Tuesday, September 14, 2010

How do you do it?

How does everyone (who has a blog and reads blogs) keep up with it all?


I find I'm always so behind at keeping up with all the blogs I like to read. In a perfect world I'd love to read and comment on about 45 blogs a day, but that's just not possible. Do I cull the list? But then I might miss something brilliant. Do I just read and not comment? But then how do they know I'm still reading.

I've already cut down on the number of comments I reply to.

What do you do?


I know a couple of people who's blogs I read have had this issue in the past and I've read about it but I'm not sure how they sorted it all out so thought I'd ask for myself.


In between keeping up with all these great blogs, I have a family that needs attention and a house to keep spotless tidy liveable (my standards have dropped somewhat after having children), Etsy and madeit shops to attend to and hobbies I'd like to do.


Any tips?

15 comments:

june at noon said...

It's a tough one. I do try to keep my feed reader limited to the blogs I really, really enjoy so I don't use up time on things I'm not that excited about anyway. That means I do miss cool things sometimes, though.

Also, if I just don't have time for it all, I try to comment here and there on each blog, but not every time. That way they know I'm still around and reading but I don't feel obligated to comment on every single post.

And sometimes I just don't get to the reading or commenting and pop back in another week when I have more time. Or sometimes I make nothing for the shop (for months, as of late!). Or I read posts on my phone in stolen moments and then am able to write my comments more quickly later when I have computer time. Or, or ... the list goes on.

Sometimes it gets squeezed in, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes that bothers me, sometimes it doesn't. Finding balance is hard, and I think it's a process. Let me know if you ever figure it out! :)

Sue said...

I try and become a follower of fave blogs so that way when I have a few spare moments I can sit down and read them. I dont always comment on every blog post but I do try and do a comment every now and then so they know I am still there reading along! It does get hard when your children are small but once they start school I guess you have allocate yourself a time to do it. I try and do mine after housework in the mornings and before the kids come home from school, otherwise I wait until late at night when they are asleep.

Kate said...

Its such a tough one!
I have come to realise that at times I am hopeless at commenting and I hardly ever reply. When I struggled with this issue a few months back someone suggested blogging with no obligation. You do what you want when you want however it works for you. It is meant to be fun after all.

Cotton Kiwi said...

It's a tough one. I tend to scan through the titles of the blogs I follow and only read the posts that look like they would most appeal to me (and I often come back to the ones I miss later). I've started grabbing every spare minute to do things around the house too. I always double up on my cooking which saves a whole heap of time and I'm TRYING to get the kids to do things like put away their own clothes. I think you just have to prioritise. And as Kate said, it's meant to be fun so if you don't have the time, don't feel the pressure. I never get offended if people don't leave a comment or don't respond to my comments.

emma @ frog, goose and bear said...

Yeah, it's a tough one. So many of us are in the same boat. I tend to feel like Kate. Don't the pressure on yourself. Read, comment and post when you can, don't when you can't. Keep it fun - none of us need any more pressure in our lives!

Cathie said...

i agree with the other girls. i read my bloglist through google reader so i am upto date with peoples news yet it's very hard to comment everytime. I try to comment on posts that i feel like & also try to comment every so often to let people know I am around.
honestly when it becomes too much like hard work then you need to take a break.
your family always takes priority!
goodluck with it all, just know you are not alone! x

willywagtail said...

Blogging and commenting shouldn't be obligatory. Nor should replying to every comment you receive otherwise it becomes the same as formal morning teas - all the funn has gone out of it.I personally use the blog links on my home page where I can see the first picture and also the title. Makes it easy to scan for the ones that will interest you and others can be kept up to date with the occasional quick perusal. When I have had my fill of a blog (usually just picture ones) it eventually gets removed from my list -but not often. I also cheat and use CurlyPops list because I like her taste, so I have two orders of priorities and haven't had to type in the second list. Cherrie

CurlyPops said...

I can't bear to delete any blogs from my google reader (it's somewhere around 360 at the moment).
I do try to read them all each day, but some days I just don't have time to leave comments, and that's ok. I'm sure we all know that everyone has busy lives, and other things take priority.
I also don't have a family to take care of so I have more free time than most people.

Chantal said...

This might be a little cut-throat but try setting yourself a set time limit when you sit down to read your favourite blogs. Literally set a timer if need be. 20 mins?! 30 mins?! I've noticed if I don't do this then I spend more time each day reading and commenting than I do creating - which is not my aim! When the timer goes off - hit the mark as read button. Start again next day. I figure their has to be some level of rotation whereby I'm not always deleting or commenting on the same people. Of course its all early days yet for me... I'm not saying its a guaranteed solution. Oh.. and I always visit anyone who's commented on my blog first!

Baa-Me Kniits said...

I am lucky as I don't watch TV and I get to sit at the kitchen table while hubby is in the lounge (its really one big room) and he channel surfs while i blog and knit/crochet. I wait till the boys are in bed asleep and then its my time. Some nights I am up way too late I must say though.

The more I read the more blogs I find to follow and so it becomes a circle doesn't it! I go with the guilt free blogging and comment when I can and don't when I can't. I usually catch up with my reading on the weekends but not always.

I think if you comment occasionally on the blogs you like people will not think you are not reading.

PS If you find a miracle answer be sure to share it with us :-)

Baa-Me Kniits said...

Oh yes, Love the Docs!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

For me it's part of my fun time. I've been there, running small business with 4 children at my sewing machine pedals, but blogs weren't hip back then. Now they are all at school my time is consumed with supervising homework. It's never ending & right now i can't balance time for the gym. For me, throw in a husband who has been away all year, i just find time for everything but still make sure i sleep well. Love Posie

dash robin said...

While I am aware I can be anxious and sensitive about some things I am a fairly laid back comment giver and reciever. I write my blog to keep a record for myself, for interstate family and friends and to share and recieve inspiration. I don't have an expectation of getting comments so each thoughtful comment is a really lovely surprise. Maybe blogs are a good environment to practice being gentle on ourselves with how we communicate and how to set ourselves some kind of self caring limits on what we expect of ourselves?

randi said...

i am always trying to find the balance too! as far as blogs are concerned, i try to comment about once per week. that's not much, but it keeps me feeling a part of things. i also use facebook and twitter so i spend a bit of time there each day too. one idea is to set a timer and stop when it rings. you will learn to read blogs really fast! :)

MooBear Designs said...

Awww hun!! It's a little crazy isn't it. I tend to skim blogs. So the list I have on my side bar are the blogs I follow regularly so I call into the blogs that look interesting on that day, usually I go by the photo. When I comment it is usually a personal one which has some thought. So i may not comment on one day but I will include it in the next post.. Does that make sence. In the end it's like a quick coffee with a friend, you listen to them and say a little something but it may not be necessary... Btw app you are not on my crafty blog roll list... Lol... Hmmm.

Xo Steph