Hello beautiful readers! 

It has been quite some time since we last spoke, and I would like to apologize for my extended absence. I can make all kinds of excuses about how my other work has kept me busy or how life gets in the way, but the reality is that I am still finding my flow with this blog. I have had many opportunities to sit down and write out content, and I certainly have been using some of this hiatus to create work I think you’ll truly enjoy, but I hadn’t dedicated the necessary time to create a posting schedule that’s consistent enough to keep my readers engaged. Until now. 

What I have come to realize is that there are a lot of sources out there that will tell you what habits to form to be a successful, well rounded adult. Examples of habits are going to the gym consistently or using a planner to map out your daily tasks or using the 8+8+8 rule to maintain a balanced life. But what some of those sources don’t tell you is that you must use your discernment to decide what advice to take and then tailor that advice to how you operate as a person. 

You’ll see your favorite influencers, and they’ll tell you to go to the gym everyday, and you’ll take that advice and go to the gym everyday. They’ll say that they start every workout with 20 minutes of cardio, and you’ll do 20 minutes of the treadmill every day, and maybe you’ll love it, but more than likely you’ll hate it. And because you hate it, you’ll not go one time and give yourself a pass, and then you’ll continue to give yourself passes until you cancel your gym membership. And I’m saying all this because I have done it, and I know I cannot be the only one. I hated going to the gym everyday, and I hated doing the treadmill everyday, and it became such a chore for me that I eventually quit.

Fast forward about 3 years later to the present, and I have a new gym membership, and I am consistently going to the gym and loving it. So, what changed? I tailored the habit of going to the gym to what I knew I could sustain. So, instead of going to the gym everyday, I go to the gym every other day, and I give myself grace if things like work or extreme fatigue keep me from going on a day I usually would. And what I’ve found is that even if I don’t go to the gym for a week, the next available day I am able to go, I will go, and I will pick up where I left off with my routine. Also, instead of spending 30 minutes on the treadmill, I base my workouts around lifting, and I have found more enjoyment and satisfaction from lifting and noticing how much stronger and energetic I’m becoming.

Now, I can say I workout regularly, but I have not been able to say the same about creating content for all of you. Trust me, it is not from a lack of trying. I took lots of advice from successful bloggers. I created a bogging schedule with all my posts, so I knew what blog I needed to work on next and when to post it. I told myself I needed to post every Tuesday and Friday, so my readers could expect something from me on those specific days of the week. I tried to condition myself to write something each day, even if it sucked, and I used a scheduling app to plan out my day to include 2-3 hours dedicated to writing. But, most of the strategies I took from other successful bloggers, didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t wake up in time to stay on schedule or I’d get distracted with my other job or my friends or a tv show. And this has gone on for two months now. 

What I realized in the last two weeks is that if I am serious about creating an engaging blog, I do need to adopt a habit of writing and posting, and to do that successfully, I need to get real with myself about what I can sustain.

So, here’s what I plan to do to find my flow with blogging.

I am going to keep my posting schedule because it’s a great way to keep track of the blogs that are live and the ones that are in the works. I will not limit myself to specific days of the week for my posts and instead promise to do at least one a week for now. I bought an iPad, so I can write on the go, so I never have the excuse of needing a keyboard and a large screen to get in my writing groove. I will also use the next month or so to create a bank of blog posts, so if I do find myself burnt out from life, I can still post interesting content for you all and stay consistent. 

Lastly and most importantly, I am going to remind myself everyday that this blog and writing for you all is my personal legend, and I owe it to you all and especially myself to see it through.

So thank you for giving me grace and allowing me time to figure this whole blogging thing out. I promise to continue being transparent as you follow me on this journey. 

My name is Janyce-Monique and this is Simply Doin’ the Most. Thank you for reading, and remember to tailor habits to yourself to find your flow, so you can thrive.