Ready to run.
I’m feeling uninspired lately. Maybe it’s the cold, maybe it’s the rain. Maybe it’s because I exhausted my creativity last week on 4 posts (pretty sure that’s a record for me). Whatever it is, I don’t like it.
I also don’t like running. I want to punch I’m not one of those people who bounds out of bed in the morning, excited to run. Probably the best shape of my life was the summer of 2008, when I was running regularly (not coincidentally, that was the summer we took our honeymoon – read about it at Kyla’s blog here). I ran in a 5K – my first & only – that October. Then I kind of… didn’t do anything. For a long time. 2009 wasn’t a great year in general. Tons of drama. Tons of stretching (the painful kind) & learning (also the painful kind). A couple of major illnesses. Next thing I know, I’m in terrible shape. It wasn’t that I had gained a ton of weight, I was just lethargic. Lazy. I mean, I had done the 30 Day Shred off and on (I am nothing if not sporadic), but I hadn’t pushed myself. 2010, I’ve decided, is the year to change all that.
I’ve been running 4x a week with my sister for over a month now. Do I love getting out of bed in the morning to go sweat and grunt and possibly cry? No. But I force myself. By the way, it’s easier to force myself when my sister says “Get your lazy butt out of bed or I’m going to be in better shape than you.” Nothing more motivating than name calling/sibling rivalry.
I love my sister because she doesn’t let me quit, and vice versa. We text every night or morning to set the time we are meeting the next day (depending on both our schedules, weather, etc.), but not running is never an option. On the days she doesn’t feel like it, I push her. On the days when I think I could really care less about running and all I want to do is stay in my sweatpants all day with a hot mug of tea, she pushes me. Whoever isn’t feeling motivated texts the other one word: “Weeping,” which is from a commerical we saw about 10 years ago & have quoted ever since. OMG I JUST FOUND IT ON YOUTUBE. God bless The Internet.
Staples Snowbot = love.
Moving on.
I love THIS and I don’t want to quit. I wish someone would text me every day & say “Put your lazy fingers to work or my blog is going to be better than yours” (as she is reading this, Chelsea is reaching for her cell phone). I have to stay motivated. I can’t think clearly in the mornings, and that’s usually when I run. I work all day M-F. By the time I get off work, cook dinner, and unwind a bit, it’s time for bed.
So this is me, lacing up my blog shoes. Sweating & feeling a little lightheaded. Getting tired about halfway into the post.
My question to y’all is: How do you do it? How do you keep up with everything you have to do and still pull off a fabulous, interesting blog? Are there certain days/times that work best? I know I need to keep plugging away, & make it work, but I can’t help my blog envy for those of you who seem to have it all together. Let me in on your secrets.
Because, dang it, it’s almost swimsuit season! Blogsuit season?
Lauren to stop making awkward parallels in 3… 2… 1…
I don’t know if I have any answers because I feel the same way as you a lot of times. I try to take advantage of my days off and get some posts pre-written, but I’ve never been very good at it. Honestly when I think about how I’ve been blogging for so long, I have no idea how I do it. Then again, mine’s probably not fabulous or interesting; only to me it is.
Kathleen
February 4, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Great blog post by the way. I don’t know if I qualify as a fabulous blogger by any stretch of the imagination. But I usually just post what comes into my mind, when I am running or pondering running. I wrote the blog to inspire me to run, but I’ve found a lot of times, the run inspires me to blog. For some reason it ties running to something bigger than just being sweaty, out of breath and tired. I know if I don’t run I can’t blog. Because what else would I talk about on a blog about running?
So I guess I’d say, I usually ask myself, what questions, insights, or feelings do I have about running today. And go for it.
LOVE THE COMMERCIAL!!!
Keep up the good work.
bgirl875
February 4, 2010 at 9:49 pm
i just started reading when i saw your guest blog on h2b and let me tell you….your blog ROCKS. seriously dude, you’re doing fine.
jillpsyd
February 4, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I’m a night owl. Which is a good thing for blog writing, a bad thing for getting four kids to school by 8:00.
Darla Baerg
February 4, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Aw I love this post!
How I do it:
- I write my ideas down in my journal, in a section called “Blog” whenever I think of them so I don’t forget them or have them taking up mental space.
- Whenever I feel really excited to write, I do it, immediately, and refuse to feel guilty.
- I plan all my content, just casually in my head, so I know kinda what I’m going to be talking about each week.
- When I get frustrated I go back through my posts from a month and see what I’m actually writing about, like “family, dogs, the past, recipes…” and see if what I’m writing about actually reflects my life. If it doesn’t, I make a point to write about those things in the coming month. Usually when I’m frustrated it’s because my blog isn’t talking about things that I’m thinking about.
- I sit down every Saturday morning from about 8:30 – 12 and write all of my content for the week & schedule it to auto publish, and then I get to walk away for writing for a week.
- I don’t ready any blogs that drain me, or don’t excited me, or that are written by people who aren’t interested in engaging with me so my hobby never becomes a chore. I only follow about 50 – 60 personal blogs at a time so I don’t feel emotionally drained by everyone’s lives. I love personal bloggers, but sometimes they can be overwhelming.
But those are just habits that have emerged over the past couple of years, and that help me make it feel manageable. Hope that helps! =)
Kyla Roma
February 4, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I agree with everyone else, I love this post. I know how you feel, about running and finding time to balance everything you want to do. I go thru my days where the last thing I want to do is blog and would rather just read what everyone else writes about. Then I have spurts where if I blog more than three entries in one week, I feel like wonder woman. I stay motivated by all of you. I know who most of my readers are, but there are days where I get a random comment from someone new and it just makes my day.
Tabaitha
February 4, 2010 at 10:42 pm
I just read your guest post on Kyla’s blog and you look gorgeous in a bikini and I love your hat. We took our honeymoon right after we got married, but after reading your ideas on why it’s a good idea to wait, I totally would have suggested we wait. All I wanted to do was sleep for the first couple of days and then when we returned, I had to take extra days of vacation to take a vacation from my vacation.
Tabaitha
February 4, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Geez, Kyla is a rockstar. I love her.
Like her, I keep lists and try to only write what I’m thinking about.
If I figure out how to LOVE running, I’ll let you know. I just started back to it and it sucks. I want to punch those people who love working out. Right in their perfectly toned hamstring.
Amy --- Just A Titch
February 4, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Hahahaha I think my favorite text convo with you has been:
Katherine- YOU DIDN’T WORK OUT!?!
Lauren- I had to work/cook dinner/blahblahblah
Katherine- DEAD FATTY (Said like Jilian from biggest loser to one of the contestants.. “Every time I look at you I’m going to think, dead father!!!”)
Lauren- YOU COULD ENCOURAGE ME!
Katherine- Good job not working out.
Lo0o0ove you!
Katherine
February 5, 2010 at 12:07 am
“DEAD FATTY.”
::chokes on laughter:: I saw that episode & I know I should have cried & felt sorrow, but all I did was laugh.
heirtoblair
February 6, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I feel your painauren. I run PSS.com AND I am a full-time medical student. As in, going to be a doctor. Or was, until this blog took over my life. I love it so much–it makes me question the noble goal of becoming a physician. I’ve been wrestling internally with this awkward feeling (taboo in the medical world to *possibly* love something more than your career) lately so this post somewht hits home.
As far as answering your question: scheduled posts. When I feel a burst of creativity, I will sometimes blog several entries, then schedule them to post automatically at a future date. This doesn’t work as well for personal, life blogs, but maybe you can find a way to make it work!
Kristina
February 5, 2010 at 1:08 am
Just found your blog and love it! I think you are doing just great!
Laura
February 5, 2010 at 3:00 am
Hi Lauren, I found your blog through the guest blog you did for theheirtoblair. Love it.
I keep word open all day at work that way if an idea strikes me I tap it out and send it to my home email.
Sass
February 5, 2010 at 8:24 am
Put your lazy fingers to work or my blog is going to be better than yours.
RootsAndRings
February 5, 2010 at 8:46 am
I’m not very organized when it comes to blogging, I tend to just write whatever comes to mind. I think my blog could benefit from some more structure, but at the moment I’ve got too much going on to really focus on it.
Lindsay
February 5, 2010 at 9:17 am
I didn’t realize you couldn’t click on my icon if you wanted to
, if you wanna check out my sister and I’s combined blog efforts its http://www.sheaintheavy.wordpress.com
Sass
February 5, 2010 at 9:26 am
I keep a small notebook with me at all times. I get ideas for blogs at really random times so I jot them down then I get them. I write when I feel the urge to write. If I sit down to type out a post and its not working, I walk away from the computer. I also try to schedule some posts ahead of time (I’ve failed at this lately but the weekends when I have fewer things going on is when I like to do the writing). Other times I do just write and hit publish. You’ll figure out what works best for you.
mandy
February 5, 2010 at 9:37 am
I admire you from my desk at work in rainy California! I wish I had the time and someone to push me to run. Well, wait my Husband would love to get me running again (the last time we did that was the year we got married and I needed to look good in that bikini for Hawaii. I also wanted to say that commercial is awesome! Do you remember the crying Iron? That, was my favorite….I just scoured you tube and could not find it. But the iron cries because he cant be used anymore there is a new laundry detergent or something that takes the wrinkles out of clothes. Hilarious I tell you!
Jenifer
February 5, 2010 at 9:49 am
I’ve got nothing.
sarah
February 5, 2010 at 10:03 am
Every time I don’t want to do 30 Day Shred, I’m going to picture (in the non-creepiest way possible) that picture of you and think, “I WANT TO LOOK LIKE THAT!”
Obviously I have no words of wisdom on how to maintain a creative blog. Herlo. It’s me.
Erin
February 5, 2010 at 11:04 am
I just, just started blogging again after taking nearly a year off, so I don’t have much advice for you on running a lovely, successful blog. I think though, for the amazing blogs I do read, it is just about letting your personality shine through, without the pressure to post every day. Wishcake and Kyla are favourites, not because of the frequency that they post, but because when they do have a new post, regardless of what it is about, I want to read it because they intrigue me.
Congrats on the running 4 times a week! That is totally awesome. Amazing, even.
Ps. I just read your sister’s comment. You two are the cutest. I love it.
samdotcom
February 5, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Clearly I’m the expert at the whole “regular blog post” thing since I started a giveaway on Monday and then never posted all week after that. So I’m not even going to offer any advice. Maybe there’s a blog niche for sporadic posters… No? Then I go nothin’.
Sturgmom
February 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I think it’s awesome that you have your sister to motivate you to run. I wish my sister lived closer and was into working out…
As for the blog thing, I can’t help ya there sister. My blog-ethic is sucky. I try, but I can’t seem to always have something to say so I just don’t blog as often as I possibly should.
Oh, well. My blog is mainly for me and I’ll post what I want when I want.
HoustonGurly
February 5, 2010 at 12:47 pm
GOOD JOB on the running. Give it a few more weeks and you WILL be bounding out of bed excited!
I LOVE my morning runs, so much. Initially getting out of bed is TOUGH. But once I’m out there running I just love, love, love it! And the way I feel all day afterwards!
As for the blog thing. I do a bit of blogging from work when I can (mostly reading blogs) (like I’m doing right now) and I also just fit it in WHENEVER I can. I will often schedule my own posts on the weekend since I’m usually to drained at the end of night to think of ideas/find the energy to blog!
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair
February 5, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I remember that commercial!! Good times.
I do the two other Jillian Michaels videos 5x a week. I do cardio one day and strength training the next and so on. It’s kick butt and thank God because my butt needed to be kicked up a little higher– okay a lot higher. I’ve been sweating and icky now for 7 1/2 weeks.
Anyway, I don’t have the most concise reason why I do it, but I’m really starting to flesh that out on my blog. Hopefully I’ll have the public Heidi blog up and running (punny, haha) so I can share my workout musing with everyone who wants to know.
And HOOK ‘EM!
Heidi H.
February 5, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Ugh. I despise working out – despise it & am so lazy & tired & miserable all the time – & I just don’t know how to snap out of it and make myself get into shape & get moving. Teach me your wayyyys.
Suburban Sweetheart
February 5, 2010 at 7:52 pm
When I have nothing to say, I write haikus about pizza. Honestly, blogging is meant to be fun (for me, anyway). I don’t force it, just keep ideas tumbling in the back of my mind.
As soon as an idea stands out, I jot it down, or rehearse a couple of sentences, or ask my cats their opinions–anything to grasp the inspiration until my fingers have a chance to qwerty away.
Melissa
February 5, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Yay! So I finally (!!!) set up my public blog. Ugh, it took for-EVER! But it’s kinda pretty, if I do say so myself.
Hope you have a chance to stop by!
http://www.playgrounddiva.blogspot.com
Heidi H.
February 6, 2010 at 12:56 am
You’re doing better than me in the running and the blogging. I’m with you exactly- I hate getting out of my bed, work full time, am finishing 2 classes at school, and I’m just beat by the end of the day.
I’m interested to know what your running regimen is? Do you just head out and run as far as you can or do you do a running plan?
mrssjohnson
February 6, 2010 at 9:40 am
In a way, I take the same approach as Kyla. I use the weekends to write the majority of my blog posts and I have a ton of lists of what I want to write about in my iTouch. Every time I think of an idea to blog about, I write it on my list. And I also pre-plan what I’m going to write about about 2 weeks in advance, unless something else comes up that I really want to write about.
There are sometimes when life just gets too overwhelming and I just have no inspiration that I have to take a break from my blog for a while. It happens so don’t feel too bad about it.
Stephany
February 6, 2010 at 7:47 pm
I felt the same way before about not having the time to work out. I tried doing it in the mornings but I FAILED. I am not a morning person and I refuse to wake up earlier than I really have to. That left me with no choice but to do it in the evenings right when I get home from work. I asked my co-worker to modify our schedules so I can come in earlier some days and leave earlier. Some days I get home at 5PM or 6PM and immediately go to change into my work out clothes and leave to the gym. I find it difficult to go to the gym if I sit down or get into something after I get home. It also helps that I have a working out buddy, my dad, and it’s hard for me to turn him down. Another advantage of working out after work for me is that I get to de-stress from work at the gym. I absolutely love feeling refreshed afterward.
Good luck with running!!
steph anne
February 7, 2010 at 2:17 am
I really need someone to text me when I don’t feel like working out. 2010 is the year of fixing everything wrong with me health-wise and that includes getting back into a regular work out routine (and losing the weight I gained during my own 2009 lazy spell). It’s so difficult to stay motivated!
As for blogging, I’m only just starting again after like 2 or 3 years off and I’m struggling with that, too! If it wasn’t for Ten on Tuesday I’d probably totally fail at having it updated with any regularity at all!
Clare
February 8, 2010 at 9:02 am
I think you’re doing great sister – and I admire your ability to not post every. Single. Day. and still have tons of interested readers. I post four days a week, and if I don’t for some reason, I imagine I can hear the tiny number of readers I do have deleting me off of their favorites menus. FOREVER. To feel more inspired about posting (I will say I feel inspired often – is it interesting for anyone else to read? Probably not, but at least I’m having fun!) I like to look for themes in what’s going on in my life. A little introspection is good for the soul, I think. I keep a journal like Kyla – it’s kind of interesting to see things come together. Like – wow – here are all of these examples recently of how I’m getting super old! This is theme!
Taryn M. Peine
February 8, 2010 at 9:55 am
“Weeping, weeping…” I laughed outloud AND felt sorry for the robot all at the same time!
By the way, I thought this was a great post! I have a hard time coming up with interesting posts to. And at this very minute, I’m trying to convince myself to go upstairs, put on some workout cloths, lace up my running shoes, and head to the gym. It’s hard, so hard.
“Weeping, weeping”
MelissaOK
February 8, 2010 at 12:33 pm