For the longest time, I did not use a blog reader. I clicked on the links in my blogroll, and checked every site individually. I did this twice a day - once during naptime and once in the evening. A few months ago, I was talking to Eva on the phone. She recommended using Bloglines to save time. Intrigued, I decided to set up a Bloglines account.
Initially, I had about thirty feeds. And Eva was right - I was saving tons of time by not visiting sites that had not updated. I had so much extra time, that I started reading more blogs. And then I started reading even more blogs. I am now reading 62 blogs. 62! Holy crap!
So instead of saving time, I am now spending even MORE time on the computer. And it is overwhelming. Sometimes I will open up my Bloglines account, only to discover that I have 58 new posts to read. I'll think, How can that be? I just checked my Bloglines account this morning. Apparently, you guys love writing.
Maybe this is part of my inability to write a decent post? It seems like every spare minute of my free time is devoted to reading your blogs, not to writing on my own blog. So, I think I am going to scale back on my reading a bit. Somehow, I have managed to take all of the fun out of blogging.
Been there myself. :) Imagine when I was coming back from Europe. I had like 300 unread posts to catch up on! You can only do so much but I am still working on the backlog.
ReplyDeleteOh I hear ya! Lately I've been feeling so stressed cuz I haven't been visiting all my bloggie friends' blogs...and haven't been responding to every comment left on my blog, either. (Not that I get so many they're uncontrollable - and that's part of my stress!) I realize I'm the one putting this on myself, and that its silly...but how do you stop from feeling that way?!?
ReplyDeleteI know that I need to remove myself from bloggie-land somewhat, though - my house is all but in shambles...I'm not even bringing my laptop home from work tonight so that I don't end up reading or posting to my blog, or plurking.
My list keeps growing... all AllMediocre is not helping lol. I really enjoy reading them... But there are some that definately don't get read as much when things come up. Even ones I normally don't go w/out checking (like yours) I've been known to miss for a few days (or weeks) and all the sudden it hits me and there's several posts to catch up on. I didn't realize when I started how addicting blogging is.
ReplyDeleteI do it the old way. I haven't done the bloglines thing.
ReplyDeleteI hear you sister! I currently have 487 unread posts in my feeder. Woo-hoo! I also recently scaled back on my reading. One of the reasons I have so many unread ones is that I subscribe to a gossip blog so they post tons. But sometimes I do have to go through my list and cut-out reads I no longer feel invested in. I think you just have to do that sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me too!! Sometimes I am so busy visiting everyone else, that I just don't have time to post!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have the bloglines thingy ~ I must be doing it the old way!!
love and hugs ~ Tabitha XXXX
I have a blog update thing that lets me know when the blogs i read have been updated too, and it does save alot of time!!
ReplyDeleteAnd with young children, time is precious!!
Love,
Amanda xx
So I went and signed up for bloglines too... we'll see if I can ever figure it out completely. Thanks cuz now I can blame you for all of my problems. In one weekend I managed to join 20-something bloggers and bloglines, yow.
ReplyDeletewould eva mind if i blame her, too???
ReplyDeletelove,
dani
I understand your pain. Before google reader, I would also obsessively check my blogroll during the day for updates. Since then, I'm sure everyone's stats have gone WAAAAY down. lol
ReplyDeleteI have (gulp) over 100 in my reader. But I do not always comment (so count yourself lucky today) because that would be all I did, all day long. GAH.
I have 225 unread posts right now on Google Reader. I feel like I'm never going to catch up!
ReplyDeletebloglines. I'm gonna have to try that :)
ReplyDeleteI have doen the same thing. I have about a gazillion blogs in my reader...and I never get to all of them. I just say oh well and delet and start over the next day!
ReplyDeleteHmmm and I was thnking that I should switch to the feeds....
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else feeling like these BlogHer posts are overwhelming. There are so many links to blogs I don't know - and my OCD tendencies have me automatically checking each and every one. I may need to take a break from reading blogs until that dies down...
I must keep myself from checking out new blogs or I will be in the same boat!
ReplyDeleteWow! I think III might have to get bloglines... Y'all are selling me on it!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't set up a bloglines account...
ReplyDeleteI suck.
This sounds interesting...I learn so much from you...I'll have to check it out. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for visiting my blog regularly...YAAAY!!! You are a welcome friend that I would miss hearing from. :)
totally get it.
ReplyDeletei mean not the blaming eva part. i don't know her. although i am sure she is lovely :)
i blame a broken google a few weeks back which led me to a reader. which now leads me to today. an overflowing reader.
oh sorry... Blogging should be fun!!! And I know how you feel - mine keeps growing and greowing too!!
ReplyDeleteI just signed up for google reader. And while it has made keeping up with blogs so much easier, it's horrible for my productivity otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI totally get it! I don't have any type of bloglines thingy but I always save a blog I like to my favorites and check daily. I got out of hand and had no spare time and maybe even was neglecting Sophia a teesy bit. I have cut back. Plus with Sophia NOT sleeping I have no time anyways. BUT it can totally take over your free time. However I will always check yours on my free time..lol
ReplyDeletecan I possibly say 'free time' anymore?!