Blogging can really suck sometimes and I’m still new at it. There are many times when I think, “What am I doing? Why am I doing this? I could be doing some major online shopping right now.”

Today’s post, for instance, came about because, as I sat on the couch with my husband desperately waiting for inspiration, he suggested I write about what I dislike about blogging.

So, here you go (in case you care)–the top 5 things I hate about blogging:

1. Writing a post 5 days a week. No one said I had to write 5 days a week…no one except me. For some reason, I unwisely decided when I started blogging that I should write that much.

One of my blogging buddies explained to me that I did it backwards. I should have started writing 2 times a week and worked my way up. But noooo, not me, I decided to kill myself on a daily basis in my need to uphold some self-established mandate. It’s exhausting.

Of course, since I started incubating baby bean, I have written a bit less. I’ve been tired, emotional, brainless. And I’m okay with my recent decline in posts per week and hope you all are, too. It’s only temporary and soon I will return to my back-breaking 5 posts a week because, well, it makes me feel accomplished.

2. Social media. I know pretty much nothing about using social media. In fact, I didn’t even have a Twitter account until I started blogging and, even now, I’m unsure if I’m really doing it right. I even accidentally flagged my first-ever Twitter follower (another post for another time).

I find all of the possible social media avenues a little overwhelming and unnecessary. However, it seems that most bloggers are leveraging things like Twitter, Facebook, and StumbleUpon and, hey, I wanna be one of the cool kids. I have no shame in admitting it.

Yet, each day I stare at my Twitter profile, trying to think of something savvy, smart, Christian-y, and retweetable to say. Instead I tweet stuff like this. Oh well. I’m learning and, until then, I will continue to be a social media nerd (and not in the good way).

3. Constructive criticism. I don’t really like being corrected. I know that this is a pride issue and I will be the first to admit it. A humble person receives criticism well and knows that it will simply make them a better person for others.

I, on the other hand, am not so humble. I get all squirmy and avoid eye contact. I feel like a kid and someone is disciplining me. Rationally, I know that this isn’t true, but it still feels that way.

People mostly critique my grammar. Yes, as in commas, apostrophes, and ellipses. I try to be gracious and receive the advice, because, look, I’m not a professional writer and have much to learn. Other times people  tell me that something I’ve written is offensive or hurtful, which brings us to…

4. Ruffling feathers/hurting feelings. I don’t mind ruffling feathers, but I don’t like doing so at the expense of others’ feelings. However, it is bound to happen, whether I intend for it to or not. I apologize in advance for the times when I might inadvertently hurt your feelings. I have a knack for it, apparently.

5. Comparing myself to others. I try not to…I really do. Unfortunately, sometimes I will catch myself envying another blog that I find totally rad and super cool. Their content is killer. Their comments are in the hundreds. Their influence is staggering. Blah blah blah.

Then I remember when I gave my blog over to God. I ask His forgiveness and pray for satisfaction in what He is doing right now, in me, through this blog. I sigh and feel so much better.

Okay, so now you know what I dislike, at times, about blogging. Hopefully, this did not come off as grumbling, so much as explaining. Hopefully, it goes without saying that, despite what I dislike, there is so much more that I love about blogging, especially all of you (cheesy? Oh yes, but true). I love this gig. It’s really a love-hate relationship.

This is my side gig, though. Motherhood is still my day job. Without b*tching and moaning, what do you dislike about your day job or side gig? What would you change? And, if you are a blogger, do you empathize with any points on my list?

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