Welcome to my feature Chuckles Weekend Roundup where I will be looking at what books I've received, anything interesting I've done or bought or watched and other random stuff. I'll be taking a look back at what happened in my blogging world too, sort of like The Sunday Post that some of you do!
Please note that I'll be visiting your STS/SP as normal, but I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow DISQUS to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I am the only one who does that on my social media! I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. Sometimes, I have problems leaving messages on blogs hosted by Wordpress-they try to block me because I deleted my account with them but I will persevere as it only happens the odd time!
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It's been a weird kind of week. I planned to take the week off to read and catch up with book reviews but my dad told me to take a total break from the blog and my books. All I've done this week really is flop in front of the TV watching fun stuff I enjoy. On the reading side I only really looked at a few more books by an author I sort of fell out of love with-Jack Hunt. His actual writing and plots are fine but in every book the characters bug the hell out of me so I'm struggling to complete any. It seemed like an ideal week to get stuff done and I got five more books off the pile this way. In a way it was 'productive reading' even though it wasn't! I'm not complaining. The quicker I get through this pile of books the happier I'll be!
I still have the issue of what to do about the blog. I do admit that being away from it and not writing book reviews was a relief and I enjoyed not having to worry about getting stuff done. I guess I need more thinking time! As I said before. I'm not ready to quit the blog but I do need to find a way to make it easier to co-exist with. I think a lot of bloggers are looking for the same answers and coming up blank! The books I'm adding are still from the splurge earlier this summer where I went mad on cheap political books!
PAPERBACKS
Chuckles Blogging World
Didn't do much of anything this week really though I did visit a few blogs and catch up on comments one morning.
Book Reviews
none this week
Regular Posts
Chuckles Friday Reading Roundup
Around The Blogs With Chuckles
Top Ten Tuesday
Books From The Backlog
Discussion Posts
Chuckles Chuntering
Book Challenges
Tackling The TBR
Autumn Reading List
Films & TV
I have been watching episodes of things I've never seen before like My Kitchen Rules, Outback Opal Hunters and Outback Truckers, and I've been enjoying them. Now I need to hunt down all the episodes for winter viewing!
Book Tags/Blog Awards
none this week
Currently Reading/Up Next
I did well with my reading last weekend and got three books done for the Author Alphabet Soup Challenge, leaving just my book for Q which I wasn't in the mood for and no author for X yet. After that I only read the Boggy Creek book as I wasn't feeling like reading through the week. I'm not sure what I'll be in the mood to read next week!
It helps when you don't feel you have to review every book you read. I know that relieves a lot of the pressure on me. Sometimes just listing the books you've read with your ratings is enough. Good luck figuring it out! And enjoy your weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteI've always been in the habit of reviewing everything since I first joined Goodreads so I don't see me changing that but if I can catch up with the last of the backlog and review each book as soon as I read it, maybe that would be the big difference to me for time management!
DeleteI had a lean blogging patch over the summer and changed stuff so I'm now much happier with my reading/blogging balance. It's no fun if it feels like a chore so your dad's probably right for you to take time away and refresh yourself
ReplyDeleteI agree that I must make changes that I can work with or I'll end up stopping the blog which I don't want to do yet! It seems to be taking ages to do the thinking but ideas are forming so there is hope!
DeleteIt's good you took a break. Maybe consider posting less, and just do the type of posts you enjoy most.
ReplyDeleteIf I can catch up with the book reviews and then just review each book as soon as I read it, that would make a difference. I'll also be looking at what takes the most time to post and how I can speed it up or cut things out. I certainly have to cut down the work to avoid this burnout!
DeleteI'm with Samantha about posting less. I've been posting less this month (mainly less reviews since my reading time isn't as big due to my new job) and honestly, it has been great! 2 books a week, roughly and one or two non-review posts scattered throughout, sometimes just one on the weekend, has helped rejuvenate me. I don't feel overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find a solution that doesn't involve having to close down the blog but at the same time, I'd completely understand if that was what was needed.
Bookstooge.wordpress.com
Yes I do need to post less. I'm thinking about just doing the Top Ten Tuesday posts that interest me instead of struggling to think of my own topics on the weeks I can't be bothered with the chosen topic. That would save time. And I must get these backlog reviews out the way. Then I can look at things again and hopefully feel better!
DeleteI am so glad that you were able to give yourself a break and just focus on things you enjoy doing. I have had to take days off from time to time when I know I need it. One thing that I did a few years ago that has helped me is cut my posts down to no more than one per day. I do review most of what I read but if I just feel like writing a few quick words on goodreads and leaving at that - that is okay. I would say just do the parts that you enjoy and skip the rest at least for a while. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWhat concerns me is that I enjoyed being off the computer too much! I'll be honest, I don't see me still blogging in five years time unless my new plans turn out really good! But if I make these changes now and get the reviews done, I can reassess how it all looks at the end of the year and hopefully face next year with more time for non computer fun stuff!!! Being able to do reviews as soon as I read them will free up so much time...but to get there I need to dig in over the next few weeks and break the backlog!
DeleteSounds like Dad knew just what you needed! I am glad the break helped you. It is hard finding a balance and hopefully you figure out something that works for you soon.
ReplyDeleteMy energy levels are now linked to my sleeping pattern-one insomnia night and it throws me off for days!
DeleteI think I used to be so much happier with blogging when I had posts planned ahead and it was never a last minute "oh gosh gotta get a review written before I turn into a pumpkin"... one day I'll get back there! One day!
ReplyDeleteUntil I get this review backlog dealt with, I won't feel better! I'll be trying to get a pile done this week to post and HOPEFULLY extra to keep for next week! I need to get ahead on a few other posts too so it could be a busy week!
DeleteI’ve had to take a semi-hiatus from blogging this summer because it was getting too stressful. I think that was a smart move. I can’t do everything and get enough sleep. Sometimes you need a break, right? I’m looking forward to throwing myself fully into blogging this fall/winter.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I hate those tired unproductive days and this weekend proved to be full of them! I hope I'm less tired next week! I hope you feel refreshed and ready to go for autumn!
DeleteI agree with the comments above about posting less and only posting when you want to post now when you feel like you need to be posting.
ReplyDeleteI've felt so overwhelmed keeping on top of things (especially lately with work kicking my behind!) and I've been debating about what to do about it too. I'm almost caught up on my back log of reviews and I've been super good at writing a review after finishing a book this summer (even if I don't post it straight away) and that's helped a lot.
Good luck finding a balance!
I only really want to be on the blog doing things at the weekend so the week is free for other stuff-that's the plan, but first I need to get ahead in a few posts and complete the book reviews. Ugh, lots of work this week! I do plan to end up writing reviews as soon as I read the books and I want to start with that next month sometime or November at the very latest!
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