Three Takeaways from my First Month of Blogging

After a month of working on blogging and writing, I feel good about the progress I’ve made so far, primarily in my ability to write about my past and my focus for the year. However, with any new habit, I have faced some challenges after a few weeks. In the past, a task this significant might have been abandoned, but I’ve learned early lessons that will continue to motivate me in this journey. I have outlined three takeaways from my first month of blogging and how I plan to apply them in February and the rest of 2024.

1. Make Time

When I started this blog on December 31st, it was new and exciting. As I envisioned its potential, I devoted a tremendous amount of time to writing my initial posts and setting up my new website. However, I didn't anticipate the need to adjust my plan to maintain a successful path. After a couple of weeks, I fell out of my newly formed habit due to job demands and falling ill for a few days. Upon reflection, I realized the importance of setting boundaries and realistic goals for my writing. Though not a professional writer, I aim for my writing to be easily digestible and concise for readers. Getting back into this habit has required research into best practices and time management. I have set a clear goal to create posts and content on my days off as I see fit, with at least one new post every Wednesday. I find that it takes a couple of days of proofreading and formatting to create something I am happy with. Part of this process requires the next takeaway, which is essential in everyday life.

2. Have A Plan

Having a plan may sound like a no-brainer, but plans are often not well-thought-out or lack contingencies. In my professional career, the day-to-day procedures may be similar, but unexpected twists always occur. Our success depends on how well we've planned the day. I believe I efficiently execute plans at work but did not apply the same logic to starting my blog. I found that my initial posts were repetitive and did not convey a concise, uniform point. After a month, I reviewed my process and clarified the 'Why Not Try' mentality as the main point of this blog. The categories in which I write and focus on will become more rigid. I will focus on writing one post a week and, as I develop my skills, will increase the frequency. Lastly, I find the next skill to be a continuous battle but enjoy the challenge of being mindful about it.

3. Stay Organized

Staying organized has always been key to my success. When organized, I understand the time commitment and have a plan to execute my goals. Organization keeps me accountable to the actions I've dedicated myself to. Without it, I feel easily distracted and can dive into a rabbit hole of useless information. This happens to everyone, but I think organization is key to bringing oneself back to the main task at hand. Regarding my blog, I recently started a content management document that includes the posts I've written along with scheduled writing tasks. This has significantly helped me see the whole picture of my blog and organize my posts into different categories. I also use an outline for new posts to jot down all the information I think is important. This organization has laid a foundation in my writing that I feel will improve its overall readability and consistency.

When I decided to write this post, I wanted to share three important areas that have helped me improve my quality and consistency in blogging. Now that I've shared these takeaways, I want to outline how I will measure success in the next month. Expect a post every week on Wednesday as I attempt to keep my plan organized. Content will focus on my new ventures in home cooking along with a look at my health and wellness routine started in 2024. I find the mantra 'Why Not Try' doesn't have to involve enormous undertakings every month but more the willingness to be aware of myself and what I am focusing my time and energy on. What new ventures have you found yourself passionate about early on that have fizzled out after a few weeks, and how can you get back to it?