How To Avoid Blogging Burnout

We’ve all been there. You’ve haven’t written a post in three weeks, you’ve been staring at your computer for more than an hour and you still can’t piece together two sentences.

I hate to say it, but you’ve got a bad case of blogger burnout, an ailment more terrifying than a third-degree sunburn.

Fortunately for you, I’ve got just the medicine you need.

Take a Break

You heard me. Turn off your computer and walk away. Go for a stroll (or run, if you’re feeling ambitious), paint your nails or catch up on your DVR. Forcing yourself to write something will only result in low-quality content, which can be even worse than not writing anything at all.

You can also start working on another task that needs your attention, such as catching up on your blog’s comments or compiling your monthly analytics report. Give yourself time to clear your head. Removing the pressure to write can do wonders.

Create an Editorial Calendar

I know what you’re thinking. “Ha. That’s funny. I can’t get inspired to come up with a single blog post, so you want me to brainstorm 15?”

I promise, I’m not being mean. Creating an editorial calendar requires a lot of research. Get on social media. Read a magazine. Look through your blogs. What topics haven’t you covered yet? Is there a big event or holiday coming up? If so, how can you tie your posts to it?

Often researching will inspire you to think of new topics, or to think of something common in a new way.

Consider Alternative Types of Content

Sometimes burnout happens simply because you’ve written too much in a short amount of time. If this is the case, think of different types of high-quality content you can produce that require minimal writing. Consider repurposing content you’ve already written or creating visual content.

Create a Schedule

Giving yourself an allotted amount of time to write each day or week will keep you from feeling like you should spend your free time at your computer. Pencil in time to write on your calendar, just as you would a meeting or doctor appointment. Working on a post a little at a time can feel unproductive, but you’ll actually accomplish more than you realize.

Understand Why You Get Burned Out

Finally, it’s important to realize what triggers your burnout. Are you juggling 13 other responsibilities or dealing with a major project at work? Do you function better at a certain time of day? Do you get distracted when doing your research?

If you know what causes you to shut down, you can come up with solutions to resolve the problem. It could be something as simple as waking up early to write before the day’s tasks distract you.

Don’t let blogging burnout stop you from producing high-quality content. Follow these five easy steps and you’ll have something fresh to post on your blog regularly.

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