Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Telltale Signs that You're Addicted to Blogging

8.31.2010

My husband opened a blogger account for me back in September 2009.  At that point, I had written a few journal entries that I saved in Microsoft Word and had then transferred them over to my blog.  I didn't know much about blogging, joining communities, and gaining followers, so I let my blog stay stagnant for eight months until I decided to check it in late May.  As you can already guess, my blog still looked the same way I had left it--with my few pathetic entries and a goose egg for responses.

Somewhere between May and June, a switch flipped.  I can't exactly describe what happened to my brain, but an intense interest in blogging took hold of me like no other.  Perhaps the interest came when I gained my very first follower, or perhaps it happened after reading so many other creative and inspiring blogs.  All I know is that once this mind-altering change occurred, I've never been the same.  Now I find myself thinking about my blog all the time. 

If I'm not brainstorming new ideas, collecting information, or taking pictures, then I'm checking my blog hourly to see if I've received any new responses.  (Actually, with a little one at home, I probably check my blog about three times per day, but if I had a more flexible schedule, I'd be checking it hourly.)  What happened to me?  Now that I'm hooked, I can't stop, and when I can't write a post for a day, I feel disappointed, even sad...

Alright, if you've been reading all of this so far and nodding your head in agreement, then this top ten is for you.

You Know You're Addicted to Blogging When...

10.  Getting a new follower gives you an instant high--even more powerful than caffeine or any adrenaline rush you've ever known.

9.  You're childhood friends complain they've been replaced by your blogging buddies.

8.  You keep a bedside journal to capture all your nightly blogging inspirations.  (Of course, this journal gets taken everywhere you go too.)

7.  You think of your next blogging idea while making love. (Hey, multitasking is often necessary in this business.)

6.  Your family feels like they've become professional models because they're constantly on call for photo shoots.  "Wait.  Can you make that surprised look again?"

5.  Your friends and family are completely confused by your "bloggy" lingo.  "I'll be down for dinner as soon as I finish sharing some bloggy love on my BFF's meme.  I just need to link up my RSS feed to Mr. Linky's Magical Widgets..."

4.  BFF no longer means "Best Friend Forever;" instead you refer to it as your "Blog Frog Friend." 

3.  You proudly display your blogging awards, like a Boy Scout displays his merit badges.  In fact, your "Sunshine Award" and "Foxy Mama Award" mean more to you than any of your high school and college certificates/trophies combined.

2.  You identify more with your avatar than you do with the image in the mirror.

1.  You celebrate milestones like your 500th follower or your third blogoversary like they're national holidays--complete with free prizes and giveaways. 

And finally, you know I like to add a bonus... 
"If you do not participate in a current blogging conference, challenge, or boot camp, you feel guiltier than if you had skipped an actual exercise boot camp.   In fact, in order to lament the fact that you cannot attend the conference, you join memes created by other bloggers who can't attend, so you can console each other and give each other support."  

Want more laughs?  Please check out my other top ten lists such as...

16 comments:

  1. Great top 10 list. I only hit a few of the items on the list. Oh, who am I kidding? I hit every friggin' one! LOL!

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  2. I am number 200!! You hit another milestone :) I am a new follower from Tuesday's blog hops. Glad I came across your blog. I will be back. Blessings...
    Saved By Love Creations

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  3. Yep! I'm addicted. Funny you should blog about this because I was just thinking about this addiction at 2:00 a.m. as I was reading "just one more post" and scanning my "blogs I follow list" saying. Okay, this will be the last one. The rest can wait until tomorrow. Every time I glanced at the clock an hour had passed! Someone is going to have to create a blog detox site ASAP! Is this Top Ten Tuesday your own idea? Really cute. I'm going to try it!

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  4. Oh you definitely have a new follower in me!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! You just described me perfectly in this post. :)
    Thanks so much for following me over at Bradybunchplus1.blogspot.com. Seven kids is kind of crazy, but somehow we make it work (it helps greatly that I have a very involved hubby!). Your little guy is absolutely precious!!! BTW, I quit my full time teaching job to stay at home with my little monsters too, who have suddenly transformed into big monsters. :) Looking forward to getting to know you!
    Lynn

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  5. You hit the nail on the head....family no longer understands my lingo, I try to turn every situation in my daily life into a possible post, and I'm constantly thinking about what posts I might be missing!

    It's a disease.

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  6. I am starting to identify with more and more of those!

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  7. From another addictive blogger to another. HI lol Im your newest follower from the blog hop. I hope you have a great Tuesday.

    http://rwriterjourney.blogspot.com/

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  8. I too am an addictive blogger and I am a new follower, have a great day!! Organic Girl andTodays Diva

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  9. This is too funny, I've definitely been obsessed before with blogging. I've had to make myself cool down the blogging and stay away for a few days. To keep myself healthy :)

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  10. I love it, and agree completely, lol!

    I'm your newest follower from Tuesday Tag-Along :)

    http://cheeriosandtricycles.blogspot.com

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  11. Oh my gosh, it's confirmed...I'm addicted. Just found your blog through Hanging with Mr. Cooper's blog! Looking forward to reading more. Jump for joy, a new follower!

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  12. Oh my gosh, that is HILARIOUS!!! I feel the SAME way!!

    Thank you for the sweet comment on my post, it meant a lot to me after having such a hard day yesterday :)

    Good luck to you today, be strong and know that everything will be okay...just hang in there!

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  13. Haha I love this..and it is so true!

    I found your blog from Follow me Back Tuesday. Have a great day!

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  14. You always have great Top Ten Lists and this one is just as great! Yes to ALL of them. I can't believe how much blogging has taken over my life. I actually think I need to scale back...and I think that is a sign of addiction (feeling guilty) but what can you do? We love it, don't we?

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  15. ha! this is a great list! my husband sometimes says--when doing something ridiculous or funny-- "at least this will give you something to blog about!" (as if i don't already have a list a mile long of post ideas!) but yeah, i can identify with A LOT of these.... uh-oh. :)

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  16. You described me to a T - great post! And thanks for commenting on my blog this morning. I'm glad I could inspire you to get back in touch with an old friend. I used to write a ton when I was younger (and before email). I think it's a lost art! Have a great weekend.

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