A healthy habit of blogging
Do you have a healthy habit that works like medicine? I’ve got at least two: swimming and blogging.
It’s my habit to blog. No timetable, but if I go more than a week without blogging, I feel twitchy. I feel anxious. I feel as if something is wrong, and it is.
This vague unease is exactly what I feel when a week goes by without going cold water swimming twice. Twice is my happy place. Twice is my habit.
Something in my brain yearns for pegs in the week. Ticks on the list. A mini-mission fulfilled. The knowledge that this week at least, I have done what I usually do and I like to do.
The habit of blogging is not a duty
If I miss a week swimming or blogging, I don’t feel a scrap of guilt. I’m not trying to prove anything or win Brownie points: I just like swimming and I like blogging. I know swimming is good for my body and mind: plenty of research backs that up. And I deduce that blogging is good for my body and mind, although no reliable research backs this up, to my knowledge.
I’m not saying that blogging is good for everyone or good in itself: I have no idea whether that’s true. I’m just saying it’s good for me.
Many many times I read this kind of message: “I’m sorry I haven’t blogged for a while…” And I think I understand why a blogger might say such a thing. I imagine they feel an obligation to their readers, who expect a weekly or monthly or occasional post from a favourite blogger.
That’s a nice relationship they have, online. But it’s not the same for me.
There must be other blog-readers like me. I’m delighted to read something new from a blogger I follow, but I’m never expecting or craving one. I see only the posts published since I last looked. I don’t notice an absence of posts. I know that everyone has a life outside their blog, and stuff happens, and no blog lasts forever.
(The exception would be Engaging With Aging: Doris Carnevali’s blog. In her case I worried, because she wrote her last post after breaking her leg the day after her 101st birthday. I’ve now heard that she is not using her computer any more and has moved to assisted living. So it’s no use looking for new blog entries from my great role model.)
So, dear readers, it’s like this. I love your company and your personalities and your ideas! I love your comments! But if I feel uncomfortable about not blogging for a while, it’s not because I think I’ve let you down. It’s more like I’ve forgotten to take my pills. My blogging pills.
Why is my blogging habit good for me?
Let me pause and riff on this question. I’ll make it up as I go along.
The habit of blogging is good for me because:
- I get some special me-time when I can quickly explore an idea for no reason except that I want to. What a luxury!
- You are out there and you read and respond to my words. That’s fun. And stimulating. And it’s good for my mental health.
- These two factors combine to increase my brain activity, growth, sense of adventure, and companionship.
- And strangely, blogging helps me to do the opposite: calm down and relax.
If I just don’t blog for a while (and right now I’m so so so so busy with my new play), my body and brain remind me. By getting twitchy.
Look at that! I blogged and I feel better
If you weren’t out there, sometimes reading what I write, I couldn’t blog.
So I thank you, dear readers, for boosting my mental and physical health with your dear invisible presence.
I really really hope you are going to tell me and our other readers what little habit is good for your own health and happiness? Thank you!
Follow Write Into Life
I too have two daily habits that make me feel satisfied. Blogging and my daily walks. Blogging is good too keep the brain active and walking is good for keeping both the mind and body.
What a good combination. And quite like my own.
Yes I saw the similarities
At the moment I am enjoying some gentle indoor exercise and 3 walks a week.
“Three walks a week” definitely sounds like a healthy habit.
A very positive post. My other similar habit was running, then walking, Now blogging does it all.
It can be a powerful force in our lives. I wonder how you satisfy your urge to move, now?
My daily habits are exercise and journalling. Both are good for me — the first to keep myself limber and strong, the second to clear my head and spur decision-making and action.
My blogging schedule is a bit haphazard these days, perhaps because I’m no longer feeling the need to give hot takes or respond to the Great Topic Of The Day. When I blog, it’s usually because something has been percolating in my head that deserves to be shared.
I, like you, miss when I don’t blog. Also like you, I am coming to believe it is not necessarily due to feeling like I’ve let my readers down, it is more like I’ve let myself down. There aren’t too many things I enjoy doing for myself but blogging, walking, and Sudoku are the three that are most dear to me.
With that being said, I am looking forward to getting back to blogging, be it once or twice a week, or once every two weeks. Whatever works for me. I will say this though and that is I enjoy the comments my readers provide me with when they respond.
Walking is another activity I need to do more of. 😩 Sudoku, well that’s a daily thing. Gotta keep these old grey cells from getting any greyer. Have a great day.
I enjoyed reading about your personal schedule, and it makes good sense to me.
I walk, I blog and I play mahjong! Each one is soothing in its own way.
Soothing : that’s it. And because they are habits there’s none of that will-I-or-won’t-I anguish of indecision. We know what we like.
💕
Thank you for the hearts!
My daily pick me ups of blogging and walking have been curtailed of late by health problems but I still read, both books and blogs, and keep tottering in the garden. I always treat an occasional blog post as a renewal and recommitment of a friendship, and have often commented “It’s always good to see you.”
I simply love the way you describe your response when a blog post pops up. Perfect. And I think about how I will compensate when some beloved habits move out of reach. Dancing with my hands?
Not blogging would be like not breathing for me, so your post really resonated!
Cold-water swimming, however…..?
I was writing regular updates on the Caring Bridge site during the 18 months that my husband was dying of cancer. After he died so many people asked me to keep writing and sharing about my own navigation to widowhood after almost fifty years of marriage. I switched to blogging on another platform and now consider a once a month post the right pace to keep friends and family informed of what my new life is like, and how I observe and comment on the world around me these five years later. It is a certainly a mental/emotional health habit for me and I am so grateful to Rachel and others who also post from the heart of their lives to share with others. And I am grateful that we can do so from anywhere in the world. Keeps us sane and connected to other thoughtful people in the chaos of these tumultuous times.
You have reminded me of just how significant a personal blog can be, both for bloggers and their readers. For connection and healing as well as reflecting and discovering. I’m so glad you continued with the practice.
I simply like to blog! It normally keeps me writing. I’ve been out of commission the last few weeks, due to a fall, and not able to blog and I’ve missed it. Reading is my go to. I have to read every day-anything from news online to novels to nonfiction.
Knowing that you “simply like to blog” — and simply doing it: that’s perfect. I think of other instincts that get disguised or contorted, like hunger. Aren’t we lucky? To know you are hungry and to eat an amount of healthy food that satisfies — that seems simple, yet it’s impossible for millions.
Fabulous post, Rachel. I know just what you mean! Blogging is also one of my main happy places.
Yes, it’s one of mine too.
It is always a joy to stop by your place, Rachel. I love our conversations.
Thank you for your fun and gracious presence,Rebecca.
Wonderfully written, as usual, Rachel. I liked Peter’s comment that seeing a post is similar to saying hello to a friend. I am physically active most days, so the time I spend blogging is my “Me time” and a relaxing time with my blogging community. Writing for me helps with emotions of what’s going on in my life, a release.
Yet another insight into what we gain by blogging. “A release” is something of what I experience, too.
So refreshing to read your approach to blogging. I quite agree. Frequently life intervenes and its a question of time, energy and priorities. I’m emerging from a blogging slump, due to eyesight problems, and will be working on a few new posts between now and the end of December.
That’s a healthy approach to personal blogging. It’s different for business or professional blogs.
Ha, we are kindred souls, you and me Rachel. I have been slack with the blogging but the swimming is essential. I will admit to preferring mid winter when it is so cold outside that in the water feels warm… now that the weather is warmer, I find the cold dip colder… weird… but so good for re-calibrating the mind and body. xxx
That is indeed weird, yes . And I feel the same, a bit begrudging of the water’s right to warm up in spring 🙂 Then I just let myself love the water’s smell and feel and let the temperature be.
My life is changing – I’m still at the deciding point, how so – but I’ve a bit of a deadline, like must come with a “yes/no” decision early next week….then if it’s “no” then not much will change…”yes” on the other hand, massive change. Neither are life threatening…
Exciting times, then
Blogging and swimming – what great wisdom, Rachel. And I love your term, blog twitchy. So good! Grateful you like blogging too!
Thoughts on the fly often make sense when you write them down 🙂
I agree, the blogging is wonderful exercise for the mind. Through blogging I found sketching which is certainly the one that demands my daily attention. And so relaxing.