is blogging addictive? …

“the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”

Well – I wouldn’t go as far as the ‘severe trauma’ bit but I do think it is kind of habit-forming. Are you always thinking about the next blog post?  As I was drifting off to sleep last night I was pondering this – as you do – well maybe you don’t.

Whatever I do -  wherever I go - it seems to turn itself into  a blogging opportunity.  Is this affecting my lifestyle?  What I am trying to say is – am I doing things so I can blog about them or am I just going about my business then blogging about it later.

Why do we feel the need to share the minutiae of our lives?  Is it because it is easier to deal with strangers, people who you will probably never meet face to face – or is it because we can glamourize our lives – things that we may find boring but might seem more exciting to others.

I don’t think it is quite the same as keeping a diary or writing a letter where we can reveal our innermost dreams and desires – but without our knowing blog posts can be quite revealing as to who we really are.  I think it is this that I find particularly interesting.

Those  who write about their everyday lives, rather than a specific topic like gardening or crafting, say, open up their lives for all to read about, but probably only reveal themselves as they wish to be seen.

As to it being addictive – for me, I would say yes.  I take my camera everywhere with me – ready to ‘snap’ a moment for the next blog post.  It has definitely made me more observant, finding pleasure in the small things that I would probably never have noticed.

It has opened up a whole new world of what it is like living on another continent – finding out how different our lives are, and yet in some ways, very much the same – the daily round of  people just getting on with their lives wherever they live.

Before I started this blog I had no one to talk to who shared my passion for growing things no one who was really interested – now I have blogging friends who share my enthusiasm.

Here are one or two suggestions from the website  blog critics - addiction or conviction -  that may indicate a blogging addiction:-

Impulsivity – Having a great idea for a blog post and feeling the need to address and write about it immediately.  Becoming irritated if you are unable to blog when the idea presents itself.

Do you feel compelled to blog and then feel a sense of elation once the blog entry is published – yet the high is short-lived and you feel compelled to begin again.

Dependence – A strong dependence on others reactions and responses to what was posted.  A need to be affirmed

Well, if I am totally honest, the first two out of the three apply to me – seeing it written down like that is a little worrying I must admit.  But then, such is my personality, that I go at something with all guns blazing, put my all into it – then go ‘cold turkey’ and stop for no particular reason except that I have had enough – and turn my energies to something else – this is the way of things.

Just for fun I took a blogging addiction quiz here (hope it works) and it confirms I am 62% addicted to blogging.  Oh dear. And this blog here tells you 20 ways to know if you are addicted.

So, although I sometimes curse the day I ever started blogging, mainly because it just seems to ‘eat’ up time – I would say that if I had to become addicted to something, that didn’t include drugs and alcohol – then a blogging addiction is a pretty harmless and enjoyable pastime – what say you?