The Pressure To Be Productive
10:00As a blogger, and being a part of the blogging community, I feel as though there's this pressure to always be productive in a way that just isn't realistic to most people.
In the era of 'girl bosses' and 'side hustles', and having direct access to other's lives through the likes of Instagram and twitter, there seems to be a pressure to always be on top of your game and to constantly be busy.
Scrolling through Instagram in particular, it's easy to feel this way and this just isn't realistic for most people, and while I'm not bashing anyone for being productive, go you, I'm hoping this post will make you feel a little bit better about your down-time, or times where you just don't get much done.
Lately, I've not been a very productive person, I've been binge-watching TV series after TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer being my favourite one to watch at the moment, but I feel as though there's a pressure on me to be productive with my blog. To post multiple times a week, to be present on social media and to be branching out into various side hustles.
Today, I'm just reaching out to say no one is perfect and it's okay to not be doing as much with your time as the next person on Instagram or another blogger etc. It's okay to just take things at your own pace. As I mentioned in my 'the pace of life' post, everyone is going at their own pace in life and yeah it's okay to have days where you just do nothing. Chances are, that person you think is super productive on Instagram just shares a lot of what their doing (not that there's anything wrong with that) - take it with a pinch of salt, what you see is not necessarily the truth and in no way does it reflect what you should be doing.
That's all for today.
Beth.
29 comments
This is so true, I always feel like I should be being productive and I feel guilty if I'm not but it's important to take time for ourselves once in a while.
ReplyDeleteNicola
http://nicshealthylife.co.uk
Gosh, I definitely feel this! Some days I'm sat and want a little time to chill and I open Twitter and see people boasting about how busy they've been and I feel so guilty for doing nothing! It's important to have a little me time though x
ReplyDeleteSophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk
100% agree, I feel like in the blogging community and in my case tech community, it always feels like I have to be productive 24/7 with no rests or breaks. And when I’m not doing something productive I feel so bad for even resting when I could be planning content, writing content, filming content etc. Instagram really is where I feel everyone is so productive, and I do strive to be as productive as possible, sometimes feels like I’m falling behind though!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I always feel sort of guilty when I don't have productive day when it comes to blogging, but we just need to realise that we can't be pressured into productivity all the time! x
ReplyDeleteLucy | www.lucymary.co.uk
Yup, take it at
ReplyDeleteYour own pace and deliver good stuff and it is hard not to see others produce more, but let’s keep our stuff goood :)
An honest post! In this social media whirl, it is easy to feel like one is being lazy. But, the truth is, people only post select bits of their lives. During the rest of it, they have their lazy moments to!
ReplyDeleteJaya. ninchronicles.wordpress.com
I completely agree! Even in my daily life and my full time job, I feel the need to be productive. We need some time to ourselves and be lazy sometimes. Just sometimes ;)
ReplyDeleteShuana
howivebeen.com
Gosh, I feel this so much, especially because I work full-time, run a blog, and do lots of illustration on the side (so I get the whole side-hustle-thing from all sides). But my motto that I adopted this year is "less hustle more sleep" and have started relaxing a lot more on weekends!
ReplyDeleteLizzie Bee // Hello Lizzie Bee
Oh dear yes. And as a mental health blogger, this is even more important to be aware of! I often catch myself, thinking I've not written enough, not posted enough, engaged enough, for goodness sake I am one man and I put one heck of a lot on myself at times! Thanks for the reminder and for helping me to remember that its not just me this happens to!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely feel that side hustle pressure. Have to keep going, going, going if you ever want to successfully monetize. I need to stop and remember life existed fine for me without all this too and find that balance. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. Makes me think of the "grass isn't always greener" and the people you perceive as ideals or more successful are focused on doing their own thing. I should be too.
ReplyDeleteLonelyloquacity.wordpress.com
Very open and honest which i love. I'm with you 100% -it's never ending - it's on social media that i feel most pressure to keep up and it's draining at times. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I have moments when I am super productive (like this weekend!) and others where I just binge-watch TV and do my own thing. I think it's totally dependent on everyone's individual needs and outlook. It's also OK to take time to yourself and just exist! Otherwise you are opening yourself up to a burnout...
ReplyDeletehtps://mccourtskee.com
I feel bad for not being productive all the time, bit utsi okay to have a big Netflix binge sometimes. I think we all look more productive on social media than we actually are
ReplyDeleteAsh | thisdreamsalive.wordpress.com
I totally agree, thanks for the reminder to take it at my own pace and not get too caught up in how much I am getting done!
ReplyDeleteJess | www.jessrigg.com
This is such a great article darling, everyone seems to be in a rush these days that taking things slow and giving yourself self-care time is the best. 💜
ReplyDeleteWith love, Alisha Valerie x | www.alishavalerie.com
Loved this post. Sometimes I am just so unproductive! I guess we all have times of being productive & other times of not. Instagram makes everyone look like they have their lives put together 100% of the time, but it's just so unrealistic lol xx
ReplyDeleteToday is my first day off from my new job and I felt so disappointed in myself due to how unproductive I've been and the fact I had a mcdonalds for lunch and have since been binge watching Gilmore Girls rather than preparing blog posts for the next two weeks. Thank you for this post and reminding me that we don't have to be in a constant productivity wheel.
ReplyDeleteVery true.. social media stresses me out at times with how perfect the posts and pictures are.
ReplyDeleteIt is really easy to feel unproductive, especially as a fairly new blogger, but I'm trying to remember I've a very full life away from the blog.
ReplyDeleteMisa | starsandsprinkles.co.uk
I really needed this post! I always feel so much pressure to be productive especially when it comes to having time off!
ReplyDeleteLove, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
I completely agree with you! Sometimes I feel such pressure whenever I pick up my phone or laptop to be working on my blog or something important, but taking a break is just as important!
ReplyDeleteShannon | www.shannonkims.com
At your own pace .. indeed!
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a pressure. On one hand, I think it relates more to those who are blogging for a living and there is a standard you have to uphold at that point. After all, my blog is my job and I can't slack at a job anywhere else BUT even still, we find ourselves letting our blog completely take over our lives whereas a job can be a standard 9 to 5. It's important to have that balance.
ReplyDeleteI feel so relaxed reading this post. I can understand that pressure we all bloggers face but you are right nothing bad in it if sometimes you don't feel productive.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this post! There's no point forcing yourself to be productive and ruining your hobbies/work x
ReplyDeleteSUCH an important post - I highly agree! It's so easy to compare yourself to others and worry that you're not being productive enough.
ReplyDeleteJas xx
It is always good to take time for yourself! I often take breaks from social media and feel so much more productive after i have had the break!
ReplyDeleteImogen
http://journeyinlaw.com/
Thank you for saying this!! I've been feeling less than productive lately, but maybe I'm just comparing myself to other bloggers who post multiple times a week, unlike my posting once a week, and who share/like/tweet/Insta all day, everyday (or that's what it seems like!). So your post makes me feel better about taking a bit more time to myself, which is productive in it's own way- even if you don't see it online :)
ReplyDeleteEmily | https://www.thatweirdgirllife.com
Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a link to your blog/youtube etc below and I will have a browse.