The Problem with 30 day Challenges

Connie - you're absolutely right.  I posted 35 articles in November for the Challenge and only 11 in December.  I probably would have posted more in December but I allow the holidays to take over my life.  I am back on the Challenge train, I have 5 in my Drafts folder, data for 3 more market reports/Hyperlocal posts and ideas for 6 more, one of which I will post tonight.  Not to mention I am commenting like mad!  Great post.

I've chosen to do some contests and not others. When the rules become a job in themselves, it's not fun. But having fallen off the blogging wagon for quite a while, I must admit that the contest gave me that extra push I needed.

That guy was on to something. Writing the posts, then going on vacation. Perfect.  

It just isn't right for everyone. I tend to find time and can write a post fairly quickly even those with 300 words. But the problem comes when it is no longer fun and enjoyable. That is when I would be like the person who took a long break from November to now. So what did that contest prove? It proved that blogging wasn't a priority or something he wanted to do each and every day and that is perfectly alright too.

Connie -- I forced myself to do the November challenge only because I had really fallen off due to being busy and having other responsibilities. It was tough. I hired help to do some research for me for future blogging but with a busy life outside of my job I have a hard time getting into a regular pattern. I do try, I have a bunch of posts in drafts, I have good intentions, and I will try harder... because i know it works for me.

Gosh, I know what you mean.  It's gotten to be habit for me to be online here on ActiveRain, and to comment daily, but after 2,000 articles, I'm getting a wee bit worn out.

Connie: I like to get on AR a couple of times a day and write about something that stood out that day. The contests need to have simple rules, so I can write about something that falls within what benefits me or is fun. When it starts to be like a job, and it takes a lot of time, I'm out. 

I have to admit. I accepted the November challenge and completed it BUT have not continued to blog. I love to read everyone else's. Going to get started back real soon. 

It is hard sometimes.  I was in the habit for years, than I'll take a couple months off where I post maybe 6 times in a full month.  I just got off one of those periods.  Life happens...

I am not doing the challenge this month and feel so relaxed. There are days I have not posted . It would be better if they just have us post a certain number of posts and specify the topics that month and we can post when we have time.

I'm with Conrad: it should not be stressful. I've found there are things I do and encounter daily that are excellent blogging fodder, it just takes some clarity. 

The $64,000 questions here, Connie. I must admit that when I participate in a challenge it spurs me on to maintain my posting schedule. But if I don't do a challenge the incentive does dry up a bit. Maybe it's because once I accept a challenge I want to live up to my own goals. But the need to deal with that challenge daily is stressful.

Blogging should not be stressful and certainly should not be done just because of a challenge. To get results you should be posting a blog every day any way. I love the challenges but agree the ones like this month that have SO MANY parts to them are stressful, confusing, too hard for some and more of a pain than a tool to get anyone to blog more. 30 blogs in 30 days are no problem, writing 5 Localism posts no problem, but message to the powers to be would be please do not add in 4, 5 or 6 tasks within a challenge. 

Connie, I hear you. I planned on doing a Jan challenge, and within a few days a busy day got me off course. I hit it as often as time and energy allow. 

Connie, there were a couple of challenges like the current one for January and you don't have to post daily...I think that's the best.  It takes away that stress of a daily post and the need to post in draft.  I've done the same thing after a 30 in 30 by taking more than a couple of days off mostly playing catch up.

Great question Connie. I would say we need a follow up challenge that isn't as stringent.  Something to keep the habit and the momentum but a bit less stressful.