Starting to blog can sometimes seem like finally meeting the hot girl (or guy) you always wanted to date. You get so mesmerized and involved so very quickly that you pursue the relationship at an unsustainable level. Not only can the double flower bouquet every other day start to bust your wallet (if you’re a guy), the emotional cost can be high too – especially if you’re not turning in until 3AM!
Blogging can follow the same pattern and it can be deadly if you’re not careful. The recent death of two high profile bloggers is bringing this point home. Now, understand, anything taken to the extreme is going to have deathly consequences. But, this one hits home because I can identity with the “pressure” which comes with blogging.Here is what The New York Times reports regarding the two deaths:
Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.
This same article highlights the most common blogging related health complaints as the following:
- Weight loss or gain
- Sleep disorders
- Exhaustion
- Strain from the pressure of constant non-stop production
I can’t say I have experienced any of these symptoms, but if you have then I suggest you see a medical professional as soon as possible. Like any relationship your blogging relationship needs to be balanced. If you’re approaching blogging any other way and turning your life upside down then you’re headed in the wrong direction.
Chris Griffith
April 6, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I often wondered about the physical deterioration we can all suffer from from sitting so much, staring at a monitor. I feel inspired to run tomorrow.
Maureen Francis
April 6, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I need a tread mill with a laptop tray so I can get exercise while I blog. That will solve my problems 😉
Mike Farmer
April 6, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I see Bloggers Anonymous in our future. “Hi, my name is Mike F. and I’m a recovered blogger.”
Bill Lublin
April 6, 2008 at 9:30 pm
SHailesh- I suffered from all of the above before I started blogging!
Shailesh Ghimire
April 6, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Bill –
That is funny. I guess you have too much stress and should not take up blogging! 🙂
Marueen –
I hear ya’, sometime in the future that too will become a reality…
Maybe we all need to read more fitness blogs!
Benn Rosales
April 7, 2008 at 8:58 am
Serious subject and all, but I want to thank you for the laugh- especially when I saw Russel Shaw, I damn near fell off the chair, a new victim of blogging.
Russell Shaw
April 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm
The “Russell Shaw” who passed away was not me, but he was a *very* nice man. Very. He and I shared the same name and as a result he would from time to time get email intended for me. He owned the URLs, russellshaw.com and russellshaw.net, so people doing searches for me would sometimes land on one of his sites. We wound up developing a friendship and from time to time the “other Russell” would send me an article he had written that he thought I would be interested in. Even though we never met face to face I was quite saddened by his passing.
Andy Kaufman
April 7, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Realizing that I was spending too much time behind a desk prompted me to start walking and riding mass transit to work. I realize that it’s a bit easier for me being a single, UNrealtor living in California, where it’s sunny most of the time and I rarely have to show houses, but that extra hour of walking each day helps out a lot.
Not only do I get some exercise, but I get to plan my day out on the way in and decompress on my way home, all while listening to kick a** tunes or the Jim Rome podcast (yes, I’m a hard core clone)
It works out so well that I even ended up selling my car and signing up with Zipcar (Which freakin rocks BTW).
Jay Thompson
April 7, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Excellent, a new excuse for my 240ish pound frame. So it’s NOT just double-double’s at In-n-Out!!
I knew it.
Andy Kaufman
April 7, 2008 at 4:09 pm
It’s the animal fries that put you over the edge. 😉
Missy Caulk
April 8, 2008 at 7:15 am
Yea, put on a few pounds since I am in the computer more, but went back to WW so will get them off. Sorta snuck up on me. Yikes….
Susan Zanzonico
April 8, 2008 at 8:08 am
Blogging, reading blogs time flies by and many nights I am turning the computer off at 2 a.m. I won’t give up exercise, the gym or a run. It gets me away from the computer for a much needed break and sometimes I even pick up a client. I take my phone with me during the run and my calendar or a real estate periodical as well while at the gym. Maybe the future will have treads and stationary bikes with built in computers. 😉
Matt Scoggins
April 8, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Glad to hear your alive and kickin’ Russell! Even though I don’t personally know you, it shocked me to think that was you.
Matthew Rathbun
April 8, 2008 at 8:39 pm
There was more than one, Russell Shaw!?!? That didn’t cause a some space flux thing? Nah, just kidding, I’ve recently read some great posts from him.
I especially love the weight gain or loss. So not staying at exactly the same weight is due to blogging. Are there certain topics that will ensure weight loss? I’ll be sure to write those ALL day….
Very cool post.
James Boyer
April 23, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Wow, now that is some serious blogging. I cannot say that I put anything close to that kind of effort into blogging. Heck I can’t to many home buyers want me to show them houses and have to maintain my home listings as well.
I would say a hour or two a day is plenty of blogging.
Susan
April 23, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Chris, by all means go for those runs, it counters the physical deterioration. Its also a really good way to just clear your head, organize your thoughts and maybe even come up with something new and exciting to blog about.
Maher Saleh
June 30, 2008 at 12:17 am
My main problem about blogging is sleeping disorders.