the rebirth of slow blogging (and a new direction).

 

“If you’re having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down. For me, slowing down has been a tremendous source of creativity. It has allowed me to open up — to know that there’s life under the earth and that I have to let it come through me in a new way. Creativity exists in the present moment. You can’t find it anywhere else.”
-Natalie Goldberg

 I’ve shared before my history of blogging – how it began in 2001, the early days before social media and platforms and curation and all the catch phrases that often appear in our inboxes each morning, promising endless Internet fame. And it’s funny how I can look back and see emerging themes and thought processes for every year I’ve been blogging. I hadn’t realized how much this blog has changed until I look at this post in chronological order. And I see it so clearly, the evolution of it all.

And if this is true, if I continually re-invent myself in some small way each year (whether intentionally or not), then I want 2013 to do the same. And in 2013, I want my blog to come full circle. I want to return Design for Mankind to its roots: of thought, of thoughtfulness.

We live in a world of more; this much is obvious. More things, more information. More time-saving tricks we use to find the time to uncover even more time-saving tricks. We live in a world of Pinterest, where visual images shoot out like firehoses of pretty, manifesting themselves in the parts of our brain we reserve for planning elaborate feasts and fetes. We have hundreds of RSS subscriptions to blogs creating amazing tablescapes and Halloween costumes and DIY floor lamps. And we take it all in, bookmarking each project for future use when “someday” is finally today.

Yet friends, I fear that someday will never come. Because there will continually be more to do, to see, to buy. And our someday file will slowly become outdated with a new sea of ideas and thoughts promising to fulfill our lives in ways we never dreamed possible.

I want less. I want less for this site; I want less for my life. I want to return to the days when I didn’t feel the need to “keep up” with the Internet. Where less truly was more, where editorial calendars didn’t exist and the words “I should totally blog this” were never uttered.

I miss the days when blogging itself was my muse. When the simple act of sharing something I stumbled upon was the joy itself, rather than a frenzied race to click link after link in hopes that I’ll have discovered something truly amazing.

There is more noise, and my ears are tired.

This year, one of my personal resolutions is to live a slower, more thoughtful (meaningful?) life. Less travel, more adventure. Less work, more challenges. And I need this to translate into all areas of my life: Less blogging, more learning. Less links, more inspiration. Less projects, more processes.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be taking time off to enjoy my family, friends and this beautiful holiday season. And when I return in 2013, a new Design for Mankind will be greeting us.

I encourage you to add the site to your RSS feed, as posts will be much more infrequent in this coming year. Instead, they’ll be more heavily curated and story-driven, harking back to my first love: writing. And I am thrilled.

I can’t wait for you to come along. Much love to each of you this holiday season; I wish you many moments of slowness.

XO,
Erin Loechner

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  • Hooray for you. I’ve been having these same thoughts (not about blogging less) but about the intensity and over-saturation of media, images, things to process. For me, my blog is about decompressing and processing the things I take in. These past six months have been a busy season for me and have given me little room for reflection. Looking forward to that. Looking forward to your new direction too. :)

  • Hi Erin!
    I stumbled upon your blog today while blog hopping and taking in more while secretly wanting less…serendipitous! So today I vow to declutter my blog feeder (with the exception of adding yours ;), and follow less people on pinterest! Thanks for the thoughtful post! I look forward to more…you know, when you’re inspired.

  • Go Erin! I think you’re coming out ahead of the trend– we’re all starting to burn out of the “post post post” mentality that blogging has become. We are here for YOU and we want to follow along with your thoughts and interests. Have a wonderful holiday!

  • I’m so excited about this new direction and shift in focus. You’re a wonderful curator but it’s WHO YOU ARE that is so inspiring. I’m looking forward to seeing more of *you* around here. XOXO

  • Ah! Thank God! I was worried and I didn’t know if I’d like where this post was going. ;) I completely agree with you and I look forward to the less frequent but very meaningful posts here in the future! Have a wonderful holiday!!

  • This post made my day! I’ve been wondering whether there’s a way to make slow blogging work, and you’ve really nailed it. Quality over quantity is always more meaningful (for readers and writers) and I love the idea of digging deeper and focusing on storytelling.

  • Reading this first thing this morning was a wonderful way to start my day. You voice so perfectly what I, and I know so many other bloggers, are feeling. Sometimes blogging/social media brings me back to high school when kids felt they had to find some cool thing first but act like it was no big effort, they just happened upon it.I want to slow down internally. I try to remind myself that it is the passion that propelled me into this in the first place and that’s the thing–however I do it–that I need to hold on to.

  • amen, erin. And it’s great to hear a “bigger blogger” say it. For those of us who keep blogs that are more recreational in nature, it’s nice to know that others feel the same way. The world of blogs and visual imagery can be sucha beautiful place but it can make you feel lost as well. In farsi, there is an expression that says “My head is crowded” and it effectively means “I’m busy”. And when you think about the first thing most people say when you ask them how they are, the response “I’m so busy”. Maybe if we were less crowded with all of these things, we’d be a little less busy too. Have a wonderful holiday season, and looking forward to reading along in 2013.

  • How wonderful! I actually felt my pulse slow as I read this. And it rings so true. The past few years I have been thinking quite a bit about simplicity and happiness and mindfulness, and all roads seem to lead to the same place. I hope to dip my toes into the waters of simple mindfulness this year, and look forward to the new energy coming off your blog.

  • I can’t thank you guys enough for the positive feedback already – it’s a pull that I’ve felt for awhile and I’m so very happy to follow my instinct, but it always helps tremendously when there is an outpouring of support to match your sentiments! I’m a lucky girl indeed.

    Big hugs to each of you, and I’ll see you [slowly] in 2013!

    p.s. For those of you that mentioned you’d like to see more ME here, I’m so very flattered to hear that! I haven’t yet decided how prevalent my personal life will be showcased (likely not much), but feel free to follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for daily Erin snippets. :)

    http://twitter.com/erinloechner
    http://instagram.com/erinloechner
    http://www.facebook.com/erinloechner

  • Erin, I’ve loved your blog for a lot of years, and I’m very excited to hear more of your stories and the meaningfulness behind the art your post! DFM is truly one of my favorites! -Stephanie

  • I am so inspired to read this Erin! I pulled away from reading most sites after my first year of blogging and focused instead on slowly building relationships and celebrating the stories and perspectives of others. It has been the most enriching and affirming experience of my life. I believe in slow food, slow parenting, the joy of taking time in creating something of value to pass on. Slow blogging is a natural evolution of that and I love you have framed it in those words. Thank you for being an inspiration and bright shining light. I look forward to seeing your sparkly wedge of the internet focus in on the core brilliance you’ve always radiated. Slow is beautiful-as are you!

  • I can’t support this move too much, Erin! Bravo, bravo, bravo.

    Though it’s a little embarrassing to admit and I feel a little guilty saying this, I will actually be *resubscribing* to your RSS now that I know your new strategy / focus. It’s been really hard for me over the years to see some of my favorite blogs explode and know that I basically have to stop reading them because of content overload. There can be too much of a good thing!

    This is definitely a personal issue of mine, but if I commit to reading a voice I love (yours included), I feel a compulsion to be a completist – to read everything they write, to invest myself personally in their stories. When sites begin to post 5, 6, a dozen times a day, there’s just no way I can keep up. For my personal sanity, I’ve had to unsubscribe and keep up tangentially via Twitter or Facebook. And the experience is just so different.

    I’m really hoping this gives you more pleasure and inspiration with regards to your writing because I know how important it is to personal satisfaction. You are so skilled and such a pleasure to read. I welcome a return to a depth of content and a depth of emotion in the blogging world and really hope others follow suit. I’m really looking forward to the slow-down!! <3

  • Love this!! Inspiring and so real, happy holidays to you and your sweet family – excited to read your rebirth in 2013!

  • Erin, I’m crying right now. Probably because I’m a mess of bundled emotions and exhausted. I stayed up till 1:30 am finishing my posts last night for Disney and my own site so that I could take next week off because I just need a break. It shouldn’t be that way. I know that. While I’m appreciative of my “job” so much at DB, I shouldn’t struggle to get out my posts because in the mean time I’m trying to create DIY projects and edit photos and come up with “pinnable” content so that I can keep up my stats. I see fellow mom bloggers hire contributor after contributor to create this content and I think to myself, How will I ever be able to compete with that? I guess there’s no wrong way to blog, but to me, this doesn’t seem like the right way, for me anyhow. And seeing someone I respect so much sort of feel the same way, makes me feel all sorts of validated :) Much love to you sweet lady and I can’t wait to hug you at Alt!

  • @Jill – I commend you for saying this, Jill! Thank you for being so honest. It’s funny – I’ve unsubscribed from so so many blogs for this very reason, keeping abreast on their latest on Twitter instead. I think this is much more normal than many of us admit. :)

  • @Andrea – Ha, I had this very conversation with my husband last week. I was talking about how I simply couldn’t manage a lot of time off for the holidays this year, and then – midsentence – I thought, “Wait a second. I’m my own boss.”

    It’s funny how often we forget that our guidelines for blogging are 100% self-imposed, dictated by other bloggers who we deem worthy of the proper model. It’s my hope that we can all sort of allow ourself the freedom to find a way to blog that works for us – whether professional, nonprofessional, slow, fast, visual or not. I think it can be done!

  • I’ve been pretty vocal the last week about our need to slow down and look outside our own glass boxes, and I have received push back for my stance. It’s so refreshing to read someone in your position feels the same way. Like Andrea said (she’s also been getting push back) it’s validating.

    Much luck to you in 2013. You have gained a new subscriber.

  • Is it weird that this made me tear up? YES. YES. I’ve decided that after tomorrow, I’m taking a break until the new year, and yesterday, I wrote in my journal that I wanted less: to slow down, to worry less about what’s going on and how to keep up online, to be more and better. I am slowly coming back to my passions and joys and I want to do more of that. Thank you for this, Erin. You inspire so much. xoxo

  • You have every ounce of my support, love and encouragement, Erin. I really admire you for making this decision, and it makes me really excited for what’s to come. xoxox

  • Hmmm… I wonder if this is what the Mayans meant when they predicted the end of an era. Maybe we’re going to be tilting back towards slowing down and resting. I say this because I’ve been contemplating my word for 2013, and I think it will be “breathe”. :-)

  • yes! this was one of the best things you told me way back when. lovely! this is lovely. you’re lovely. as the british say, ‘good show’! happy holidays, erin.

  • Thanks for voicing your new (old?) direction!

    I am writing on my second blog now; my first having been an expat blog that despite being post-less since the summer recieves 10x the pageviews my current little site does. And you know what, I’m totally ok with it. I may be a bit naive to the blogging community as it exists today, but I’m happy to inhabit a small space that doesn’t have to worry about post-frequency/sponsoships/post series….
    Back to basics – I love it!

  • So, so very thrilled to hear this is resonating for so many of you. As someone just tweeted me: “Blogging less means living more.” Amen!

  • Lovely post and sentiment. I’ve had moments this year (my first year of blogging!) when I’ve felt completely burnt out trying to keep up. Keep up with blogging. Keep up with reading blogs. Keep up with creating original content. Phew!

    No matter what it is, when it feels like a chore, it’s time to slow down and pull back and regroup. Like you are doing – going back to what it is that got you excited about blogging in the first place.

    Live first, then blog.

  • It’s so funny and amazing that you posted this today. I was just having an argument myself this morning about this very thing. I feel like I HAVE to post every day (or every weekday at least), even if I have nothing to say. More often than not, the result is crap that I’m not proud of. Crap that isn’t the reason I started blogging in the first place. The writing is.

    It’s nice to know that someone who blogs on a much bigger scale than I do faces the same predicament. You have definitely inspired me to step back and breathe it all in more.

  • Erin, I love this. It’s fascinating to watch the evolution of blogs that I’ve been following for years (yours since 2006 or 2007). I’m loving this new movement to slow down, make things more meaningful. I’ve been thinking a lot about that for my own blog, too, ever since my baby was born a couple of years ago. It’s been a rocky couple of years for my blog, but now I think I’m starting to hit my stride with it again. (Fewer posts, stronger content, getting to the core of what interests me.) Anyways, bravo to you! I’m excited to see where you take this.

  • Hooray for you! I ended up stopping blogging after twitter became very popular amongst my geology friends because it turned from a meaningful sharing of local geology and interesting research amongst a friendly group of people to who could tweet lots of newsworthy links or short geo-quips. Like you, I miss the blog itself being my muse, and I hope to return to it sometime in the nearer future. Thanks for sharing!

  • Erin, this is fantastic and exactly what’s been on my mind. My ears are tired, too. So encouraged by you and can’t wait to see the new direction! Enjoy time away with your sweet family! xoxo

  • perfect! this sounds lovely and really, something that so many people are craving~ i’ll be tuning in :) thank you!

  • I look forward to the new style in 2013 and hope you have a wonderful holiday!

    I am with Jill… I had many favorite blogs I read but then most seem to explode into posting many times a day. I couldn’t keep up, so I kept a list in a “check in with them and get caught up” kind of a way and stayed subscribed to their Twitter feeds.

    With my blog, I don’t carefully watch the numbers, but sometimes I feel like I should check subscribers! traffic sources! increase the number of posts! And when I do, I lose readers.

    But when I return to what is peaceful and calming to me (no pressure), and I leave the blog alone, posting only when I have something of quality to say or run across something I can’t go to sleep without sharing with readers, more people than ever are drawn to my blog.

    All this to say….I’m behind you 100%, Erin!

  • *slow claps*

    many, many *slow claps*, my friend. See you on the other, quiet side – xo

  • This is a lovely post.
    I have had to take an unintentional change of pace on my 2 blogs these past 4 months.
    At first it was so hard and I missed it, and felt I was missing out on so much.
    But my 4 kids needed me more, my husband needed me more, and even my own body needed me more than my blog needed me.
    After a time it became freeing to not feel this need to blog everything and just get in a post when I could.
    Sometimes weeks between them.
    I also stopped reading most blogs and rarely Pinterest because I don’t have extra time for those myriad of projects, so why spend hours curating boards full of them?
    I have more time now to live with my family, to teach my kids, to work out my body and to cuddle with my husband after the kids are in bed.
    I’m still striving toward a balance which will allow me to write and photograph more, but this has been a good place to start.
    One I might not have taken if I hadn’t been forced to.
    I’ll look forward to those few and far between posts.
    Love from,
    Greta

  • Oh Erin, you have pretty much summed up everything I’ve been thinking and more. Blogging has me so exhausted lately, that I sometimes wonder why I’m doing it! Thank you for this well written post, and good for you. Blog less, live more, and enjoy!!!

  • I’ve been feeling the exact same way. the noise is deafening and has been killing my spirit. I wrote about making my own changes (starting with cutting WAY back on social media) a few weeks ago and I have felt so much more peaceful since. Thank you for going in this direction. It’s something so many people are yearning for. In the midst of big media corporations taking over small personal blogs and redesign after redesign leaving the rest of us to feel utterly inadequate, THIS was a breath of fresh air!

    Here were my thoughts on this issue from a few weeks ago: http://www.camillaleila.com/2012/12/changes.html

    Here’s to a new trend!

  • Balance has been an incredible struggle for me. I’ve thought about this in the last few weeks, and I’ve found what it is that keeps me centered. Now I just need the courage to let things go. I applaud your courage! Also, I don’t know if you remember this, but when we first met I asked you how you found so many cool things so many times a day…and now I’m happier that we’ll get to explore these things with you XX

  • @Roxanna – I TOTALLY remember that. I hope the answer was truthful: “I spend my entire life on the Internet.”

    :)

  • erin, you have always been an inspiration. i’ve always felt you were a kindred spirit, like a long lost friend… perhaps part of me unfolding in what you say. i hope that doesn’t sound weird, just the honest truth. i so admire you for stepping back and being true to who you are – and for finding the purpose of blogging each day. happy holidays, and can’t wait to see what unfolds here in 2013. xo

  • Happy New Year Erin! I’m right with you on this post & thanks for the Goldberg quote, I’m going to use it in a lecture this January with my students.

    x Faythe

  • AMEN to this.

    I was lying in bed reading a book to Cooper last night thinking about ALL I have to do before the holidays and I was SOOOO stressed out. I couldn’t even enjoy that act. I was trying to think of a time when I didn’t feel like I had to do it all…and then of course when I think back, it’s when I didn’t have my blog or email. When I could just be in the present—not checking what’s happening on the internet. When I had time to put into making edible gifts and I didn’t have to show pictures of the process and make sure the lighting was good.

    We don’t even have an advent calendar. When will I ever have a chance to make an advent calendar? And if I do, is it because of my blog or because my kid NEEDS one?! Pinterest is telling me that I need to make an advent calendar!!

    What’s happening is that there is just TOO much ALL the time and something really has to WOW us to stay longer on a website. The pressure is too high, that it’s becoming quantity over quality. And how can we possibly keep up with people who have contributors? I don’t and I CAN’T and I shouldn’t!

    So…Thank you for this. I really hope that in 2013, I’ll be able to work smarter and not harder. Lord knows I need to and I’m sure that everyone will benefit from doing so.

  • @Tracy – I so so so understand and can relate. Here’s to giving ourselves a much-needed respite in 2013 and beyond!

  • This is a post I very much needed. I’m about to have my first child (a girl!) and I’ve spent many nights fretting about the need to cut back…how much life will change (woah, less time for Pinterest and blogging!) but I feel like everything you say here is so true…when you’re thinking so much about the pretty and the someday and the linking, you lose sight of your original goal. For me, it’s always been writing, and I hope to focus more on quality over quantity in 2013, too. Thank you for this post!

  • Good for you Erin! It’s great you want to better yourself and your blog. You are really an inspiration. You can tell you genuinely care about everything you do and only want to create the best. I love your quote and the thought behind all of this. I totally agree with following too many blogs and saving ideas for “tomorrow” sometimes my head feels like it’s going to explode. I’m actually surprised my pinterest account hasn’t exploded! ha! Ironically, I repinned a quote last week, it’s a quote by Buddah — “The trouble is, we think we have time”. We really need to act like today is the only time to get things done. Both online and offline. Best of luck to you and cheers to the new year!

  • You have put words to something that has been running thru my mind for weeks. I don’t want to live my life according to someone else’s online expectations- I want to be able to take a breath and remember I have everything I love and need right in front of me. The internet usually pushes “real life” into a box and calls it ugly, but what’s more beautiful than spending quality time with the people you love instead of a silver screen of “more, more, more”? I applaud you and look forward to a slower 2013!

  • Congratulations Erin. I wish you all of the best in the new year – may it be filled with more adventure, challenge, love, celebration, friends and family.

  • Thank you so much, everyone. And Amy, you are spot on:
    “The internet usually pushes “real life” into a box and calls it ugly, but what’s more beautiful than spending quality time with the people you love instead of a silver screen of “more, more, more”?””

    Amen!

  • Oh Erin! Bestill my heart, this post. I’ve had to take quite a few “blog breaks” and I find that happens when I try to have a new blog post, every morning, at the same time, five days a week(the secret for a popular blog, don’t you know ;) ). It just becomes a job and my brain works and works until it’s like a sponge that has completely dried out, with no more water to give away. My blog isn’t growing much and I find that stresses me out more than it should, which also zaps my creativity. I don’t think anyone is going anywhere if I take a few days off and maybe the content and creativity that will come from those days off will grow my blog more than if I keep trying to “keep up with the internet”.

    Thank you for being another voice saying it’s okay, it’s good to take a step back. I’ve been yearning for simplicity in my life. For things to slow down a little. For more deep breaths and calm thoughts and less hurried, frenzied ones. Always inspired, but never taking action on it.

    I hope you don’t mind if I share this link in a future blog post and maybe some quotes. It explains what I’ve needed to say lately, perfectly.

    You’re a beautiful person, sweet Erin! Didn’t get to say hello at Blissdom, but I sure hope I get to meet you someday. Good for you, taking a step back. Hope you have a wonderful, joyful end of the year and a fantastic new year. See you in 2013!

  • @Katy – Of course I don’t mind – and I’m so so happy to hear you’re going to be taking a breath of fresh air, as well. The smog is self-imposed; we can step outside at any time. :) Isn’t that the beautiful part?

  • I just want to say how much I admire your honesty, bravery, and direction. You know I’m a big fan of “less,” in blogging and in life. It takes guts to stay true to yourself when the pace appears to be ever-quickening. I know you will create even more that’s special and true here. I’ll be reading and cheering along with you!

  • Wow. I love you even more now. I completely admire you for addressing this treadmill that is the Internet. Thank you for reminding me to slow down.

  • a friend posted this entry on her facebook feed and i want to tell you how much it resonated. thank you for writing this. as a food writer (and blogger) living in new york, I’m feeling over stimulated by all the media outlets. i’ve been feeling exactly the same way: drained by all this pressure to find what no one is finding or to write something meaningful. sometimes, we all need room and space to retreat and it’s when we give ourselves room to breathe, we create better work. It’s become this very competitive place and started to feel like a chore and not something that is a delight and a treat. Happy holidays to you. Looking forward to reading your blog going forward.

  • as much as i have admired D4MK posts through the years, this post is my favorite of all! “being mindful” is always at the top of my self-improvement lists. in this fast-paced, over-stimulated world, i have to remind myself to be mindful quite often (kind of like reminding yourself to floss more often ; ) ) , but hopefully it is slowly permeating and becoming second-nature to me.
    here is a link with a small list that talks of mindfulness and easy ways to incorporate it into daily life:
    http://zenhabits.net/the-mindfulness-guide-for-the-super-busy-how-to-live-life-to-the-fullest/

  • I can’t thank you enough for your endless support, friends. I feel renewed and ready to welcome 2013 knowing how much you’re welcoming a new direction in your own lives, as well.

    Here’s to a thoughtful new year!

  • Thank you thank you for voicing and putting into action what many of us are feeling. I’ve been down and pouty and generally not very pleasant to be around ( my poor hubby! ) because of issues with my blog post a move to my own domain. In working on correcting some of those issues, I’ve been going back over old blog posts and am surprised at much better some of them seemed than some of what I’ve written lately. It is such a hard line to walk– we all want to be successful, want our stats to be high, reach our goals, etc., but at what cost?

    I hope more bloggers will follow your lead. Less posting, more thoughtfulness and depth when we do. Quality over quantity is never a bad thing! And neither is putting your own happiness and that of your family first.

    Wishing you all the best in 2013! Can’t wait to take this slowed down journey with you!

  • What a great decision Erin. I can’t wait to read the new, slower pieces and take some time out myself :) I can’t keep with everyone’s enormous number of blog posts either. I barely have time to write my own. Rewind! xx

  • Clearly this post resonates with so many…including myself. What does it say about where we have come to that harking back to simpler times seems like a revolutionary idea? Thank you for reminding all of us of the importance of quality, sincerity, and simplicity.

  • Looking forward to hearing your stories. I’m laying aside many things in my plan for slowing down. But following your blog won’t ever be discarded. We’re cheering for you.

  • I’m looking forward to the new Design for Mankind next year. ;) I somehow totally feel the same thing about blogging lately. Have a grand holiday w/ your family! ;)

  • YES! well said. i took a break from blogging after i moved from the east coast to the midwest…really rethinking my relationship with the medium before i jump back in. your post really resonates with me. thank you for sharing!
    ~sara

  • Right on Erin. I think you’ve captured what so many of us have been feeling – and searching for. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2013. Happy Holidays!

  • WOW!! You hit it! your site will not be ignored as we all need to go back and remember what it was to breath!

    namaste

  • I couldn’t agree more with this post and I’m so happy to hear you’re taking the blog in a direction that resonates more with you right now. I’m sure it will be fabulous. Looking forward to awkwardly coming up and saying hi at Alt. :)

  • What a great insight post, as well as the “Why I blog” one, too.

    It is funny how sometimes you can’t put a word on sentence on an emotion or thought, and sometime you find that sentence elsewhere… In this post. “I want less.”

    When people ask me about my work and business, and if I want it to grow and have an employee sometime and all, I always struggle to explain what I think on the subject. Sure I want it to grow, but growing doesn’t mean “make more money” or “have employees” to me. It just means evolving. I want my work to grow, not my life.

    I usually expect (and receive) the “not very ambitious” look, which always makes me feel like I’ve explained it wrong, because that is not true nor is it what I meant.

    You’re simple sentence “I want less” was in bold. In a typographic way, but also in my brain. I’ve never wanted to go big (and never did), but never could quite explain it properly either. Now, thanks to you, and a little more thinking on my own in the upcoming days/weeks, I think I might be on the right track for the next time someone asks me this question.

    So thanks! :)

  • You know those slow claps that were popular in teen movies in the late 80s/early 90s? I’m giving you one right now. I want to do more experimenting with my blog as well – play around creatively, graphically, and with writing. I started a couple of months ago with my You’re My Obsession column. I got tired of just picking out 5 things to post every Monday without spending time talking about WHY I think they’re so cool or WHY I’m obsessed with them or HOW they relate to me personally or my interests. I was reminded about why I started my blog back in 2009 – to start WRITING again. Now I usually focus on one “obsession” and spend more time with it. I’m looking forward to the next iteration of your wonderful space. :) See you SOON! xoxo

    • LOVE this, Melanie – thank you for your sweet words.

      Thanks for the encouragement, friends! Can’t wait to join you in living mindfully this new year.

  • I have to say, Quality>Quantity for most things in life. You have to know when to slow it down! Happy Holidays!

  • I love this post. At the beginning of the year, I made the drastic decision to shift my food blog into a completely new direction. Turns out, it was the best decision I ever made! I appreciate your desire for thoughtfulness–it makes such a difference. Looking forward to following your posts in 2013!

  • Thank you for sharing your journey. We could all benefit from focusing our energies on more thoughtfulness as you put it. It’s clear that you are making these changes out of love for your family and yourself..and your readers. That’s what will keep us all conning back for more. It’s not easy to make changes such as the ones you’re making–I applaud your courage and foresight. I’m excited to see the in-depth stories. All my best. Cheers!

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  • Very insightful post, particularly how our lives have speeded up and when you accomplish something, 2 more things pop up that need to be done or clicked or looked into. I, too, long for a slower, more meaningful life I, also, “want to return to the days when I didn’t feel the need to “keep up” with the Internet” and I am taking steps to realize it; I am going to hike the Appalachian Trail this year. You’re welcome to come hike with me! Either for a day, a few days, a week or a month! And I’m totally serious. I found your site through your new research editor.

  • Grear article. I am a new blogger and I already feel the pressure of maintaining weekly posts. I took a week out before Christmas to do less pinning and more memory making. I warned my readers blog posts would be slow and guess what, readership surged. Go figure.
    I also found I did a lot with my family and somehow what we did turned into better fresher posts. I have been thinking for a few weeks that I need to be part of a blog with multiple contributors. Ofcourse this means that I may have to give up control, and I like having creative control of my blog. But I guess these challenges will have to be negotiated.
    I look forward to seeing your journey in 2013.

  • Yep, pretty much how I feel. I used to feel bad for not posting, which I came to realise was just silly. My blog it my own space and so I should post as often as I really want to and about what I want to share. I usually take some time between posts as I prefer to really think about what I’m posting rather than just regurgitating anything and everything. Thanks for confirming this for me!

  • Spot on Erin. I think 2013 is going to be the year of ‘simple’. I know I have been feeling completely overwhelmed of being exposed to just too much and the expectations and comparisons that I put on myself. I have had the ‘simple life’ forced on me this year and the minute I step away from it to look at my unread newsletters and RSS feeds the anxiety sets back in immediately. Here’s to 2013 and a quiet year. Sx

  • That sounds like a wonderful plan to me. I was just going through my blog feed reader, and I’ve managed to keep up with the blogs that post infrequently (1-5 posts per week). But all of my lovely design blogs have gone unread. I can’t keep up!

  • Hi Erin, I was just thinking about that a few weeks ago. I have soo much stuff just waiting to be clicked, read, marked, printed and pinned…and I am finding new ones every day. It’s hard to keep up. I guess that sometimes more is not the right way to go. I’m looking forward to your new concept…Best.

  • LOVE this sentiment. I along with my best friend and business partner launched a blog in September and your post has completely just altered my planning for 2013. The Internet is overwhelming and I remember the days of unplanned content discovery, talking/ sharing with people in person and no cell phones or social networks. I hope for more personal experiences and the ability to slow down enough to enjoy all that life has to offer me. Thank you and best wishes for the New Year!

  • Slow blogging, slow cooking, maybe we should add slowing child rearing, right? Good for you setting a slow example and putting into words how many people feel. I love the new world of “slow.”

  • Thank you for saying this, Erin. I look forward to the new Design for Mankind. I can’t even keep up with blogs that post daily, and I always appreciate quality over quantity. I’m a food blogger and I am perpetually amazed at other food bloggers’ abilities to post original recipes with photos and commentary multiple times a week. However, my work is driven by inspiration and I want it to stay that way, so I guess it is what it is.

  • Hi Erin,

    Good on you for making that resolution! Happy 2013 to you & I definitely look forward to your writing next year.

    Btw, this post reminds me of this Slow Web Movement Manifesto (http://theslowweb.com/) I stumbled upon not too long ago. I reckon this is a good way to live life.

  • so true and so inspiring … I have been trying to slow down in these last few weeks after realizing I am spending my life in front of a computer instead of with my friends and family … but it is SO hard to do it … I hope it will be easier for you. Good luck!

  • Your writing is beautiful! This is exactly how I am feeling, only I am not the wordsmith you are. I have begun a journey down the same path with my own blog. Happy New Year!

  • Totally hear you. I have found I get more joy by stepping off a schedule and just posting when I feel like it. If that means twice in one day, or once a week – so be it. And of course you were already in my Reader. xoxox

  • I can’t wait to see the exciting changes and endeavors you and your blog have in store for all of us. I slowed down last year (I quit my job as art director at an ad agency) and it allowed me to heal my heart, visit family, travel to Europe and focus on what makes me happy and creative. I’ve haven’t figured it all out, but I have faith that when you take a careful exploration of who you are, amazing and fulfilling things start to happen. Lots of blessings to you.

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  • Oh Erin, I’m so very delighted to read this. Without knowing it was a “thing” I’ve been slow blogging for a year or so. I like it…it’s honest…less noise…more meaning. Thank you, I look forward to DFM in 2013. x

  • looking forward to the new dfm! we as a family live a slow simple life so much so that we are taking the year off, on the road with very few possessions, slowly exploring and meeting folks, creating and planning projects that take time to marinate before becoming. we are all about the process over the product. we’ll be one of those you’ll want to follow as well, let’s stay in touch…

  • It is really insightful for me to read this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I am only at the beginning of a new online project and some days I already feel in this trap! I am sure there is a better more intelligent way to blog than being crushed over links! I wish you an inspiring new year! Full of real life creativity.

  • Oh, companion to your most recent new year’s post. THIS is the one I couldn’t get out of my head all holiday long. It was so good. Thank you x 100.

  • So so so true! I am looking forward to follow this change on your blog.

    And: THANK YOU! Thank you for your blog, for you being open and brave and for the personal insight. Less is good. I need inspiration, but not as an everflowing thing, but as a seed that needs the time to grow.

  • Sounds great! Can’t wait to see more of it! And yes I pretty much nodded at everything here although my slow blogging revolution started last year already, or so I think

  • Loved to read this!

    I feel the same regarding everything in my life. And I’m finding that though blogging (but not only) my small creative business is growing slowly but sustainably.

    The main positive thing about blogging is that I’ve been connetting to amazing people around the world and learning: other cultures, other perspectives, other stories, other landscapes and this is very good! It’s like travelling!

    I’m enjoying blogging without any pressure. I’m enjoying blogging to share the positive things I see, The positive things I find, the positive things I make.

    Happy 2013 Erin!

  • A lovely post. This resonates with me so much. I shall join this movement with you :). Here’s to more adventures. <3

  • I just stumbled on to your blog and found this post. And I want to say thank you for such an inspiring post. It’s so refreshing when people stop and think and are open and honest about their journeys. So thank you for the lovely post. I look forward to more.

  • This is a wonderful heartfelt post, thank you for your honesty and insight. This very thing has been on my mind as well, and I think (hope) there will be a turn in what is out on the Internet. More honesty, more genuine thoughts and ideas, more living.

  • I had not checked my google reader in almost 5 months since my baby was born. I went straight to your blog because I enjoy all of your posts, but this one made me breathe deeply and smile. I completely agree. Since becoming a mom I felt this internal battle feeling like I am falling behind, but then feeling guilty that I am not satisfied to just stay in the moment. I need less in my life too. Cheers to that!

  • As creative director who works in the social media world, this post was music to my ears. Well-resolved and well-done.

  • I love it. I feel you and yearn for my own slowing down. In that slowed down state we are able to examine all we have on our plate and really see the infinite intricate delicacies of life.
    Here’s to that!

  • I just stumbled upon you on Pinterest & loved your quotes. I followed you on Google to find your blog which is just want I need in 2013 as I struggle to find balance. Thanking for keeping it simple with less as a message of more meaning.

  • Erin, I am new to your blog but I feel as though we’ve been reading each other’s minds. Last year I made a conscious effort to post less but put more into each post. This year, after marking a 4th blog birthday, I feel even more strongly the need to re-assess, recalibrate, and recapture the joy of blogging, rather than worrying about the social media stats race. Thank you for giving me the perfect words to capture the idea of quality over quantity and passion over numbers. The Slow Blogging Movement — just love it.

  • This speaks to me also though I’m not a true blogger. I quit my job in 2009 to spend more time with my kids. Through this I learned I AM actually somewhat creative. My creations overran the house so I decided to try to sell online. This has been the beginning of stress and anxiety. Instead of enjoying the creative process, I’ve reverted to the business world and have been trying to learn SEO and meta tags and social media and blah, blah, blah and even more blah.

    Less IS more – always has been. I am going to apply the principal “slow blogging” to the creative process and return to the joy of making something beautiful from broken, discarded pieces of our past.

    Thanks. Debora

  • Vilket livsverk! Det ser otlorigt fint ut. Me5ste komma och he4lsa pe5 snart :)Jag le5nade ne5gra av bilderna till min blogg, kunde inte le5ta bli.Lycka till!Kram Johanna

  • Hello PeteIt has been over 37 years since we last spoke but I have thought of you often since I left Cornell prramtueely. I wish you a speedy recovery and I hope we will have an opportunity to cross paths again in the near future. Keep a postive attitude. Everyone is sure that you will be up & back at it again soon.Get well very soon!Peter Skillins

  • I like that I am starting to regularly blog at a time when there are people like you who are wanting to go back to the essence of blogging.

  • I’ve just read this and although i’m new to blogging and selling my creations on Etsy, It has made so much sense. Slow blogging sounds great if only I could lay down that nagging desire to keep up with everything.

  • This came along at exactly the right time for me. I love that there’s a way to describe what I want out of blogging . Thanks for sharing!

  • So pleased to come across a blogger who’s happy to hold their own against the deluge of messages out there. I’ve heard of slow food but who knew of slow blogging?! If this is about creating quality content for the long term then I’m in! :-)

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