I find one of the hardest things with blogging long term is continually finding inspiration. I go through periods where I just really don’t have many ideas for posts or when I’m just totally uninspired to upkeep the site. As with anything, there is definitely burnout in blogging. So when I find myself needing inspiration and a push to keep myself going I employ these tips to help me get through those moments of not knowing for sure where to start.
File Post Ideas Away for a Rainy Day
I find that sometimes I’ll get ideas for posts at random times during the day when I’m doing something else. In those moments I always make sure to write them down and keep a list of post ideas constantly so that when those inspiration ruts hit, I have a list of good ideas to write about.
Schedule Posts Ahead
I’m a big fan of pre-scheduling posts. My posts go live at 6am every weekday morning but most of them are written at least a week or more prior to posting. I’ll take advantage of a free afternoon or a morning in a coffeeshop and write a bunch of posts and schedule them out for a couple weeks. Scheduling posts ahead helps you get through those weeks when you really don’t know what to talk about since you’ve already gone ahead and scheduled posts in advance.
Take Inspiration from Magazines
My biggest inspiration when I’m having a hard time coming up with ideas is to flip through some of my favorite magazines. I’ll take something I see and run with it in a different way. Often times some of my most popular posts come from ideas I’ve taken from magazines, both travel ones and fashion magazines. I’m not in anyway saying to copy a magazine’s idea, but using it as inspiration and putting your own spin on an idea is totally ok!
Take Screenshots of Ideas that Inspire You
I keep a folder on my computer desktop with screenshots of ideas I find randomly throughout my day. Whether it’s a cool graphics idea or a post idea, I’ll screenshot it and add it to the folder. It helps me when I have a bit of an idea but need to build on it.
Take Advantage of Moments of Inspiration
I love to take advantage of times when I’m full of inspiration and let it all come out at one period of time. If I’m feeling really inspired, I’ll sit down and write for hours at a time and schedule a whole grouping of posts for future weeks, that way I’m covered in those periods when I’m less than inspired. When you have so much inspiration coming out of you, use it to your advantage.
Kati Rose says
I’m thoroughly impressed that you write out your posts over a week in advance. Major props to you. That’s been one of my resolutions for 2015 and blogging, but I don’t know how I could manage more than a few days in advance. I really like the idea of creating an inspiration folder of sorts – I may need to seriously consider doing this.
Casey says
I find it really helps me to write a bunch at a time when I’m feeling really inspired… plus my schedule is kind of crazy often times so it helps if I don’t have to worry about the blog for a few days!
Miles of Happiness says
Thanks for this great post!
Casey says
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Lani says
I definitely feel like it’s feast or famine when it comes to the lightning bug we call inspiration. I’d like to get into scheduling posts ahead, so I’m grateful for the reminder. I stopped posting once a week and then decided to do it whenever I felt like it. This has been freeing and it fit my schedule, but I’d like to build up an vault of goodies to choose from…so I better get to it! Thanks.
Casey says
I agree… I find it either hits me all at once or not at all sometimes! That’s why scheduling posts can be super helpful!
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
I am really trying to get better at scheduling ahead and writing posts in advance. I end up starting drafts and then am rushing to finish them the night before.
Casey says
It really does help! I just sit down and write a bunch when I’m inspired and then I always feel like a weight lifted when I really need posts and they are already to go!
JustMelKate says
I love reading posts like this, they in themselves help give me that little bit more motivation, thanks for sharing lovely!
Mel x
http://www.justmelkate.blogspot.com
Casey says
Oh I’m so glad! 🙂
Lizzie @ Wanderful World says
Creating an inspiration folder/doc is something I’ve started doing recently that really helps. Every time I see a post/picture/story/ANYTHING(!) that inspires an idea, I whack it in the document. Then, at the start of each week I’ll go through the document and weedle out the good ideas and expand them into posts.
Casey says
It really helps!!! I find myself reaching into that folder when I need a little push and I’m always so glad to have it! I love your system… sounds so great!
Nikki @The Pin the Map Project says
This is a great post and it’s definitely something I work on for my own site, http://www.thepinthemapproject.com. My inspiration as a travel blogger obviously comes from travel but the fact is I am not always jetting off to an exotic destination so it’s helpful to think of ways to gather inspiration.
Casey says
So true! I’m in the same boat, I’m not constantly jetting off to places so in the in between times it’s really nice to have some ideas set aside.
SELINA says
I am also writer of a travel blog ( http://www.traveling-lady.com) and agree with you that sometimes it is hard to keep inspiration levels up. But this post is a great motivation itself!
Thanks a lot 🙂
Casey says
Thanks so much! And yes, it’s often hard to keep inspired, but it’s times like those that are so great to have ideas saved for a rainy day 🙂