Day 31, end of the UBC, 31st day of the year and my 31st blog post of 2013. Wow, glad I made it! I thought I’d have a little ponder today about what this UBC has done for me, what I’ve learned and what has changed. In the past, I’ve been quite structured about this type of post, but this time I decided to just see what’s in my head so here goes.
The concept of blogging every day, every single day, for a month is quite a daunting one, but it is possible. It really helps if you write quite short posts; mine tend to be about 700 words and some this month have been a lot shorter than that. I have to say, as a reader, that’s also the optimum length for me, as time is always short and it just takes too much time to read longer posts unless it is something I’ve been looking for specifically. Anyway, daunting challenges need commitment, and a bit of commitment is always a good thing. It helps me to have some structure in a very unstructured and completely unpredictable existence, and that’s one of the reasons I keep coming back; this is my third UBC.
Doing the UBC also helps us bloggers to make connections which is a wonderful thing. Of course we all want our posts to be read, or we wouldn’t put them out there, and doing the UBC means that we widen our audience. One of the best things for me is when someone says that one of my posts has helped them. How amazing is that? I write something that’s popped into my head, or an experience I want to share, or something I’ve been thinking over, and it turns out to be something that a person, maybe in a completely different time zone, really needed to read that day. It’s a fantastic experience.
It’s also great just to be in contact with people all around the world that we wouldn’t meet any other way. I was so excited when a Danish bokwa instructor commented on my post about bokwa! She said she felt the same about bokwa as I do; there was a connection, a shared understanding, and we are miles and miles apart. Awesome! (Not very British but it’s the only word that will do. Perhaps I should have said “awe inspiring”. Hmmm.)
The stuff I’ve been blogging about this month: mainly writing, worry (of course) and FUN. Interesting how much that one has turned up. It seems to be offering itself as the answer to a lot of dilemmas and problems, so I suspect that it may be more important than we tend to think. Have more fun to decrease worry; have fun to encourage creativity; have fun doing something that used to be fun but has become more like work; have fun to overcome resistance.
I’m not sure I’ve written exactly this yet, but it flows from what’s in that last paragraph, and I think it’s important to say: have fun to combat perfectionism. I wanted to say something about perfectionism because I know that’s part of what drives me to blog every day, never miss a day, complete the challenge perfectly. That’s fine; it’s good to stretch ourselves a bit. But in many other areas I’m working hard to let go of perfectionism. I’m all too aware that so many people who say they have a book inside them, for instance, never actually write that book because they don’t feel ready. Well, I guess the only perfect books are the ones that have never been written, and it probably goes the same for films and songs. Certainly for blog posts. And so although blogging every day can be a bit perfectionist, it also helps to bash perfectionism because, some days, your post may not be so great but at least you got a few hundred words, or a video, or a picture, out there, posted and shared. If you’ve got to det it out before the end of the day, you’ve also got to accept that it may only be mediocre sometimes, and that’s not the end of the world. Like it says on the T shirts, just do it!
So we have commitment, structure, connection, a bit of discovery and a bit of personal development. That’s quite a lot to get from half an hour or so a day, no cost and rather a lot of enjoyment and pleasant chatting. I think I might do it again…who will join me next time?
And here is my apple for the teacher at the end of term. I love Bob Marley and this is probably my favourite of all his songs. It’s also rather relevant to what I spend a lot of my time doing (these days writing about how not to worry, rather than indulging in worry itself!). Please enjoy!
31 in 31…. once did 90 in 90 but that was something else.
Same sort of focus and commitment though. Well done Harriet, as you say this one is primarily for you:)
PS I also love Bob Marley’s music and play it most days
Ha! It’s easy if you just take it a day at a time… The best time to play Bob Marley is when it’s really hot but if I waited for that I would miss out. That one always makes me happy.
Well done! I managed 24 days which I’m very proud of! Good for a once a month blogger and once every other month article writer!
Everyone should do more writing.. the world would be a happier place!
I agree, for so many reasons. You’ve really stepped up your pace; bet you won’t go back to once a month for very long!
It has been fun- and a challenge, but fun.
It is so awesome to meet people from around the world and connect with them.
Let’s hope our paths cross again! Until them~ enjoy!
Glad you had fun! Look forward to bumping into you again.
Loved your post. I didn’t get all 31 days in, but got over 20 which is a HUGE improvement for me. I love: have fun to combat perfectionism. You hit the nail on the head. Thanks for sharing.
Well done, the thing is you did over 20 which is a lot so the challenge worked! Keep on having fun!
I’ve found myself impressed by the total newbie bloggers setting about a post a day for a month.
For others with a blog that has a theme, and are more used to writing, it can still produce challenges, so imagine how much bigger the challenge for people who are blogging about, well, they don’t really know!
Yes, I got the benefits you mention of habit, making new connections, etc, but I really saw the benefit to those just starting out into the blogosphere – what a great way to start out, and to realise that dry, impersonal cut and paste posts are not the way to do it!
Cheers,
Gordon
Yes, I agree, it is a big challenge for newbies. It can be really overwhelming for those who post quite long articles, and I think blogging frequently helps people realise a few hundred words is more likely to keep people’s interest right to the end. There is nothing like launching in to something like this to help you find out what works.
I thought the challenge was quite grand too. I, like you, enjoyed connecting with other folks. It’s amazing to me that I can write something in my home in Wisconsin and someone in Greece can say it helped them. Amazing…
I like what you said about perfection…it stops more ideas dead in their tracks than anything else! Here’s to more fun :)!
Yes, isn’t it brilliant! Thanks for commenting.