I happened to be overwhelmed by my work. Social media is a hobby for me but it’s always my profession, regardless of how much money I make at it. So it’s a choice but not in a normal sense of deciding whether or not I want to do it. I feel like I’m doing some really good things. I just get overwhelmed by it all. Especially on a Saturday night on a holiday weekend.
Today’s Writing Prompt: What feels overwhelming to you right now and how are you coping?
Here we go…
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I’ve had moments before of feeling overwhelmed with staying plugged in. Social media, or making a career out of social media, is literally a 24/7 job. You have to improve your voice and build your audience and for the past (almost) 3 years, I’ve loved it. But lately, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
They say, if you don’t love it, you shouldn’t do it. I think that’s a great motto to live by but it’s not always a realistic one. Sometimes, even the things you love, you just don’t love anymore. Or you don’t love as much. Or you don’t love right now.
And right now, I’m not loving it BECAUSE…
And I think the because is an important part.
1. I am trying to treat it like a fulltime job and since I’ve moved, I’m really a fulltime mom. No preschool, no sitters. Just me and Evan. And my husband is around more to fill in the gaps but I don’t get any dedicated work time like I used to.
2. I moved into a new house and everything is white. The walls are white. I want to hang pictures and buy rugs and paint the walls. Because I love decorating. And I think I love it more than social media. Or at least right now I do. Decorating gives me instant gratification.
3. I’m simply overwhelmed. I take on a lot because I like to do a lot. I like to stay busy and honestly, social media is inspiring. I come up with an idea for a blog almost every single day. Thank god, I don’t implement them. But I’ve always got projects and I’m not good at time management.
Those are my three big reasons. And in my new neighborhood where almost everyone works (unlike Raleigh where the cost of living affords more women to stay home), I sometimes think about how nice it would be to go to work, come home, and just be in the moment.
And then I remember office life and traffic jams and commuting. I’ll make the best of things. I just need to find a better way to make it all work.
22 comments
I get overwhelmed frequently by social media. I had to back off! Trying to treat it as a full time job and HAVING a full time job was a bit much!
You mean, people have REAL jobs besides social media? That blows my mind 😉
Social media can definitely be overwhelming – I haven’t even begun to delve past my blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Those 3 alone give me plenty to work with. Decorating from a clean slate sounds HEAVENLY!!! Enjoy it 🙂
I skipped the decorating all week but I’m heading into full swing today!
Social media can be overwheleming for me too. I’m still trying to balance between my blog, twitter, facebook, forums and google +
Yes, the balance part is what makes it so hard.
What fun to be in a new house, in a new place, figuring it all out! But I totally get the tug-o-war between using your business brain and your decorating brain.
Right now, I prefer the decorating. Once I have my zen space, I can refocus on all that business stuff!
I think things have changed so much in social media that it does seem overwhelming at times no matter what else is happening in life. Take your time – enjoy where life has taken you at the moment and then come back when you feel refreshed and renewed. 🙂
That’s exactly what I’m doing. I had an accidental day off yesterday and it makes today so much better!
I really get this post. It’s tough. Because the allure of social media and the blogging joneses are very, very strong. But I’ve realized that in order to do this, I must remember to focus on my goals in this. I must focus on what matters most. What matters most? My family, my girls, my desire to write and make connections with real human beings (online and in real life). That’s all.
Everything you said… yes. Perhaps I should print that out and hang it on my wall. Except for the girls part, because I have a little boy 😉
This is exactly how I feel today. We didn’t just move, but we are doing a lot of projects right now (plumbing, carpet etc) and we also are out of school. The problem is I still want to do it so I am completely overwhelmed, yet unable to step away. I don’t know the answer.
Exactly. I don’t know how you’ve done it as long as you have. With TWO kids and only just starting preschool. I’m struggling and trying to make sure I enjoy the time that I have now.
Glad the move is going well, but sorry that it is leading to feelings of being overwhelmed. Perhaps, you should just designate certain days each week for decorating and other days for writing and getting posts ready for posting later int he week.
That’s inadvertantly what I’ve been doing. I think it’s better for me to take a break and make it a REAL break, not just stepping away for a bit.
I know the feeling. Getting up and running again with the blog when it feels like I am so far behind on social media is hard plus having that office job makes it tough to keep up during the day (2 monitors at work helps).
The good thing is that you can never get “behind” in social media. Okay, well maybe you can since I’m responding to comments a week later! But usually I just decide to jump in where I am today and for the most part, it works.
I know exactly what you mean… staying plugged in all the time can get a bit over-whelming and frustrating. Especially, when there are other more important or fun things to do. Good luck with the decorating… enjoy your new home!
I accidentally unplugged yesterday and it was SO refreshing! Now, today, I’m enjoying my online time!
Late to this post i know … but oh how i hear you, yes, i do!
and how i wish your move had brought you South, what good things we would do together!
Come north. The weather is BEAUTIFUL here! And wouldn’t Washington, DC be so great for your homeschooling field trips??