Time Out
I’ve returned to my blog after taking some time out. We went on our annual holiday and this year we chose the Dominican Republic. When we booked the trip in April, I had originally planned to blog while we were out there. I had only been into the first few months of my blogging journey then and only posting once a month. So I was all ready to take my laptop with me.
During the summer, I started posting around three times a week. There was a lot going on and there was so much I wanted to write about and share with you all. As our holiday grew nearer, I started having second thoughts.
My blogger friends will understand exactly how much time and effort goes in to a single post. The actual writing is the shortest part of the process and I’m never stuck for words! That part comes easily enough.
It’s all the follow-up stuff that takes the time; choosing the right photos, editing them, social media promotion, linking posts up with other bloggers, commenting on their posts and sharing the love within the blogging community.
Sukh looks after all the photos and he also works full time so he can only work on my next blog post when he has time in the evenings and sometimes works on them late in to the night. A lot of background work goes into the process both before and after I hit ‘Publish’.
Don’t get me wrong. I have absolutely loved every minute of this journey since I launched on New Year’s Day but back then I was a newbie. I had no idea how many man hours went in to this whole thing.
I’ve joked many times with Shalini and Shivam that it sometimes feels like my blog is my third child. I put that many physical hours in to it and love and care for everything I post, it may as well be.
So a couple of weeks before we went away, I made the difficult decision to take a complete break from any social media, writing or publishing posts. I was a little apprehensive of losing the momentum I have built, falling behind with some of my weekly photo projects and even losing followers by not posting on my socials daily.
But I honestly made the best decision for my family and I. I was able to spend quality time with the kids instead of tapping away on my laptop, something which they see me do quite often at home in our day to day lives.
I do try hard to work on my blog mostly after their bedtime and during my lunch breaks at work so it doesn’t affect my time with them as much as it would if I didn’t manage my time properly. But there are still times when I need to get my head down during the day.
The break also meant I wasn’t spending valuable family time cropping and editing photos, messing around with hashtags and then taking time out to catch up and reply to my comments. It’s a game you have to be on top of all the time. I’ve become so used to doing it that it was hard at first. But it’s like pulling off a plaster. You just have to do it quick and fast.
I hardly looked at my phone on holiday unless it was to make short-form videos and click a few photos that I could use to populate my socials on my return. I didn’t post anything on snapchat or my Insta story while I was actually away.
That’s difficult for someone who’s used to doing it every day – and especially as a blogger. You feel the pressure to keep on top of things and be ahead of the game at all times.
Admittedly it was difficult for the first day or so to keep to my ‘no social media’ rule. But it was the best thing I could ever have done. It allowed me plenty of time to to give my mind (which is always ticking away at one-hundred miles an hour!) a rest. It also gave me time to read, which I love doing but find I don’t have enough time for. I got through three novels over the eleven days.
Most importantly, both Shalini and Shivam felt my presence and said so many times. Even when I was relaxing on a sun lounger and not splashing around with them in the pool, they knew I was completely there, with no distractions.
I hadn’t realised just how badly I had needed to recharge my batteries. It’s been a crazy year with close family weddings, the launch of my blog and my ongoing back issues. All of this had affected the whole family, not just me.
The kids also play their part in ‘our’ blog. They write reviews for me, pose for pictures, give me ideas and offer useful suggestions. So we were all mentally tired and needed rejuvenating. This holiday came at the perfect time.
We did vlog the holiday but we kept the work to a minimum. It never really felt like work at all because we would have captured all of that footage anyway for our own personal memories. That vlog is coming your way in the near future so watch this space.
I missed writing and working, but in a good way. The break was enough for me to really enjoy the feeling of putting a post together on my return. So hold tight for lots of posts coming your way in to the festive period.
It’s important to keep your priorities and it’s clear that family is your top priority! I’ve skipped many blog posts and to-dos in order to spend time with my family. You will never regret that! It looks like you had a wonderful vacation! Beautiful photos!
Author
Thanks Laura. Yes I definitely think I made the right choice x
I don’t blame you one little bit! Sometimes we need to just switch off from the crazy chaos that is blogging and spend more quality time with our family. I always come back feeling far more refreshed after a good break.
It looks like you had an amazing holiday and what lovely pics of you and your family. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing with #MMBC. x
Author
Yes it was the best thing I could have done x
Well done for putting your family first and taking that much needed break. And wow, your holiday looks absolutely amazing! X #MMBC
Author
Thank you – yes family always comes first x
What an amazing place to take a holiday, I’m so jealous #anythinggoes
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It was a holiday to remember for sure. The Caribbean is beautiful. I’m missing it so badly x
I think you made a good choice and your holiday looked amazing. #globalblogging
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Thank you – it was just what I needed after such a busy year x
Your holiday photos look amazing, what a gorgeous place to visit. I do think that if I was holidaying there then my blog and Social media accounts wouldn’t get a look in. It’s good to take a break sometimes, and even though you think it might affect momentum, it really does get going quickly again once you are back to it. Not only that but you come back refreshed and renewed, what could be better for a blog?
#mmbc
Author
Exactly that – and I was able to gather content while I was there without doing any real physical work. Mentally I feel refreshed x
Looks an aweseome place to go and chill. We all need time out to relax, it is good for your soul. X #mixitup
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Yes definitely. I was able to just recharge my batteries ready for a busy November of birthdays followed by Christmas x
Good to take some time out, and no harm in bit of a digital detox – welcome back! #globalblogging
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I agree – needed it more than I thought I would x
It sounds like you had a lovely holiday. We all need a break sometimes.
The photos are amazing! #MMBC
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Absolutely. Feel ready for the festive season now x
Rosie, what beautiful photos! I used to know a woman who led tours to Dominican Republic. She never tired of it. I think it’s a good decision to take a complete break on vacation. I blog just once a week and can’t figure out how anyone could possibly have time to post more frequently! And I figure no one has time to visit my blog more than once a week, so … #TriumphantTales
Author
Those are very valid points Jean. Sometimes I post once a week, sometimes two or three times but no one is putting that pressure on me apart from myself. And I need to remind myself why I started doing this in the first place x
I think we all need a break at times – even being stuck in hospital for two weeks being in labour and recovering from a c-section couldn’t stop me from blogging! However, I’m really trying to take weekends off now so I can spend quality time with the family.
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!
Author
Gosh that sounds like quite a task – well done for doing it but it’s great to hear weekends are all about family time x
Taking time to be with family and to relax and get some much needed you time is so important! Looks like a wonderful time!
Author
Thanks Amanda. We had a great time – no distractions, no cares in the world x
Blogging is such hard work and people don’t realise! I have been working my other 3 jobs a lot over the last few weeks so have only posted 3 times a week instead of 6! Looks like you had an amazing holiday and I’m glad the rest did you good. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
Author
Yes a lot of people don’t realise it. I didn’t myself until I really got in to it x
You look so relaxed and I love your outfits. Well deserved holiday #globalblogging
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Thank you – it was an amazing break x
Great post!!! I think it’s good to take a little break and thouroughly immerge yourself into a holiday without distractions !! It does look a fab holiday too!! #triumphanttales
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Thanks Kelly – absolutely x