Three Unexpected Benefits from Blogging Everyday
2019 started for me with a commitment to blog every day, and I’ve managed to stick to it ever since. Realizing all my heroes are writers, I was motivated to get into the habit myself. Seth Godin has been one of the most influential people in my life — as I’ve read his blog every day for the past 7 years — I took his lead and decided to begin a daily blog.
They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, and if that is accurate we can check off my main objective. As a result, writing has become easier, and at least my wife says it’s getting better. Which is good, because beyond blogging, communicating via email and messaging is a large part of my work day in and out. Beyond progress in the obvious places, publishing daily has provided some surprising boons, as well.
Other-directed thinking
One of the first subtle changes I noticed was that no matter what I am doing, or where I am, my mind is actively attempting to translate the events in a shareable fashion. Something has to be written today, so regardless of whether I’m exploring an amazing museum or building a brooder for our chicks, there is a parallel thought process running in the background, attempting to frame everything in a way that hopefully might matter to someone else.
More clear with words in general
And I don’t mean being better with words, though that fortunately seems to be improving over time. Typing words and publishing them to the world helps keep me honest. Phrases that I am 80% certain of. Facts that I’ve heard and repeated to friends without verifying. There is pressure to make sure to get these things right, and I regularly use the dictionary and do quick research to fact check myself. This increased care has translated to everyday life, as well.
It’s has become a nice pressure valve for thinking too much
My mind can get really carried away with itself. And if there is something seriously bugging me, it has a very difficult time letting it go. For relief I’ve gotten into the habit of drafting an email when an issue is bothering me, even if I won’t send it at that time, or ever. Likewise, blogging has become a wonderful outlet to put to rest ideas or issues that my brain is obsessively ruminating on. Sometimes just stopping for a second and beginning a draft in the Medium app is enough to allow me to focus more fully on the task at hand. Then, when I get to tackle the topic in full I not only am able to put the problem to rest, but now my thoughts are also organized and saved to share with someone else any time.
Have you ever considered blogging daily?
