and comment on all of each other’s blog posts doesn’t mean you have you. And believe me when I say that Jenny and Susan won’t have always read each other’s blog posts. They may have left comments, but those comments don’t prove they read the post.
Nobody cares if you don’t read and comment on all their posts.
Nobody says it’s your obligation to read and comment on all their posts because they read and comment on all your posts.
Nobody? Well, not quite. The only person who may feel obliged or think they must read and comment on all the posts of the blogs they follow is you.
One of the biggest pitfalls of blogging is feeling obligated.
Once again, I’ve been reading blog posts, comments, and social media posts where people ask for advice because blogging has got to the stage of stressing them out and/or making them feel guilty.
They seem to feel that not reading and commenting on every post is some kind of a blogging crime and will land them in blogging jail.
I’ve written before about the stress and guilt blogging can bring (if you allow it) and know exactly how these bloggers are feeling, having been through the whole blogging ‘feeling guilty’ trip myself.
So, allow me to explain why you never need to feel stressed or guilty about blogging or never need to apologise for not reading, commenting or publishing blog posts.
Why did you start your blog?
One of the reasons why I signed up for WordPress was because I thought blogging would be fun.
One year in, I became very stressed and guilty because I couldn’t keep up with reading all the new blog posts published by the bloggers I was following.
I was following way too many blogs, many of which didn’t interest me anyway.
Some days, I found myself doing little else but reading and leaving non-engaging, spammy comments on blog posts. You know the types of comments. Things like ‘Great post,’ ‘I enjoyed this’, or one-worded comments that meant nothing.
Some of the bloggers I was following were publishing more than one post daily, and I soon found myself apologising to people for not reading their posts or not being on WordPress 24 hours a day!
Then it struck me that I was not doing the main thing I’d come here to do – write!
Although I possess a few superpowers, I’m afraid that one of them is not being able to read every new blog post from bloggers I follow.
I began to see this as a problem. Blogging was becoming a monster, and I was doing everything possible to make me want to fight it.
Then, one morning, I woke up, switched on my computer and got that horrible feeling I would get when I didn’t want to go to school or go to work.
I soon realised that I had two choices about blogging. Either I gave it up, or I had to change the blogger I had become.
It didn’t take me long to make my choice. After all, I’d created my blog to write and share my thoughts with anybody who stopped by and wanted to listen to what I had to say.
I decreased my reading time and began to write more.
I stopped following every single blogger who followed my blog. If they didn’t have an ‘about me‘ page so I could find out more about who they were, or they blogged about subjects that did not interest me, then I did not follow back.
If bloggers kept sending me messages begging me to follow their blog, I ignored them.
I stopped feeling guilty for not following back.
As time passed, I began to unfollow bloggers whose blog content I didn’t find interesting anymore.
I stopped reading blog posts that did not interest me, regardless of who had written and published them.
I unfollowed some bloggers who continued to fail to respond to questions or acknowledge comments other bloggers and I were leaving on posts.
I didn’t feel guilty about this because it freed up time for me to write, read, and comment on blog posts that interested me.
If you find yourself in a situation where blogging makes you feel guilty and/or stresses you out, then you need to face the questions I was asking myself.
I’m afraid there’s no magic answer.
What worked for me may not work for you, but whatever you do, ensure you do all you can to make blogging fun again.
Isn’t that the reason why you came here in the first place?
Take control of your blog and stop feeling guilty about not reading and commenting on every blog post or for unfollowing blogs that you no longer have any interest in.
Sure, you may lose some followers along the way (don’t we all?), but it’s not going to finish you off as a blogger.
In fact, they probably didn’t read your blog posts anyway and will have left short, non-engaging comments just to prove they visited, so it’s no big deal (unless your only interest is how many followers you have).
If, like me, you decide to stay (and I hope you do), your blogging passion will return.
Remember – Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint!
Have you ever found yourself feeling guilty or stressed out because of blogging? Are you somebody who keeps apologising because you’ve been unable to spend as much time as you like reading and commenting on posts? How did you get over feeling guilty or stressed out by blogging? Leave me a comment and join the conversation.
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Hugh's Views & News 
I like blogging and interacting but I don’t make this the most important thing in my life.
That’s good to hear. Blogging should always be about fun and enjoyment.
Hi Hugh, another great reminder on why we started blogging in the first place and how it’s meant to be a fun activity not a chore. I agree with all you’ve said and you’ve hit a nerve by the looks of the comments too. I’ve just written a post about things/topics bloggers don’t talk about in posts and why. I wondered how others decided what topics to discuss and which ones to leave alone, as sharing all of your life online can be a bit damaging. Thanks again for your common sense approach!
Hi Debbie, I’ve got your post in my inbox waiting to be read. It can sometimes take me a while to get around reading posts, but those with eye-catching titles (like your post) never get deleted until I’ve read them.
There are a few subjects bloggers do not like discussing or talking about. But when somebody does write and publish a post about one of those subjects, they always attract plenty of good, valuable comments. I’m sure your post already has. I look forward to reading it, and the reading the comments.
This post feels very close to home. I sometimes just don’t have it in me to blog or write I seem to have to push myself a lot to get anything done now and days. I completely understand you can when you can and when you do were happy to have you friend
Please do not feel bad when you don’t feel like blogging. It happens to the majority of bloggers so is something that affects us all.
Hi Hugh,
Blogging is becoming stressful due to Google’s Core Updates in September and October. Many bloggers saw traffic wiped out. I am spending time researching what bloggers can do to regain lost Search Engine positions.
Janice
I had no idea that it had happened, Janice.
I look forward to hearing what you find out. I know you’ll keep us updated.
Yes, it’s true. Blogging is not easy, especially if you are not into it full-time.
But to keep going, one should not forget his blogging mission. Why did you start a blog? What do you hope to achieve with your blog?
Once I realised that I’m achieving what I set out to achieve, I am encouraged to continue blogging. For me, what matters is that I’m sharing my thoughts with the world and in the process, I’m also honing my writing skill.
To that extent, I’m not going to quit anytime soon.
That’s good to hear and good advice, Victor.
It sounds like you have your blogging under control and that you’re enjoying it. Keep it up.
I keep finding myself coming back to this post. At least once a week, I get stressed out, thinking I should do more with my blog. But your comment, “Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint.” keeps me going. I need to focus on creating quality content I enjoy reading. I figure if I don’t want to read who else would? Thank you for sharing some common-sense advice.
Quality should always be more important than quantity, Mangus. I see too many poor quality blog posts from bloggers who publish more than once a day. Or, it’s too boring because it’s similar to what they’ve already posted.
Never feel guilty for not publishing blog posts. Publish when you have something interesting to say and as you righty said, you’d enjoy reading.
A good reminder Hugh. Also, I find in my blogging circles, including myself, that once a year we take a hiatus for vacation, or just a time out from blogging. It’s rejuvenating. 🙂
Blogging breaks are excellent, especially for mental health, Debby. I think the problem is that some bloggers believe the blogging world would collapse without them. They need to take a leaf out of your book.
Lol, thanks again Hugh. 🙂
I believe you just empowered thousands, Hugh. lol. I am with you. I enjoy engagement, and enjoy having a place for my thoughts more.
Thank you. I’m glad you think so.
Engagement is an important part of blogging, but not when you feel obliged to try and engage, especially when you’ve not read the post or found it interesting.
Let’s keep blogging fun!
yes.
Thanks Hugh. It’s always great to have these reminders. I have so many travel posts to write but I’m still putting off removing old posts to regain more storage. I can’t bring myself to do it but my storage is nearly at full capacity.
I think you already read this post I wrote about freeing up media storage, Wayne. But I’ll leave the link to it again just in case it helps.
I sure did Hugh. I have to delete old posts but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I don’t use videos and I don’t want to upgrade my plan. I love photos and I feel they add so much to my posts so deleting is my only option. I will do it soon, I just keep putting it off. Thanks again.
Have you reduced the size of the photos on those posts, Wayne?
Yes I have been reducing for a long time now.
Good. At least you’re trying something rather than nothing at all.
Very true, Hugh.
I should go back to my old posts and reduce those photos too but that’s a long process.
Argh, right. Yes, I’m afraid those photos may be taking up vast amounts of storage space. Try resizing a couple a day rather than doing too many all at once. It may be slow, but it’ll free up space.
Good idea to do a couple a day!
You just brightened my day, Hugh! Sometimes, I feel guilty for not reading and commenting on many posts, but there are only so many hours in a day. I’ve readjusted my reading and comment routine to those bloggers with whom we have like interests. I’d rather read posts that I truly enjoy and leave sincere and quality comments than just skim their content and leave a one-word comment or an emoji. Blogging should be fun and fulfilling and not stressful.
I agree with everything you say, Eugi. Blogging should be all about fun and enjoyment, never the obligation to read and comment or write and publish posts when we don’t really have anything to say.
So pleased to hear that you don’t allow blogging to stress you or make you feel guilty. And even more pleased that I brightened up your day.
Your posts are very enlightening, Hugh.
Great post, as usual, Hugh. I totally agree. I try to keep up with my favourite bloggers at least once a week, but that’s not always possible. I’m selective in the posts I read and comment on. If I’m not interested, I delete the notification and move onto the next. I’m not fond of having my inbox jammed up with multiple posts from the same blogger each day or week. I don’t use the reader, but opt for email notifications.
I’m the same with regards preferring to get email notifications of new posts rather than checking the WordPress Reader, Norah. And if anyone publishes more than once a day, I choose not to receive email notifications from them.
Good to hear you’ve not fallen into the blogging stress or guilty trap for not reading and commenting on all the posts of the blogs you follow.
I do the same with notifications of avid posters too, Hugh.
I was in the guilty trap once, Hugh, and still get occasional twinges, but have decided that I can just do what I can do. Sometimes my online friends get more time than my offline friends. I have to balance that better I think.
Yes, I know what you mean, Norah. It’s when your blogging friends take up more time than your family that things can really get out of hand. Finding the right balance can be difficult, but once you find it, I think it’s something you’ll know is right.
That’s right, Hugh. It’s important to find the balance.
I was tempted to write ‘great job!’ Just to rile you. Ah spam where did it go. Anyway, I wonder if this whole need to blog/need to read/need to comment is part of growing into blogging? I think we’ve known each other a long blogging time now and both gone on this journey in different ways over different time scales. We’ve seen bloggers we’ve enjoyed disappear possibly through exhaustion and guilt. Those who are still here have I think found their equilibrium. Now blogging feeds a need in me and like you the priority is to write not read and comment. When I have a moment, I will do the latter but I fit it in. And if I don’t I just delete the reminders. Like you’ve I’ve changed and continue to change bloggers who I follow. And naturally I see it with bloggers who follow me. Which is lovely etc but blogging isn’t about views comments and likes. At least not for me. It’s always been a way to get ideas out there, because my next novella or book will be in one of those short pieces.
Anyway, great job!
You could be right about it being a part of growing into blogging, but what I find strange is that I still see bloggers who have been blogging for as long as I have still apologising for not reading and commenting on posts or for not being on WordPress 24 a day. Likewise, some of them leave short, non-engaging, spammy comments on all the posts of certain bloggers that don’t prove they’ve read the post. I don’t know if you read my previous posts about leaving comments, but they struck a cord with many saying they didn’t understand why people felt they had prove they visited by leaving short, non engaging comments every time.
It’s good to hear that you fit in reading and commenting on blogs. That’s how it should be. Nobody should ever feel obliged to reading and leaving comments simply because those bloggers read and leave comments on all their posts. Then they leave short non-engaging comments as a calling card, rather than add a valuable comment that proves they read the post. I don’t understand why anyone feels they need to do that.
Your comment has come up as Anonymous, which I have no problem with as my blog settings are set so that anyone can leave me a comment regardless of wether they are logged into WordPress or not. Your comment was also the type of comments I crave for on my blog. It opens up discussion and gives me something to say more than just a ‘thank you’ or clicking the ‘like’ button and moving on. So thank you for your valuable comment (whoever you are).
Well said Hugh!
Recently I found some time to check out the blogs on those who’d taken the time to comment.
A few didn’t have posts that interest me so I had nothing to say. One was about health care – which I work in and have lots of knowledge and therefore lots I could say, but choose not to as I have to be mindful what I say could be found by my employer!
On the topic of guilt I wonder if people who get stressed out are the personality types who do everything for everyone. Obviously not wanting to make judgements, just know that when I was less assertive I felt like I had to return the favour (and more) too!
I think most of the guilt and stress comes from the big blogging communities where everybody is expected to read and comment on each others posts, James. Of course, there are no rules saying to have to do that, but members feel they’re obliged to do so in fear of upsetting other members or losing followers. It’s a bit of a vicious circle.
Once you leave those large communities, blogging takes on a whole new form, all of which is far more enjoyable. The stress and guilt disappear and the enjoyment comes back.
What I found strange when I left those large blogging communities and unfollowed some of the blogs in them that published content I was not interested in, is that most of who I unfollowed either unfollowed me or stopped commenting on my posts. All along, they must have found my content uninteresting, so I wondered why they’d followed me in the first place.
Ah okay I see – I know from being part of social media blogging communities where you do the whole ‘share your post, so others can read and comment, then make sure to read/comment on two other posts in the thread’ is that it always felt like I was giving a lot more, and others were just taking.
Even all the extra engagement I got was because I’d bothered to read/comment/follow someone else’s blog first. Realising this I decided to stop contributing and seeing if anyone would take the initiative to check my work out first.
Responses from these threads dropped to zero, and I realised it wasn’t worth it if people weren’t sincere about enjoying my writing.
Now I put my time and effort elsewhere, and my bit of blogging engagement time is spent on reading the blogs I enjoy!
Well said, James. Unfortunately, there always seems to be too much take and not enough giving.
I had quite a few people always comment on my posts. Then when I unfollowed their blogs, the comments gradually decline, until they realised I’d unfollowed. Then they stop altogether. But to be honest, most of their comments were always short and showed little interest in the content of the post anyway. They were more like the obliging comments which I never liked anyway. It was good to get out of those large blogging communities.