One thousand and forty-one. At the time of writing that’s how many blog posts I’ve written in my lifetime – or 1,042 if you count this one too.

It’s been six years since I first hit publish on Confessions of a Crummy Mummy and as another anniversary comes and goes, I’ve realised I’ve learnt rather a lot in that time.

life lessons

I don’t just mean about html code (although I know more about that than I could ever have dreamed, and still don’t completely ‘get’ it) I mean important things, things that can be applied to life in general.

So, in no particular order, here are 6 life lessons I’ve learnt in 6 years blogging.

6 life lessons I’ve learnt in 6 years blogging

1. Nothing in life is free. There’s a misconception that bloggers get lots of things ‘for free’. It’s true we have been gifted some wonderful products and experiences over the years, but after using that product or enjoying that holiday comes hours – sometimes days – of capturing footage, editing images, crafting copy and curating video. There’s so much more to it than meets the eye.

2. Writing is a labour of love. I know I’ve written 1,042 blog posts, but what my stat counter doesn’t tell me is how many hours I’ve spent writing those posts. I shudder to think. I sometimes (half-jokingly) refer to my blog as the monster I created because in a way it is – it’s like an engine that needs constant feeding otherwise everything will grind to a halt.

life lessons

3. Know your worth. It never fails to amaze me how many emails I get from PRs asking me to do or share x, y or z but there is ‘no budget available’ or any offer of compensation for my time. Would they work for free? I’ve learnt to trust my instincts and know my worth – if it feels like you’re being taken advantage of, you probably are.

4. Some people always have to have the last word – and letting them makes you the better person. I’m talking about trolls and keyboard warriors who for whatever (often inexplicable) reason take exception to something you’ve said/posted/shared. What I’ve learnt from this is there’s no point being sucked into an argument with someone who is convinced they and only they are right – it’s best to simply be polite and walk away.

life lessons

5. Quality is better than quantity. I currently publish four blog posts a week. I could publish every day, but doing so would mean I have less time to spend on each post and quality would inevitably be compromised. I’ve seen so many bloggers go for the ‘holy grail’ of posting seven days a week only to see them – and their blog – crash and burn at some point in the not-too-distant future afterwards. Less is more.

6. Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. As with so many things in life it’s easy to compare yourself with others, but when it comes to blogging I’ve learnt it’s not all about the numbers and the followers and the shares. It’s about doing something you believe in, enjoying it and remembering why you started doing it in the first place.

life lessons

Are you a blogger and are there any life lessons you’ve learnt since you started blogging? I’d love to know what they are!

If you liked this you may also enjoy reading:

10 reasons blogging IS a proper job

How to take a blogging break

The 5 biggest lessons I’ve learnt in 5 years blogging