How blogging can change your life

I’ve been blogging for four years. It’s no exaggeration to say that it has changed my life for the better. 

When I clicked publish on my first post I had just turned 30. I’d spent the last five years being a stay-at-home mum, and my boys had just started at school and nursery. Back then, I was a little wobbly and short on confidence. I was unsure of my role beyond motherhood, and with no firm dreams for the future.

Four years on, life feels good. I have more confidence, a new career and a happy family. Writing this blog has played a big part in getting me there. Here’s why…

Finding my voice. The years I spent at home with my boys while they were babies and toddlers were some of the best of my life. I loved it and wouldn’t change a thing, but I did come to be frustrated by how it defined me. By 2014, I felt a little bored and frustrated. I’d lost my voice and felt shy and inadequate when I met people who weren’t in the same situation. Writing this blog was the first step towards rediscovering who I was a person. Knowing that people wanted to read my words was empowering and exciting.

Discovering a new career. When I started out, I never dreamt that blogging would lead to a job. I didn’t have a big game plan. It has happened organically. Writing this blog has been like a four-year apprenticeship in the creative industries. I’ve learnt to take photos, to write compelling copy and to manage social media. It gave me the confidence to become a freelance writer and it helped me find my first clients.

New horizons. I’ve met so many people through my blog. Some I’ve met in person, and others via emails and messages. My world used to feel very quiet and closed. Now I feel like I connect with so many different people. And it’s all thanks to blogging.

Exciting opportunities. Staying in a shepherd’s hut on the Isle of Sheppey. Interviewing Davina McCall. All thanks to blogging. I don’t go on endless press trips or make a fortune from collaborations, but I relish the interesting and varied opportunities that pop up on a regular basis. It’s not a reason to blog, but it’s certainly a nice highlight.

What does the future hold for my blog? The growth of social media platforms like Instagram has led many to question whether there’s still space in people’s lives for blogs. I don’t agree. Blogs are special because they are so personal. My posts are shorter than they were four years ago as people seem to have less time to read and comment. However, I want the content to stay good. I want to keep writing about the things I love and care about. That might be fashion or it might be a cause that I’m passionate about.

A big thank you to all my readers, old and new. I couldn’t do it without you!

I wear: Coat, £39.99, TK Maxx / Jeans, £32, ASOS / Boots, £35, Marks and Spencer  Bag, £90, Modalu England (see previous photo) / Scarf, old New Look, similar here Hat: old H&M, similar here