As great as these past few months have been, I feel like I have neglected one big part of my life that brings me so much inspiration and happiness -- this blog. Transitioning from working part to full-time in June plus our packed summer calendar has left me without enough time to really make Dreams in HD what I want it to be. My posts have felt rushed and uninspired, and lately there hasn't even been much of that! I also have had zero time to partake in one of my favorite past-times...reading your blogs. I felt like I was part of a wonderful community of women and haven't given those relationships the time they deserve. And for that I'm sorry. I promise it wasn't you, it was me :)
Because Dreams in HD has brought me so much joy these past few years I'm going to make a concerted effort to dedicate more time for myself, and thus my blog. When I'm blogging not only do I feel inspired both creatively and professionally, but I also feel such a sense of self-accomplishment in the fact that I have created content people are actually interested in reading {it still blows my mind!} I hope you will excuse my absence and accept my apologies for neglecting this little blog for the past few months. What do you do to balance a busy schedule and prioritize 'me time'? What do you do to stay inspired creatively? Any tips would be much appreciated!
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I'm so glad you're back, Molly! I look forward to your posts every day, particularly your travel and food articles. I know what you mean about striking a balance. With four kids and the summer being so busy, I've found it difficult to blog five days a week. But, just like you, I truly enjoy it and it gives me a huge sense of accomplishment so I either do it early in the morning or late at night! I hope you keep going. Your writing and your photos are always inspiring :)
ReplyDeleteKate
www.taffetaandtulips.com
thank you kate! it feels good to be "stretching my legs" in the blog world again :) and i can TOTALLY understand how you find it challenging to fit it all in with your four kids. thank you so much for the sweet words and the thoughtful advice, i truly appreciate it!
ReplyDeletei don't have any advice...as i neglect all of my creative ventures also. just offering encouragement that everyone else understands where you are. working full time and having anything else is so hard!
ReplyDeleteI've been in the same boat lately, in a way I'm glad you were busy doing other things so it didn't look like I'd abandoned you as a reader! Hopefully we'll both settle into these new rhythms soon :) meanwhile I'm sure I've got a backlog of posts to read on here! xxx
ReplyDeleteLucy @ la-lingua.blogspot.com
Glad to have you back! While I was working full-time and on the blog at the same time, I'm going to be honest, I really didn't have a life. It's definitely a sacrifice if you want to make the blog work. I rarely saw friends, didn't date, wasn't going out, etc, because on the weeknights and weekends I was working solely on the blog for the next week. Now that I'm working for myself I have a much better work/life balance, but it was a struggle. The struggle is real!
ReplyDeleteThe Style Scribe
Welcome back! I read other blogs for inspiration, including yours! ;)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back!! I just had the same transition in my life, too! Basically, all I do is go to work, blog in my down time, and try to do everything on the weekends! It really is hard. I do a lot on my lunch breaks (comment/social media) and plan posts on the weekends and nights. Hopefully it will get easier for us both :)
ReplyDeleteMaggie
www.PolishedClosets.com
never apologize for living a full and wonderful life. Everyone needs to step away from something once and awhile to take a break and re-evaluate. I to took a break from blogging this summer but am happy to say I will be back full force come September.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that we will see more post from you. But do not even worry about it, we have all been there. Sometimes it is really hard to balance it all, I think especially in the summer. I feel as though this summer there have been weeks that I am totally into my blog and others where it has to fall to the back burner. But I am trying to be okay with that and just work on it while I can!
ReplyDeleteI hope that your full time job is going well and so glad to hear you are back!
xo Nan
Simply Elegant Blog
i think my busy is a lot different from your busy . . . working from home and raising kids, my blog is definitely a place that i escape to for some "me time." but still. i get burnt out too. sometimes i wonder how did i come up with all this stuff because i can find myself so very uninspired. those are usually the times breaks are a good thing, because then i miss it and remember why i love it so. really i have learned by working as a "creative" is that you can't force inspiration. you can look for it, but it always comes in its own time. and yes, sometimes making a schedule helps. i don't do that regularly but when i find i am really struggling with my blog i will do that for a week or two to get back into the groove of it all. ps following your instagram it was pretty clear why you were not as present here and it all looked like very, very good reasons!! xo
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thank you so much for your health well wishes. Means so much!! <3 And... I adore your blog + think you do an amazing job with it. So keep up the great work!! And yes, It really is an amazing community isn't it?! As for how I stay inspired creatively? I love looking at other blogs and magazines - always a wealth of ideas! Plus, for me stepping back is key... spending a day feeding my own artist always stirs up great things!! xoxo
ReplyDeletethere is nothing wrong with stepping back a bit from the blog, to enjoy life and not post half-hearted uninspired blogs, i do. it is refreshing and then i don't feel the pressure to write when i dont have much to say and after a bit of a break i come back refreshed! glad to have you back molly
ReplyDeletethank you so much for the advice ivonne! i have found in the past that creating my posts over the weekend and dedicating a little time every morning to reading other blogs, social media, etc. has helped me as well. i always find your beautiful mood boards inspiring :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the encouragement meg, i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one who doesn't always have the time / inspiration to write five blog posts per week. but i totally agree....sometimes taking a little break is just what you need. i appreciate the kind words, and as always, can't get enough photos of you and your adorable caleb!
ReplyDeletethank you so, so much for the kind words & advice veronika! your blog is one i always turn to for inspiration so it truly means a lot to me that you read mine as well :) i hope you're having an amazing day dear, thank you again!
ReplyDeletechristine thank you so much for the incredibly thoughtful comment. you absolutely amaze me that you're able to juggle so much and still create such beautiful and inspiring content. your blog is truly one of my favorites and i feel lucky to have found you as a "blog friend" :) and yes, i definitely can't complain about being busy this summer because it has definitely been only good things! hope you're having a lovely day and thank you again for the advice, it means the world to me!
ReplyDeletehi lauren, i'm glad to hear that you were able to get reinsured but we're definitely happy to have you back in the blog world! and i totally agree...organization is key for me too. i used to create my posts over the weekend then set-up a little time every morning for reading blogs, social media, etc. definitely going to try to get back on that schedule :) thank you so much for the thoughtful post & advice, i truly appreciate it!
ReplyDeletehi nan, thank you so much for your sweet comment! even though i haven't been the best about responding to comments this summer {ARG!!} i always read yours and truly appreciate them. i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one who puts a little too much pressure on myself sometimes. my job has been going great {thank you for asking} and from what i have seen on instagram it seems as though you have been having a pretty fabulous summer yourself :) have a wonderful day and thank you again for your thoughtful comment!
ReplyDeletehi kayleigh, thanks so much for your sweet comment. it looks like you have had a great summer and i'm looking forward to when you return to your blog in september :)
ReplyDeletethank you so much for the sweet comment maggie! even though i wasn't the best about responding this summer {ARG!} i read and truly appreciated each and every one of your thoughtful comments these past couple of months. i'm so impressed with how great you've made your blog even with your incredibly busy schedule. i guess us working gals just have to stick together :)
ReplyDeletehi susan, thank you so much for the kind words...your blogs is one i look to the most for inspiration so i truly appreciate the fact that you read mine too :) i hope you're having a great week...thanks again for the sweet comment!
ReplyDeletethank you for the sweet comment madeline. you're so right, working full-time and managing anything else is very challenging...but i think it's so important to make sure to still squeeze in some "me time" here and there :) congratulations again on the new pup, he's adorable!!
ReplyDeleteawe you're too sweet lucy! it seems as though you have had a pretty busy {AND FUN} summer yourself...your photos in the dolomites were just stunning. my mom & stepdad are actually going to italy for about 3 weeks in september and will also be doing some hiking in the dolomites. i showed her your photos and she can't wait!!
ReplyDeletehi merritt, i'm glad to hear that i'm not the only one who has found it challenging to be managing a full-time job and a blog....but it sounds like you definitely made the right choice. your blog is AMAZING and the fact that it allows you to have a life outside of work is something that money just can't buy :)
ReplyDeleteOMG I'm swooning over that home photo!! I would love a space like that! Ah, I feel we all reach this point a few times in our blogging lives :) I must say that as I live it too, it is hard to juggle a full-time job, blogging, design work, and also try to have a life :) You have nothing to apologize for, lovely lady! My best advice, and I'm sure you know this already, is to put your time and effort into creating quality posts. If I don't feel my post will be of quality, I won't post. Which is why I have gone down to blogging less, at the very least once a week. This give me time to do other things in my life, while still trying to maintain my blog. Also, breaks are much needed :) We're all here for you and look forward to each of your posts, Molly! xo
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that you are back! I have just come upon your blog and adore it already! Happy blogging!
ReplyDeleteXO Chloe - A Latte Lipstick
thank you so much chloe!
ReplyDeletehi jessica, thank you so so much for the beyond sweet words as well as the thoughtful advice. i definitely agree with you on quality over quantity, and just can't beat myself up if i don't have the time to create content 5x a week. thanks again dear...it means the world to me!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you're doing a great job to me Molly! I wish I could give you advice, but I'm terrible about keeping up with everything. This summer, my blog took a backseat, because we just had sooo many activities and adventures going on (plus also the day job!), but like you, I miss blogging. I miss the community and the creativity it offers. Instagram has been my go-to for a quick creative outlet, and now I'm excited about Steller, but I still want to get back to the blog. It's been challenging for me to find some quiet time to sit down and do it, but I'm going to set an intention to focus more on it this fall. I'd love to help keep each other motivated!
ReplyDeleteOh Molly, don't apologise! We've all been there - being busy, feeling uninspired or unmotivated. It's good you know that blog gives you so much joy - sometimes these blogging breaks are important to realise whether this is what you enjoy doing or not. Take your time, readjust your schedules and don't rush - we're here! I know what it feels like - I haven't had much time to blog with my little one but I am determined to get back into blogging as it's what I love doing! So don't worry, we're gonna be alright! ;-) x
ReplyDelete