Remember that time I said that i would start posting again once break started and I didn't have school to worry about? Well....it's been over a week and still nothing. I've found an excuse not to write every single day and I finally figured out why.

I don't enjoy blogging.

I don't feel like I'm doing it for myself. I feel like I have to be extra funny or cater to a certain audience with my posts. I don't want to seem whiny or too sarcastic or put something out here that will offend or otherwise draw negative attention to myself. So that pretty much sucks all the joy out of writing... (and let's face it, it's more work than a twitter post or an instagram)

I care too much about what others think. I always have.

I've seen so many bloggers be affected by negative comments and judgements from others. From small bloggers to the large, well-known Pinterest goddesses of the blogosphere...I haven't been affected yet but I know I will take it personally when it does happen. 

On the other hand, I know I want to have this blog to look back on throughout my medical education. I want to see the growth. I want to see how my life changes. In order to do that, I gotta write.

From now on...I have to be Heather. Just Heather. I'll write when I want, about whatever sounds good at the moment. I hope you all will still be around to read it! 

I'm done with worrying about numbers, social media, sponsorships, and anything else extra. I just can't take it! It makes me miserable. I want to write and interact with you all and be done with it.

Enough with the excuses...if you don't like how things are going, you have to change it or you'll keep getting the same results! This goes with everything else in my life too: school, getting healthy, relationships, etc. 

I have lots of updates for you all in the next couple days. I just wanted to get this off my chest and start fresh.  Here's to a year filled with more blogging and progress!

Shameless selfie :)

With almost three months of blogging under my belt, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this blog and where I see it all going. I've made so many amazing connections and blog friends in such a short time. I'm so glad that I FINALLY followed through on something that I've always wanted to do. Yay for going out on a limb!

The problem is that once classes start my priorities are going to shift in a dramatic way. School is going to be my highest priority and there will probably be an adjustment period where I can't blog as much.  I need to hit the ground running with my studying and acclimation to school. 

At the same time, I think blogging is going to be a great way for me to keep in touch with my loved ones and with this community that we are building here. I need this space for accountability, catharsis, and stress relief. I need to read about your lives and your personal journeys. My life doesn't need to completely center around studying medicine. There needs to be a balance. 

Part of this balance is going to be making sure that I'm taking care of myself and my personal needs. Maybe that's why I'm so excited to start medical school - I get to be unapologetically selfish (I'm an only child so I'm pretty good at it). In order to be the best student possible I have to make sure I'm getting my workouts in (for health and for personal sanity) and getting enough sleep and eating healthy so I have the energy and stamina to study my butt off.

I guess my point in all this is that things are going to change around here. I've been trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing and I haven't been focusing on why I started to blog. To add to the confusion, I haven't even really established what kind of blogger I am. Am I a "twenty-something blogger" or a "healthy living blogger? Am I a "medical student blogger" or a "lifestyle blogger"? I'm not really sure which is why things seem to be all over the place right now.

What I've learned the past few months is this: I'm not cut out to follow the unwritten blogging rules. It stresses me out. Numbers and followers and sponsors and giveaways. From now on, I'm doing things my way. Maybe I'll have giveaways, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll keep sponsoring, maybe I won't. I'm writing my own rules. I'm hoping by embracing this notion, I'll be a more efficient blogger and writing will start to be a stress-reliever instead of a stressor (and more fun!). The status quo will  not work once I start school - and that's okay. There are so many bloggers that I look up to and admire but I can't keep comparing myself to them!

I hope you all will continue to stick around even though things might be changing. I hope you will share in my journey through medicine and gain some insight into the life of medical student. Please know that I am forever greatful for the support everyone has shown me thus far!  

Despite the changes in my time and priorities, I will make a few promises to myself and to you. 

1. I'm still going to be posting 3-4 times a week! 

2. My fitness/health journey is going to be a huge part of my writing & will continue to be honest and candid.

3. Medicine is going to take center stage in many of my posts.

4. Weigh In Wednesday is still on!

5. Soon I'm going to start vlogging to save time and just check in!

I'm really excited for the future and I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep doing what you do, blogland and I'll keep trying to keep some balance in my crazy life.

Guess what?

Yesterday was my ONE month Blog-aversary!

I totally forgot with all the excitement of the link-up.  Thank you to everyone that participated, especially my co-hosts!  You all rock my socks off!  You can keep linking up if you're tardy for the party.  Just go to the post here.

I'm reaching the point where I might want to share my blog with my friends.  How long did you all wait until you told friends or family?  A few select people already know about the blog and have browsed it a bit but I haven't made a point about making it public.  Not sure if I want to yet...Any advice?

If you like what you see here, feel free to add me on my other social media outlets.  I'm going to start using the Facebook page now that I'm writing pretty regularly so look for updates there!  If you are following on GFC, I highly recommend also following on Bloglovin' - GFC is disappearing in June and BL is a great way to see all the blogs you know and love in one place!

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Bloglovin'

I have a lot of exciting things planned for the next few months - both on the blog and in "real" life.  I'm thankful I have this outlet now to document this stage of my life.  More importantly, I'm humbled and excited by all the amazing people I've already met on here.  You all inspire and motivate me! 

Cheers!  It's almost the weekend!