Blogger Burn Out and the Next Chapter

I feel like I am calling a family meeting or something. I want to be transparent and vulnerable and open with you guys, because you are the reason I can do what I love for a living. First of all, I am NOT quitting or shutting down my blog. That is definitely not where I am headed with this.

October is the month that marks my one year “blogiversary”,  so it’s fitting that it’s also a time when I feel compelled to slow down a bit and refocus on my goals and vision for Twelve & Six. While it has been a tremendous blessing to be able to earn an income while doing what I love, it can be very difficult to find the balance. I know many other bloggers can relate to what I am saying. Most of us started blogging because we wanted to share, teach, encourage, and help. Along the way, we found that we could turn it into a profession while still maintaining our voice. So cool, right? Eh. Here’s what they don’t tell you.

Over-commitment to paid work is an easy trap to fall into for an independent contractor or freelancer. It’s exciting to make money while living your passion and invigorating to be sought after by brands and agencies alike. The sponsored content I create is 100% honest and from my own brain. I have not and will not ever steer you in a direction that is misleading or false. I genuinely like any product I recommend or formulate a blog post around. That’s not the issue. I don’t feel dishonest, or fake, or robotic.

I feel cluttered.

Blogging is hard work and is extremely time consuming, much more than people realize. Therefore, it’s simple math.  If most of my time and brain activity is spent on deadlines, I quickly run out of time to think about other things about my blog that are crucial to my purpose. My thoughts, my dry humor, and my raw honesty is what I came here to give people. I have ideas and brainstorms and projects and plans and not enough time to give them the attention they deserve, because I simply over committed in the wrong areas.

I’ve learned how much sponsored content is too much for one month. I have taken a good look at what my readers and followers want to see here. I’ve learned that I can’t be an expert on everything, and I should probably write more about subjects that I do consider myself an expert on.

So, I have decided to take October and meditate on my mission and my vision for Twelve & Six. I will throw some sponsored content in here and there, but I am mostly taking a break from deadlines this month. At the same time, I decided it would be a good time to share stories with you from other Mom Bloggers. In October, I will have guest bloggers sharing some raw, gutsy, emotional stories and thoughts on Motherhood and all it’s glory. After all, that’s why I created this community in the first place.

I invite you to stay tuned this month and refocus with me on what Twelve & Six is at it’s core. I’m calling this series: “Get Real, Mama”.I hope you enjoy it, and thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for riding along on this journey with me. You are the reason I am living my dreams and learning so much in the process.