I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging for almost eight years! It has been an interesting journey that has taught me a lot about myself and places I’ve lived and experienced.
Naturally, I reflect on what the past year has been like to find ways that I can improve or things I can do differently. This year, I chose to share a handful of the things I’ve learned from the past seven years. I hope they inspire you to think about your blogging journey or to start a blog.
TRY NEW THINGS.
I’ve always been a selective eater. It hasn’t completely changed, but I’m more likely to try new things now than I was when I started my blog. Trying more things when it comes to food has helped make me more open to doing it in general. It’s a great way to open your eyes. If I hadn’t become more open to trying new food, I don’t think I would’ve ever tried a peanut butter bacon burger.
Also, COVID’s impact on the food and beverage industry forced me to try new content topics in the blogging space. I like sharing things I’ve learned with other people. If I can teach one person based on my experience or research, that truly feels amazing.
DON’T BE SUPER ATTACHED TO YOUR PLANS.
Things can change at a moment’s notice. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve visited a restaurant during a busy time and needed to find another place to eat because I’m super hungry. Or when a friend has to cancel last minute. You can only do but so much to prepare for unforeseen situations. To prepare myself as much as possible, I create a list of multiple restaurants in the area so I can go to a different restaurant if needed.
FOOD IS A CONNECTOR.
My closest friends are people who love food just as much–or more–than I do. It’s often incorporated somehow when we meet up. Experiencing new restaurants has helped me connect with people on a different level.
KEEP LEARNING.
If 2020 taught me anything, it’s to keep learning even when things are uncertain. I’ve learned more since COVID-related changes were put in place than I did last year. YouTube videos, blog articles, food news…I read and viewed whatever I could to become a better blogger and content creator.
IT’S OKAY TO GO SOLO.
When I started college, I wasn’t very comfortable going places by myself because I was in a new city. Luckily, by the time I started my blog, I knew the city a lot better and still and so much to see and learn. You can’t wait for people to do anything. Fast forward to the present, and exploring by myself is one of my favorite things to do. It’s okay to enjoy your own company. I personally liked working that way a lot better. I love hanging out with people, but I love being able to do whatever whenever when I’m by myself.
My favorite restaurant to frequent by myself when I was in NYC was S’MAC (pictured below). I remember when my suitemate was shocked that I was going to Manhattan by myself on a Tuesday evening. Here’s a post from that night.
YOU WILL FIND YOUR PEOPLE.
Since social media has become an important part of blogging, I’ve connected with some very kind people who are in the food space. Some are local, and some are in other parts of the U.S. and the world. I think authentically creating/sharing content and making connections with them has made the blogging experience more interesting and fun.
I used to like the idea of being a part of local food groups. In 2020, I disconnected from the ones I was a part of because they didn’t make sense with my vision for Foodish Ways. I’ve gotten more opportunities from doing things on my own and connecting with genuine people. For example, I’ve been invited to a whiskey tasting and been featured on Redfin’s blog post.
ADAPT.
You truly never know when things might change. Whether it’s a life shift or the Instagram algorithm, you have to be able to adapt to changes and try not to dwell on what things used to be. (I’m talking to myself, but raise your hand if you can relate.) Change isn’t always easy to handle, so make sure you give yourself the space and grace to shift.
What is one thing you’ve learned in the past year? Share in the comments below.
Until next time.
Foodish Ways 