Monday, July 21, 2008

In which I blame Eva for all of my problems...

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.

22 comments:

Antropóloga said...

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.

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Oh 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?!?

I 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.

Kris said...

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.

kristi said...

I do it the old way. I haven't done the bloglines thing.

Dooneybug said...

I 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.

Tabitha said...

That happens to me too!! Sometimes I am so busy visiting everyone else, that I just don't have time to post!!
I don't have the bloglines thingy ~ I must be doing it the old way!!
love and hugs ~ Tabitha XXXX

Amanda said...

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!!
And with young children, time is precious!!
Love,
Amanda xx

Lindz said...

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.

dani said...

would eva mind if i blame her, too???
love,
dani

moo said...

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

I 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.

Mary said...

I have 225 unread posts right now on Google Reader. I feel like I'm never going to catch up!

Unknown said...

bloglines. I'm gonna have to try that :)

Danielle said...

I 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!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm and I was thnking that I should switch to the feeds....

Is 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...

TEACHBROECK said...

I must keep myself from checking out new blogs or I will be in the same boat!

Jen said...

Wow! I think III might have to get bloglines... Y'all are selling me on it!

Lainey-Paney said...

I still haven't set up a bloglines account...
I suck.

Anonymous said...

This sounds interesting...I learn so much from you...I'll have to check it out. ;)

And thanks for visiting my blog regularly...YAAAY!!! You are a welcome friend that I would miss hearing from. :)

amanda said...

totally get it.

i 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.

Dana said...

oh sorry... Blogging should be fun!!! And I know how you feel - mine keeps growing and greowing too!!

Melissa said...

I 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.

Becks said...

I 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
can I possibly say 'free time' anymore?!