Blogging has been a huge part of my life for years. I started this online space in 2019 to connect with others struggling with chronic illness. Since then, my blog has evolved into a space supporting women entrepreneurs with their content and SEO.
But, life took a turn and after a lot of reflection, I decided to quit blogging in 2024. Have you found yourself feeling similarly lately?
If you’re considering quitting blogging this year, you’re not alone. My journey might help you decide whether to leave your blog behind. Keep reading to find out why I quit blogging this year, if I miss blogging, and what’s next for mikaylataylor.com!
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Understanding the Motivation Behind My Decision
If you’ve blogged for a while and stopped, it likely didn’t happen overnight. For many bloggers, it happens gradually — one delayed blog post at a time. I know I can relate to that!
For me, it was a combination of personal health and the overwhelming nature of trying to run a blog while navigating my health challenges. Both before and after my hysterectomy, I realized that my well-being had to come first, and it was time to quit blogging to focus on recovery.
But it wasn’t just health. I was also thinking about quitting blogging because of the constant pressure. Churning out content on a schedule, working on SEO, honestly took the fun out of something I once loved. My joy for blogging and writing was replaced with stress. And with surgery, my goal was to avoid stress at all costs. This meant avoiding blogging.
If you’re a blogger and teeter-tottering between quitting or not, ask yourself: are you still passionate about your content?
If it’s becoming more of a burden to keep blogging and share more most, consider quitting (or a change of direction, at least).
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The Struggles Every Blogger Faces
Bloggers face many challenges in growing a blog, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed – especially when your blogging efforts don’t yield immediate results and you’re eager to monetize. You may be juggling multiple platforms — Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, maintaining an email list, AND a blog. It’s a lot to keep up with! Too much, to be honest.
In 2024, I’ve slimmed down where I share content to Pinterest, email, and my blog. Even that I’ve slacked tremendously! From the outside looking in, maybe it looks easy to maintain a blog. But the reality is, that bloggers thinking of quitting face common struggles:
Burnout
The content hamster wheel can wear you down, especially if you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to grow your blog. Many of us are moms, running a business, and working a full-time job. Blogging was a fun hobby at first, but now the burnout may have you wanting to throw in the towel.
Unrealistic Expectations
Remember what I just mentioned about unnecessary pressure? That goes hand in hand with unrealistic expectations. You may be holding yourself to an arbitrary timeline to learn the ins and outs of search engine optimization, post consistently on Instagram, and find your people in this busy online world. You may have dreams of hitting big bucks overnight, but blogging takes a lot of time and effort. Those financial rewards don’t come easily! If you’ve been blogging for 6 months without seeing results, recognize it may take many more months or years for you to see the impact of your work. If you’re blogging without the passion behind it, then it may be time to pivot to a different topic you enjoy blogging about — a topic you can blog about for the long haul!
If you’re feeling any of these, it might be time to quit your blog, or at least take a break from your blogging journey. After all, life (and blogging) is a marathon, not a sprint. I can testify that taking a break from working on your blog for the sake of your health is worth it!
Exploring the Impact of Blogging on Mental Health
When I first started blogging, I never imagined how much it would affect my mental health. Like many bloggers, I found myself overwhelmed by the constant need to create fresh content and keep up with audience expectations. If you’ve ever felt like quitting your blog or you’re thinking of quitting, know that these feelings are normal. It’s easy to get caught up in comparison, especially with the rise of successful bloggers who seem to have it all figured out.
For me, quitting blogging wasn’t a conscious decision—it was more of a passive choice. After my surgery, I simply stopped working on my blog to focus on my physical and mental health. At the time, I wasn’t sure if I would ever return to it. Over time though, I realized that stepping away gave me the space I needed to heal and reflect on why I started my blog in the first place. I do miss blogging and the community it has provided me over the years. It’s been a space where I’ve connected with so many other women – moms, endo warriors, business owners, bloggers, and overall awesome humans!
If you’re feeling mentally drained or if the joy has faded, it’s okay to pause. A lot of bloggers go through periods where they need to take a break from writing, and that’s not a failure—it’s part of the journey.
Is It Time to Quit Your Blog?
After some time away, I realized that my blog was still alive, thanks to the power of search engine optimization (SEO). My previous efforts in SEO and affiliate marketing allowed my blog to continue bringing in traffic even when I wasn’t actively writing. I even hit a record number of clicks (for me) in June, after not blogging for a few months.
If you’re considering a break or feel like you want to quit blogging, know that the work you’ve already put in can keep things afloat for you!
You may be like me, thinking of quitting blogging not because you want to, but maybe cause life has forced you to prioritize other things. And yet, with tools like SEO, your blog can still thrive. You don’t have to constantly publish new blog posts for your blog traffic to keep flowing. Even if you stop blogging, your affiliate links and digital products on your previous posts can continue to generate income. You have to let your blog work for you! As a mom running an online business, that is truly the magic of blogging.
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Reflecting on the Journey
Quitting wasn’t the conscious choice I made; it was more about focusing on my health and letting things fall into place. But stepping away gave me the space to reflect, and now I’m ready to jump back in. If you’re thinking of quitting blogging, give yourself grace. Sometimes, a pause is exactly what you need.
Now though, I’m back, and I’m ready to find the joy in blogging again.
If you’ve been feeling like it’s time to quit your blog or you’ve been thinking about quitting, consider joining me in my Blogtober Challenge. It’s the perfect way to reignite your passion for writing, even if you’re unsure about the future of your blog. I can’t wait to start this next step of my journey with you!
Want my support with your website right now? Here’s how I can help:
- Organize your SEO journey with the Search Engine Success Website Planner
- Learn SEO basics in easy-to-follow modules inside the Search Engine Success Mini-Course
- Outsource your SEO keyword research and strategy with an SEO VIP Day
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