How does one stay motivated and inspired with their blog?
I will be the first to admit that a lot of times I am not inspired. If it doesn’t go with seasonality or something that’s happening, it can get hard to think of something that is going to translate well to my audience. Or maybe my numbers aren’t as good as I want and that makes me feel awful because why put all this work into something if I have nothing to show for it?
Or maybe something is going on in life that is stumping your brain? I can relate to that — just found out my Jeep is considered a total loss and it’s a lease which sucks (definitely a budgeting/finance story for another post). Unfortunately, I was rear-ended while sitting in traffic. The woman literally slammed into my non-operating vehicle and ruined the back of my car. A lot of me keeps getting angry because her 50+ mph self could have been patient and changed lanes accordingly. There is a lot of mixed emotions but at the end of the day, I’m alive and well. Just a bit devastated.
But, that doesn’t mean I can still think and write out all these bomb posts. Life can get in the way, there is no denying that.
Of course, that’s no reason to give up.
Instead, I want to write a post that I’m sure everyone can relate to. As a blogger, how do we stay inspired and continue making content? In my niche which is a lifestyle, it’s easy to talk about life aka this post yet at the same time, I don’t like being a ‘Debby Downer’ and letting people in on the bad. Obviously, that needs to change. Plus, there might be someone out there with advice for my issues, ya know? That’s what inspires me — relating to people but how do I get that on paper? Especially when my brain is just cluttered with other things.
That’s where you and I have to find the motivation. We can let whatever block us for however long but we have to get back out there.
Today, I want to help you get that blogging mojo back!
Do a blog challenge
What’s a blogging challenge? Similar to many challenges out there, it usually includes blogging every day and a rubric for what to blog about. It’s not a bad idea and it would work out well if you have guidelines to what you should write about. Hey, you could even create your own challenge. Pinterest is a great search engine to find a challenge and ideas. This idea would really work if you’re dedicated and plan accordingly. This should be fun and you should get your groove back as you get more and more into it.
Listen to an inspiring Podcast, Video, TED talk
Motivational things can help get your mind pumping. Find a good podcast that could help guide you and give you some ideas. You could even write reviews on your blog of these podcasts and help a person out that might need to hear the advice. You can’t go wrong with a TED talk — I have a few that I bookmarked because they really just put some pep in my step. Buckle down and really invest in something that will help inspire you and push you to the next level. All you need is to watch or listen to something inspirational to have that feeling that people are counting on you and need your writing. Give it a go and thank me later.
Look back on your blog goals
Now, if you made blog goals on a yearly or month-by-month basis, you can look back on these and figure out what you should write about. Be specific with your goals when you’re making them so that you have something to fall back on. And, you could look back on the goals that you didn’t meet and try to meet those with a new post Use your goals to help inspire and motivate you. Your goals can work in a motivational way. I don’t know about you but I have goals focused on traffic so my target audience would be a blog post on things that fall align with blogging — why? Because that’s something that works well for traffic on my page.
Brainstorm a theme for the month
This could fall into line with a blog challenge — set a theme for the things you want to write about for the month. There are many things that you could focus on like national holidays/events, local events, and seasonality, all things that could give you tons of ideas to curate content. If you have a theme, you have some type of guidelines and ideas of what to write about. You aren’t wandering aimlessly trying to figure out what to write about because you’ll have a theme to fall back on. Plus, it can be fun and you could be pulled into something that inspires you to break off into a series. You got this.
Meditate and clear your mind
It could be something so simple as clearing your mind and taking time to step away from everything that is cluttering your brain. Taking some time to just breathe and stop thinking can help you clear out everything that is causing the issue. It might sound silly or like something that won’t work but trust and believe that taking a moment to just sit and block out all thoughts can help you out. You don’t even need to allow a lot of time to the idea, ten to fifteen minutes could be all that you need to clear your mind. Invest in time for yourself where you can just shut everything down. It’ll do you more good than bad.
Make a list of topics
This is my favorite thing to do — I put together a list of topics that I am interested in and I plan out how I can apply them to my blog. A growing list of ideas is taped into my planner and it keeps me on track. Making a list of things that you want to write about can be helpful and keep you on track. You can write out a list of topics that you like and break it into subtopics if that is better for you. Having an idea of what you want to write about it a great way to keep yourself on task and motivated. Don’t skimp out on it, it can really help you on the days that you have nothing.
Throughout your slump, don’t get discouraged because you will get your groove back. We all have those moments and they suck but you can get it done.
All it takes is something to get your brain juices pumping and you will be on your way. I believe in you and I believe you just need a push every now and then to get things done.
Look at me — I got through my block by writing this post and I’m hoping my brain keeps it coming. I have my list of topics that I’m going to talk about and I can’t wait to get that content out. Keep on task and find ways to keep yourself motivated. You got this.
Essentially, your content will prosper by the actions you take to motivate yourself.
How do you keep yourself motivated when it comes to your blog?
Sooo appreciate this. I’ve just started really blogging and sometimes I just sit in front of the computer all, “soooo… here we are again…” 😛
That’s how my first hour of trying to write starts off! I’m glad you like it!
Thank you for this!!
Great tips! I’ve done challenges before and that really helps! Also making a list, although mine usually end up on post-its – LOL!
I have post-its everywhere! I totally understand haha
Such a great post. These tips are so helpful — burnout is a real thing, and it’s so important to stay inspired and remember they WHY behind what you’re doing.
Thanks for sharing! We’re going to pin this for our readers to see.
Glad you like it! Thanks for sharing!
These are some great ideas that I will put into practice. It’s always good to hear others have similar issues with their blogs so thanks for sharing. I’m sorry about you accident. I got rear ending while sitting at a red light. She was one her phone and didn’t see the line of stopped cars in front of her. 🙄
I can totally relate when it comes to being unmotivated. Blogging can seem like such a saturated market and you want to be creating things that are unique 🙂 Thanks for sharing this post!
Yes! It’s so saturated which is why I find motivation hard at times but I always remember my information is different than someone else’s. A little sideline motivation.
This really helped. I forgot all about blog challenges. I most definitely start doing them.
I love brainstorming a theme for the month! I mean if someone could just plan out my year for me, I’d be golden 🙂
I feel ya! I need to try a theme and attempt to plan a few weeks out but someone planning a year out for me is a dream I wish would come true.
Yes to podcasts! Whenever I’m feeling “stuck” I go for a walk and listen to a podcast, it usually gives me a new idea. I also keep an ongoing list of ideas and super messy drafts which I turn to when I feel like I have no fresh ideas.
I have one of those lists, to! A walk is a great idea and my pup would love that. That’s a great idea that I’m going to try.
I love listening to podcasts for motivation/inspiration.
I’ve never thought about doing a theme for the month! I love seeing when other bloggers do it. Plus, if you’re interested in the theme, you just look forward to the next piece of content that comes out from them.
xo<3
Exactly! I’ve never done a theme either but I’m tempted because it’s already planned out, you just have to get to writing.
This post is really helpful! I actually just started my blog, so I’m definitely pinning this for later for when I need to get out of a blogging motivation slump. I think setting blogging goals for myself will be really important in motivating me to keep posting. P.S. I read your bio, and I’m also a graduate of Ohio State! Go Bucks! 🙂
Ah, Go Bucks! Congrats on your blog and blog goals are a great idea. I’ll be checking out your blog.
Lovely post and great to get inspired! Will save this post for when I need it!
Love all of these tips! I definitely fall victim to the uninspired moments more often than I’d like to admit. Listening/reading about people who have worked hard and succeed always get my motivation back!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
That’s a great tip! I need to look into that.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.muselifestylestudio.com
These are some really good tips. I especially like the idea of a blogging challenge and listening/watching TED talks. Are there any talks you personally recommend?
Thanks for sharing
I’m a fan of Angela Maier’ You Matter. Such a good TED Talk!
I relate to this post on so many levels. You are right, staying motivated can be tough, but no one said it would be easy, right! Love these tips you’ve shared. Thank you!
It can be so hard but finding things to motivate you are helpful! Right! It’s not easy but we can find solutions.
I totally agree with the podcast tip. I can be completely unmotivated but podcasts lift me up! Do you have any favorites? Right now I’m digging Social Media Money Makers, ProBlogger, and Blog Millionaire.
I need to look into those! I’ve been listening to The Lively Show and The Femme Boss podcast.
These are great tips! It can definitely be hard to stay motivated. I love listening to podcasts or watching YouTube videos to stay motivated!
I am a new blogger so these tips can really help me. Just knowing what direction to go in when you first start is important, especially when we get stuck creatively. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you found this helpful, Nate! It’s definitely nice to have something when we get stuck.
Making a list of topics really helps me create blog post ideas. It also helps keep me organized and plan everything out.
Same here! I list all the things I want to talk about so I always have an idea.
Amazing. This post is very helpful as it is full of great tips. I love YouTuber videos.
By the way, thanks for putting this post.