When Blogging Makes You Sick
Over on Writing Thoughts, the freelance writing blog owned and operated by Laura Spencer, I read her article titled, Does Blogging Stress You Out? where she shares information gleaned from a New York Times (NYT) story about the hazards of blogging. In the NYT story, Some Brand-Name Bloggers Say Stress of Posting Is a Hazard to Their Health I learned that a brand-name blogger, Om Malik, suffered a heart attack late last month which he attributed to stress over blogging. Thankfully, Malik is recovering from his health crisis and has returned to work.
Of course, when I read Laura’s article and saw the supplied link, I immediately went to the NYT article for more information. I occasionally read the tech blogs — TechCrunch, for one — but I am not familiar with Om Malik or his blog. As I scanned through the article and then read an update by Malik I learned just how stressful blogging is for him. In addition, he shared how some bad habits have contributed to his health problems including eating fatty foods, smoking, and a lack of exercise. To have a heart attack at such a young age, 41, is not a good sign and I hope that Malik can change his lifestyle to embrace healthy living practices.
Blogging (or any writing for that matter) can be stressful especially if time constraints are involved. Yet, I know I blog/write better when I take the time to eat right, exercise and get a good night’s sleep. The more visible your blog, the more likely you’ll feel the pressure to peform as your readership is dependent on what you have to say about a particular subject. With updates occuring in rapidfire succession daily in the tech world, staying on top of the game is a must.
How about you? Do you stress out over blogging or do you maintain a good balance throughout the day? Like Laura, I can sometimes feel pressured to blog, but I have to push away from my laptop and do something else when the stress builds. I can’t imagine brand-blogging — there seems to be too much pressure to meet rolling deadlines!
Photo Credit: Walter Groesel
blogging makes me sick after about an hour or 2 of reading/writing. i really need to cut back on it :s
i get sick of blogging from time to time, but for the most part im able to find stuff interesting enough to keep me going. i start to get sick when i put off eating
Data: I hear you! Staring at the ‘puter screen for hours on end can bring you down.
gReeR: Nice looking resort! I have to eat or I cannot think — staying away from the fatty foods is easy, especially when it isn’t around. Keep on blogging.
Thanks for the link Matt! As you pointed out, blogging was just one contributing factor in the story that I profiled, but I think it’s an interesting question to examine.
We heard about Om’s heart attack and agree that having one at age 41 is a real eye opener.
We do feel pressured to write posts if we haven’t yet. Especially feel the pressure when we don’t know what to write about!
Then you have to step back and realize it is just a blog.
Laura: Good story, Laura. I wouldn’t have known about it without reading it on your blog. Thank you for keeping everyone informed.
Lasik: Lots of bloggers no longer look at their sites as “just a blog” as they are sources of information for thousands of readers. There does come a point when a blog crosses the line from being an online journal to a resource center. Once that line is crossed, it seems that the pressure to write mounts!
I can understand how the pressure to regularly update a site (or multiple sites) would grind you down into a pulp. I much prefer building content sites, mostly static). With them you can go on a building spree, then take time off and let them run on autopilot without having to worry about someone dropping off your RSS list because you haven’t updated recently.
I can well understand the pressures to meet daily deadlines combined with churning out good content at the same time can bring about stress — I get it myself. As Lasik mentioned, there is also the stress of regularly coming up with ideas for content as well.
Lack of sleep and not eating properly seems to be quite common amongst bloggers (I know it all too well
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Perhaps many of us don’t step back long enough to realize there can be apparent hazards for living this type of lifestyle.
One should take a learning lesson from Om’s experience to take better care. Now if I can only heed my own advice
LL: I prefer content sites too. As you mention, the pressure to update is removed and you can get back to it on your own schedule.
Deb: Isn’t it amazing to think that blogging can be harmful? Yet, when I read Om’s account I realized how easy it is to fall into that trap and how close I’ve been to the edge. Take care of yourself — no one else will!
Oh dear! I’m sure I’ve added to the stress with my recent post about people “threatening to commit acts of daily journalism”. I take the commitment to blog very seriously … now you tell me it may be bad for my health? Sheesh!
I usually will feel like dying when I feel like writing and the inspiration is not there…..
Georganna: Isn’t that terrible? Who would have thunk it when we first started out blogging? Livin’ the stress free life….
Pegasus: Ouch. I think I know what you mean. But, I then put everything to the side and take a walk, finding inspiration away from the PC.
I tend to spend a lot of time researching what I am blogging about, rejecting one idea after another, and finially settling on something that needs a bit more research.
My deadline is just to post something everyday, but there are times when it is stressful to fit blogging into my busy life.
I have also recently joined Entrecard and Blogcatalog and have become somewhat addicted to blog hopping. Just one more thing to demand a bit of my time.
I also have occasional negative commenters that give me a bit of stress, but I guess blog trolls are another topic.
Think I’ll go out for a walk now.
Thanks for the cool post.
Descartes, I like your approach to blogging: do the research for the right idea and then research your topic.
As far as those blog trolls go, pay them no mind. You aren’t required to post their bilge anyway — that is what the Spam and Delete buttons are for.
Thanks for stopping by and I am glad you enjoyed this post.
It is not specifically blogging that makes you sick. As for anyone that has a business the pressure to make money or more money can result in stress depending on the type of person you are. That is why so many business men have heart attacks.
Working with a computer 14 hours a day is hard work lets face it. Blogging for fun and blogging for money cannot be compared.
Pain, you are correct. Blogging isn’t an illness, but being addicted to it or not setting up parameters can lead to an illness.
I blog both for fun and for money — I’m not always sure which is most difficult to do!
For me, I enjoy blogging more when I schedule time to do it. I don’t like it when I don’t have the time I want to create a great post so I usually find myself starting posts and then coming back at a later time to continue.
Then other times, I can write 2 or 3 posts in a matter of an hour (believe me that isn’t too often).
If I get start getting stressed, I stop and come back to it. I don’t want to do anything too long if it stresses me out. Then it isn’t good for me (the writer) or you (the reader).
Sincerely,
Teresa, starting a post and coming back to it is a fabulous way to blog. I’m all for it and do that from time to time.
I can usually tell when a blogger is stressed — their posts are proofed, thoughts seem scattered and I’m not left with the feeling that I want to leave a comment.
The picture you chose is really blood-curdling! Anyway thanks for the link