Last Updated on: June 17th, 2020
Today’s true tale addresses the question: When do bloggers go on vacation? This is a great question, and one I attempted to answer one day, after having six posts scheduled, which is like having three weeks off, I suppose, considering I post twice a week.
I’ll admit that I started writing this post a while ago. I didn’t finish it until a couple of days ago, though.
As you can see from the date on the screenshot, I had a bunch of posts scheduled back in October. This was the first time I had this many – I had six of them, count’em 6! YAY!
I have never had this many scheduled, and I worked my butt of to accomplish this. Unfortunately, now they have all been published.
I remember how I felt the day I took that pic… extremely elated but extremely exhausted, too.
In early October, I found myself getting stressed out, and I began to question some of the decisions I have been making where blogging is concerned. Like maintaining two blogs, and posting regularly to both of them! (I have been posting several times per week to Poetry Perfected, even though I don’t have a “set” schedule there yet!)
I thought that it was a good idea to stick to posting twice per week, but now I’m not so sure.
I’ll be honest with you – I love blogging, but it takes up tons of my time. All my blogging friends can relate, I’m sure. 😉
The thing that bothers me is that I’m such a perfectionist and it feels like it takes me FOREVER to create and perfect a blog post. I can see why some pro bloggers say that it takes them a good ten hours to put together one post (see point 4 in this post). Sometimes it takes me that long, and my content is not going viral! This is a full-time job, and I’m not even getting paid to do it! (Am I whining? Sorry.) Then again, I don’t know if I even want to go viral…yet. I just want my books to! (But first, I have to write them!) *Sigh, Big, big, big, BIG sigh.*
Given that I have posted regularly for months and months (since March 2013, to be exact) without taking a vacation, I think I owe it to myself to take some time off. Maintaining two blogs is tough, for a “newbie” blogger like me, although, I guess I cannot be considered a newbie anymore, can I? 😀 I’ve been at it for nearly a year already!
This brings me to my next point. I’ve been so busy blogging that I have not been writing. I’ll be perfectly honest with you folks…I’m mad at myself. When I bought my laptop in January, I had high hopes for myself. Yet, here I am, almost a year later, and I have not accomplished what I wanted to – even though I have accomplished things I never fathomed in the early part of this year… like hitting the #1 slot in a search engine!
…or like learning how to create a Slideshare presentation
…or like guest posting on several sites
…or like making a video
…or like learning about anything technical!
…not to mention all the other things I’ve learned…especially my lesson about email… *Another sigh…*
I want to focus on writing and publishing my books. I cannot type that fast, so it takes me a bit longer than most people to write on a computer. Plus, I often edit as I go, making sure that my sentences are free of typos and other editing errors. (The evil editor in me won’t allow for even one spelling error!)
So, I think I need a vacation. Then again, I’m willing to be that we all do. 😉
I can remember when I was teaching – I had several vacations during the year. As a teacher, I had two months off in the summer…and I miss that. I also had weeks off in December/January and a week off for March break. I miss that, too!
*Another sigh.* (Hey, at least I’m not coughing.)
So, this brings me to my original question: When do bloggers take a vacation?
I asked my buddy, Googs, for the answer. She found several articles for me:
7 Things to Do with your Blog when you take a Vacation
How to Blog Effectively while on Vacation
Why I Quit Blogging (and What to Do If You’re Struggling)
Seeing as how my blog is a “little” one (I don’t get thousands of hits per day) and not one where my business will suffer if I don’t blog, I think I can “afford” to take one, don’t you?
But . . .
I don’t want to just *leave* or abandon my blog, so I’m currently working out a new plan for the new year.
I also don’t want to disappoint you by bailing on you, or on my new readers! My goal is for you to stick around! 😀
In trying to resolve my dilemma, I wrote out a few questions, with what I think would be the answers. Here they are:
1. Will you be disappointed in me if I refrain from blogging for a month? I’m guessing that your answer would be “yes”. I think I might even be disappointed in myself!
2. Will you still be here when I return? I’m not sure on this one. I don’t want to jeopardize my relationships with any of you, and so I’m hoping that you’ll understand that I need time to recharge myself, and that the answer to this one would be “yes”. but, again, I’m not sure. I am pretty sure that my loyal readers who have been following my online adventure will be here, since they have been there for me and have shown support to me consistently during the last ten months. My newer readers will probably think I’m a flake.
3. Will you be mad at me when I decide to take a vacation? Obviously, the answer here would be “no”. (Even though you would miss me terribly, right?) 😉
In answering these questions, I think I found my answer. I’m not going on vacation – not yet.
Instead, what I’m going to do is re-evaluate things and create another survey to find out how to accommodate your needs with mine.
What really got me thinking about this topic was a guest post I wrote for Joel Friedlander at The Book Designer: Overcome Writing Failure With a Personalized Writing Plan.
It made me more aware of my current situation and how I need to implement a better time-management strategy to my life. I’m spending more time than ever on the computer and I’m neglecting a few other areas of my life. (Yes, unhealthy – I know!)
While I figure things out, I’d like for you read the article I wrote for Joel. It may just give you a few ideas of your own! 😉 At the very least, you’ll be more aware of where I’m coming from.
I’d appreciate a comment and a “social media share” – if you have time . . .
And regardless of where you comment, I’ll be sure to reply to you. Even after nearly a year of blogging, I STILL LOVE COMMENTS!
On Friday this week, I’m featuring my interview with my recent guest, Elaine Pereira, author of I Will Never Forget. She’ll be back to reply to comments, then, too!
See you in the comment section, everyone – all over the place!
hey lorraine; yes we would miss you but we love you so do what is best for lorraine. if i have to choose i’d much rather see your book finished and on the best seller list than have you continue to meet a blogging schedule. i’m wondering too when you get time off. and i got a smile out of the many things you have learned that you didn’t plan on. there are lots of distractions out there just waiting. imagine how scared some of the people thinking about starting a blog might be if they knew all of this. you have a real charisma so i doubt the new readers would think you were a flake either. harleena has gotten in the habit of taking time off or pulling way back and it has worked for her. yes her site is more established and gets more traffic but it seems to have survived just fine. of course when she does come back she usually has something new to get people excited again. best of luck with taking time off or reorganizing the time you do spend and on getting your books written. xoxo max
Max, everyone needs to take a vacation sometime. Thanks for your comment. There are always, always a ton of things that pop up that you simply can’t plan for!
Posting once a week would cut your blogging time in half while still keeping your blog current, and scheduling blogs to autopost does give bloggers the opportunity to take a vacation incognito. Even one post every other week would probably keep your blog from slipping into oblivion. Also making each section of a topic a separate short blog instead of putting all the information into one long blog gets a whole lot more blogs from the same amount of information, thus greatly reducing your workload.
I see lots of people post a blog saying they are vacationing and won’t post for awhile, but viewing that as an invitation to thieves, I go with the write in advance and autopost thing. Bloggers you interact with may wonder why you have suddenly stopped visiting their blogs or answering their comments, but the general public will not know you are away. Of course if it is just blogging you are vacationing from and you are not actually leaving your home unattended, or someone else is there to watch it for you then that is not such a concern.
PS – the palm trees are waiting!
I know!!!
Lois, thanks for the input. I’d love to take a vacation, and more specifically, go on an island cruise. 😉 However, current finances do not permit me to do that just yet. 🙁 But one day…
I appreciate your input and wish you a Merry Christmas, wherever you happen to be cruising to this year! 🙂
Hi Lorraine; Yours is the second post I’ve read today about a blogging friend that needs a vacation. linda at the renegade writer has decided to no longer allow comments on her posts and may also stop answering emails. I think this is a little drastic but i understand it. and to answer your questions i wouldn’t be disappointed but i would miss you. I would be here when you get back and as a fellow blogger i wouldn’t be mad at you for taking a vacation. the old song lyric comes to mind when i think about a true honest to goodness vacation that is nice work if you can get it and if you get it won’t you tell me how. smile by the way your dilemma brought to mind a video post i watched yesterday. It was from mike robins a noted motivational speaker. He said that his editor at the publishing company where his books are released got him to try dragon. He resisted because he thought recording his books would be cheating. But he finally relented and he said that it made writing so much more pleasurable. You don’t have to use dragon but have you thought about at least trying one of the dictation programs out there. then while you are composing you could just think about the message. then you could sit down and type the result or you could get an intern or some part timer to do the typing. I do hope you can come to a solution that makes you happy. I’ll be looking forward to your next post. and don’t worry about the guest post you were helping me with. When it is time either i will write it or something else will happen. as with all things hit all comes down to whether or not something is meant to be. I’m sure you are meant to be a famous author. thanks so much for sharing and have a merry christmas, max
Hey there, Max. Thanks for your support and understanding AND your suggestions! 🙂 I’m a bit behind since I didn’t turn my computer on for a few days. I guess you could say that I took a mini-vacation. I’m still toying with a few ideas. As far as your post goes, I still plan on writing it, so don’t fret. It just won’t get done before Christmas. Sorry about that!
I hope you have a great Christmas. I’ll be in touch! 😀
Lorraine, if you need a break, take it! I sort of took a break from blogging this past fall, because I was very busy with work. It wasn’t for a vacation. I went from wanting to write one post a week to trying to be satisfied with one good post per month.
I find it easier to stay in touch with a comment here and there … so if you can do that while on your blogger vacation, it helps a bit.
Thanks for the advice, Leora. I’d definitely stay in touch with my readers, no matter what happens.
How did your readers react when you cut back on the number of posts?
TAKE your vacation!! I’ve been thinking about vacations myself lately. As my job gets busier its harder and harder to keep up with my blog. Even when you have guest bloggers you still have lots to do. I’m going to do what Jeri is doing and take a week or so off over Christmas. it will be a break from work and a break from my blog. I’m going to paint. I encourage you to take some time off and work on your book. You’re a great writer!
Thanks for your support and encouragement, Debra. What a nice Christmas gift 😉
Enjoy your holiday, too! 🙂
Hey Lorraine,
I still remember the first time I took a break from blogging. I didn’t meant to take it….it was just around my first year anniversary of blogging. I was kind of bored of blogging, back then I was primarily writing about technology and science. So, lot of things to write about.
It was a summer vacation (frankly, I only wanted to take a break for 1-2 weeks, but I ended taking up for 2 and half ones).
When I got back, I was sure that my blog was done..that all my effort was down the drain. But, surprisingly, I got more traffic for those months than I got with my first year (Well, 8-9 months).
That incident did encourage me to take more breaks (of course, I decided not to push my luck and repeat the same mistake).
I think a break is needed, every now and then. Just schedules some posts and leave a note for our readers, they will understand 😀
As for the future, I am not sure whether I might be taking breaks (because of commenting..I do a lot more commenting right now). So, taking a complete break from blogging might not be for the best (but, now that I think about it. My commenting friends will also understand…just like my readers).
1. No. Sure, as a reader, I will miss the content. But, as a blogger I understand the importance of taking breaks.
2. Yes (most of our readers will come back, especially if we have a good job of building a community, which I can see that you have).
3. No.
Advanced congrats on one year of blogging 😀 I can relate to you on goals…it’s much easier when we start a blog (Though, it wasn’t much of a problem for me. Blogging was just another hobby, it still is, to an extent. But, I am more serious about it).
Jeevan, thanks so much for being so forthcoming with me and offering good advice. I love hearing about your personal experience with blogging. It helps!
I think being totally honest with readers is something I have always done on this blog. I know people appreciate honesty. It’s kinda what I am known for, actually. 😉
I dont’ think I would ever, ever, EVER leave my readers hanging…
Lorraine, you need a vacation. Stop feeling guilty and just do it. A month may be to long for you. Maybe try something a little shorter, but either way, your loyal readers will be waiting for your return and think of the fresh content you’ll be ready to produce once you’re rested. Don’t burn yourself out. Take a break and come back to us refreshed and ready to produce.
Thanks, Donna, for your input. I appreciate it so much and had a feeling my readers would understand. 🙂 It’s good to know they do – and will! 🙂
Have a great Christmas and enjoy all those grandchildren of yours! 🙂
When you have a following I really don’t think it matters if you take a break. We will all be here when you get back. We all need to take a break or we will get burnt out. Enjoy and have a good holiday
Thanks, Arleen! You, too! 🙂
I am newer to your blog. I guess there is lots of things I could read to catch up with others. After reading this article I’m humbled to know you stopped by my page, left a comment and took the time to offer a suggestion. Thank you.
On my own blog I wanted to write once a week for the discipline. My thought is if you post too often each post does not have time to be read before being pushed aside. My blog is more than a year old. There were some months I posted only three and one or two that were only 2 times per month and I noticed very little difference in comments or traffic.
I stopped by because I wanted to follow you on Twitter and when I couldn’t find social media buttons, I suggested you get some. The whole about.me page gives them to you for free (see mine?) if you add them (as apps, they call them) and thought you might benefit from this widget.
I’m still fairly new to this whole blogging thing, too, so I am glad you were not offended. 🙂
I think having a regular posting schedule takes away from some of the creativity, but it helps readers know what to expect from you.
I’m going to look at doing the about me page as soon as I can. I’ve been working on a my writing clips and a few other pages. I do have the twitter widget near the top of the page, but I can see where the buttons are better. I guess I wouldn’t need that widget then. I just followed you.
As far as the schedule goes, I’m not an extreemly organized person, but I find a schedule encourages creativity, but then again that is the point of my latest post about “writing it all wrong” we are all different and we need to encourage each others gifts.
I completely agree with you; we DO need to encourage one another. 🙂 Being organized is great, but having to stick to a rigid schedule sometimes can stifle creativity, so I’d advise doing whatever works best for YOU. We are all different and accomplish things in different ways.
Thanks for you comment, Peter. Happy holidays!
From my own blogging experiences, which aren’t much longer than your (3 years of serious blogging), I would tell you that taking a vacation before the 2-year mark would be a mistake. In addition, taking more than two weeks, no matter how long you’ve been blogging may ruin you as well. Of course, Lorraine, this is only my opinion and others who have been at this longer may feel much differently than I do.
I tend to agree, Glynis, which is why I wanted to get some feedback from everyone and will likely schedule some posts when I do decide to take my vacation. 🙂 Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it.
Isn’t scheduling great?
Have a great holiday season, my friend. 😀
Hi Lorraine,
Ah…what a coincidence that I too just finished writing a post about how bloggers can take a break, without really feeling guilty about it 🙂
I know those three questions you put at the end is something most of us go through, if we ever have to stop blogging for a few days because we need to take a vacation, or have some other priorities to see to. We do worry about our readers, the traffic, ranks, and so many other things. But eventually, giving priority to what matters most is essential, and so, taking a break IS needed every once in a while. I might just be taking another one myself, to work on the numerous comments that still need to be replied, a few pending interviews, guest posts….ah…the never ending to-do list.
Thanks for sharing, and go ahead and have your little break without any guilt – you deserve it. We’d all be right here when you return 🙂
LOL Great minds think alike? 😉
Thanks for the reassurance! Have a great Christmas holiday, Harleena. 🙂
Go get your vacation, girl – you deserve it. And yes, readers will understand and be there for you 😉
I second Jeri’s comment to the letter – I won’t repeat what she already said, but wanted to add that you can go on vacation and still not stop posting new blog posts with the schedule feature. All you need to do is create a buffer of blog posts. As scary as it may sound, i promise you – it is a matter of discipline and habit to write your posts in advance, no matter how many.
I plan my editorial for quarterly basis (sometimes 6 months ahead) and i try to always write at least 1 or 2 week ahead of time (so that i don’t feel bad for not being there for my readers if i am on the road – which i do often, as you know LOL).
One of my goals for 2014 is to start writing blog posts in bulk way in advance – e.g. last week of January write 10 blog posts so that in the beginning of February i can schedule ALL posts for February and not worry about posting new content on my blog, just networking with bloggers, writing my book (at last!), working on my start-up, and yes – freelance clients, of course… after all they pay the bills 😀
Happy Holidays!!! and looking forward that survey of yours – i love surveys 😉
So good to hear, Diana! 🙂 You’re writing a book? Huh? What? When? (this is me being shocked…) Fill me in!
I’m not a quick typist, which makes things more difficult. I’m currently looking into other avenues.
Survey is coming! Glad you like them! (I do, too.) 😉
Happy holidays to you, too, Diana. 😀
Right, i have been “writing” the book for a year now – hahaha – have not started it yet, brainstorming ideas, writing plans, etc. About freelance, of course 😉 But i am determined to get it done first quarter of 2014 at last! I mentioned it in my Thanksgiving post, remember? (down there, the last part of long-term projects lining up). You have so many things on your plate that the last thing you should worry about is my book 😛
as for the slow typing issue – there are programs now that you can talk to and they will type it for you… i have never used one so i cannot recommend one to you, but you can ask google – i am sure he knows 😉
Um, Googs is a she. LOL
Yeah, you’re right – I recall something now about a book. And yes, I have other things to worry about, too. 😉 LOL Thanks for being awesome, Diana. Good luck with the book!
Yes Lorraine, you need a vacation, so do I!! Since I started my blog In January (almost one year ago, wow, can’t believe it!) I’ve had to take two, two-week long breaks from my blog and each time I really worried about losing my readers but I was always amazed to find that during those times, and I mean I was totally away from my laptop, never mind my blog, so could not even peek in, I not only had quite a few steady views (although nothing like normal obviously) but also gained followers. Go figure! I also discovered that everyone was still there when I got back 🙂
With my family arriving for Christmas next week and with still so much left to do, I will soon be letting everyone know that I will be taking some time off.
Just like you, I’ve let blogging take over so that I haven’t been submitting articles, writing my memoir or getting down to my other WIPs as blogging takes up all my time (I love it!) but I’ve got to make some very serious changes which I plan to do in the new year. Ha, best laid plans of mice and men and all that… let’s hope 😉
Thanks for all your great tips and advice and I hope that you can take the time to make the changes that work for you and my advice to you really is don’t worry about leaving your blog for a short while. Your readers, I’m sure, will still be there for you when you return, refreshed and energised!
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a New Year full of writing successes… Sherri 🙂 x
Sherri, I think maybe we should become one another’s accountability partners! The more I interact with you, the more I discover we are two of a kind.
Thanks for your wonderful comment, and for sharing your experiences. I’m still making and finalizing some plans for the future of this blog, my life, and my writing endeavours. It’s true that creating blog content takes away from your other writing time and there are only so many hours in a day to get things done. I’ve not had a vacation at all, so this is on my list of things to do for sure.
Do you mind if I email you?
Not at all, look forward to it 🙂
Great! 🙂
If you take a break, most readers will understand. Of course that would be more of an issue if we all had blogs that were raking in the dough, but alas, we can only dream… I’m not going to do my usual two post over Christmas. I thought about setting up guest posts, but really, it’s Christmas. I hope my readers aren’t spending too much time online that week because I know I won’t be. I’m actually planning to take a week off every few months, but for the one at the end of March I plan to line up a couple of guests who can leave follow-up comments. Longer breaks can be tricky, but again, you need to do what you sense is right for you. Too often I do things out of sense of obligation to others. I’ve recently realized that in relation to my book, which is why it’s taking so long. I put everything else first. I generally stay a week ahead in my posts, but I’m setting up a set schedule through June. I’m not big on batching posts, but am going to try to do more to work on getting the ready as far as images and SEO in advance. Good luck with whatever path you decide to take! Just remember no path is set in stone 🙂
Jeri, like you, I have a tendency to put others first. I think we all need to be a bit more selfish when it comes to creating time for our own writing.
How do you plan your blog posts six months in advance? Please share your strategy with me, Jeri!
Also, I found this to be an interesting read. While we are not as successful as Linda Formichelli (yet), she makes some good points in her most recent announcement. It seems like 2014 is going to be a creative year for her, you, me, Sherri (who commented above) and many others!
Here’s the link: http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2013/12/16/im-going-inside-now/
You are a great writer. You write from the heart, but it’s easy to get distracted with everyday life. Here’s my advice. Take your bucket list of things you want to do and schedule them throughout the year, so at the end of the year, you will have accomplished everything you want to do or learn. Also, always stay one week ahead in your blog posts. You won’t feel so pressured to write and it will allow you to focus on other projects. I hope this helps.
Thanks, Jo Ann. I’m currently working on some plans! 🙂 Your advice is good, and I’ll take it into consideration.