Excuses I’ve Made When Starting My Blog
When I first came up with thelaughstyle.com, I felt like I was in the best headspace. I was in my creative peak and I had so many ideas. But then something changed once I got everything up and running. I even shared my new website via Facebook when I barely had anything to post yet. I went on a complete dry spell for MONTHS coming up with every excuse. Now, I want to share my excuses with everyone and how I am s l o w l y getting out of my own way and how others can avoid the same mistakes.
Excuse #1— I don’t feel creative in this moment (or ever)
I have ALWAYS wanted to start my own blog. I have bought domains before, but I didn’t feel super connected with what I was doing with them. Then 2020 came and I was completely miserable in my job and ended up leaving for a “right now” job. Something that would help pay the bills but also not something I was going to take home with me when I punched out. I remember telling Matt last summer that I needed this type of job and that I was going to take a major pay cut (also, layoffs were starting & the fear of that happening to me was taking a toll) to be able to put my energy into my website that I hadn’t even named yet or knew my niche. I promised him that it would all pay off. Luckily, Matt is super supportive and told me to do what I needed to do.
There were days where I felt so creative that I could not wait to come home and play on my website. I would come up with lists of content and calendars, I reached out to photographers, I had it all figured out. Then, it all just halted. I stared at these lists and felt so defeated. I told Matt I didn’t feel creative enough working from the kitchen table, so he bought my a desk and put it in his office so we had “his and hers” spaces. My next excuse was that it was hard being in the same room with him and “couldn’t work in these conditions.” All of these things were just excuses.
So what do I do now?
I’m still in the office with Matt. The days we are in the room together I take it as time to educate myself on my website and what to do. I’m an early riser and Matt wakes up at noon. I try to make a cup of coffee and sit with my website and make something happen with it. Matt usually gets late nights with the room by himself. For example: Today Matt came into bed at 5:30 am from playing video games in the office. When he got into bed he woke me to where I couldn’t fall back to sleep. So, I had the office from 5:30 til present time.
It’s still hard, but I really am trying to get my head in the game and not force anything anymore. Things are progressing the way they need to.
Excuse #2— I’m not attractive enough for people to follow
I know this sounds.. wrong? But, I also can’t be the only person out there who feels this way. All of these beautiful people on Instagram all the time, sharing all of these “perfect” moments. It’s hard not to compare. It makes me want to hide behind my computer and not let anyone in because I don’t want to be judged by what I look like, but more for what I have to say. I’m an insecure person, you can’t fix that overnight.
How am I fixing this?
I had to stop following a lot of accounts on Instagram that made me feel bad about myself. I started following people that had advice for bloggers or new bloggers that I wanted to support. I also follow accounts that celebrate self love.
Excuse #3— I don’t have enough of my own photos to keep myself going on social media
This excuse should have been number one. I don’t take enough photos to post every day to keep myself relevant on Instagram. I bought a year subscription of stock photos for my website, but don’t want to fill my Instagram with those pictures. So how the hell am I supposed to go on?
Simple. Just go on. I need to worry about one thing at a time and right now- I need to worry about getting that list of content I had planned into actual blog posts. I don’t need to worry about Instagram right this second. I don’t need the most perfect pictures for my 300 followers. Those things are going to come in time. Right now, I want to create content that keeps people engaged. I want my website to be perfect first and if I need to use stock photos to get it that way, so be it.
Excuse #4— I’m overwhelmed with people’s advice
Friends who have never even thought about blogging have advice and it’s so overwhelming. Often critical of what they don’t fully understand. I spend probably more time reading about how to become a successful blogger than I do on my own actual website. I read and read and read, and then get so overwhelmed when I need to apply it, that I walk away. I’m not quitting. It just keeps taking away from my creativity and I feel lost.
I need to focus on one thing at a time. Advice I read was to start an email campaign ASAP. I did. My family and friends are still the only people who have signed up months ago. Nobody new. Do this, do that. I did. But right now, I’m focusing on content. Just pure content. I’m letting things fall naturally and when I’m ready for the next step, I’ll do something new then.
Honestly, this is my best advice. Do one thing. It has helped with my creativity SO much. It’s less noise and I feel better with the direction of my website.
Excuse #5— Friends and Family are going to judge me
Vulnerability is something I lack. I always feel as though I’m being judged by an imaginary crowd. But let me tell you something— the minute I announced my website, the minute I started posting these funny stories that I didn’t think anyone would even care about, the minute I let my guard down (even if it’s temporary) people responded in the best way. I had ONE person respond with, “so what do you think your a chef now?” When I was posting myself burning Matt and I’s dinners. Clearly, she didn’t get the point. The point that it’s all in good fun.
But then I had dozens of people responding with such amazing feedback. People who got that I wasn’t taking things so seriously. I wanted people to laugh with me. And they were.
Hence, how the LAUGHstyle came to be. What can I say? I’m fucking hysterical.
If you are one of the people that commented on my stories at any given time— you saved me. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Excuse #6— I don’t have the time
I have time to make elaborate dinners 3-4 times a week.
I have time to catch up on all my favorite TV shows. (Real Housewives, Below Deck, The Challenge, The Office for the millionth time, and KUWTK.
I have time to take unnecessary naps.
Stare off into space.
Play games on my cell phone (My weekly report from last week said I averaged 3 hours and 35 minutes PER DAY)
Harass Matt while he actually works.
A 20 minute skincare routine every night.
Facebook stalking people I legit don’t give a shit about.
But I definitely don’t have time for my website. (Insert Eye Roll)
This is a reminder to stop making the same excuses I’m making. Be kinder to yourself. Laugh along the way of your journey. Nobody can take your voice away from you. I’m making excuses and knowing that I am is becoming a battle I’m facing. But I’m going to face it and I’m going to be successful and so will you!