When do you blog?
Let’s be all nerdy and talk blogging.
(Pardon the cigarette that woman is holding; I just liked her old-fashioned clothes. And the fact that she’s holding a laptop. Moving right along…)
Do you remember Amy, who wrote a guest post for me last week? She just posted a poignant article, Calling It Beautiful. This excerpt hit home with me:
“The time I spent at the computer is time I no longer have to complete today’s necessary tasks. Later this afternoon or evening, I’ll feel discouraged, frazzled, guilty or stressed because I don’t have time to finish my work. Inevitably, those emotions will tempt me to escape again.”
I’ve given thought to this before, for sure. Wasting time on the computer was especially tempting for me when I was a stay-at-home pregnant woman, working minimal part-time hours. But having a baby forced me into more of a schedule, and I really enjoy having less discretionary time. I’ve made it a point not to be on the computer while he’s awake.
But it’s easy to slip. I love blogging and writing and being part of an online community, and it can be so tempting to let that get in the way of more important things. “Just five minutes” here or there can mean neglected housework, or simply time that could have been better spent.
This doesn’t mean I think blogging is wrong – obviously! As I said, I love it. But I have to keep it in balance! I’ve been pondering the idea of some sort of online accountability for that – a badge of commitment to put on my blog, perhaps. Something along the lines of blogging responsibly – keep me accountable! – and a link to a post with my personal guidelines for the time I spend blogging. Then other bloggers could use that badge as well, linking to their own post (because your time constraints and goals will of course be different than mine).
It’s just an idea… what do you think? And, per the title of this post, I’m interested in knowing – when do you blog? I blog in moments I catch during the day. I read blogs while feeding Christian. And I like to schedule the posts I write for the next day. So let me know your bloggy routine!
Anna!
This is funny because these very same thoughts have been on my mind for the last week! I think an accountability button (or whatever 
) is a great idea! It’s so easy to lose time when blogging or emailing or facebooking- even if it’s wonderful conversations with people, God-centered writing, whatever it may be! there should definitely be a time limit so it is pleasing to God.
I write either in the morning or later at night. I usually facebook/read other blogs/ websites at the opposite time that I blog (if I blog in the morning, I do the rest that evening, etc) so that I am not on the computer for a long amount of time and yet I can still stay connected to the online world throughout the day.
Splitting up your time is a good idea, Reeve. I think it’s good to be intentional in general. It’s so easy to sit down to read for “just 5 minutes” and before you know it, 30 minutes have gone by!
Thank you for posting this. I need this reminder often. I too, get frustrated when I put of the NECESSARY tasks of of the day… and have no time to catch up on them.
I try to only blog during my sons/daughter’s nap time.
It can be so addicting, huh!
Hi! Came your way via LeAnna, thoughts and whatnots. I love these thoughts, and have been struggling with it a bit lately. it comes back to my self control, it’s much easier to sit down at the computer than clean the toilets, but, I’m much happier when my home is organized and running smoothly before I sit down. I love your blog!
Hi Naomi! Thanks for visiting! I love that – “It’s much easier to sit down at the computer than clean the toilets” – isn’t it though!
For this reason, I usually just blog twice a week. We are missionaries so we have a lot going and a lot to report about… but my family comes first! And, all of my blogging is done late at night (“her candle goeth not out by night….” Ha!) after I have put my three little ones to bed and after hubby and I have spent our own quality time together. I usually wake up pretty tired in the mornings, but since my husband is an “early to bed, early to rise” kind of guy, he usually takes care of the earliest morning children and I get up when the smallest one does (which is still by 7:30!). This schedule is what works best for us…
I, too, have the personal goal of not sitting at the computer when my kids are awake. I know they know I can use a computer… but my goal is for them to think I can barely use it.
Thanks for sharing that, Jolene! It’s good to hear from mommy bloggers who have lots of kids and responsibilities but still balance it all.
Thanks for this reminder! I occasionally have to go on blogging fasts since the computer can at times become addictive. Hmm… I blog usually early in the morning with a cup of coffee, and then I read and comment on other peoples blogs either in the late afternoon or at night. Blessings!
I’d definitely be interested in the button you mention for responsible / accountable blogging.
I mostly fit blogging into life – although I usually post in the morning and read in the afternoon.
I’m excited about the button idea!
Love this idea! New to blogging. Kids are (mostly) grown and am trying to be intentional about writing more consistently. So easy for me to follow link to link to link (which is how I found you) and call it “research.” Am trying to figure out blog world etiquette, find out where people get those nifty blog design templates, and get caught up in reading what other people are writing.
Instead of writing. Which is what I’m supposed to be doing. Let me know if the responsible blogger button materializes. Now I’m going to go read some more of your stuff.
Have fun figuring out the blog world! Thanks for stopping by. I am working on the blog button idea… I will let you all know when it happens.
[...] responsibly: I haven’t forgotten about my blogging responsibly badge idea. I actually designed it already. I am just trying to figure out the best way to set it [...]
I really like your idea of being accountable to one another. I struggle with wasting time on the computer especially on facebook and blogging. While I love being able to connect with others and share the love of Jesus Christ so often I spend some much time wasting time that I can not use my time to bless others and serve the Lord in other ways…the Lord has really been challenging me on this lately! It is nice to know I am not the only one that struggles…
Blessings