Hey y’all! I hope you’ve had a great week. Today I’m sharing a blogging update…let’s jump right in!
Health issues
First of all, the past month has been quite strange health-wise. I’ve dealt with a lot of hand pain that has made typing painful and challenging. Because of this hand pain, I have intentionally pulled back from blogging and focused on my YouTube channel instead. (I’ve also invested in a more ergonomic desk setup, seen my chiropractor, done hand stretches, used oils, etc.)
Additionally, I’ve been battling horrific fall allergies. I know “allergies” sounds so wimpy, but they have been awful. Constant sinus pressure and headaches. Congestion and sniffling. Itchy, watery eyes. A sore, scratchy throat. That terrible about-to-sneeze feeling all the time. Topographically, Gainesville (where we live) is in a “bowl,” so the pollen all tends to settle here. Which is why, apparently, all of us have the worst allergies of all time ever. I have tried everything. Some remedies work for a short time, but nothing has eradicated my allergies. I’m currently looking into getting an appointment with an allergist, but the closest one is 45 minutes away (of course) and I’m not at all thrilled at the prospect of long-term allergy shots (and driving 1.5 hours roundtrip once a week for them). Giant eye roll.
How this affects blogging
To put it briefly, these health issues have made writing a challenge. In addition to this, my Etsy shop is growing each month and requires significant time and energy to keep up with it. Plus, I have eight mentees currently active in my Blogger Mentorship Program who deserve my daily time and attention. All this explains my more infrequent posting schedule rather than my usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday posts.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned for sure about sharing online it’s this: the internet will never agree on what I should be doing. I get contradictory messages, comments, and emails weekly. Some people wish I would only write blog posts and stop making YouTube videos altogether; others urge me to abandon my blog and just focus on YouTube. Even when I think I’m doing a good job balancing the two, I’ll get comments on how I should be doing more X, Y, or Z. Though I highly value feedback from my online community and consider it, I know that ultimately I have to choose the direction of my content and move forward confidently. If I based my content solely on feedback, we’d all get whiplash.
Moving forward
My current goal is to share new content three times a week, whether on my blog or on YouTube. Some weeks, I’ll share two blog posts and one video, others I’ll share one blog post and two videos, and every once in a while I’ll share three blog posts or three videos. Realistically, I know this won’t actually happen every single week…but it’s my goal!
Though I would love to be able to write and share five new blog posts a week plus a couple of videos and keep my mentorship program and Etsy shop afloat, I can’t! Well I can, but I value my sanity, a clean home, and time with my husband. 😉
I love being self-employed, but it’s not always a cake walk. Thank you for bearing with me as I navigate this journey and figure out how to keep everything afloat. You guys are my favorite!
Thank you for reading! You can find me online on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. If you’d like to be alerted whenever I publish a new post, you can follow me on Bloglovin’ or subscribe via email. Take a look at my Etsy shop where I sell tees, totes, sweatshirts, and pillow covers! Are you a blogger too? Check out my Blogger Mentorship Program.
Hi Blair! Former mentee here (: I am so sorry you are experiencing those health issues. I have had terrible allergies all of my life (to where it looks like I have been crying for hours), and am now getting allergy shots, which have helped immeasurably. That is definitely a pain that the nearest allergist is so far away. Have you ever heard of rush immunotherapy? It is where they do several weeks or months worth of shots in one day, so you would not have to go back and forth as much.These shots have been life-changing for me. I used to start sneezing almost as soon as I walked into a house with a cat, and now I have stayed in one that had three. Not to push this on you, but just wanted to share in case you had not heard of it before.
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now with all of your endeavors, and I appreciate you letting your readers know some of your considerations with balancing everything. I personally love both blog posts and vlogs, it is just sometimes harder to make time to watch a full vlog than read a post, so I’m behind on the videos.
That’s all for now, I hope you have a great weekend!
Hey Ashley!! Hope you’re well. I was researching immunotherapy last night and found several stories like yours, but it really helps to hear from someone I know. Thank you for sharing your experience! The closest allergy center to me does offer rush immunotherapy, so that may be an option to save some time. Thanks again for sharing how much immunotherapy has helped you…it pushes me to make the appointment!
One other note on shots- you have to go without any antihistamines for a bit before getting tested, so if you decide to do it you may want to scheduled around your least symptomatic time of the year.
Unrelated, but I have been binge watching your vlog and I am now completely hooked. You really hit the nail on the head when you talk about how watching people’s daily lives can be so comforting. It feels like a much more wholesome and quality version of reality tv. You seem really cheerful and happy lately, too, which makes me happy for you (:
“If I based my content solely on feedback, we’d all get whiplash.” LOL! Ain’t that the truth. You can’t please everybody. Stay true to yourself and what God is calling you to do.
I was wondering why I haven’t received blog post emails as consistently. I figured you were probably just taking a break. I’m sorry to hear you’re having pain in your hand. As if that wasn’t enough. Allergies too??? I have to say, you appear to be handling it well. I would’ve never known just by watching your videos. I’m praying for healing in your body. May your body be made whole. Operating the way God designed it. <3
Haha! You know as well as I do that’s the truth! 😉 Thank you for your well wishes and prayers, Tiffany. I really appreciate your support and kindness. xo
“If I based my content solely on feedback, we’d all get whiplash.” You’re the hero our world needs right now.
Keep doin’ what’s right for you, sister, and I’ll still be here following along! <3
Thank you, Grady!!
You do you girl! 🙂 I’ll be here for whatever you decide to do, because you are simply amazing and such a bright light in my and many others lives! Thank you for always being so honest, open, and transparent! <3
Thank you for your sunshiney support, Becca! You’re so sweet! 🙂
You can’t make everyone happy! My blogging mentor told me that 😉
Good for you for having a blog and a YouTube channel where people just can’t get enough!
As for allergies, they’re the worst! I was able to treat mine with drops that I held under my tongue rather than shots. See if your place does the same! It made SUCH a huge difference in my life I can’t even explain. I couldn’t afford the copay to go in to the office all the time, so I asked if there was an alternate to shots. My allergist said shots are covered by insurance, but there is another option. The drops were all out of pocket so he didn’t offer them up front, but they were cheaper in the long run and saved me time and money on travel. It was just a small dropper bottle that I picked up every three months and held under my tongue for a minute every morning. I was a little suspicious but once severe dust allergy is 70% better and I moved before I could finish the treatments. I hope you find a solution that works for you!
Thank you for your kind words! 🙂 And It’s great to hear your allergy drop experience. I’ve been looking into those too. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hope you feel better soon….. I’m sure three times of weeks gets to be a lot when you have an Etsy shop and other responsibilities. I look forward to you on You tube or your blog. Best of luck deciding what to do?
Ciao Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂 xo
Well, I love ALL of your content and personally think it’s fun to switch things up, sometimes reading, sometimes watching videos. So I say good for you for taking a step back and assessing what works best for you! After all, you’re the one who’s actually living out your days, not your readers.
Thank you, Megan. I appreciate your support!
i just really want you to move back to MD cause I miss you terribly. I want Taco Tuesdays again AND you can get rid of your allergies! Just my two cents. You can blog/vlog for MD too! Love you Blair Blair
Love you Aunt Sharon! XO
I love reading & watching everything you do. You do you, girl. You are such an inspiration that if you follow your dreams, good things will happen.
Thank you, Jess! Sending you a hug to Germany! xo