Have a problem? Try blogging about it. Blogging is a great way to record your progress when trying to achieve long-term goals. And it can be applied to almost anything.
If you want to lose weight, you can write about new exercises and diets. If you want to write a book, you can use your blog to brainstorm different characters or plot-lines. And if you are recording an album, you can blog about song ideas or lyrics.
When I first started The Emotion Machine I wanted to learn more about mental health and living a meaningful life. Since then I’ve expanded my interests to aspects of creativity, productivity, and self-improvement. Whenever I submit a new post here, I feel like I’ve learned something new or gained a different perspective on how to live my life better.
This blog has helped me to become a better person.
In another blog I started, I write about political issues, economics, and current events. It’s a way for me to think more critically about the stories I so often read and listen to on the news. It helps keeps me sane, and (I believe) a lot smarter about the issues.
Just recently I started another blog. This time it was about online business. I use it to help me keep track of different methods for driving traffic, building relationships, and creating content that people find valuable. It’s something that has always interested me, and I’m glad I’ve finally created a blog to help me sort it all out in my head. It really does help.
Somewhere in the future, I would like to also create a blog about health (to motivate me to be healthier), a blog about calculus (I used to know it well in high school, but have since forgotten), and a blog about music (I’ve always been a huge fan, and I want to share all my favorite bands, artists, and songs).
A blog can be about any aspect of life: health, financial, educational, creative, social, or spiritual. The applications are endless, and you can create a site for virtually any niche.
The lesson here? Blogging has tremendous potential for anyone, and I don’t find enough people taking advantage of it.
Sure, there are zillions of people who have blogs. But I don’t think they are really blogging to the best of their ability. I want to stress the point that we should look at blogging as a tool for improvement. It’s a way to help us overcome obstacles and find solutions.
In the future, maybe psychologists will start recommending blogging to their clients to cope with issues. And more business executives recommending blogging to their coworkers to aid creative problem-solving.
What are some of the ways I can use a blog?
- Compile relevant research you find online.
- Record good ideas, brainstorms, and plans
- Keep track of progress with a current goal.
- Write about your feelings and opinions about a current issue or personal event.
- Share your work with a network of other bloggers and get their opinions.
What if I’m not a good writer?
So what? I’ve been writing for about a year and a half, and I’m still not a great writer. The only way you are going to get better is if you practice. Even if you never think you are that good, any writing is still better for your thinking, memory, and emotional well-being than no writing at all. If you are that embarrassed about your lack of writing finesse, just make your blog private. You’ll lose some of the social benefits, but you’ll still get the mental ones.
How can I stay dedicated to my blog?
I heard a recent statistic that 70% of bloggers stop blogging within the first 3 months. This is a problem we all have to face when trying to build new habits. Hopefully some of these tips will keep you committed to your blog:
- Write about a problem or passion that truly interests you.
- Make small goals like “I’ll write one post a week.”
- Build a community around your blog to hold you accountable.
Check out my list of 50 Ways To Stay Committed for more tips.
I think blogging is just not my thing.
Sure, then don’t do it. I’m definitely not saying that blogging is a cure for everyone’s problem. I just think there is potential worth looking into. If you have to force yourself to blog every month, and it feels like a chore, I would definitely recommend finding another hobby or brainstorming in ways you find more natural. Maybe you prefer working in a group setting or brainstorming during your morning jog? We all have different preferences to help get the mental and creative juices flowing.
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