How has blogging changed over the years

How has blogging changed over the years

I’ve been having a bit of writer’s block lately, although I’m not sure I can even say that as I don’t consider myself a writer. More just a spiller of unorganized thoughts and an over-sharer of pictures. It’s around this time of year I first set up my blog ten years ago. It’s CRAZY to see how much the industry has changed in this time. I mean ten years ago it felt like there was no one in the UK blogging. Instagram hadn’t been invented, I assumed YouTube was just for funny goofy videos or music and the only bloggers I knew of were American craft ones.

Blogging for sure felt like a geeky thing to do, one for the introverts like me who make friends more easily than via the internet than being a social butterfly in real life. It also felt like a world I could dip into in small doses. Commenting on some of my favorites such as Elsie’s ‘A Beautiful Mess’ and feeling like part of a very small community within a big world. Watching Naomi and Josh as they announced their first pregnancy and were still ‘The Rockstar Diaries’ or seeing the amazing crafts that Skunkboy Creatures would create.

I’m so thankful that in many ways I was in the ‘right place at the right time’ in terms of starting out in this online space but it also makes me a little nostalgic for what ‘once was’ and how I feel about the platforms as they are now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic and grateful always that being on here (and Instagram) means I get to stay home with my kids, that it leads to opportunities that would have never had felt possible to us.. but there are times that I guess like a dinosaur in this business I look back and remember ‘the good old days’.

I guess for me I feel like my niche is probably my longevity in this area. For that, I have anyone one of you reading to thank. For you that have followed our life over here from buying our first home, having our first child, getting married and then having another child and moving again! It feels like I’ve been able to record some pretty big life moments on this corner of the internet and a lot of everyday mundane ones in between.

Something I think I’ve felt a big switch in lately is just how all-consuming being online can be.  I think a game changer for me was the creation of Instagram Stories. Until then posting a picture on Instagram or a blog post over here felt like it could be a clear separation from my life outside of the online world. With the integration of stories, I definitely feel the pressure of being ‘on’ a lot more and I’ve found it harder in terms of how much of myself I’m giving and sharing. As an introvert, it feels quite far away from the detachment of writing posts here or posting a single image to Instagram and then going about your day. It’s an area I’m finding I need to have more balance in, even watching other people’s stories can affect my mental health that day. Sometimes it feels like too much information to take in on top of living my own life if that makes any sense! Like too much stimulation you know?

Honestly, this post is very much a ramble..

When I sit down and think about it all, I’m still happy to be here and to navigate this space in a way that I feel ok about and my family feels ok about. Whether thats how much I’m sharing of the children or our lives and feelings in general. I’m grateful I created this space outside of having children (I was blogging for a couple of years before my pregnancy with Wilf) and whilst I was in the all-consuming first years of being a new mum that’s where the focus lay. Now I’m emerging from the baby and preschooler stage of my life I can see my life and interests changing a bit too. Mabli will start school in September and a couple of months ago I started an Interior Design Diploma which I’m really excited about. Looking into the best internet providers near me has helped a lot, as it keeps me connected without experiencing delays (aka I can maximise my time).

I think there will always be a part of me that will want to record our lives in some form but I do wonder if I’ll be doing this at 40 or 50 or even if the life of a Grandma will be interesting (haha can’t wait for that, hoping it will mostly be cruises ;))

For now though I’m not going anywhere! I’m interested to see where the online world will be headed in the next few years (don’t even get me started on trying to figure out Tik Tok) I’m glad I still have this blog to write my thoughts onto even if it feels like writing snail mail nowadays. I’m so grateful for all of you reading this and your support over almost a decade!

Have you felt a shift in the online world lately? I’d love to know if you are a long-time reader or a new one too!

P.S these pics were taken as part of ‘modeling’ for my friend’s lovely ethical brand Give Wear Love and taken by my other pal Lauren.  I’ve since bought the long black dress and it’s honestly SO comfy.