Hey everyone! I hope your week started off well! Yesterday was our second day of GOTR and it was soooo much better than Friday because we could actually go outside! I also loved how enthusiastic some of the girls were to run! We gave them marker dots on their hands as lap counters, and they had a blast trying to get up to 9 (which was a mile) and get different colors! Some girls made it to almost 2 miles in 20 minutes!
I was reading several of the re-caps over the weekend of Fit Bloggin, a healthy living blogger conference in Baltimore. It sounded like such a fun time! I heard about one session that I found really interesting, so I checked out the Fit Bloggin website to get the full recap. The session was called How Much Blogging Is Too Much?
I have a few friends and family members who don’t think my blog is the best idea, they are afraid I invest way too much time into writing online and not enough time focusing on me and my real life. And I have to agree with them, to an extent. I absolutely love blogging and it’s given me so much – your support, a creative outlet, a ton information, and some great friends I would never have met otherwise.
However, there is a line on how much involvement in blogging is too much, especially since for me it’s a hobby and not a career. I know some other bloggers have written posts about taking a step back and focusing on living in the moment.
Because of all of this, I was intrigued to see what they had to say during the session. The session talked a lot about how much is too much to share on your blog, and one of their points made a lot of sense – we share things on here that we wouldn’t normally share with others in real life:
“In real life, we keep weigh-ins, diet slip-ups, family drama and your cat’s bowel movements to our close inner circle, but blogging has blurred the lines of what is acceptable to share. Let’s chat about reality blogging and how social media makes you feel.” (Source)
First they discussed sharing personal things, like your name! You all know my name is Katie, but from what I know I haven’t put my last name on the blog. However, if you know how to use a computer I’m pretty sure you could find out my last name and a lot of other details about my life if you wanted to. Hopefully no one wants to stalk me… I promise I’m not that interesting.
They also discussed putting other people on your blog. I think one thing that struck me (which I heard a few weeks ago) was that our friends and family didn’t sign up to be on the blog. Personally I stopped using people’s names for the most part and try and ask before putting up pictures but I could do better with it. It’s important to remember that the people in our lives may not want to be on our blog!
Personally, I also think that knowing who reads my blog affects what I write. I definitely hold back more knowing that family reads my blog (hi family!). Which, honestly, I think is a good thing. It makes me think twice before typing and keeps me from turning this into an online journal for the world to see.
Finally, someone in the audience stated that they felt like a disappointment sometimes and Monica answered:
“You define the deal. You’re holding up your end of being who you are. You get to define how you want to lose your weight or run your race. If you’re documenting your own journey, you want to be able to share those things. You don’t have to answer to anyone, you don’t owe anyone anything.”
I loved that reminder. Blogs are not meant to fit into a certain mold or meet certain expectations. I write because I love to, I write about what I want and what I feel like writing about. I live my life how I want to. And if people don’t like it, they shouldn’t read, I don’t have to apologize for anything because I don’t OWE that to anyone. I love and appreciate my readers and it means the world to me when I hear from someone who can relate to what I am going through, but I can’t relate to everyone!
What are your thoughts on some of the points raised in this session?
How much is too much?
Thanks for sharing Katie! As bloggers we can’t please everyone! You are so right on that!
Great post, Katie! I definitely know what you mean about drawing the line from blogging take over your life. I used to be so anal about making sure I regularly posted because you know, God forbid I lose readers. Fortunately I’ve finally realized that as much as I love blogging, it’s only an aspect of my life…not my life entirely! And whether or not I post regularly or not, those who genuinely want to read will continue to read! And funny enough, taking the pressure off has made me love blogging all the more!
Definitely something I’ve had to realize too!
I think this is excellent point and something we should all think about. I’m very very new to blogging, but already I can see how it can become all-consuming. I find myself thinking about it a ton, and I’m a lot for glued to the computer than I used to be. It’s definitely about finding a balance.
It’s still a struggle for me! Sometimes I just have to walk away from the computer!
Great post! I’m going to have to go read that recap on FitBloggin’. I think there’s a ton of great things that come with blogging, but just like pretty much anything else in life, it’s easy to go overboard. When you don’t have a life outside of blogging, I think that is too much. I once heard a saying/quote that I loved: “Blog what you live, don’t live to blog”. I try to live by that when it comes to my blog.
That’s a great quote, Ashley!
Oh I love that too!
This was an interesting post. I was just talking to gf about blogging last night and how she said she would never start one because she’s such a private person. I personally don’t share really personal stuff on the blog so I don’t think too much into it. Mine is more nonsense and stupid thoughts that pop into my head then sharing what I eat, what I’m going through etc. But I think this was a really good post and something to really think about!
Katie FTW!
I agree, it’s definitely whatever you choose to put on there!
Great post! I used to be so concerned with posting everyday and making sure I always had a new workout/recipe to share, but that got overwhelming. I love blogging, so I will do it often, but a day or two off won’t kill me!
Exactly, sometimes it’s just too much to come up with several great posts week after week after week!
Great post! I think there is a line to draw when it comes to blogging. To me “real life” comes first and blogging is second. I try to keep it just about my progress and a little ranting and leave the personal stuff on the back burner.
Definitely, it’s important to remember that this is a hobby for most of us and shouldn’t come first!
ah so true! I am so careful about using people’s names or pictures without asking them first. I never use other’s names, even friends/family always just referring to them as general. It is something I think about a lot though, blogging has helped me feel more connected in a new city but in this almost distance world.
It’s definitely made me feel more connected here in Chicago, I’ve met so many more people because of blogging!
This is a great post. I’m still extremely new to blogging, but I’m kind of having the opposite problem these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been posting enough! I feel guilty at times but I’m trying to remember that I started my blog for ME, and not to please other people. I’m rather private too and I don’t really want to include much about my family, friends or my personal life on it…at least not now.
Never feel guilty about your blog – write what you want to write, you don’t owe anyone anything! There’s no need to include so much personal stuff, and blogs change over time as we change.
I think there’s a fine line between being honest and over sharing. I post a lot of my life on my blog, but I don’t post everything. I also post about my relationship with my boyfriend, which surprisingly, he doesn’t mind at all. He is cool with the blog, as are most of my friends. I definitely tend to not post at all when I have a bad day or am feeling in a funk, which I know may not be the most honest (as it may make my life appear like sunshine and puppies all the time) but it also is to respect my own privacy. There are just times where I don’t want to share EVERYTHING, like how I’m in a bad mood because of major PMS (TMI, in my opinion). I agree with you – if people don’t want to read about my life, close the webpage. I’m not forcing anyone.
I do the same thing, if I have a really bad day I might allude to it, but I don’t feel like sharing every bit of my life on the blog. Sometimes I find it’s easier to talk about bad things after the fact, that way I’m not still in it and I’ve been able to learn and grow so I can reflect better on things.
Great post, Katie! I think “How much is too much” lies within the individual. I’m a more reserved person and honestly, it’s hard to share really personal things on my blog so I steer clear of it because it makes me uncomfortable. However, my blog is a great outlet to share my eats, fitness schedules, and new things I’ve learned in graduate school – to be that’s what my blog is about. Yes, it is about my life but it’s those specific things that I want to share to be considered a Healthy Living Blogger!
It’s definitely very dependent on the blogger: some people share everything, and some people keep it to more informational posts
This is such a good point! It’s so easy to get sucked into the blog world and end up neglecting the real world. I can’t say I’ve found a perfect balance yet, but I’m working on it!
I think most bloggers are constantly working on it, I sure am!
Interesting topic for sure! It’s definitely a fine line between what’s oversharing and what’s appropriate. It’s hard to find it!
It’s so important to think about not only who reads your blog but also who has access to your blog (everyone). I like to be honest and share things but I definitely draw the line at things like my last name, my address, etc. I also always ask non-bloggers if I can put a picture or their name up on my blog–> even my own family.
I like to ask non-bloggers too, but I never think to ask bloggers! I guess it’s because I assume they appreciate the link up and already have their photos out there!
So this is completely irrelevant to everything in your post, but I got so distracted by the third picture that I couldn’t focus on anything else:
GAHHHHHHHH WHEN WERE YOU IN HOLLAND?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Holy crap. Freaking out. Just…what?? Oh my goodness. I’ll make this relevant by saying that I can’t say why I’m so mindblown about this right now because there’s certain things I try to keep off the blog world (though I imagine you could figure it out if you tried, but I’m having a major worlds colliding moment right now and, clearly, cannot keep my composure because of it haha.
Lol I was in Holland to meet Ashley when she was there for a wedding! Haha literally drove there, had brunch, and drove back to the city. I’ve passed through a couple times before on my way up to N. Michigan. Are you from Holland?
Just stalked Ashley’s blog…you guys went to The Windmill, didn’t you? I mean, the picture on this post suggested as much, but the veggie omelet + whole wheat toast confirmed it (as did the following pictures). Oh my gosh. I’m dying. Dying dying dying. I just can’t even handle this. It’s too bad you’re gluten free, because their cinnamon rolls are TO. DIE. FOR. I’m not from Holland…exactly…but kind of. Haha. Again, it’s not something I really want to post for anyone on the Internet to see. If you’re at book club on Sunday/I remember, I’ll explain my enthusiasm more then haha.
I’ll be there!
This is FABULOUS. I totally agree! I actually choose not to put a lot of things on the blog, just because then it would become a days’ eats & fitness, and that is SO not me. I’d rather put out info & education than just blog about to-dos. So this does not appeal to everyone, and I am totally fine with that. I think I’d go crazy if I felt like ‘I had’ to blog about every little thing.
GREAT reminder in this post to really LIVE life & not live to blog about life. Amen & amen.
p.s. emailing you in a bit, when I have a longer break at work 🙂
That’s one reason I like your blog, you mix some of your personal life with educational posts. Some people might not like it but that’s what your blog is and you should keep it up! I love the info!
Yup, yup, yup! One of the reasons I’ve made my blog not as personal recently.
Interesting post and an idea I have mulled over in my mind before… because I post about very honest, private stuff as you are well aware ha. I have definitely considered what this would look like to a future employer that googled my name for example, but while I do write about private, perhaps often TMI stuff, none of it is “bad” meaning it doesn’t indicate that I am a certain person in a way that would equal a poor employee. As for people on the blog, I do always ask if they don’t mind going on there, and usually they don’t! If anyone did say no though, I most certainly would not put them on
And I definitely think it depends on what field you’re going into, for example if you wanted to be a politician… haha probably not the best. But being a nurse I think it’s actually an asset to show how you can relate to people!
I can definitely understand blogging becoming all consuming — but blogging has actually helped me open up and enjoy more. I’m looking to go out and try new things now, rather than doing the home/work/gym/sleep routine day after day. It has allowed me to express myself in ways I never thought possible — totally therapeutic.
As for sharing, the nature of my blog is to share my ED recovery experiences. So I do share quite a bit of my feelings and emotions. However, I’m acutely aware that others might find what I post triggering, so I try to keep numbers and other details to a minimum. It’s all about balance in the end I suppose.
I agree that it’s therapeutic, it’s so great to be able to communicate with others who can relate to you!
Love this Katie! I often question this as well – but I use it as ‘me time’ – if it’s a chore, I shouldn’t be writing, and it’s time to take a step back.
I try to tell people when they’re included, and ask permission to use photos. Great info – I would love to go to one of those conferences!
I wish I could go to all of them, I love hearing about these sessions!
This is a great post. I try to keep my personal private life on my blog at a minimal level. I always say a friend in a post instead of using there name. Im still a new blogger so this post is perfect!
Thank you for writing this!! I just started my own blog (please stop by and say hello if you have a spare minute!!) and have been wondering about how much is too much. I think you’re really on point about balancing openness and privacy, and I love Monica’s quote – definitely something I’ll keep in mind as I continue blogging!
I find it’s best to write a post (especially a personal or emotional one) ahead of time and then go back and edit it with a clear head!
I think there is definitely a fine line and I am trying not to cross it. Like you, I blog what I want to blog, but I don’t want to tell the world everything!
i think this is a hot topic and i’m so glad you blogged on it! especially as a new-ish blogger i have spent a lot of time thinking about what i should share and what i shouldn’t. part of me feels so much braver on the internet (ahem, i almost blogged about my pre-run bathroom habits the other day) but another part of me recognizes that anyone can access my blog so i want to be a little more careful. i’m especially wary since i’m a teacher, so i try not to mention my last name much. with friends i always ask before i post a picture of them, if i remember, and if it’s okay if i use their name. as with all things – striving for balance 🙂
I agree, it is soooo much easier to share on the Internet. A lot of times I’ll write a post at night and then re-read it in the morning and find that I need to edit out a few things.
LOVE this post. Personally, if something is pretty personal with ME and I feel like I would benefit (or others would benefit) from me talking about it, then I will. John doesn’t like being on the blog, so that is why there is virtually no pictures of him. Then there are some people who I try to respect their privacy and later someday after we hang out they’ll say “am I going to make the blog?!?” What the heck! Lol – we can’t please everyone!
Haha I love that people have asked if they’ll make the blog!
Katie, I really enjoyed this post–it offers great perspective on so many questions I myself often ask as a “blogger”. My friends always joke around asking if some event will be on the blog or when they will be featured on “the blog” but setting expectations of what others want to see from you or conforming to what readers/ friends/ family want is not always the easiest task, nor should it always be done. Do it because it makes you happy, not to stick with it because you feel as though you have some obligation!
Very true, Kylie! Our blogs are for ourselves and it’s great when people enjoy and relate to them, but number one is making US enjoy blogging, otherwise what’s the point!?
I think about the privacy issue quite often. I’m such a paranoid person and often times feel like I overshare my life (my name, photos, family names and photos, etc.). It’s a scary world out there filled with lots of crazy creepy people…
Sometimes I have to remind myself that if someone wanted to find me it would t be too hard regardless of what I out on the blog. Still creepy to think about though!