Five Tips For Blogging When You Have Depression

You might have heard writing can be a powerful way to encourage mental wellness. Perhaps you’ve even considered blogging. But what does that actually look like when you have depression?

When I set up Bravely, I really struggled to figure out how to actually blog. I stumbled upon countless articles showing me how to start a blog. The content in these articles seem to follow the same formula: tutorial style with affiliate links to hosting services. However, to date I’ve not found any relevant information about how to maintain a regular, consistent blogging practice when you have depression.

That’s why I’m sharing this post with you, because as a woman with depression who is learning to advocate for her own mental health, we need to ensure the topic of “depression” becomes more widespread online.

*PLEASE NOTE: This post and other posts on my site may contain affiliate links. All this means is that I get a small compensation if you purchase from one of the links in my post… at NO extra cost to you! For details, please view my affiliate disclosure page

BLOGGING IS DIFFERENT WHEN YOU HAVE DEPRESSION

When I started Bravely, I immersed myself in online tutorials, blogging challenges and social media, in the hope of discovering how to grow my blog.

But my efforts always ended up in disappointment. I’d make a little bit of progress but no traction.

Depression can make it difficult to follow through on the things that matter most to you. Much of the content around blogging assumes you are a highly motivated, driven individual.

But when you are navigating low-mood and depression, reading and trying to implement this advice can be triggering – in my case, I very quickly became discouraged and my blogging efforts became sporadic as a result. Here are my five best tips for blogging when you have depression

#1 – Give Yourself a Voice

Our stories matter. You matter. Blogging for me, is not about social metrics, key words and marketing. Of course these things are important, but they are not what drives me. What inspires me to blog is the chance to give the almost imperceptible whisper of my inner being, a voice.

#2 – Focus on What Inspires You

When I look back on the posts I have published, I notice they read as formulaic and disjointed. My writing flow has been interrupted by the pressure to adhere to the blogging “rules”. These are the things constantly being pushed when you are searching for how to blog. Don’t emulate, innovate. Be brave, focus on what matters to you knowing it’s okay to develop your own blogging style.

#3 – Give Space to Your Creative Side

Sounds scary right, breaking the rules? But what you have to realize is these rules are often not relevant to us. In general, the blogging strategy is to focus on honing your niche, so you can create content that is optimized for search engines. And while this is an important consideration it may not be the best place to start.

When I first started Bravely, I truly wished someone had encouraged me to blog from the space of introspection, self-awareness and felt-experience. Why? Well this simple shift brought to life the idea of working my blog around what those of us with depression “search” for when we want to start a blog (or business).

#4 – View Challenges as Signposts

Depression demands so much precious time and energy, and what we don’t need is to be caught up in the cycle of trying to adhere to an unrealistic blogging model!. When marketing pressure is put on our blogging efforts, we can become deeply depleted. Taking action on building your blog can be especially challenging when you are facing mental health concerns. And that’s why it’s so important to view challenges as helpful sign-posts. For example, being stuck in a marketing model that feels awful throws up a LOT of challenges. When I pay attention to the pressure and discomfort, I notice something.

Each particular challenge is like a sign-post pointing to a hidden truth. Until eventually I realize, oh, the way blogging is generally marketed doesn’t really take into consideration the particular challenges faced by those of us with depression. If this sounds like you, know that it’s okay, I’m right here with you on the learning journey.

#5 – Be Your Own Kind of Brave

In the midst of an online world that defines success as something you achieve, where our efforts are viewed as a measure of our worth, stop searching for blogging validation. It takes courage to do things differently.

Your true worth is an intangible, inner quality that shines with potential. You don’t need the distraction and overwhelm of trying to adhere to unrealistic blogging practices. What you do need is to take brave action on the things that matter to you.
Share your blogging challenges and triumph online using the hashtag #beyourownkindofbrave

BLOGGING ROADBLOCKS TO BE AWARE OF

When you are searching for information and resources to empower your blogging efforts, the messaging you find could be problematic for a person experiencing mental health concerns.

Information about how to blog is generally limited to how to start a blog, which is based on the assumption you’ll know what to do next.
Information around growing your blog focuses largely on social networking and paid advertising.
Blog growth is measured by numbers and key analytics, which can feel restrictive and overwhelming.
Information is presented in a manner that assumes you are a highly-driven, productive individual. There’s no space for those of us who have depression, a condition that corrodes your confidence and sense of identity.

Final Thoughts

The shocking truth about depression is it zaps your energy, overwhelms your nervous system and undermines your true values. Blogging can give you something to focus on, helping you to reign in the overwhelm, while you gradually build out a growing resource that can benefit others.

Here’s some ways to help you focus:

Give yourself some grace and take small action-steps on your blog each day. View every action you take in your blogging efforts as a small win against depression.

Focus on sharing your challenges and triumphs, as you find your blogging voice.

But most of all, believe you can. You can make a valuable contribution to the world, as well as a livelihood through your blog.

I’m proof that you don’t need to be an expert to create content that people will be interested in. All you need is your story and your voice.

PS: Here on the blog I’ll do my best to bring you helpful, simple tools, articles and free resources to help boost your mental health and empower your blogging aspirations. If there’s anything you’d like me to address, please let me know in the comments below.

What do you think brave friend? Are you thinking of starting or do you have your own blog? Please share your thoughts (and blog links) in the comments below.