Finding A Balance In The Online World
Opening up about how I've decided to take a step back from the online world to find a balance in my life!
What I'm wearing: Slogan tee | Chunky knit cardigan| Faux leather skirt | Boots
Last September I was super poorly; I'd been living my life 100mph for the first half of last year, truly burning the candle at both ends and I came to breaking point. I knew that I needed to slow down and just stop, my body hated me so I took some time out. This year I feel exactly the same, I can't believe it's October already and this year has honestly flown by. From one country to the next, from one shoot to another campaign, from one event to the next blog post, from one video to the next email, it never ends. Don't get me wrong I am absolutely NOT complaining because I whole heartedly love what I do.
But something in me has changed this year.
Maybe it's the fact that I'm getting older, that time seems more precious. That I'm stopping to actually think about what's important in my life and learning to prioritise.
No longer am I in London 3 days a week attending events and catching up with pals, nor am I saying YES to everything.
Instead I've opted for a slower paced, yet happier life. I found that when I was a 'yes girl' I would literally want to cram as much into my life as I could, from projects to travel and events. I soon realised that this wasn't making me happy, living out of a suitcase or working at 3am.
What really makes me happy is nights in with my girls and a few bottles of prosecco, long walks with Ben or cosy nights in, spending time with my family and taking my nan out for lunch. Spending time with friends and family is the most precious thing in my life and I've decided to prioritise it over my work and I've never been happier.
Don't get me wrong I'm still working my ass off, but of an evening I'm switching my phone off or on the weekend I'm not answering emails and sitting on social media. Instead I'm choosing to live in the now with my favourite people, really, truly cherishing every moment because those memories are what makes me smile on a grey day, not a new product launch or campaign.
Whilst I'm still absolutely loving blogging full time and getting excited about the amazing campaigns I'm working on, I've decided to be more selective on what I work on, I'd rather build long term relationships with brands and turn away smaller projects. Purely because I find that when you take on too much work you can't put 110% into every piece of work and that's not a place I want to be in.
I look at other bloggers who work around the clock and run the most incredible brands and my god I take my hats off to them because they are so incredible successful; I read their blogs on a daily basis and find their lives so interesting. But to me it's an inspiration not an aspiration, I want to sit on the side lines rooting for the ultimate GIRL BOSSES, but truth is I don't always want to be one.
I don't want to always be bossing my life at 10271525 miles per hour, I want to carry on working hard and smashing the work I am doing, but I also want to take more time for family holidays and weekends away with Ben, I want to put my happiness first and I know the rest will fall into place.
I always find that when I'm really looking after myself and my happiness, that's when I produce my best work. I miss writing blog posts 'just because', or something sparked from a conversation with a friend or PR. Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in what brands or other people want from you, you almost loose site of why you started or what makes you happy. I want to take a step back and focus on writing again because I love it, not because someone wants something of me.
Is this the right way to blog? I believe that there really is no right or wrong way to blog. Just whatever feels right to you. For me taking a step back and channeling my energy into my happiness and bigger projects rather than too much work seems the right path for me to take.
So with that being said, girls you keep bossing it - I'm rooting for you, always! I'll be over here doing me, whilst loving watching you do you! <3
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What are your thoughts on slower paced blogging and finding a balance in the online/offline world? How do you prefer to work? Any tips for me?