As recent weeks and months have passed, I’ve noticed that my energy for the various challenges I’m supposedly participating in has evaporated. Lots of reasons all converging: extra paid work that is taxing my time, much free time spent getting the winter’s wood in (still ongoing), feeling mentally down (variety of reasons but mostly relationship-oriented), and the fact that my garden is a bust this year, with only potatoes and chard doing well. I might end up with four or five winter squash total, perhaps four beets, two tomatoes, three jalapenos, one bell pepper. Time just got away from me and all of a sudden everyone else was harvesting, when I was still looking at seedlings. As for the blog challenges, they were generally sucking more energy from me in the guilt of all that I’m not doing, than they were enlivening me with the accomplishments I was doing.
And, I realized recently that there are some things — personal paperwork, housekeeping, reading list — that I really would rather be spending my time on at the moment.
So, I’m officially cancelling my participation in just about everything: Riot for Austerity, Independence Days Challenge, Growing Challenge, etc. I will of course still have a goal of moving forward with preparations and skills learned for the future, growing and cooking new things, etc. I just won’t be taking much time to report on it on a regular basis. Every now and then, yes — every week, no. And I’m sorry to say that I will probably stop reading many blogs too — my blogroll had gone from ten or fifteen blogs to several dozen on a reader that told me when a new post was made. I could easily pass the evening online just reading blogs. While I may still do that now and then, I’m going to try to wean myself from that in favor of time spent on my own projects — sorry, y’all, no offense I hope!
Hopefully this new direction will mean that I occasionally have something to say here other than an IDC report or whining about how tired I am!
August 25, 2008 at 12:50 am
It can seem like a bad thing when you’re overwhelmed. But this doesn’t have to be a part of the whelm. Set reasonable goals, leave yourself lots of wiggle room, and don’t burn this bridge, please. You’ll find you want to come back, so don’t shut the door all the way. And it doesn’t have to be a big time-consuming deal. It’s a way to touch, when you really need to, and a way for us to touch back, when we can. Best of luck, SueB!!
August 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I completely hear where you’re coming from, and there are times when I have to step back from the blog-o-sphere lest it overwhelm me. Like you, I could spend whole evenings (and whole mornings) sorting through the various blogs in my “favorites.” It gets to be too much :). Take time and enjoy – those blogs will likely still be here when/if you decide to check them out again ;).
August 27, 2008 at 5:20 am
I can relate to the Overwhelm. It does not make one feel as if accomplishments are being made even when they generally are ebing made. I think you are wise to know when to step back and regroup. The need to eliminate stress and fatigue are still paramount over any of these challenges. Good luck!
August 27, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, too, so I totally understand. When it comes to a choice between getting things done that must get done and participating in the blogosphere, guess which wins. We have to live with the consequences of doing or not doing our own work. Best wishes with your new focus!