That's awesome, but what do I do now?
In January 2020, I made myself several New Year's resolutions for the heck of it. I didn't think I'd complete any, since I don't normally make resolutions. However, I just completed my resolution to give blogging a try for six months. Woo-hoo! But should I attempt one of the other resolutions before the year ends?
Why I Made Resolutions This Year
Before 2020, I never made New Year's resolutions. It wasn't something my parents did or encouraged.
I knew resolutions were goals a person made for themselves to complete before the year's end. I made myself goals whenever I decided I wanted to achieve something. I never restricted my goal making at the start of a new year.
For example, in July 2019, I randomly made myself a goal to apply some creative BuJo design elements in my journal/diary to make a habit of utilizing it daily. Each month, I devoted pages to a calendar overview, highlights, trackers, and mood. I also devoted a page unique to that month that I didn't use in other months' designs.
For my January 2020 journal design, I decided to devote a unique page to resolutions for the heck of it. I wasn't blogging and didn't have my YouTube channel at the time, so I did this just to entertain myself. To fill-in empty space of the page, I noted six resolutions instead of the traditional single resolution I've heard people make.
The resolutions I wrote were things I found interesting at the time. Last winter, I read many articles and watched videos on blogging, self-publishing, starting an Etsy shop, and other topics of interest. I researched things I never thought I'd attempt myself.
However, blogging was something that piqued my interest twelve years ago when a colleague told me about the blog she created to entertain herself. She treated her blog as a public love letter to her boyfriend at the time. Hopefully, they're still together, deep in love, with many fur-babies running around their house.
She didn't care about the number of followers she gained, how many views her posts received, or possibilities for making money from her blog. She wanted to publicly and creatively describe her love for (and apparent obsession with) her boyfriend. She made it public in case someone would find interest in what she wrote.
I've spoken with many who started and eventually quit blogging because they didn't have any site visitors or post views. Everything I learned during my research over the years, including earlier this year when I continued researching about blogging, suggests you need a niche to get anyone interested in your blog.
As I noted in My 1st Blog Post, I just wanted to "start a blog and give it a try at least six months." It took me a few months to gain the courage to finally do it. A few days ago, I reached the six month point and completed this resolution I was hesitant to start!
Is This the End of My Blog?
I'd be lying if I said I filled with excitement when I completed this resolution. In fact, I was shocked that I completed blogging considering my introverted and private nature. I didn't think I'd complete any resolution I made, so I'm pleased I tried doing something outside my comfort zone.
There were times within the past couple months when I thought about quitting, or at least cutting down on the number of posts I upload each week. These thoughts normally surfaced when I'd notice nobody's visited my site or viewed my posts. The thoughts also surfaced when I felt I shared too much of my personality, fears, or opinions in a post.
I see why many I've spoken with in my past quit their blogs. I imagine it was discouraging for them to spend so much time composing their well thought out stories and knowledge into a post only to have few or nobody read what they had to say. My site only has one or two visits every now and then. I'm sure the visitors are myself when I do a QA on my site and maybe one of my friends who's showing their support of my newer hobby.
However, I share the mindset as my previous colleague who created a blog to post public love letters to her boyfriend. I'm blogging to entertain myself and maybe someone (apparently my friends and a few from YouTube) would find interest in what I wrote.
Writing blog posts doesn't take time away from my day. If I didn't blog, I'd still devote as much time to writing in my physical journal. Typing for a few hours doesn't hurt my wrist the way writing on paper for hours does. I started appreciating this public method of journal writing.
I'll still write my more private or sensitive thoughts on topics in my physical journal, but I'm becoming more comfortable sharing my stories publicly online. Writing posts about my past experiences or thoughts were stress relieving for me. This was especially the case when I wrote about Worst Case Scenarios.
I never spoke about that car accident with anyone other than the personnel on scene and the guy who informed me that my car was totaled. I couldn't talk to my Mom about it without her crying. It felt good to share that story and 'let it go' after sixteen years. Writing that post was a great choice as it made it easier for me to handle the unfortunate events that occurred that week and in the weeks that followed.
No, this isn't the end of my blog.
As of now, I have no intention of quitting my blog or cutting down on the number of weekly posts. I still plan to post on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'll continue posting on arts and crafts projects, but I'll probably post about more random things that interest me since I find it fun to do so. After all, this is a personal blog that doesn't limit itself to a niche, which is likely why not many people check-out the site.
I realized hardly anyone visits my site or view my posts. I don't expect to gain many followers or subscribers, although I welcome anyone who's interested in my posts. But again, like my previous colleague, I'm blogging for my own self-entertainment at this point. With that mindset, I don't see myself quitting this blog anytime soon. I only hope that anyone who visits my site finds some entertainment in reading what I chose to share.
What About the Other Resolutions?
Last week I wondered if I should pursue another resolution. Then I realized I completed a second resolution and almost finished with a third.
When I created a few mini watercolor paintings last week, I completed my resolution to "create an original artwork and sculpture." I created a polymer clay mini sliced bread sculpture in February, and I considered the lighthouse painting I made last week an original artwork since I didn't use a reference. Resolution complete!
This past weekend, I started another resolution to "attempt a large scale resin project." Since I didn't describe what I considered what was "large scale" when I wrote it, I decided adding resin to a tabletop is large enough. I have one more coat of resin to add, but I'll wait for the current rain showers go away before I finish that project. Humidity isn't great for curing resin, and I've been working on it in the backyard. I could move it into the garage, but the lighting is awful when I'm attempting to record the process. Also, my garage is a mess and there's only enough room for my car. I'm too lazy to organize it.
With two resolutions completed and one almost done, only three resolutions remain. I don't know if I want to pursue those. They're more ambitious than the blogging resolution and I'm not sure I have the courage or will to attempt those, at least not this year.
There's one resolution my Dad's encouraging me to do before the year's end. He argues that it'll be a good experience, and possibly profitable. It's doable, but I'm not sure it'll be good enough. I may start the process sometime this month, but I'm not convinced I'll have enough confidence that it's worth completing.
The other two resolutions will require so much time and work I'm sure I won't be able to complete them this year. I could start them and work on them well into the New Year, but I need to convince myself that it's worthwhile.
My confidence increased a little while completing my blogging resolution, but I'm not fully confident in my ability to do certain things. At least not yet.
My Thoughts
Overall, I'm pleased that I completed a resolution. While I often make myself goals to pursue at random times during the year, this resolution to give blogging a try took me, an introvert and private person, outside of my comfort zone.
I've found blogging a stress relieving activity I enjoy doing a couple times a week. I don't see myself quitting my blog or cutting down on the number of weekly posts any time soon. Of course, when I return to the workforce, things may change. As for now, I enjoy this too much.
While I didn't feel overly excited when I completed this resolution, I felt some pride in completing it. Pursuing this resolution encouraged me to try other new things like starting a YouTube channel, learning pyrography, and customizing so many random objects around the house. So far 2020, while not the greatest year for many obvious and historical reasons, is turning out to be my most productive year.
I'm pleased and proud that I completed a resolution. It's not a bad feeling to have.
What's Next?
I'm currently creating a craft armoire I hope to finish in the next week or two. I'm going to wait until it's 100% complete before I start sharing my experiences and thoughts on it via blog posts and YouTube videos. This is a project I'm excited about and can't wait to show off.
Are you still working on a resolution? Login and Sign up to share the resolution you made yourself, why you are still working on it, and if you need help or encouragement in fulfilling it. I'd be happy to provide encouragement as best I can.
Don't forget to subscribe below to be notified by email when I post something new.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
Comments