Just so my readers know, I am suffering from a major case of blogging burnout. I started into the wordpress theme design tutorials by Small Potato, but I didn’t listen to his advice on taking breaks. Once I started into it, I couldn’t stop. I worked on it constantly every free minute I had. After each lesson, he said to stop and take a break to avoid burnout – he was so right!
It’s so easy to get burned out from just regular blogging. When you start into more serious things like design, it makes burnout even more difficult to avoid. Yesterday, I tried to look at my blog and maybe surf around a little but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I did learn some valuable lessons though:
- You cannot master css and xhtml in three days.
- Writing a theme from scratch is a lot of work and so many problems occur it can drive you insane.
- The most important lesson is that you have to actually type every line of code by hand LOL! I am a beginner in this stuff and learning to think from so many different angles takes time.
I feel like my brain just got reformatted and I may have damaged some tissue from all this. I’ve been catching up on sleep and taking a coding break. Anyway, if you’re interested in learning how to build and design a wordpress theme, check his tutorial out. It’s extremely detailed and he covers everything…and I do mean everything. I was saddened to see that he sold his blog, but the lessons will remain and I wish the new owner success. Just take your time and take lots of breaks. Now I need to visit all my friends!
#1 by teeni at July 29th, 2008
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Wow – Bobby, go easy on yourself! I will simply not have losing you to burnout. I love your posts and the way you pass on your ideas so well. Please take care of yourself and do take those breaks. You have to be good to yourself because I’m too far away to tap you on the shoulder and remind you! I am going to check out this tutorial soon. Maybe on the weekend. I know my limits and I can’t do it during the week. I’m not a good multitasker. LOL.
#2 by dcr at July 29th, 2008
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I wondered why you hadn’t posted in a couple days. Then I saw your comment on my blog today and thought, Hey, Bobby must have a new blog post! And here it is!
#3 by Revellian at July 29th, 2008
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@Teeni: I’ve always had a problem with pacing myself when it comes to learning something. When I decide to do it, I tend to go all out and overdo it. Lesson learned!
@Dan: I have a line by line code headache! There are just too many ways to do the same thing in designing a theme. I will blog in 5 minute intervals the next few days haha! I spent over 70 hours working on this stuff…I feel dead now
#4 by pearl at July 29th, 2008
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burnouts are bad.. but not posting for a couple of days is nothing… I’ve been in that state of mind where I cannot think what to do with the blog, for many months now..
surprisingly, my subscriber numbers are highest nowadays, which makes me feel guilty and I continue to feel the pressure that I need to write but cannot – vicious cycle!
oh, that reminded me, I’d love to see a guest post from ya when you get out of this burnout Bobby…
#5 by Revellian at July 29th, 2008
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I’ve done that too Pearl! I have taken several weeks off at a time and just couldn’t stand blogging. I am getting more traffic than ever before, so I feel like I have to write something. I have never written more than 2-3 articles per week and probably never will. Some bloggers write 5 posts per day and that is just too many. I can’t even visit all my friend’s blogs every day, much less everyone else’s. This isn’t so much blogging burn out…it’s looking at a computer screen burnout. I’d love to write a guest post for you! When I feel rested, I will do it
#6 by Michelle Gartner at July 30th, 2008
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I am sorry to hear that you are feeling burned out. Sometimes I do too and then I take a whole month off. I am going to try something different soon to alleviate the burn out and make it more enjoyable for me. I need to cut back – five kids and my eBay business is really going full throttle.
Take care Bobby- go slow. I think blogging is supposed to be enjoyable but it’s so darn addictive too. The dark side of blogging- mu ha ha ha ha… that no one talks about- except you.
#7 by Madhur Kapoor at July 30th, 2008
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I can understand the Burnout Bobby. Even modifying an existing theme is a big task so creating a new one from scratch while learning CSS etc will be much harder. But i wish you success on this. Maybe one day, i too will try to learn this.
#8 by gypsy at July 30th, 2008
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ahhh…yes…guilty as charged..i’m one of those people who have trouble staying away from css & code. sigh. note to self: that’s why you blog because you need a break from work (so stop performing work tasks on your blog).
anyway, good to know that you are ok. bobby? step away from the code…step away from the code
hee hee
hope you ‘recover’ soon! take care!
#9 by Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.com at July 30th, 2008
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Hey Bobby, we’ve all been there, so just take it easy for a while and you’ll get back on that horse. I’ve suffered from it, myself, this year. Still recovering in some ways, so I’m trying new things to get that spark.
#10 by BillyWarhol at July 30th, 2008
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Yeah I sometimes get wrapped up in it* It’s bein’ in da Zone + can Fry yer Brainz out*
I don’t envy ya working with WP either*
#11 by Parrot Bluetooth at July 31st, 2008
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Thanks for sharing with us some of the wonderful solutions inorder to prevent burnout indeed! I agree that one cannot master css and xhtml in three days and also that each and every line of code has to be types manually by hand!
Thanks a lot. I am bookmarking this useful information
#12 by ettarose at July 31st, 2008
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Well I have certainly missed you Bobby. I get burnout after one full day of staring at code and wishing I was better. I feel for you. Take it easy, you got a lot of people that have missed you.
#13 by Richard Catto at July 31st, 2008
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For some inspiration and help, you should talk to my friend Arnold (aka Sailor) over on nice2all.com.
He recently released a brand new African styled (free) WordPress theme. He has incorporated some stunning colours and graphics.
He’s new to WordPress theme design himself and I’m sure he could help you get started.
His new theme is called Namib after Namibia and its colour scheme is inspired by recent photos of the Namib desert.
#14 by Genie Princess at August 1st, 2008
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ALAKAZAM! Did I hear somebody say blogging burnout? Well I know just the thing for you…a whole lotta HUGS and LOVE all the way from Malaysia!
Take it easy Bobby, Emila seems to be down in the dumps past 2 days too, but she’s bouncing back nicely. Get more rest now and blog later okay?
:):)
#15 by DaveS at August 1st, 2008
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lol Bobby.
It’s sooooo easy to get consumed especially when coding. There have been times when I’ve set a computer alarm clock that chirps… “Time to take a Break!” to remind me to at least get up and wander around a bit.
I must also say that my wife is also quite useful when it comes to taking breaks. It’s amazing how quickly I can get up from the computer depending upon what she is wearing when she walks into my office!
#16 by Revellian at August 2nd, 2008
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@Michelle: I have a lot of personal problems going on right now that are taking their toll. A break is a necessity!
@Madhur: A basic template isn’t that difficult, but truly understanding everything is a different story. I have to know everything…I think it’s a birth defect sometimes.
@Gypsy: I have stepped away, at least temporarily. Maybe I’ll write something disturbing just for fun!
@Mark: I gave myself electroshock therapy, maybe it will help…haha!
@Billy: My brains were already fried before I started blogging!!!
@Parrot: Thanks for the Digg!
@Ettarose: I’m just burned out on looking at a computer altogether…at least for right now. I’ll be back soon!
@Richard: Thanks, I’ll check it out. I’m still going through different tutorials. Any theme I develop will be written from scratch. I think most themes out there are not written from scratch, even the premium themes people buy – it’s disappointing to know that.
@Marzie: Thanks so much! You brightened my day already!
@Dave: I’m really getting a grasp on xhtml now, which I thought was more difficult than css. I guess I’m hopelessly addicted to computers!
#17 by Scam at August 2nd, 2008
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I hope you’re feeling refreshed Bobby as I’m a new visitor to your blog and am looking forward to seeing more of your writing in the future.
#18 by Bobo at August 3rd, 2008
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!! I left a comment here the other day and it didn’t appear!!
Huggies Bobby! You must rest. Take some time out to make a new dish or practise martial arts ya? Or or play the guitar… write a new song.
Rest well see you soon!
#19 by Hanen at August 3rd, 2008
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We all burn out sometimes take a break and relax go on a vacation and give your brain a rest. When you come back things will be the same and you can pick up where you left off
#20 by Auto Scratcher at August 4th, 2008
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Never good to let your work habits run on auto-pilot. Take time to see those friends and just breath. You can’t be in front of a computer all of the time. Parish the thought, I know!
#21 by Linda Morton at August 4th, 2008
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Revellian,
No wonder you’re burned out trying to write your own WordPress theme. But I wouldn’t call that blogging burnout. You’re just too tired from the programming to write.
The biggest problem I have with my posts five days per week is finding good key words related to my site that I know enough to write about. Of course, I’m no opposed to researching. It just takes more time.
I just finished two posts that I got ideas for from off-line publications. If you’re totally out of ideas, you may want to try it.
#22 by Computer help and technical support at August 4th, 2008
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People that are creative use a lot of psychic energy. This can be very draining.
However, persistence always pays off but we need breaks to survive.
I see a great amount of creativity and thoughtful commentary in this blog so all the breaks are warranted.
Enjoy your time off.
#23 by Genie Princess at August 4th, 2008
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I miss u Bobby! Are u still on a blogging burnout?
#24 by Revellian at August 4th, 2008
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@Scam: Thanks! I am back now!
@Bobo: I’m sorry your 1st comment didn’t go through. I feel nice and refreshed now!
@Hanen: I really need a vacation, will you send me free tickets?
@A.S.: I spent all week outdoors and it really did the trick.
@Linda: I must admit I am addicted to programming now and feel better doing it. I am refreshed!
@Marzie: I am back now! I am feeling great!
#25 by Rajeev Edmonds at August 24th, 2008
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Hi Bobby,
I was out of town for last few weeks. I also did the same thing while designing a blogger theme, but my attempt was a failure. Hopefully, some day I’ll make a stunning blogger theme. Your copy will be free
In November, I am launching a new blog.