There are many times that bloggers may feel overwhelmed in areas of life that aren’t even blogging related. I feel that no matter how much time you are currently spending blogging, you should always try to keep blogging in balance with other areas of life. If you don’t already know…: too much of any one activity can wreck havoc across other key areas of life. If you are a full-time blogger, how much time do you spend on the internet and blogging? No matter how much time you’ve spent blogging, how much time you plan to spend on blogging in the future, or how passionate you are about blogging, you need to be honest with yourself: Is blogging causing other areas of your life to suffer? I feel that it is important to spend quality time to write a new blog entry and market your blog, (especially if you are passionate about blogging), but you should always try to keep blogging in perspective with other areas of L-I-F-E ! If you haven’t already, I recommend reading my article: Blogging Productivity: Writing Concentrated Articles to help you learn how to maximize your blog writing quality, while minimizing time spent writing. Below, I’ve evaluated several areas of everyone’s life and compared them to blogging.

Blogging Vs. Friends

If you are currently a blogaholic without friends, do yourself a favor: buy a Louisville Slugger (preferably big-barrel) baseball bat and swing it hard through your computer monitor. As a matter of fact, that may not quite be extreme enough: get a chainsaw and cut up that hard drive. (Just a couple of jokes…) Listen, I’m not a personal development guru, but I can fairly say that it isn’t healthy to be spending time blogging when you haven’t established any good social relationships… Go out! Do something with your life! Getting a few Entrecards dropped in your “E-slot” does not count… It is important to keep blogging time in balance with friendships. I recently read an interesting interview conducted by Alan Johnson with SEO book author Aaron Wall. He was asked the following question:

What sacrifices did you make in order to become what you are today?
I had no social life for years. I even lived in a mobile home and sat on an $8 folding chair for a few years so I would have virtually no living costs off the start. I have let my physical health slide. Got it back. Got fat again. And am sorting that out now.

In no way am I saying Aaron wall screwed up — he’s a very successful man — but he did create fairly large problems in the “non-blogging” areas of his life: (“A decline in social activity and his physical health “slide”). His internet achievements are phenomenal, but he could have reached those same achievements AND taken time to be with friends or get a good workout. Being able to balance blogging with life is a personal commitment that is important to keeping yourself healthy and the rest of your life fun. This brings me to another match-up:

Blogging Vs. Exercise

Do you sit on your computer chair “blogging” your life away when you know you should probably take a break to go exercise? If you answered “yes,” WHY? …”I guess I’m just naturally lazy…” Anyone will become lazy if they spend the majority of their day sitting in front of a computer screen [”blogging their life away”] without getting any physical exercise. Don’t make the excuse “well, I just don’t have time…” That is straight up bologna and you know it! Everyone has 24 hours a day to do whatever they want. Don’t tell yourself that you don’t have time because you can very well make time if you want. And I’ll be the first to admit that once I get into a blogging rhythm, it can be very hard to get my butt up off the computer chair! A good strategy that I’ve used is: wake up a little bit earlier, throw on the running shoes, and go for at least a 15 minute jog [every day, before I start my day]. Chances are this 15 minutes of exercise each morning will increase the blood flow to your brain and your heart rhythm back from flat-lining. I’ve found that this little bit of exercise gives me much more energy to write a blog entry and actually boosts my concentration while writing. Though a little bit of finger exercising (i.e. typing & clicking) never hurts (unless you’ve got carpal tunnel syndrome), it is imperative to your body’s overall health that you get some physical exercise. Not only is physical exercise good for you, but proper diet definitely helps. Which brings me to my next match-up:

Blogging Vs. Diet

Has your diet taken a toll because of relentless blogging? I don’t have anything against you dollar menunaires (McHardeesKing eaters) out there, but be honest with yourself about eating healthy. You’ve taken way too extreme of measures if you are skipping meals or eating junk food in place of meals due to blogging. It doesn’t matter how many supplements you currently take if you aren’t eating properly. I always take the time to prepare a healthy meal and make an effort not to allow blogging influence my eating habits. Get to the grocery store, pick up some healthy ingredients and cook yourself a nice, hearty meal. (Watching the food channel doesn’t count!) Eating healthy has been proven to maximize brain function and improve overall physical health.

Blogging Vs. Life

Basically, what I’m saying is that it would help if you were honest with yourself. Sure you can be passionate about something like blogging, but it shouldn’t cause other areas of your life to suffer. Keep your friendships, eat healthy, get that exercise! I wrote this article give all hardcore bloggers, [who just aren’t getting much out of life other than profits from their blog], a big “WAKE UP CALL!” Think about it, if you are blogging to make money and allowing other areas of your life to suffer — you are not in control of your life. If you aren’t already, start taking control and learn to balance your passion for blogging with L-I-F-E !

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