See, here's my problem. I love blogging, I really do. It's introduced to me some wonderful people who I am so blessed to have met. Other bloggers, authors, publicists and more. I'm grateful for them all but I feel exhausted. I don't enjoy reading as much as I used to because I feel an obligation to read all these review books I request or I get sent. Obviously, if I requested them I should read them because I personally asked for them but just, sometimes, forcing myself to read it on a deadline (ie: before the book is released) makes me dread reading the book. I miss being able to look up at my bookshelf and just read what I was in the mood for not what book was coming out next.
Don't worry, I'm not quitting blogging - I enjoy it (most of the year) too much.
But here's there the thing. This time of year is always crazy for me, as I'm sure it is for most people. I've been working more, I've been put to work more and I've just been exhausted, physically, that my reading time has been cut down. Then when I do have any free time I'm just not in the mood to read. My reading challenges have paid the price of this and then if I do read a book, sitting down to write the review is like forcing a child to eat food they hate. I want to throw a hissy fit and just pretend to do it before I spit it out later where my parents won't see. I shouldn't be feeling this way when this is something I love.
So here's what I'm doing in 2015. I'm reading more of what I want and less of what I feel I need to read. That also means you'll probably be seeing less reviews from me but I'm always around. I'm not quitting and I'm not terribly unhappy - just stressed. I know most of us bloggers have felt this way at least once if not, more than once. It's not a fun feeling and while we're not getting paid for this, it's like a second job with how much work goes in to blogging. I need to get back to me enjoying reading which means I need to start reading more of what I want to read.
I have a series sitting on my shelf, actually I have two, that I've really been wanting to get to but I haven't had the time because of me feeling obligated to review books. I really want to get to these books before I'm spoiled by something huge. I'm surprised I haven't been yet and honestly, I'd like to keep it that way. (If you're wondering is the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and the Firelight trilogy by Sophie Jordan I'm dying to read but haven't)
I hope those of you who frequent my blog will continue to do so. Maybe this way I'll even have more time to be more interactive on the blog because it's definitely something I need to improve on. I hope you all understand where I'm coming from and I appreciate everything. I wasn't lying with my last giveaway - I appreciate every single person who comes across my blog. Whether they come back or they don't, I appreciate you all.
Girl, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. I'm going through the exact. Same. Thing. I am actually seeking co-bloggers and/or contributors because I can't provide enough content. It's just not possible anymore now that in working full time and grad school is looming. P,us, like you said I feel so left out of so many series and books on my shelves that reading has become a chore and it makes me really sad. So I just don't post as often and next year I plan to do the same thing, take it easy with review books and focus on just winging it. Like you I love just staring at my shelves and picking a book at random.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'll still be here following no matter what. I hope you enjoy reading those series (Grisha is one of the many I need to read, have, and is waiting). Good luck and I hope you have a great holiday! Xo
-Diamond @ Dee's Reads
Aww I hope you feel better and I'll definitely still be coming by :)
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a post (though it's not up yet) about why I'm taking a break for blog tours - and it's basically for this same reason. I don't want to feel like reading is an assigned chore. There are too many books to LOVE! Hope you enjoy your break!!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm purposefully taking two weeks off from Chrsitmas through New Year's because I'm feeling burned out. I don't want to give it up, but I need a break. As a matter of fact, I am thinking of working in vacations throughout the year. Especially when I go on vacation, that way I don't have to worry about doing posts while I'm trying to relax. I've more or less given up accepting reviews from people who contact me. I will do those I get in the mail and those I load from Edelweiss and NG, but other than that, I'm not reviewing. If my co-bloggers want to review, great. I pass things on to them. But I still end up making the blog posts because really they are just guest reviewers. Good for you for taking time for yourself and taking care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteI just miss reading. I miss reading just to enjoy reading. I want to get some of that back. I want to be able to just randomly read what I want without having to be like 'okay, this comes out in two weeks so I should read and review this now'.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, sometimes life just takes over and it just makes you exhausted. See, I already have co-bloggers and sadly, this time of year, we're all affected the same. They both work in retail, which we know is crazy for the last month of the year and I work at a movie theatre, which this is one of their two busy seasons... *sigh*
I figured, though, in the three years I've been blogging, I've been pretty crazy with reviews and such so, in a way, I feel like I deserve a little bit of a lighter load for awhile. Who knows, it may not be all of 2015 but it's definitely going to be in the beginning and end of the year.
Good luck to you too and I hope you're holiday is relaxing and peaceful! <3
Thank you! <3
ReplyDeleteYes, I've been VERY picky about blog tours lately. I've also been disappointed by one too many books on blog tours that I need to be. A tour is meant to promote a book but it's hard to promote books I didn't like, you know?
ReplyDeleteThank you - and I hope you enjoy yours, as well! :)
The thing about my co-bloggers, and I love them to death is, they don't read nearly as much as I do. So if I don't want something and try passing it on to them, I usually get shut down because of their TBR piles (and I totally understand & respect this). My problem with netgalley & edelweiss is, I'll want a book at the time it's up but then when it comes time to reading it, there's time where I'm like 'meh, why did I download this'? I've gotten A LOT better in regards to Harper but there's still those books sitting on my kindle, waiting to be reviewed.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to quit because I do love blogging (most of the time) but I just need to find the joy of reading again. I'm enjoying books I'm reading now but they don't come out until Spring/Summer 2015 so...
Smart mixing your vacations in there. It's not as pleasurable trying to enjoy your vacation with worrying if you'll have a post up in time, or a book read in time or an 'oh shit, did I scheduled this post'?
Sometimes we really feel like we're forcing ourselves and spoiling out love for reading and books, and when that happens, we really need to take a step back and remember why we're doing this, because we love books and talking about books!
ReplyDeleteTake your time and do what you need to do to make sure you enjoy reading again, Jessica!
Funny thing is, I read a TON on vacation. This year we were gone for two weeks and I read 8 books! 8!!! I love that I can do that because I get all the stuff done I thought I would never get to. But, yes, worrying about the posts is annoying. I must be done with worrying about it on vacation. I can schedule the post upon return before we leave, as long as I have the assets. That's the other thing to worry about, getting the assets. Sometimes I don't get them until two days before my post is due to go live. I hate that. I want to try and schedule as much as I can in advance. That's why two of my seven days are taken up with WOW and STS (although often times I have to wait to finish up my STS on Friday night because something will come on Friday or I'll find some books to download). I have been contemplating adding Tuesday to this schedule. I also try not to schedule more than two posts in a day if possible. And often Sunday is left open. I may do a review on Sunday if I feel it, but most of the time I don't have posts going up that day.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you are doing what you need to do for yourself. I found that after 4 years of running a blog I had started I just didn't want to do all of that anymore so now I'm a co-blogger on different blog and also an associate reviewer. It hurt to shut down my blog but it was better for me in the long run. I also a long time ago really stopped asking for books or requesting things because even though I wanted those books I didn't like the pressure associated with a review needing to be done by a certain date. It put me off reading the book that I really wanted to read.
ReplyDeleteNow I pick books from my shelf and library at random to suit my moods. I like reading much better that way so I hope it works out for you in 2015!
Exactly. Which is how I was feeling and then the desire to read wasn't there and it was sad. I enjoyed reading before I started blogging and I never wanted to lose that. I have to say, now that I started reading more of what I want rather than what I need, I've been reading a lot more & enjoying it. Even though most of the books I'm reading don't come out until 2015 - it's what I wanted to read so I did. It's like a breath of fresh air :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I've been doing that this month and it's a great feeling. Being able to read what I want, when I want and not feel the pressure of having to read it. I've cut back on what I request, too and it really does take a load off. Sometimes, just taking a step back is what you need. And I've been reviewing for three years and it was finally starting to take it's toll so I'm glad I decided to take a step back versus quitting.
ReplyDeleteTake all the time you need! Reading should be a pleasure and since I lost my co-blogger, it has been very stressful for me to find time to read and review when I need to do, well, everything else too! I guess I could use a tiny break as well :)
ReplyDelete