There are so many clear milestones in blogging to celebrate: your very first post, the first time a brand notices your blog, your first complete outfit shoot, your first comment. What about all those other amazing changes that happen over time? Some might call them “soft skills,” but to me there’s nothing soft about the ways in which blogging can shape not just your closet and style, but your character and personality. It almost seems like one day you’re overwhelmed trying to “learn the ropes” of blogging, and the next you’re a professional! Growing a blog involves a lot of blood, sweat & tears – all your own, because in most cases, you’re building your blog all by yourself. The more committed you are to blogging, the less you can ignore its impact on your personal growth. Here are just a few of the things blogging has changed my life in just over six years:
Self-confidence
Whenever you’re having a bad day or need some inspiration, you don’t have to look much further than your own blog! That’s right, your blog can be the perfect confidence boost in more ways than one. In addition to nice words left in comments or on social media, commend yourself for all the writing, photo-editing, website design, and marketing you’ve done for your blog as well. Every time you do any of these things is like working out – those skills are strengthened over time. If you’re ever feeling frustrated, taking a look at what you’ve done on your blog already can give you the motivation you need to move forward.
Proactive problem-solving
Anyone whose blog has gone down unexpectedly or whose pictures won’t seem to format right knows what I’m talking about! Whenever something goes wrong on your blog, it’s up to you to solve that issue or find the right resource to help you get it done. Troubleshooting my blog has sharpened my sense not just to solve the problem as quickly as possible, but to be proactive and learn why it happened and/or how to prevent it from happening again.
More willing to take risks
Becoming a personal style blogger naturally opens your world up to the digital universe. Opening myself up in this way has made me much more willing to take risks I wouldn’t normally take. That could mean anything from trying new styles or trends I’d never try before; sharing things about myself I normally wouldn’t have without a blog; voicing my opinions and taking a stand on things I’m passionate about (regardless of the reaction) or working with a brand I don’t know much about but who’s made a good impression on me.
Better time management
Maintaining a blog will often eat up the hours you’d normally have for free time – after work, sandwiched between classes, etc. We might not always be good at it, but managing our time so that we can get posts done, outfits styled right and blog posts promoted is a skill we can’t help but pick up over time.
Building crucial job skills
Raise your hand if all of these skills (and more) have not only improved your blogging and changed who you are, but have improved your job too? Every job I’ve had since I started blogging has involved using the skills I’ve sharpened over my years as a blogger. Don’t mentally separate blogging from your professional career. Your work can be enhanced by everything you’re learning as a blogger – and who knows, might even lead you to full-time blogging!
Any other ways blogging has changed your life?
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