I’ve been overwhelmed by information online here lately. I think I’ve told the story before of how I used to have lots of time for my online hobbies—message boards, blog reading, blog writing, Pinterest, social media, etc. Looking back, I don’t know how in the world I did it with a full-time job and home responsibilities. I sure can’t do it now, even though it would seem like I would have a lot more time now that I am home. I want to read all the blogs, write many blog posts, interact with my friends and family on social media, and listen to all the podcasts. But I can’t. It’s just too overwhelming for me now to try to keep up. For example, my feed reader would build up with over 200 blog posts daily. It suddenly felt like I was pressured to keep up, and I hate when I can’t finish something. Something had to give!
Blogging
This weekend, I will be trying to implement some blogging content calendar to keep me focused on what I want or feel I need to post. I think this will help me rather than sitting down each day and staring at a blank screen, wondering what I should blog about. Knowing in advance will keep me on track.
As for the blogs I read, I am drastically dwindling the number of blogs I read from my feed reader. I read a handful of blogs consistently, and those people also read mine. I look forward to their posts and love hearing from them! However, there were so many that I just needed to let go because I am in a different place in life now. For instance, I no longer work in education, so I don’t need to keep following those. I’m no longer into following people who retire as millionaires at 40. Stuff like that. I already don’t miss some of them, so this was a long overdue task!
Social Media
In all honestly, I’m so over social media. In the past, I claimed my blog social media accounts because I did a lot of sponsored posts and needed them for that purpose. I really don’t need them anymore. I like keeping up with friends and family on Facebook, but I’m also not a big fan of Facebook. What has helped me conserve my time on social media has been to hide and unfollow the people I wouldn’t normally interact with daily. It doesn’t mean I don’t care about them, and I will check in on them occasionally.
I’ve also been on a big mission to clean up my Pinterest account. I want to start using Pinterest with more intention. When I started blogging, many of us bloggers who did sponsored content would help out other bloggers by pinning their content. I’m no longer active in any of these blogging groups, and what I’m left with on Pinterest are a lot of random Pinterest boards with pins of recipes, life advice, and posts that don’t speak to me. I want to clean this all up. I have 11 years’ worth of pins to wade through. I’m off to a great start, though. By the way, I love checking out new people to follow, so feel free to follow me on Pinterest or drop your Pinterest link profile in the comments so I can follow you!
And Other Stuff
I also need to weed through podcasts I listen to, organize some files and pictures, and pare down bookmarks on my computer I no longer need or use. I have a lot to keep me busy. From now on, I will try to be much more intentional about the content I choose to engage in daily. That content also needs to be organized in such a way that I won’t feel overwhelmed by it and that I can access it with ease. I no longer want to be overwhelmed by information online. Do you struggle with this as well? If so, share your strategies with me in the comments. I’d love to hear how my readers deal with this.
Just blogging for me…yes, I do have FB but rarely do I post. I’ve been thinking of making changes as well. smiles
Great post, Mandy! I feel the same way about so many of the things you just said. All the platforms get to be too much sometime and every now and then I just unplug. I’ve never liked social media and until I had a blog I never even had a Facebook profile, now I’m everywhere and frankly it’s overwhelming. Thanks for the encouragement to go unfollow, clean up and clean out.
Yes, the being everywhere is so overwhelming for me.
Lots of wisdom here to recognize these things and to implement them. I think because there is so much out there, we do forget about things that were applicable for a season, but no longer. I have recently unsubscribed to a lot of podcasts because I found the topics weren’t just as relatable anymore. Thanks for sharing!
It’s so funny to go back and see how our interests change over time.
Hello! I applaud you, my friend. I was thinking the other day that I am so over scrolling through Instagram and the whole Influencer thing. I think that has run its course. I read blogs and enjoy my friendships here, perhaps because they are genuine. I am also constantly overwhelmed with the amount of information at our fingertips. Too much noise in my head! LOL. Have a cozy evening!
Yes, I am working on cleaning up my Instagram as well! I, too, am over the influencer thing. I don’t begrudge influencers, it’s just that it’s not something I’m interested in anymore. I’m not a fan of noise in my head, either! Haha!
I have stepped way back on Facebook too, I skim it, but that’s it. I find the blogs I follow have changed too. And yes, there is so much other stuff that can just suck your time away!
Yes, Mari, blogs have certainly changed. I know mine did. I want to get it back to where it started…just me writing about my daily adventures. Still enjoy yours, as always!
I’ve stepped back from so many things too, even my own blog. I still *want* to blog but it’s not the same these days and I’m not getting what I’d hoped out of it. I’m barely reading any other blogs. I don’t use Pinterest, don’t listen to podcasts. I’ve cleaned up my Facebook by dropping people I don’t talk to/don’t talk to me, and unfollowing almost everyone that’s left. I haven’t unfriended family because it does seem like the one central place to get ahold of them if need be, but in general no one shares anything interesting anymore. Instagram is where I spend too much time endlessly scrolling.
I’ve been watching that old show from the ’70s called Family. The first couple seasons are available on YouTube. Oh, what a simple, uncluttered time it was then! I’m old enough to remember growing up in the ’70s and early ’80s, and ohhhhh it would be so much nicer to be back in those times.
Good luck!
~Deb
Deb, even though I was just a child back then, it certainly seemed less complicated and people actually had “real” give and take friendships back then. I miss that. I don’t blame you one bit for cutting back on everything. Sometimes it’s just good for the soul.
It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by social media because there are so many platforms available. While I have accounts in various places, I only regularly check FB. That’s because that is the only place where I can get some family and neighborhood news. My email and photo files could certainly use a cleanup. And someday I will get to that. 🙂 Good luck with all of your plans.
That’s exactly what I want my Facebook to be now…just family and neighborhood news. And the file cleanup will never end for me, I’m afraid! Haha!!