3 Reasons to Start Blogging Again

The months roll by and before you know it it’s been forever since you last wrote a blog post. Whoops! It happens, life happens, and although you don’t dare admit it, you’ve lost that original ‘why’ power that drove you to start blogging in the first place.

I found myself in that boat recently. I’m now a mother to two toddlers, personal time is often scarce, and although I’ve had plenty of blog ideas drifting in and out of my head, my motivation to actually craft blog posts and publish them was dwindling. The problem was, in order to consistently write blogs, you need to be conscious of why you’re doing it, and how it’s benefiting you as the writer, because it isn’t just about serving the reader. This is where I’d definitely lost my way a little.

I had begun to second guess it all. I’d started to question whether I was just merely over-sharing, and maybe just publicising things that should have remained in some kind of personal journal or diary. I’ve shared thoughts on big topics but I, like anyone else, have ever evolving opinions and ideas .. so what happens if I find myself pivoting a little on those opinions or worse, doing a 180 shift on my views? The embarrassment of contradicting previous posts? Plus what’s the point in it all if only a handful of individuals read your blog anyway?

A personal pep talk was clearly needed. After a little research and reflection I’ve since clarified a few things and found that these worries aren’t unique to myself. I’ve definitely re-established my why now and want to share these three top reasons to get back into blogging.

To express yourself, connect and inspire

Maybe it’s safer to live life as a closed book, but openly sharing your story, your ideas and your opinions, allows you to connect with other humans and make an impact, however small scale. You’ll hopefully reach likeminded people and maybe inspire them. Maybe you’ll reach not so like minded people, and perhaps that’s also important. Your words could resonate with someone who lives a rather contrasting life with different views. There isn’t always the right opportunity for deep conversation with people out there in the physical world but sharing our worldview through thoughtful blogging can bridge that gap and create connections and make changes.

We all have something to say, and not many people have a close circle of friends sharing all of our interests. Maybe you’re obsessed with Guinea pigs, Train spotting, .. or Veganism, and your friends and family just aren’t on your wavelength! Having a platform to express and waffle on about our passions definitely offers a little personal fulfilment too. I wouldn’t say it’s oversharing as you the blogger have full control over what is shared and anything too personal can easily be left out.

Maybe your opinions will change, but we are all human. Nobody has their settings programmed to stay the same their entire lives. Being honest will make you relatable, and change isn’t always a bad thing.

You’re creating rather than consuming

In a world where it’s so easy to scroll and mindlessly consume, choose to create. The easy option we take during our free-time is often opting to consume TV, videos, media of some kind, which is fine sometimes, but choosing to create gives so much more long-term gratification. Getting over that first hurdle is the hardest bit, consciously deciding to put something out, rather than take something in.

But the best thing happens once you get those creative juices flowing again, you start developing skills! Crafting a blog is a multifaceted task requiring various skills. You will improve your vocabulary, creative photography, creative writing, designing, editing, it’s all developing your personal skill set.

Many of us have busy lives, I can speak from my experience as a mum. For stay at home mums in particular, I definitely think blogging is something that is easily accessible and when prioritised it’s an easy way to create and help us feel like we are making an impact on the outside world. Not just living solely in our little bubbles.

Blogging doesn’t require you to create a work of art and it definitely doesn’t have to be perfect. The blogging practice keeps you in a more creative and observant mindset, you’re thinking about the world more and things that are important to you. I find that I use my brain more in a healthy way, and it 100% feels more productive than flicking through apps in an evening constantly consuming.

Some amateur wildlife photography taken a few years ago on my phone

Theres just something about bees, I love trying to photograph them

Gain knowledge

You might think you need to be an expert on something to blog on it but for me, it’s the act of explaining things through blogging which help me gain knowledge. Creating the blog, researching and writing about topics helps new facts become learned and solidified.

The starting line with blogging will involve a topic of interest and you’ll be familiar with it and informed to an extent. You’ll have something you want to share. But as you delve and start taking notes, each writing journey offers a unique learning project of its own, becoming a little study unit, and by the finish line you’ve always acquired new knowledge. Even if it’s a small blog post and by the end you can say ‘hey, I learned something new’, that’s fantastic.

Maybe you’ve made more of a lifestyle type blog post, just chatting about a recent experience, you’ll still be able to say you’ve learned something new about your self. And that’s just as valuable. I really enjoy the way that blogging enables an organic form of learning to take place. You start with something of personal interest and through exploring your own thoughts and experiences, reflecting and pursuing research along the way, fact checking, you’re able to develop your own sphere of knowledge in a way that doesn’t feel forced. The act of writing and configuring your posts within your own words definitely helps those facts stick too.

A few quotes on seeking knowledge that continue to inspire me:

“Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise” Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) Sahih Muslim 2699

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) Sunan Ibn Majah 224

Hopefully these reasons can help someone else get back into writing and will serve as a reminder to myself. God willing, more blog posts to come!

Peace be upon you,

An English Muslim Homemaker