If you read my first-ever post on the blog, you will know that I started a blog 3 or 4 times before actually launching a successful one. What held me back? FEAR. I consider myself to be a fairly confident person. I was not always that way. Ask my college friends, I was one of the shyest you could find. Hard to believe that now. Once I graduated, I found my groove and began to love who I am.
Even though, I am happy and confident, comparison can always creep back in. When I look at the blog, I see that I don’t have as many followers, can’t wear the same clothes others may wear, don’t have the same resources, and the list can go on. Once I have those thoughts, it can absolutely mess with my mood and day. Recently, this has been my go-to routine when those thoughts come in.
1. Write down 3 things you are grateful for
Practicing gratitude is always important on a good or bad day. The best thing about gratitude is that it is your own! It doesn’t matter how small or how unique your gratitude may be because the only person it matters to is you. On my most recent bad day, I was grateful for my ankle being strong enough to keep me upright as I slipped on some snow, for having a dishwasher, and the four-day weekend. Why was I thankful for those? I was approaching my 2-year anniversary of my ankle surgery that took longer to recover from then I would have liked. I love to cook and can’t stand doing dishes and had lived for 5 years without a dishwasher. I had been having a rough time at work so this weekend couldn’t have come at a better time.
2. Call someone who makes you laugh
My go-to laugh is my uncle. He suffered a traumatic brain injury over 15 years ago so sometimes our conversations are unpredictable, but often hysterical. His personality shines through and I get to go on many made up adventures. These 3 mins can truly turn my day around.
3. Create a list of why you started your venture and refer to it on a down day
I started my blog for two reasons: to have a creative outlet and to push myself towards my dreams of travel and experiences. It’s that simple. It can be so easy to get caught up in the numbers. How many views does your blog have? How many followers do you have on Instagram? It doesn’t really matter when I go back to my list, but I do thank you for reading!
4. Treat yourself to some self-care
Just like gratitude, self-care is unique to you so make it what you want! I have four options that work for me. Getting my nails done, taking a walk outside (this one isn’t so easy in Chicago in the winter!), getting a Dr. Pepper through the McDonald’s drive thru, and watching a movie or show that makes me happy (right now, it’s Crazy Rich Asians and Emily in Paris).
5. Remove your triggers
Identify what causes the comparison creep. For me, I don’t follow anyone on Instagram who does not add value. I will put my phone in another room. Don’t set goals that you can’t control. I can’t control my followers, but I can control how often I post on the blog. Have someone who can keep you accountable to staying positive.
Do you have any other tips that work for you? I’d love to hear if you try any of the above.
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