Why you shouldn’t write a blog
Seriously.
Is it more important to consider the reasons why you should do something or why you shouldn’t do something?
It’s a question I often find myself asking when considering what to spend my time on, especially when it feels like all the available options are full of potential. With only so many hours in a day, we’re all forced to prioritize our choices.
Why should I care about the question?
You’ve likely read the title of this post and are probably wondering to yourself, “What does this have to do with whether I should write a blog?”
Allow me to explain:
The act of considering to do something is always fascinating. In this case, deciding to write — and by write, I mean the act of authentically pouring the contents of your creative brain into words— requires more than just an idea. It takes (1) a willingness to be vulnerable, (2) the discipline to follow through on your goal, and (3) the readiness to accept any response (or sometimes, the underwhelming lack thereof) that comes your way. In short, writing isn’t for the faint-hearted.
This is my first ever blog. And in some oddly inceptive way, this is my rationalization and justification of a decision to start blogging. For starters, I’ll admit that the term “blogging” makes me cringe a bit, so maybe let’s just call it “writing” for now instead. But even “writing” was never something I considered a particular strength of mine — my SAT writing score told me as much. But here I am anyway.
As promised in the title, I’ll explain with why you shouldn’t (and why you should) write a blog — coincidentally, I think this is also a helpful exercise to reach an understanding of the first question I asked you anyways.
Reasons why you shouldn’t write a blog:
It’s personal, vulnerable, and sometimes scary. Writing publicly means laying yourself bare to the world. It involves sharing pieces of yourself that you may prefer to keep hidden. Vulnerability is powerful, yes, but it’s also terrifying. Not everyone is comfortable with that level of exposure, and there’s no guarantee readers will be kind or supportive.
It’s a commitment. Starting a blog is easy; maintaining one is hard. Committing to posting regularly can feel like a part-time job — it requires time, mental energy, and the resilience to keep going even when motivation wanes. It’s far easier not to start than to deal with the guilt of giving up later.
The reward can feel minimal. When you pour hours into writing, editing, and promoting your work, you hope people will read it. But let’s face it: attention is scattered, and the internet is saturated with content. You may find yourself wondering, Is anyone actually listening? The truth is, sometimes, it’ll feel like shouting into a void.
Do people even read blogs anymore? With the dominance of video and audio content, traditional blogs may feel passé. You might ask, “Why put in all this effort for a medium that might be losing relevance?”
Reasons why you should write a blog:
Build a personal brand. The obvious reason — a blog can be a powerful platform for establishing your expertise or unique perspective. Writing publicly can boost your credibility and open up opportunities that might never come your way otherwise.
Organize your thoughts. Writing is an incredible exercise in self-reflection. It allows you to articulate ideas that may otherwise stay vague in your mind. When you have to explain something to others, you often understand it better yourself.
Teach people something new. Whether you’re sharing life lessons, skills, or niche knowledge, writing a blog lets you contribute to the global pool of knowledge. You never know who might benefit from your insights, big or small.
Tap into a creative outlet. Writing offers a unique space to play with words, explore ideas, and express yourself creatively. For some, it’s like therapy; for others, it’s an art. Whatever it means to you, it’s a space to exercise creative muscles.
Practice thoughtful vulnerability. A blog can be a safe space to explore and express who you are. It allows you to be vulnerable on your terms, which can be incredibly freeing. And it also helps cultivate empathy in readers who might resonate with your experiences.
Build a habit of commitment and execution. Committing to a blog is like training a muscle. Following through on the intention to write and post regularly builds discipline and develops a work ethic that can apply to other areas of life.
So what?
Let’s revisit the question that got us into this mess anyways:
Is it more important to consider the reasons why you should do something or why you shouldn’t do something?
I’ll be honest, I frequently give into the reasons why I shouldn’t do something. Even starting a “blog”, for example, is something I’ve only just thought about doing for a long time. After all, the reasons not to are compelling.
But a close friend of mine often says…
People who enjoy building have a moral responsibility to create for the world.
I love how this statement seems to say that the only qualification needed to justify why you should create something, is that you simply enjoy the act of creation itself and that if you do, you have an obligation to the world! It’s a perspective that’s helped push me towards writing this very blog.
I urge you to spend more time focusing on the reasons why you should do something — allow yourself to dream, and give yourself the patience to actually try. Whatever that is, go do that with intention.
If we only ever consider the reasons why we shouldn’t do something, it’s likely that all we end up doing is nothing, so why not spend that time building instead?
The end.