Finding Sustainable Creativity and Preventing Burnout as a Blogger     

If you are a creative blogger, then you will know just how hard it can be to stay inspired and avoid burnout. Blogging is for many a full-time job, it is a creative outlet and one that can be a passion however no matter how much you enjoy creating content, the continual pressure to produce fresh and engaging content can result in burnout. And this can hit hard.

Whether you have been blogging for many years or have just begun to dip your toes into the water it is important to be on the lookout for the signs of burnout and what steps you need to take to prevent them. Read on as we look at how you can stay inspired, manage the demand of being a blogger and ensure you keep the creative flowing whilst keeping an eye on you mental wellbeing

The signs of burnout

Burnout can often creep up on you, it can be unexpected and unwelcome. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Lack of motivation – This happens when your blog begins to seem more like a chore and less like something enjoyable and creative.
• Creative block – You might have plenty of ideas but none of them feel quite like what you want to post, this can be a sign of mental fatigue. Feeling pressured to produce content continually can stifle that creativity
• Physical and emotional exhaustion – If you are tired and irritable all the time then this could be the reason. Blogging can be demanding and if you are not taking time for you then you will burnout.

Finding the right balance

Managing your time as a blogger can be challenging, With writing, editing and promoting, to say nothing of all the comments you may want to respond to you are never really “off duty”. It is important to find the right balance to ensure you don’t burnout so do:

1.     Set realistic goals for yourself

2.     Create a content calendar, this is something that helps you stay organised and shows you how to plan more effectively

3.     Batch your work – when you group simillar tasks together (batching) it makes it more efficient and can reduce your workload

Doing this should make your workload more manageable and help you reduce the possibility of burnout.

Keep the creative flowing

It can be hard to be creative all the time, especially if you are struggling with burnout. Make sure that you take regular breaks and unplug from your work. You should also take the time to look for new inspiration, whether this is reading books or exploring podcasts that fit your interests, this can really help to boost your own creative ideas.

Connecting with other bloggers can also help, often working as a blogger means working alone so having others who might be going through the same thing, who you can communicate with can help. Join some blogging communities for support.

Above all, as you should with any job, prioritise your own well-being. Set boundaries and make sure you are looking after yourself, because without that you are no use to anyone, least of all yourself.