Gum on My Shoe

No matter how committed you are to your blog there will be occasions when things aren’t flowing as easily as you’d wish. It helps to have a streamlined process (I’ve described my blogging workflow elsewhere) but there are still times when I struggle with ideas, when the words won’t flow, or when I change my mind at the last minute. Here’s how I handle these issues when they arise. Maybe some of it will resonate with you. What Should I Write About? Most of my blogging ideas come from conversations with friends, events I’ve attended, or things I’ve seen on social media. I keep lists of promising topics but sometimes it’s hard to decide what to write about. Here are a few approaches I use when that happens. Dana Fox’s book 365 Blog Topic Ideas For The Lifestyle Blogger Who Has Nothing to Write About was a gift from my friend and fellow mental health blogger Aimee Wilson . It’s inspired a number of articles including a profile of six people I admire in the mental health communit...

This article is excerpted and updated from chapter 7, “The ‘S’ Word: Being There When Your Friend Is Suicidal,” of our book High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder . Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash. Taking Care of Myself Being in a relationship with someone who talks about wanting to die can be stressful and draining, so remember to pay as close attention to your well-being as to your friend’s. My self-care needs are threefold. First, I need to believe I can handle myself and Fran safely. The more I learn about her illnesses and situation, the more confident I am in my ability to support her and help keep her safe. Second, I need to know what to look out for, and who to contact should I ever find myself out of my depth. I keep a copy of her wellness plan, which includes contact details for friends and key medical professionals, with me at all times. Third, I need my own support team. It is vital to have someone — a friend, colleague, family member, or...

In this follow-up to Every Day Essentials for the Successful Blogger I have listed all the official Traveler's Notebook (formerly known as the Midori Traveler’s Notebook) inserts and accessories I can find. If you know of any items I’ve missed please let me know and I will update the listing. Similar notebook systems by other makers are not included in this article. Traveler's Notebooks and accessories can be bought from many stores around the world. Links are to The Journal Shop except where otherwise indicated. According to their website, “The Journal Shop carried every single Traveler's Notebook item ever made, so if Midori makes it, we'll have it here for you.” For more on the history of the Traveler’s Notebook visit the Traveler’s Company website . Traveler's Notebooks Traveler's Notebooks come in two sizes: Regular (large; 12 x 1 x 22 cm) and Passport (small; 9.8 x 1 x 13.4 cm). Special editions include the Narita Airport Edition sold by Trave...

Check out our top posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first. Our Top Posts of the Month (April 2020) How to Write the Best Acknowledgement Page for Your Book Bipolar Stability, Keeping It Silly and Moving Forward during the Coronavirus Pandemic Wearing T-Shirts Is Not Enough Every Day Essentials for the Successful Blogger #MHAW - 16 Ways to Be Kind Cold, Wet, and Grumpy: A Few Thoughts on Expectation and Acceptance It's Sunday and I'm Not Doing Very Well 10 Ways I Was Kind to Myself This Week 17 Online Suicide Awareness Courses and Podcasts Our most visited pages were: Contact Us News and Appearances About Us Resources Our books Testimonials