Hey! Remember me? No? I'm not surprised. I haven't blogged on here for a while!
So yeah, #blogtober was a fail.
I tried really hard. I'd just started blogging, I was consistent, I was promoting my posts on Twitter, I was scheduling content to go live so I didn't have to worry about it.
But then, my scheduled posts ran out. I had lots of extra stuff to do for work, so I didn't have as much time to write posts. The evenings started getting darker earlier, so I didn't have good, natural daylight for my photos.
I missed a day, then two, and before I knew it October was over and November was here.
I also relaunched my shop, which meant that any time I did have was taken up with designing products, making products and writing descriptions for my website and Etsy shop.
If, in future, I ever wanted to attempt a blogging challenge like this again or something similar (I'm looking at you, Vlogmas!), or if you're thinking of trying it, here are my top tips:
Batch content
Plan days just to take photos and/or write blog posts. If you set aside time to do it, you'll get more done AND you'll be more prepared.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead is key! I thought I'd planned far enough ahead - but I hadn't considered what would happen if I got busy/if something happened (which it did), which meant that I didn't have time to complete the last week or two's posts.
Schedule posts
Scheduling is also super important. It's so easy to do, but only if you've got the content ready to go! I'd scheduled all of my blog posts up till the middle of October, but if I was going to do it again I'd try to get all of the posts and photos ready and scheduled well in advance!
Start earlier
I started planning Blogtober and writing posts for it in the end of September, but I should have started SO much earlier!
But here I am, apologising (again) for ending Blogtober early and for neglecting my blog for a while. I've been planning my return and what I want to do/post/share/say on my various social media platforms, because right now I feel like that line in that Bo Burnham song that goes "Could I interest you in everything all of the time?"
I'm an all-or-nothing kind of girl, and I want to do all the things. I want to blog. I want to film YouTube videos. I want to post everyday photos. I want to take and post creative photos with costumes and Photoshopped elements. I want to illustrate. I want to sell products.
Right now I feel a bit all over the place, and because of it my following on Instagram is dropping dramatically every time I post. Which isn't what it's all about, but it's not fun to watch either!
I *think* my plan is... keep my Instagram as my 'catch all' where I can post a little bit of everything. I really like curating my feed and switching up the colour scheme whenever I like. I'll post photos of my life, flatlays, illustrations/products, creative photos - whatever I fancy sharing at the time. My blog here will be my everyday ramblings and lifestyle posts - with fashion, home, advice and travel thrown in when I can. My YouTube videos (for now) will be montage weekly vlogs with music - I don't have the time (or energy) at the minute for proper, sit down chats, although I'll try to chat in vlogs when I can/when I have something interesting to say. I might change in future if I somehow find more time, or want to switch things up - that's the beauty of creating a life you love!
I hope that sounds okay. In a nutshell, I'm just trying to find/make my own space on the internet, and I hope you'll continue to join me on the ride!