This is a post I've been wanting to write for a while.
I don't need to point out how the blogging/influencer world has EXPLODED over the last few years into something so huge that girls who once put together outfits in their bedrooms, are now on par with some of the biggest celebrities. It's an incredible industry and one that you can't help but want to be a part of and why wouldn't you want to be? Influencers pretty much make their own schedule, have access to anything their heart desires fashion/beauty/home wise not to mention jetsetting what seems to be every other month.
But for those of us whose platforms haven't quite exploded, we can often get that nagging feeling of, what's the point? It's almost like if your blog hasn't become your career, why bother?
So I wanted to do this post more as an ode to why we all started blogging in the first place, because we love it. These days I think most people want their blogs to take off purely due to the business/moneymaking side and I can't blame them. I flash back to my twenties, living with flatmates I didn't always want to live with, in a flat full of mould, bringing home slightly more than minimum wage only to be skint three days later once rent, bills and travel had come out to then be faced with the ever dreaded feeling of, 'if I buy that one jumper from Topshop as well as food I'll be in that horrendous circle of going over the overdraft AGAIN this month'. Oh it's no picnic being young and finding your way in the world, so when you see 24 year olds who seem to have it all, the drive to make your blog a success can quickly overshadow the drive to make your blog something you enjoy, regardless of the outcome. Every post is an opportunity to 'go viral' and when it doesn't, you're filled with envy of those who do and questioning is it all worth it?
Fast forward to me at 32 and I've waded through those years of thinking am I ever going to be able to afford ANYTHING and am at that comfortable spot which your 30s is made for. Your time for you, you've got an established career, despite any stop and starts you've had along the way, you truly know who you are and are comfortable with that and despite the fact you still may not quite be able to manage your money as well as you'd like (as girls in fashion, when will we ever?!) you definitely have a better idea of what you need verses what you want, and can make much better decisions because of that.
So for those of you wondering whether you'll ever get things worked out, the answer is YES. That's not to say I'm completely sorted at 32, there's still a lot I want to achieve and I wonder if anyone ever really does figure it all out. But the point is, I love being involved in this industry and doing my online stuff just as much as when I started, when I had no idea the scope of success that could be reached and I think if you're blog is your side project, it's important not to rely on it to solve all your problems if it just took off. It's important to focus on all aspects of your life, especially the 'real' ones. Real meaning experiences, friends, family, everything offline, it's important to get that balance and not get so caught up in making your blog work or creating content that could make it work that moments pass you by. There'll always be people who take off and for the life of you, you can't see why and then there's the ones who take off and you can completely see why, but that's the nature of this industry, there is no rhyme or reason, so if you start to get bogged down with why her, why not me then STOP. Get off social media, stop feeling bad about missing that blogpost and reassess. This industry is not the key to happiness if you can't find happiness within yourself and the less seriously you take it, like with anything, the happier you'll be. You have the power to create a life that you love and blogging can be a part of it, but it doesn't have to be all it, you are always in control of your future and it's important to have faith that situations can change at anytime and situations WILL change, believe me. Focus on creating memories with your loved ones, stop spending money to keep up with the status quo of the industry and support influencers who make you feel good, because at the end of the day, all you can do is your best, and if that doesn't make you viral, does it really matter?
Labels: lifestyle
