All bloggers have done it…we get stuck in the Blogger Learning Curve.
You know what I mean… You take course after course. Watch webinar after webinar. Read newsletter after newsletter. Article after article. You spend so much time trying to figure out how to do it perfectly, that you stop making progress.
Have you de-prioritized the actual work of blogging?
In a profession like blogging, where things change every day and the path to success is never clearly defined, the ability to learn and adapt is so much a part of achievement. How do you prevent being overwhelmed with all there is to learn each day?
And we all know what happens when we’re overwhelmed:
- You get stuck.
- You don’t move.
- You’re not working on your own stuff.
If you feel like you can’t move forward until you read a book, finish a course, watch a series of webinars – or if you are spending more time learning than actually doing – you might need to Take Control of Your Learning Curve!
Get in Control of Your Learning Curve!
How to Take Control of the Blogger Learning Curve
Let’s face it, if we’re not learning then we’re not growing.
You’ve heard the saying, everything in moderation, right?
Moderation is the key to learning as a blogger too.
You have to set boundaries, otherwise, your life will become a series of courses, eBooks, and webinars.
And you won’t have the time or energy to actually do the work and grow your own blog.
Rules to Getting in Control of Your Learning Curve
Focus on One Area
Decide what you need to learn first. What’s the most important thing for your blog right now? What do you think would benefit you the most? What do you struggle with?
That’s the area of learning you should focus on first.
Only Take One Course at a Time
Whether it’s free or paid, focus on learning one thing at a time. Anything more than that will divide your attention and eat up too much of your time, and then it becomes all about the course and less about working on your blog.
Read One Book at a Time
Read one book all the way through to the end before starting another. I’m embarrassed to say I have so many eBooks on my laptop, it’s not even funny. And the truth is, I used to get them and then skim through to see if I could pull the best stuff out right away.
No more. I get what I like but file it away for later when I’m finished reading my current book. If I see something that interests me, I get it and file it away to be read after I finish the one I’m currently reading.
Choose Your Favorites
Let’s face it, we all have our favorites , and that’s okay. I’ve loved learning from Holly Homer, Becky Mansfield, and Paula Rollo.
It’s really important you choose someone who is already succeeding at what you want to learn. Learn from someone who has actually done it, not someone who has a theory about it.
But it’s not just about who you like. It’s about how you want your blog and your business to perform.
Allow a Set Amount of Time
This is a tip that works well, but it can look different for everyone.
Only you know how much you can do in a day, how much time you have, and how fast you learn. Give yourself a specified amount of time to learn.
Need help managing your time? Check out this post!
Make Learning a Reward
This has probably been the most helpful for me. I reward myself with learning time, like at the end of the day when I’ve done with what I need to do for my blog, I’ll take an hour to read a helpful book, do work in a course or watch a webinar. But only after I’ve finished what I need to!
This way I don’t have the guilt of avoiding my own work and not moving forward due to learning.
Don’t Chase After the Latest Shiny Penny
This is huge.
You don’t need to learn everything from everyone.
I used to think every time a new course or book came out, I needed to get it (especially if it was free!). Nowadays, I guard my time more. If it’s not on my list of things I need to learn or need help with, I pass it by.
Sometimes I have to remind myself “I will not sign up for another course I don’t have time to take.”
I’ve signed up for way too many courses that I either couldn’t attend the online training or that just sat in my inbox (like, for years!). Believe me, all it does is stress you out more.
There will always be things you don’t know that you probably should. There will always be something to learn. That’s GREAT! The learning and growth are the things that keep me excited about blogging. What about you?
Do you feel in control of your learning or is it out of control? We’d love to hear how you manage it in the comments!
Katharine
That’s wonderful advice. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by all the learning information and activities related to blogging.
Kimi Clark
It sure is! I hope these tips help Katharine!
Chantal Steele
I love these tips. I think the overwhelm is what causes so many people to quit. In my first six months, I had information overload. Now I hesitate to buy any more books or courses because it’s mostly regurgitated information. Again, great tips! Wish I’d seen this two years ago.
Kimi Clark
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed Chantal, I agree. We just can’t quit! 🙂
Gina Gardner
Great advice! All spot on! Thanks for helping to spread the wisdom.
Kimi Clark
Thank you for reading Gina!
Tanya
Thanks Kim!! Not chasing the last shinny penny is a big deal for me! Everyday a new how too or seminar pops up saying do this and everything will take shape faster. It is so hard not to chase the new. Just continuing to start over with new is not working.
Kimi Clark
I’m SO with you on that Tanya! It’s so tempting because we think things are taking too long to jump to something new that we think will work better But then we have to put just as much work into the new thing too. If I would have stuck with my first blog back in 2009 who knows where I’d be now. But, onward and upward. We learn from our mistakes and keep pushing on!
Kim Andrysczyk
It takes time to get to this realization. I am finally able to move forward and work for a while without getting sidetracked into learning mode. But, it was hard in the beginning to know what “one thing” to actually focus on–do the one thing you know about. Because I didn’t know what I didn’t know–to know if there was something else that I should be doing first. You have to get sucked into the learning whirlpool for a while first. I think it’s part of the journey.
Kimi Clark
I think so too Kim but I think it’s helpful to put limits on it even from the beginning, I thought I had to take every course and read every book I came across, and didn’t realize how much time I was actually spending on learning. I finally came to the realization that I had to limit my learning time because I wasn’t giving myself enough time to take action on what I was learning. But we live and we learn, right? Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Melanie Thomas
I was just thinking about this the other day. I can’t tell you how many courses I’ve purchased over the years that I didn’t end up doing. They were all things I wanted to learn, but finding time to do them is another story. I hate to even think of all the money I’ve wasted this way.
Kimi Clark
You’re not alone Melanie, I’ve done the same thing! Choose a course that you already have (that’s relevant to what you’re working on and need to learn) instead of purchasing a new one and set a strict time limit to work on it. Let me know how it goes!
Shannon Schmid
This is such a great reminder! Last year I limited the blogging conferences I attended until I had time to actually apply what I learned already first. It’s so easy to get caught up in new bells and whistles – thanks for the reminder to pace myself!
Kimi Clark
Sounds like you’re off to the right start Shannon! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Neena
Hi Kimi,
You hit close to home with this one.
I am drowning in great courses that I want to savor – but have no time to take.
I decided to slow it down and do one at time. Wear those blinders, that’s the only way. 😉
Kimi Clark
I totally agree Neena! One at a time, and finish what I have before getting any more! 🙂