Blogging is a demanding activity on many levels. “Blogging takes time, energy, commitment, discipline, organization skills, communication skills, and research and writing skills”, writes Lorelle on WordPress. Time and energy are important to get a blog going and many would say that they stopped blogging because they were short of these. But the fundamental questions are really “why” people start a blog and then “How to know when to stop blogging”.

“There are times to blog and there are times to stop blogging” wrote Lorelle and amongst the reasons listed those that follow are relevant to this blog taking a break.

• Stop blogging if you don’t have a purpose. The purpose of this blog was clearly stated as “looking where you shouldn’t”, but this “where” was the corner of my mind. This blog has accomplished its function focussing and crystallising my views on key issues. I can now write more confidently on these having “cleared the bush”.  This does not mean that I have made up my mind, but that I went through a thought process once, can and will go again through it, may come up with a different outcome but will have done the background work.
• Stop blogging if you do not have the time. Time is of the essence, because if the flesh is sad I have yet to read all the books…
• Don’t blog when you’ve run out of original things to say. This goes without saying, and there is not much more to add to what I have already said without further thinking and intellectual stimulation that can only come from meeting real people in the real world. And you know what? I am going to travel to three continents for three different reasons in the coming months! That should trigger some thoughts particularly after having read this.
• Be careful blogging about topics “close to home”. The dichotomy work/home is becoming more difficult to observe, but the good thing is that the two may eventually join up and end the schizophrenia generated by having to wear multiple hats!
• Stop blogging when there is no return on your investment. Blogging is nice, but a large number of blogs are becoming echo chambers of a limited number of thoughts. The twitterisation of blogs is well underway. When this is happening because of some of the above reasons, there is clearly nothing more to write, read and no return on the time invested blogging or reading blogs.
• Bored with blogging, stop blogging. Nothing to add.

Activity on this blog may resume occasionally or in the future. Nothing will be lost, the phoenix will be reborn! Thank you for reading, thank you for checking back.

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