The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme with a prompt featuring a book related question. The hop begins on a Friday and ends on a Thursday and should hopefully give people the opportunity to learn something new about the blogger.
The Book Blogger Hop can be found on Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer and obviously my answers can be found here!
Absolutely.
Not only do I believe it’s not a bad thing if people take a break but I would actively encourage that they do.
I took a planned mini-hiatus last year for November as I was on my honeymoon in New Zealand. This extended a little bit out into mid-December because when I came back I had Real Life stuff to catch up on.
Some people take a planned break and others have a break that is foisted upon them. This unplanned break can be for various reasons but most of which relates to life and the variety of things (good and bad) that can come our way.
I took a planned break because I didn’t want to spend my holiday blogging. I love blogging don’t get me wrong but I spend a lot of time writing posts, reading others’ posts, commenting on others’ posts and commenting on replies to mine.
I want to do all of those things above with joy and I want to take my time to ensure that I provide quality posts and comments. I mean, jury’s still out on whether that bit actually occurs but hey, I want to put the effort in!
If I was trying to enjoy myself on holiday and experience my life and this beautiful world it would have meant that I would have half heartedly done blogging stuff. If I was too focused on blogging then I would have probably ruined my honeymoon.
I made a good judgment call.
Time away also acts as a refresher. For yourself, for your creativity and for not feeling like you have to respond. Sometimes a hobby can turn into a chore if pressure (especially self-pressure) starts to be applied.
We’re all book worms and book bloggers who lurk away on the internet so I’m going to take a punt here – we may not be the most extroverted people in the real world and social interaction can become exhausting a bit quicker for us then other people. Am I right? Not for all of us maybe, but for some. I know the above applies for me.
I do miss people when they go on hiatus but I know how life works. I always mention the importance of self-care and if self-care is not blogging then that’s what needs to be done. You’ll probably find that the only one beating yourself up about it is you and people will just be happy to see you back when you’re ready.
I’m planning on doing NaNoWriMo this year (third year, whoop!) so there’s a chance that November may become my planned hiatus month each year. I’m also on holiday at some point in May and September so will probably take time away then too.
The best thing is a break can help you enjoy it even more when you come back! 🙂
I have been so terribly rubbish this week.
Work has been…. taxing. I’m in Human Resources in the UK and if anyone tells you that Brexit won’t make a negative impact I’d like to point them in the direction of my tired looking, aged face. I had three breakdowns at work this week in one day.
I miss my regular hours. I’ve been doing so much overtime that I actually forgot today was Saturday. I’ve fallen asleep on the sofa multiple times and required extensive nudging by the hubby and even when I dream it’s about work.
I managed to churn out a last minute post on Thursday for Valentine’s day but all other posts were pre-written and scheduled in advance. I’m only just getting around to answering comments on my blog for the past week!
All this means that I haven’t had a chance to see what a lovely box of delights awaits me from the blogs that I follow and so this week I fail at providing you with any.
Today I am not doing any work – huzzah! My plan is to eat something delicious, read a book, read some blog posts and take a nap!
It will just mean double the awesome for next week!
Let me know your thoughts on taking a blogging break; if you would or if you have?
If you have how long was it for and was it planned/ unplanned? How did it make you feel? How did you feel coming back to blogging?
Until next week when I answer the question of what is my favourite bookish accessory. You may be surprised…
The BookNook UK 
You already know my thoughts on this as I’ve recently come out of a mega hiatus haha, but you’ve made me realize some things through this post and your message (reply coming soon), I should start practicing self care (what is that even), stop feeling ashamed and do this purely out of enjoyment. 🙂 Where are you going for your holidays, if it’s not a secret? Somewhere exotic again? 😀 Btw, when will we (I) see your New Zealand pics??
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I’m writing this comment on my computer so I have no idea how to do the heart emoji but can you imagine there’s a string of them here?
As soon as something fun stops being fun it’s time for assessment. I have to remind myself of that but I also do the whole ‘self applied pressure’ thing and it takes a hell of a lot of time to get my mind in the right place.
Gosh, I haven’t even remotely sifted through the NZ pics! They’re not even up on Facebook yet and I’ve had friends ask about them, it’s crazy to think that it was three months ago. Times gone fast!
Not a secret at all! We’re doing nowt in May, just chilling and heading into London for a few bits and generally de-stressing. September we’re doing a week in Cornwall and in November I’ll be doing NaNoWriMo (hopefully) but will also be spending week on the Welsh border! I’m trying to be relaxed this year…. trying…
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There is NO SHAME in taking a break, and I think it is so important for bloggers (and tbh people in general) to practice self care.
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I completely agree and should follow my own advice sometimes because I don’t and then wonder why I get stressed! Taking a break is good for everyone!
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I absolutely agree, time away from blogging is like a huge weight off your shoulders. I learned the hard way that if you keep pushing yourself to blog out of pressure, you’re gonna quit eventually. I have a post coming up in the future about how I scrapped my very first blog because it was causing me so much stress, so it’s better that you take time off and enjoy life because like you say, what’s the point of blogging otherwise if not to enjoy it?
You’re smart for knowing when to take it easy! I am sending you lots of hugs and encouragement for your stressful day job; hopefully the Brexit thing will blow by soon. ❤
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Well sometimes I don’t follow my own advice as much as I should which has hilarious and backfiring consequences! Saying that, this weekend I’ve been re-evaluating the next month or so of my job, personal commitments and blogging and have decided to temporarily move some blogging things around/ strip some posts back so that I don’t feel the pressure as much.
I figured it was self imposed pressure and as such the only person making me do things was, well… me! It’s easy to lose perspective though but ultimately this is a hobby and if it starts to feel like pressure then something, somewhere has gone wrong!
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