Blogging Struggles: How Do Bloggers Stay Motivated?

A lack of motivation is an issue all of us will deal with at some point.

It can be hard to know how to stay motivated when things aren’t going your way, or when you can’t get into a productive daily routine.

When you’re a blogger, a lack of motivation is something that can happen pretty regularly- and blogging is something that really depends on keeping motivated.

If you drop the ball, your views might drop- and this can lead to an even bigger drop in motivation.

However, there are a few ways to give yourself a little motivation boost when you need it- especially when faced with low views, writer’s block or blogging struggles.

In this blog post, I’ve asked 6 fantastic bloggers to give me their thoughts on keeping up motivation as a blogger- including a few tips and tricks for anyone to try out!

Ceri: Read and Review It

When I started out blogging it was really disheartening to see low views, followers and minimal engagement. It was definitely a learning curve for me.

The one thing that got me through it was seeing how far I’d already come. Okay, so this post only had 20 views, but my first one had 10, so that’s an improvement, right?

I also think that setting goals can really help with a general lack of motivation. Sitting down and writing what you want to achieve can really fire you up to get going and achieve them- at least in my experience.

Hitting those goals can boost your mood, and it really helps you realise how much you can achieve when you stick with it!

Finally, giving yourself rewards can also be extremely beneficial for low motivation. In return for completing a certain task, you could treat yourself as a way of making you want to do it more.

You could even start a jar and put different rewards on pieces of paper. Then, you can pick one at random when you need a little pick me up!

Dear Dating B

Blogging is hard work– anyone who tells you otherwise probably isn’t doing it right!

You have to constantly:

  • Come up with new ideas and blog posts
  • Find ways to write what’s on your mind that will be interesting for others to read
  • Spend a ton of time just promoting your work so that people will read it

When posts do well (such as getting lots of views, shares and comments) it feels like all the hard work has paid off.

However, sometimes not as many people read a post as much as you’d like. Or you don’t hit your target social media follows for the month.

When that happens, it’s hard to keep up motivation and you might want to pack it in and give up.

And honestly, there’s no simple “trick” to keeping up motivation. Instead, you need to just try and remember why you started to begin with.

Did you start so that you would become rich and famous? So that you’d gain 10,000 followers?

Or did you start because you genuinely wanted a creative outlet? Because you felt like you had something of value to say?

Because you wanted just one person to read something you wrote and feel better– even just for a day.

In the end, that’s what’s going to keep pushing you to continue.

Kate: Love My Anxious Brain

Many things can mess with your motivation as a blogger. Like lack of time, or those technical troubles that always seem to crop up.

However, I think the worst motivation-sapper is comparison anxiety.

Picture this: You spend hours on a post, carefully editing it, and choosing photos- and proudly share it on your socials. And… tumbleweed.

This happened to me a lot in the beginning. I’d look at better-established bloggers and see their levels of engagement compared to mine, and I’d start questioning whether I have what it takes.

The thing is, bloggers with a lot of engagement and followers didn’t start out that way, and we all get tumbleweed to start with!

It’s easy to compare ourselves with someone else and feel we come up short, but we’re not seeing all of the struggles they’ve experienced along the way.

If you’re currently feeling unmotivated, here’s how to slay the beast of comparison anxiety and enjoy blogging again:

  • Connect with other bloggers (see them as teammates, not rivals!)
  • Take some time out from creating content to up-skill. Learn about SEO, blog post structure and how the different social media platforms work
  • Remember that you always have something unique and valuable to share

Nele: The Navagatio

Even though I absolutely adore blogging and I am so fortunate that I get to do this as a job alongside my freelancing, it’s impossible to always stay motivated.

Especially since my website is in the travel niche, keeping up with it during the pandemic was incredibly difficult.

I saw my views and income, something I’d worked tirelessly on for years, almost completely vanish overnight.

One of the main things that helped me stay motivated is taking on some steady freelance editing/writing jobs.

Pre-pandemic, my blog was my main income and having the constant stress of “if these articles don’t rank on Google quickly, I don’t know how I’ll pay rent” kept me from actually working on it because the pressure was too high. 

Also, it’s really nice to not constantly work on my site, but have some variation by working freelance for other websites for half of my working week.

I also promised myself to not work on Sundays anymore. Instead of constantly working, I make sure I take Sundays (and sometimes Saturdays too) off, which also makes me more productive during the week.

Joining FB groups with other travel bloggers who are going through the same thing was another thing that kept me going.

Blogging can get a little lonely, but surrounding yourself with like-minded people online and knowing you’re not alone in this is a huge motivation boost for me. 

And sometimes, I simply take a break. My blog will be there when I’m back, and my mental health is way more important! It’s all about finding the right balance for you.

Anneliese: Look on the Dark Side

I’m a therapist so I take a symptomatic approach to low motivation for blogging. Motivation can be impacted by mind, body, heart, spirit, home and community.

I know that I struggle with depression, vitamin deficiency and toxic perfectionism.

So when I notice myself avoiding a task that had me jumping out of bed with excitement the week before, I have a few likely suspects to interrogate.

Depression: how is my mood overall? Am I avoiding other enjoyable activities? Do I feel exhausted despite increased sleep? Do I feel more physical pain? Start crying for no reason?

These also indicate I’m getting a cold, so I usually reach for Dayquil and green tea before anti-depressants.

Vitamin deficiency: have I forgotten to refill my dispenser recently? Has my diet changed in the past couple weeks? Am I drinking too little, or too much, water?

Toxic perfectionism: This can be the hardest to diagnose because it is so subtle and pernicious.

Here’s where my husband usually steps in and points out behavioural patterns that suggest I’m sacrificing flexibility and joy to an unrealistic standard.

“The pursuit of excellence does not require perfection” – Henry James

Sunshine Sarah

Whenever I find myself suffering with low motivation, I usually try and figure out what
exactly has caused it and if it’s something I can change, or if I have to find a way to cope
until it passes.

Being a blogger, low motivation can come in waves, usually when I have lots of work to do!

Sometimes when this happens, it can lead to a “deer in headlights” situation where you just stop and don’t do anything because it all seems a little overwhelming!

It’s apt that I’m writing about this at the moment because since suffering with (and
recovering from) Covid, my brain seems to be in a fog and I’m just not finding the energy or desire to do anything – which is very frustrating because I have quite a lot of work to do!

To those suffering with low motivation, I would say don’t try to fight it. Recognise the signs and allow them to settle, perhaps write a list of what’s bothering you and why.

Don’t worry if you can’t find the exact reason, by writing this list you’re already on the way to figuring it out.

Motivation is like a river, it ebbs and flows. My one big piece of advice in this instance would be not to worry. Don’t beat yourself up about why you’re feeling the way that you are. In this time, try to do activities that bring you joy, even if you don’t feel quite up to it.

Drawing, painting, walking in nature, reaching out to friends, yoga… the list of possibilities are endless, so you’re bound to find something you love!

Be aware of your feelings, and this can sometimes be all you need to feel better.

How do you stay motivated as a blogger? Do you struggle to stay motivated? What tips would you give to a new blogger who struggles with low motivation?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

Unknown's avatar

Author: Not-So-Modern Girl

I’m Eleanor, welcome to my little corner of the internet! I’m a freelance content writer and book lover from Yorkshire. On my blog, I write about life as a 20-something, including posts about freelance life, blogging, book reviews and more. I also write resources for bloggers and writers on my Gumroad account, including my ebook 'The Art of Blog Writing'.

123 thoughts

  1. This was an interesting post & interesting to hear how other bloggers get motivated. I often struggle with it too. What helps me is to have a goal (or several goals) and try to work toward it.

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  2. Thanks for letting me be a part of this Eleanor! I found myself nodding along with the advice here, sadly low motivation seems to be quite common amongst bloggers! At least we have each other to fall back on ay?! 💛💛

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  4. I’ve found myself to be in a significant blogging dip at the moment and I’m questioning whether it is worth it to keep going. However, these tips are good to keep in mind so maybe they’ll be helpful and remind me why I gravitated towards blogging in the first place. Thank you.

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  5. I really enjoyed reading the thoughts of other bloggers and found it really helpful. I find having a schedule, not just for posting, but for other tasks really helps to keep me motivated. I’ve also got periods of time scheduled in where I don’t allow myself to do anything blogging related. It helps me to not burn out.

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  6. Good post! These bloggers have their own ways to stay motivated with blogging. I stay motivated by joining communities and participate in their activities, and of course….read a lot and a lot. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. This was a really interesting post! To help myself stay motivated I engage as much as I can with other blogs. Seeing what other people are reading and writing about inspires me. I love seeing my following and views grow and when I feel like I need a break then I just take one. I constantly have to remind myself that it is a hobby and not a job and that the world won’t stop turning if I take a few days (or longer) away. x

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  9. I loved reading this – I could see myself in so many of these bloggers’ quotes! I sometimes just have to ride the un-motivation wave off, other times I will try to do some of the things I enjoy the most instead and then tackle the rest when I am in a better place mentally.

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  10. Thanks for letting me be a part of this! It was so interesting to read everyone else’s points too- I agree with everything that’s been said! x

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  11. Hi Eleanor,

    A motivating post about motivation! Thank you.

    For me, the key factor is … fun. I blog because I enjoy it. I don’t have enough spare time to write as much or as often as I would like but that’s OK – the world won’t end because I don’t finish a post within the anticipated timeframe! I just enjoy it when I can 🙂

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  12. This is really helpful, thank you. As a new blogger it’s helpful to hear other points of view. I am struggling some days with motivation due to my life circumstances at the moment. I am trying to be kind to myself and write when I want to, even if that is late at night! 🙂

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  13. We love seeing how other bloggers stay motivated. It is hard work! For us, we try to remember how much we enjoy reading and discussing books.

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  15. It’s really great to read that other bloggers also struggle with motivation — which can be so disheartening. I used to have bad bouts of writer’s block so my motivation disappeared because I just didn’t have ideas (I’ve been lucky that hasn’t happened for a while now). I also lost all motivation and any desire to write when my husband became really ill in 2019. I stopped doing anything for 9 months in 2020 and again for a few months this year. My stats disappeared and I’m slowly building them up now; I didn’t mind because what was going on was more important. I think that this would be my advice, that sometimes when life happens and your motivation to blog goes you don’t need to force it; it’s okay to not put anything new out. If you can manage it, update and repost older content as a stepping stone to find motivation again. Great advice shared here — thank you!

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    1. Yes I agree Molly, it’s great to find others for inspiration 🙂 I’m sorry to hear that, we all have times like that when we don’t have any ideas or find it hard to sit down at the computer for hours! I’m glad you’ve started to build the stats up again but like you said stats aren’t everything and you have to focus on what is important for you 🙂 thanks for sharing your story Molly x

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  16. Amazing post with sound advice! I think every blogger needs to read this because we all lose our motivation at some point, for different reasons, and wonder, “Should I keep doing this? Is all the work worth it?” We need to encourage one another to push through the tough spots to get to the sweeter spots.

    I loved Ceri’s idea about the random task & reward jar. That is a lot of fun and definitely helps keep things interesting when it feels as though each day becomes the same and productivity drops. I’ll be doing this one!

    Kate is spot on about comparison anxiety as well. It’s far too easy to assume that someone else is more successful at blogging because they are better, smarter, etc. Truth is; that’s not always the case. It may take some time to find your exact voice in blogging or the tribe of people that need what you have to share in their life. But when it does happen organically — that is a rewarding feeling!

    Loved this line from Nele: Blogging can get a little lonely, but surrounding yourself with like-minded people online and knowing you’re not alone in this is a huge motivation boost for me.” — Amen, so very true! The blogging community is a God-send.

    Each of these bloggers have something of great value to share. I could go on and on. While reading, I found myself nodding my head in agreement with each point at different stages of the blogging journey.

    I’ve shared and hope others will come and be encouraged too. ❤️

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    1. Thank you Holly! Yes I think we all lose that motivation at one time or another, and it’s how we keep pushing forward that is important. Rewards are such a cute idea I agree, and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals has been a game-changer for growing my blog and finding supportive friends online 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, and I’m glad it helped a little x

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  17. Love the tips and the quotes you have here!
    And felt relief that I’m not only one struggles with my blog.
    Whenever I demotivated, I just rest and stay away from my
    computer for a while.

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  18. I needed this today! Been struggling lately to remain focused and motivated with my blogging. I’m drifting in and out alot, and like you say. Sometimes it’s the whole picture, like where you started and where you are now. It’s hard when you get other bloggers saying ‘how i got 10000 page views a month in my first year’. I used to find it motivating now i don’t even read them.

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    1. It can be so tough, especially when other things in your life are picking up! Eurgh I don’t know how they do it- and sometimes they can be untrue or when someone has the time to focus on only their blog. It’s definitely a journey and avoiding comparison is key, as Kate says x

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  19. Such great tips and I love seeing how other bloggers overcome their struggles. I’ve started making sure that I take a day off from blogging once a week and it’s definitely helped with motivation. I also loved Kate’s advice that we have to remember we’re not all at the same level. I’m working on not comparing myself to others recently.

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    1. Thank you so much 🙂 yes it’s been so helpful to get all these opinions in one place! I agree she’s so right, I’ve been working on that a lot this year and it can definitely be freeing to just consider where you are x

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  21. So great to hear from lots of different bloggers about what helps them find motivation. It’s great to know that other bloggers feel this way too. And having a variety of tips to try for more motivation is helpful as it’s definitely not one size fits all. I like to always remember what my goal is in writing, definitely be wary of comparing myself to other blogs and being organised so days when I’m not motivated I can have a break because things are scheduled ahead of time

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  22. This is such a great post and can relate to a lot of these comments – I’ve been doing this nearly eight years now and there’s definitely some lows and struggles xx

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  24. Thank you so much for including me in this post! I love how it’s turned out, with all of the different blogging motivation advice coming together in one piece – it feels really harmonious and balanced. As one of the other commenters said, it’s not one size fits all, I feel like there’s something here for every blogger! x

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  25. This was really interesting to read how other bloggers deal with the loss of motivation. I especially like Sarah’s point that, “Motivation is like a river, it ebbs and flows.” I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit, blogging is hard work and the rewards aren’t always commensurate with what we do! x

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    1. Yes Sarah is completely right, motivation comes and goes as your life changes and depending on what else is going on! I agree, blogging can seem “easy” on the outside but it is a big thing and can take a lot of energy sometimes x

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  29. Loved reading all these different perspectives with motivation and blogging! It’s so refreshing to read others also going through similar struggles I find myself in from time to time with blogging motivation. Thanks for sharing this!

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  33. Great post! It’s nice to know that other bloggers sometimes struggle to stay motivated too. It can be lonely, but it’s also nice to connect to other bloggers out there too. I was starting to feel burnt out as I’m a full-time mum and can only really work on my blog from 7-9 pm and occasionally during the day. But now I just post once a week and try and take Sundays off. I’m learning to not compare myself to others and remember how far I’ve come. But it’s a long and hard process.

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  36. It was nice to read that other bloggers also need motivation to keep going. The tips and ideas of others are really helpful. When I need inspiration I read lots of other posts or re -read some of my favourite books. I am one of those bad people who underline sentences in books and use them as quotes. To me it is much easier to start writing something, anything if I first read a sentence that inspires me.
    Setting feasible goals and planning ahead are also really useful. Even durind bad days I have a list of things that are to do but not that crucial. I move ahead even if it a little bit each time.
    It was a great idea to share motivation tips of all those fellow bloggers. Thank you 🙂

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    1. Thank you Eri! I think it’s so helpful to hear from others too, especially when they experience the same blogging issues 🙂 I agree, that is such a fantastic way to get going with your writing and stay inspired x

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  41. This was so fun to read everyone else’s responses – I especially love the advice about seeing other bloggers as “teammates.” That’s such a better way to look at it than competition. Thanks for inviting me to join this!

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  42. I always appreciate reading about how other bloggers manage during the times when their blogs are not getting the attention they deserve as I think we all go through this. I really appreciate the thoughts of these bloggers (many whose blogs I’ve read) in what pushes them through. Thanks for sharing this helpful post.

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  43. I love posts like this that share advice from more than one blogger. It is so inspiring to see different ways to stay motivated and continuously make the writing and sharing more heartfelt and exciting from people who are all doing their own thing uniquely.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  44. This was such an interesting read. I love that we all have such different ways of coping with something that affects us all. I love reading so much more on other bloggers’ experiences because I ALWAYS learn something!
    Thank you for sharing x

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  46. I love hearing insights from other bloggers. It’s actually a thing that motivates me. Blogging is hard work so it helps to hear how others experience and work through this. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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  47. This post came at the right time because I’ve been seriously unmotivated this month, due to a horrible bout of depression that hit me like a truck. Sometimes when I’m unmotivated, I don’t try and get out of it, I just ride it out. Which is what I did this time. I’m still not 100% but slowly easing myself back in now when the motivation does strike.

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  48. Thank you for sharing! It’s nice to hear from other bloggers on how to stay motivated. It’s really easy to feel discouraged and perhaps we feel alone because we don’t know other bloggers in real life. Blogging can be so rewarding we just have to stick with it through the hard times. Wonderful post!

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  50. I enjoy reading what everyone said about blogging struggles! I have been feeling that lately and work on how to stay motivated. Thank you for this lovely feedback from the bloggers 🙂

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