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Unique Blogger Award

~ Holly ~ 23 Comments

Sometimes little surprises can completely make your day. Every time I’m tagged or nominated in posts like this Unique Blogger Award it reminds me of the loveliness of the bookish blogging community. Thanks so much to Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts for nominating me!!

  • Share the link of the blogger who has shown love to you by nominating you.
  • Answer the questions.
  • In the spirit of sharing love and solidarity with our blogging family, nominate 8-13 people for the same award.
  • Ask them three questions.

What is your favorite Disney film and character (they don’t have to be from the same thing)? Why?

I have so many Disney favorites, but my most recent one is Rapunzel and Tangled in general. I love the songs, the humor, the story, THE LANTERNS– everything!

How do you handle your TBR list when it gets out of control?

Usually by piling more books on top of it *hides in shame.* In actuality, when I notice that my TBR is getting a little out of control (on my Goodreads shelf, for instance) I’ll go through it and weed out books that I’m not really interested in readying anymore. Sometimes I don’t even remember why I added a book to my TBR in the first place!

What is your favorite type of post to blog about?

I love writing fun discussion posts for several reasons: a) they’re a blast to write, b) they spark awesome conversations in the comments section, and c) they help me look at other perspectives on a topic and see arguments from different angles.

  1. Do you have a favorite book genre?
  2. How do you feel about what is considered to be “classic” literature?
  3. What has been your favorite experience blogging so far?

Thanks again to Jenna for nominating me! What are your answers to these questions? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

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Liebster Award | 6

~ Holly ~ 20 Comments

I hope you’re all having a great Friday! Today I’m here to share another Liebster Award. Thanks so much to Lyndsey @ Lyndsey’s Book Blog for tagging me!!

  • Thank the person(s) who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions they gave you.
  • Nominate 11 blogs and let them know they’ve been tagged.
  • Give them 11 questions to answer.

If you could live in any fictional world (doesn’t have to be fantasy, just any book world) which would it be?

Definitely Middle-earth!! Choosing a specific location there would be really difficult, though… they all sound so beautiful.

Which fantasy creature would you love to have as a pet?

Probably a phoenix because Fawkes is so darn cute. 

If you could control one of the elements (earth, air, water, fire) which would you choose?

I would choose to control water because then I could walk around without an umbrella and not get wet.

Do you prefer tea or coffee? How do you take it?

I’m an avid tea drinker and always drink it black.

Would you rather be too hot or too cold?

Too cold because you can always put on more layers. Also, sweaters! Fuzzy socks! Steaming mugs of tea!

What’s your favorite color?

Yellow! Though recently I’ve taken a liking to light pink as well.

 

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

EDWARD. Funny you should ask because my mom has been reading the Twilight series lately and watching the movies… I keep having flashbacks to when I read them in middle school!

Go to your Goodreads to read list, what’s the fifth book on your list?

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. I’ve been meaning to read it for YEARS, but I always forget about it when I go to pick up a new book.

Ketchup or mayonnaise?

Definitely ketchup! I hardly ever eat mayo.

Do you prefer paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks or audiobooks?

PAPERBACKS. I love reading physical books and paperbacks are smaller and cheaper than hardbacks. I do like listening to audiobooks every once in a while, especially while doing other things like exercising, knitting, etc.

Who would be your dream book boy/girlfriend?

My answer to this question is always Jonah from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. ❤

  1. What book are you currently reading?
  2. What book did you most recently finish?
  3. What is the prettiest book on your bookshelf?
  4. How do you organize the books you own?
  5. If you can learn any language, which one would you choose?
  6. Where have you always wanted to visit?
  7. What’s your favorite thing to use as a bookmark?
  8. Do your reading tastes change with the seasons?
  9. What is your favorite dessert to bake?
  10. Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
  11. How has your day been so far?

What are your answers to these questions? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

An Appreciation Post

~ Holly ~ 27 Comments

This appreciation post is long, long overdue.

Recently I’ve been taken aback by the incredible amount of support this blog has received. When I started Nut Free Nerd years ago I never imagined that so many thoughtful people would be reading, sharing, and commenting on what I write. I’ve posted over one thousand times on this blog (!!!) but warm, fuzzy feeling I get from reading your comments and engaging with you all in this lovely bookish community never fades away.

I’d like to make a special shout out to some fellow bibliophiles in particular:

Michelle @ The Writing Hufflepuff: I’ve been following Michelle’s blog for what feels like eons and I always look forward to her entertaining, creative, and thought-provoking posts.

Shanti & Shar @ Virtually Read: These two bloggers never fail to make me laugh, smile, and think. Whether it’s on bookstagram, Twitter, or in the comments section of my blog, their thoughtful words always make me grateful to be part of such a wonderful bookish community.

Selah @ A Bibliophile’s Style: Selah is so sweet! I’ve had the pleasure of following her blog for years and I adore her kind, fun, witty personality. I always look forward to reading her delightful comments.

Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books: Marie is one of the loveliest bookworms I’ve ever come across. She’s so engaged in the bookish community yet somehow always manages to find time to read and comment on my posts… she’s the greatest!

Maraia @ lettuce_read: Maraia’s comments on bookstagram posts always make me smile. Not only are her comments always funny and thoughtful, but they’re refreshingly genuine as well. I aspire to be as engaged in the bookish community as she is!

Dani @ Perspective of a Writer: I admire Dani for her positive outlook and dedication to spreading gratitude and appreciation throughout the bookish community. She consistently creates weekly appreciation posts in which she shares links to blogs she really enjoys. She included me in one of these posts once and it brightened my day so much.

To anyone who has ever shared my posts, nominated me for an award or tag, left a comment, or even simply read my posts: Thank you. Without you, I’d just here uploading posts into the internet void while mumbling about books to my dogs. (I mean, I already do that now, but at least there are people reading what I write!)

I cannot express how much I appreciate each and every one of you. Your support means the world to me. Thanks bunches ❤

Yours,

HOLLY

Sunshine Blogger Award | 3

~ Holly ~ 29 Comments

Hello, hello! I know I’ve been posting a lot of awards and tags lately, but they’re so fun that I can’t help myself. Thanks so much to Beth @ Reading Every Night for nominating me in this Sunshine Blog Award!!

  1. Would you rather witness the beginning of the earth or the ending of the earth and why?

    I would probably prefer to see the beginning of the earth because it sounds like it would be a lot more hopeful than seeing the ending. (Besides, there would be more chances of eventually seeing dinosaurs!)

  2. Why did you call your blog what you did?

    I’m severely allergic to nuts and a proud nerd; hence, the blog name Nut Free Nerd was born.

  3. What social cause do you feel the strongest about (e.g. LGBTQ+ rights, animal rights, etc.)?

    For the past two summers I have worked at a local Child Advocacy Center where they conduct forensic interviews of children who have allegedly been abused. Because of this work I’m constantly reminded of the severity of the child abuse problem and how our society likes to brush it under the rug because it’s difficult to talk about. Fortunately, organizations like Child Advocacy Centers are working to spread awareness about this important issue.

  4. Give five amazing bloggers a shout-out, share the love.

    I’d love to give a shout-out to Emma @ Emma the Book Lover, Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books, Sydney @ Sydney’s Shelves, Shar & Shanti @ Virtually Read, and May @ Forever and Everly. These bloggers are so lovely and always leave the most thoughtful comments on posts. Definitely check out their blogs if you haven’t already! ❤

  5. Post a picture of a beautiful book cover.

    I absolutely love the simple cover design of Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. It suits the raw honesty of the poetry and lets the words speak for themselves. 

  6. Pick your two favorite characters of all time. Now sacrifice one! (The universe is at stake)

    Oh, this is so difficult! The first two that come to mind are Jane from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Matilda from Roald Dahl’s Matilda. (The fact that they both are named in the titles was completely unplanned!) Matilda is a new favorite of mine because I just read this children’s classic for the first time recently. Both of these characters are strong, intelligent, witty, independent females who I admire greatly. If I absolutely had to sacrifice one it would probably be Jane because the thought of sacrificing little Matilda is just too horrible to endure.

  7. If the apocalypse was coming and you had to evacuate Earth, what are three things you would take with you (both bookish and non-bookish items accepted)?

    A book for when I need to escape, a notebook and pencil (those count as one item, right?!) to record my thoughts and ideas, and a photo album to remember those that I love.

  8. What would you do if you won the lottery?

    Pay off my college loans, pay off all of my parents loans and bills, go traveling, and donate to a bunch of charities (and my local library!).

  9. Share one of your favorite quotes!

    I discovered one of my absolute favorite quotes years ago while reading John Green’s debut novel Looking for Alaska. In it he quotes Francois Rabelais, who once said: “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” I love how this quote can be interpreted in so many different ways. I think we all have our own unique “Great Perhaps” that we’re trying to find, and this quote is a reminder to keep your ultimate goal in the back of your mind when you need inspiration or motivation.

  10. Tell us about the last book you read; what did you love/hate about it?

    The last book I read was Big Woods by William Faulkner, which I really enjoyed. I love how all of the stories are interconnected through characters, themes, and settings. There really wasn’t anything I disliked about it, besides the fact that his writing can be confusing at times.

  11. Share one song that you feel would be a perfect fit for your favourite book character.

    Jay Gatsby isn’t my favorite book character, but I can’t help but pair him with Lorde’s song “Green Light.” (Is this cliché? Yes. Do I regret it? NOPE.)

Kirstie @ Upside-Down Books

Gee @ The Bibliomaniac Book Blog 

Chelsea @ The Suspense is Thrilling Me

Sarah @ Sarah Withers Blogs

Heather @ Book & Words

Thanks again to Beth for nominating me! I hope you all have a lovely day ❤

What are your answers to these questions? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Liebster Award | 4

~ Holly ~ 10 Comments

I’m back with another Liebster Award! Being nominated for these kinds of awards and tags is always such a pleasant surprise and brightens my day considerably. Thanks so much to May @ Forever and Everly for nominating me!!

  • Thank the person(s) who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions they gave you.
  • Nominate 11 blogs and let them know they’ve been tagged.
  • Give them 11 questions to answer.

If you were to stop blogging, what would be the reason?

Probably a lack of time. This happens to me sometimes when classes are in session because I go into total homework mode and basically lose all free time. Fortunately in the past I’ve been able to schedule enough posts in advance to avoid stopping blogging altogether during the semester, but a lack of time to blog is always a concern of mine. I miss it so much when I can’t do it often!

What are some hobbies you have?

Writing, taking bookstagram pictures, hiking, crafting, journaling, knitting, tap dancing… the list goes on!

Would you rather be dead or die? (Yes, there’s a difference.)

Hmmm… this is a difficult question! I think I’m going to say that I would rather be dead because I feel like the experience of dying could potentially be very painful and scary. Although neither of these is a preferred option!!

Do you like mangoes???

Not particularly. I would eat them if someone offered them to me, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek them out.

What book would you not feel guilty about stomping on, tearing, and burning in a fire?

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. I loved The Maze Runner (the first book in this trilogy) but this second installment took the series in a disappointing direction. The story had so much potential but I can’t help feeling as though this sequel squandered it all by resorting to a bizarre, confusing, and unoriginal explanation for the mystery set up in the first book.

What blogs do you ALWAYS look forward to reading? (Or, if you’re afraid your dear readers might feel bad: What type of blogs do you tend to follow? ie. book blogs, lifestyle blogs, writing blogs, etc.)

I always look forward to reading posts by Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books. I’ve been following her blog forever and she writes such thought-provoking, interesting, creative discussion posts. She’s also just a really kind and thoughtful individual in general. Definitely check out her blog if you haven’t already!! ❤

What’s one moment in your life you’d choose to play over and over again (aka re-experience over and over again?)

I would definitely choose to relive the moment I learned that I got accepted to study abroad at Oxford for a year. I was sitting in the dining hall at school eating lunch with some friends when I first read the email with the good news and it was such an incredible moment. ❤

You have the choice of reading a book you HATE, every single day, or reading one good book per year. Which do you choose?

Oooh, this is a tough one! Although I would hate to read a book I dislike every single day, I think I would really miss the act of reading on a regular basis. On the other hand, I’d much rather read a book that I actually enjoy. So… I think I would rather read one good book per year.

What’s one food you will never get tired of eating??? (ONE food, people, ONE.)

My mom’s homemade granola. I have eaten this granola almost every day for breakfast for YEARS and I still love it. It’s so delicious!

What would you do if someone walked up to you and gave you 100 bucks?

Thank them immensely and then rush to the nearest bookstore.

How are you right now? ❤

So swell!!

Since I love May’s questions so much I’m going to pass them along to these bloggers as well!

What are your answers to these questions? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Are Book Hauls “Meaningless” Content? | Discussion

~ Holly ~ 68 Comments

When I saw that Ariel Bissett made a video titled “Why Do Booktubers Make Book Hauls?” I was immediately intrigued. To tell you the truth, I had been asking myself the same question for quite some time. Book hauls have sort of been a controversial topic in the online bookish community as of late. Some people claim that they are “meaningless” content because the person talking about the books likely hasn’t even read them yet– what could they possibly have to say about it that is substantial or thought-provoking? Another common argument against book hauls is that they are “filler” content  solely used to generate large numbers of views, since these kinds of videos and posts tend to be really popular. There’s also the idea that book hauls are just a way for bloggers and booktubers to boast about how many books they accumulate on a regular basis, which can lead to the notion that in order to be successful in the online bookish community one has to have the privilege of being able to purchase and own all of the books you read.

There are clearly a lot of issues that need to be unpacked, here; fortunately, Ariel does a lot of that unpacking in her video. She counters many of these negative arguments by emphasizing that book hauls essentially do what most bloggers and booktubers endeavor to achieve with their posts and videos: spread a love of books and have FUN. Ariel also points out that book hauls allow us to keep up to date with what people are really excited about reading in general compared to the smaller number of books that they may actually be able to read in a given year. I highly recommend watching her video for a more accurate and detailed explanation of why book hauls can be really valuable and important.

Personally, I agree with a lot of Ariel’s arguments in support of books hauls. Yet I think an important point is missing: people find “meaning” in all kinds of content. Just because a book haul might not be discussing literature from a critical perspective in terms of having already read the books does not mean that it cannot offer interesting ideas for a thought-provoking discussion. Readers of posts and watchers of videos add their own meaning to the original content of the blogger or booktuber by sharing thoughts and opinions in the comments. A similar argument could be made regarding memes, tags, etc.; in other words, a book review or discussion is not the only kind of “meaningful” content. 

I think the most interesting aspect of this controversy over book hauls is the question it raises about bookish content in general: Who is to say what kind of content bloggers and booktubers should be sharing? My answer: NO ONE besides the bloggers and booktubers themselves. Create what makes you happy, what gets your message across, what shares the ideas and opinions and feelings that you want to express.

I haven’t posted a book haul in a while, mostly because I’ve been trying to buy fewer books and read the ones I already own. However, recently I’ve been thinking about maybe posting one in the near future.

Scratch that. I will post one in the near future.

What are your thoughts on Ariel’s video and book hauls in general? Do you post book hauls? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Why I’m No Longer Rating Books | Discussion

~ Holly ~ 69 Comments

A book blogger who doesn’t rate books? *gasp!* What is this madness? Allow me to explain.

Lately rating books has felt more and more difficult. I’ve always used the usual 5-star (or smiley, in my case) system, with 1 being horrible and 5 being fantastic. In the past, this has generally been a reflection of my emotional response to a book. Did I like the characters? Did I agree with the characters’ decisions? Was I happy with the ending? Interestingly enough, these questions don’t feel as important to me as they used to. Of course, it’s always nice to have a story end in the way you would like it to end in an ideal world; however, I now feel as though there are more important things to consider when reading. Maybe this is a reflection of my growth as a reader or the fact that studying English literature in college has made me accustomed to thinking about literature more critically. Whatever the case may be, I no longer prioritize my emotional reaction to a book when I form an opinion about it. The emotional response is certainly still a component of that opinion, but it doesn’t solely make up the entire opinion.

At this point, rating books seems rather arbitrary to me. Trying to assign a number that accurately conveys my thoughts on a book has begun to feel like trying to paint a landscape with a single color. So much more influences my opinion of a book besides whether or not I simply enjoyed it. What does enjoying a book really even mean? There are plenty of books that I’ve “enjoyed” that are terribly sad or unsettling or creepy– that doesn’t mean I like feeling those emotions, but I appreciate the fact that the writing was able to evoke those emotions in me. So should we use the word appreciate instead of enjoy? 

(Sorry. I went on a bit of a tangent there.)

In short, I would much rather my book reviews be a sort of discussion of a book rather than a mere justification of why I settled on a certain number rating. I’ll probably still rate some books on Goodreads, but not necessarily if it doesn’t feel like I can easily do so.

I made this post not as a sort of announcement or declaration of this change, but rather as a way to spark discussion about this topic. So please, comment away!! How do you feel about rating books? Is there a certain rating system that you’ve found works best for you? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Sunshine Blogger Award | 2

~ Holly ~ 19 Comments

Happy Friday!! I hope you’re all having a fantastic day. Today I’m going to veer off from my usual bookish path to answer some fun questions for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Thanks so much to Loraine @ Wholesome Valour for nominating me!!

If you were to pick a cooking spice to describe your personality, what would you choose and why?

Hmm…. I think I’m going to go with nutmeg. Cinnamon and pepper are too bold, but nutmeg seems just right.

What song would you pick as the soundtrack to your life?

Little Slice by Watsky because it’s upbeat, makes me want to dance, and always reminds me of summer.

What is your Myer’s-Briggs personality type?

ISFJ. However, my middle two letters are pretty close to the center on the chart the test gives you, which means that my S could shift to an N and my F could switch to a T. According to this website, being an ISFJ makes me a “Defender.” I guess this sounds accurate???

What is one thing you like others to know about you?

The first thing I usually tell people is that I’m allergic to nuts… maybe a little boring, but definitely practical!

What is the best advice you have ever received? How did it help you?

TRY YOUR BEST. This is pretty cliché but so true. If you try your best than you really can’t regret not working hard enough or not giving it your all.

Do you think that we are bodies or do you that think we have bodies?

Hmmm…. this is tough! I’m going to say that we have bodies because I think it’s easier to think about the mind and body being separate… if that makes any sense?

When do you feel most confident?

When I’m wearing an outfit that I really love, or even just awesome shoes (a good pair of shoes can work wonders).

How old are you? Do you think your actual age is an accurate representation of your mental / emotional / spiritual age?

People have always told me that I’m an “old soul,” so I guess that means I’m older inside than outside? Interesting…

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

Decide to go study abroad for a year when I have never left the country before. (Eeeek!!!)

Where do you like to escape to when life becomes chaotic?

Between the pages of a book.

What is something you are looking forward to in the coming weeks?

My brother’s high school graduation, hopefully meeting up with some friends from college, and READING!

This was definitely a strange (but fun!) post. Thanks again to Loraine for tagging me!

What are your answers to these questions? Most importantly, what spice would you be? (I think that’s such a cool question!) Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

People IRL Read This Blog?!?! | Discussion

~ Holly ~ 61 Comments

Today I’m here to discuss a dilemma that nearly every blogger must confront at one point or another: the collision between “real life” and the blogging world.

In high school I was very secretive about my book blogging escapades. I never told anyone at school about it and no one ever randomly asked, “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to run a book blog by any chance, would you?” so I never had to actually say, “Why yes, I’ve run a book blog for years that no one knows about except people online and my parents. And my dogs.” I was perfectly content with the fact that no one else knew, happy to keep clacking away at my keyboard with my nerdy little secret tucked safely between the pages of whatever I happened to be reading that day.

And then I went to college.

Here’s the thing about college: it’s a lot more difficult to hide things from people when you basically live with them 24/7. It’s not like blogging is anything that I had to hide in a bad way– I’m proud of my blog and the hard work I put into it– but I’ve always had mixed feelings about telling people about it. Part of my hesitancy is that I don’t feel like many of the people I know personally would necessarily enjoy reading a blog dedicated to overly enthusiastic ramblings about books and bookish things. I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is a relatively niche subject area, or at least it seems to be when the majority of my college-age peers are more concerned with partying and watching Netflix than anything else. (Shout out to my nerdy friends, though– you’re all gems! <3)

I quickly realized that it would be nearly impossible to keep my blog a complete secret from my friends, especially if I wanted to keep updating it and replying to comments throughout the semester. Gradually I plucked up the courage to gradually mention it to more and more of my small circle of friends. I was taken aback by their genuine enthusiasm, interest, and support. People I knew IRL being interested in my quirky little blog about books? This was a feeling I had never felt before– to be honest, it was a huge relief. 

Then I started a bookstagram account last summer.

Here’s the thing about Instagram: it shows you what other people have recently “liked.” So when my close friends from college started “liking” my bookish photos, more and more people from school began to see my account pop up on their screens. Little by little I watched in simultaneous horror and bewilderment as people I had never intended to know about my blog suddenly began to know about my blog. (I had foolishly put a link to my actual book blog in my Instagram bio.) When I got back to campus in the fall and continued to post photos on my bookstagram, I was shocked to find that so many people actually enjoyed scrolling through my carefully posed pictures of books that I had taken in my front yard and stockpiled on my phone like some sort of weird preparation ritual for an illiterate apocalypse. It was strange to talk about my book blog to peers in person. Suddenly it was no longer a platform leading directly into the Internet void; rather, my voice was being heard by people I came into contact with every day. 

I don’t mean to make it sound like my book blog is some popular site visited by the majority of my college campus. In the grand scheme of things, relatively few people even know about my blog to begin with. What I do mean to emphasis is how my attitude towards people know about my blog has changed. In high school I likely would have cowered away from the mere thought of people from school reading Nut Free Nerd; now, I almost welcome it. I still get flutters of nervous butterflies whenever someone mentions it to me in person, but I’m getting there.

To those of you reading this who I actually do know in person: Thank you bunches!!! *hugs*

If you’re a blogger, how do you deal with the crossover between “real life” and the blogging world? Do you actively spread the word about your blog or do you sit back and wait for people to find out about it naturally? Any advice? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

How Do You Prevent Blogging Burnout? | Discussion

~ Holly ~ 22 Comments

wilberry-15A few months ago Rosianna Halse Rojas created a video called Knowing When To Stop in which she discusses the feeling of not knowing when to stop working and striving to be as productive as possible. As someone who has been thought of as an “overachiever” throughout her entire life, she explains how challenging it can be to hold yourself back from constantly being in overdrive. This inner source of motivation is certainly valuable in terms of work ethic and accomplishing goals; however, there is danger in not knowing when to stop and give yourself a break.

I relate to this video on a personal level in my everyday life so much that it almost feels as though Rosianna has peered through a tiny window into my mind. As a perfectionist, I’m constantly in competition with myself to do more and be better, but eventually this becomes too big a burden to bear. The pressure I place on myself to be as productive as possible and meet my impossibly high standards can be overwhelming at times. There’s this feeling of needing to always live up to incredibly high expectations lest someone expose one’s true identity: that of a normal, average, flawed human being. It’s a vicious cycle that can never be won, for no matter how hard we try it’s obvious that we can never escape the reality that no one is flawless. Still, that truth clearly doesn’t keep us from trying.

It’s no surprise that this mindset has trickled into my blogging life as well. For a while I endeavored to post every single day, which ultimately made blogging feel more like a chore than simply a fun hobby. However, like Rosianna I had a hard time admitting and acknowledging to myself that it was time to scale back and reassess my goals to make them more realistic.

Finding a schedule that works for me (around three posts a week) has been incredibly helpful in reeling in my do-it-all tendencies. Not only does limiting my posts each week ensure that what I’m posting is actually quality content (or at least better than it would be if I was rushing to create seven posts each week), but it also prevents me from developing the dreaded blogger burnout. In high school when I had more time to blog I would frequently feel as though I needed to take breaks or a hiatus and return when blogging no longer felt like a chore. Fortunately, the way my life is now structured in college forces me to step away from blogging each semester due to a lack of free time. As a result, I enter each vacation period feeling refreshed and ready to blog because I haven’t been able to dedicate any significant time to it in months.

Rosianna’s video really resonated with me as it likely does with many other people as well. It’s an important discussion to have, not only with others but also with ourselves. Recognizing and accepting when we need to step back and take some time to relax is a valuable step towards feeling less stressed, more creative, and happier overall.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you also struggle with knowing when to take a break? What are your tips for setting goals that are both challenging and realistic? Have any recommendations of other videos or books about this topic? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY