Day 31: I blogged every day in May!

I blogged every day in May!

I feel like I should get a badge, or a certificate at least.

It has certainly been a challenge.  I forgot what a busy month May is at school, so many days I was working flat out from 7 till 5, only to return home with the need to write a post hanging over my head.  I was away for four days at the start of the month and six days at the end, which meant I had to be really organised about writing and scheduling posts in advance.  I'm still amazed that I managed it, but manage it I did, and more importantly, I enjoyed it too.

I have loved using the #BEDM hashtag to discover new blogs that I otherwise would never have come across. My Bloglovin' list is now much longer, and all the better for it (although at the time of writing, I have 67 unread posts after being away for a week - eek, better get reading).

I enjoyed the fact that many of the topics inspired me to write about something a bit different: while I often blog about books and travel, I probably wouldn't have thought to come up with topics such as A Day In The Life (turns out, everyone was very keen to learn exactly what teachers get up to). 

I also liked reminscing about the job that changed my life (complete with embarrassing photo of 19 year-old me) and thinking about what I'd say to myself at thirteen. 

But typically, the post I slaved over the most, going backwards and forwards with editing and getting The Boy to check it for me - about being fit, healthy and fat - got the fewest pageviews and comments: isn't that always the way?!

So what have I learnt? 

That I can stick to deadlines if I put my mind to it.

That sitting down to write a lot of posts at once, and then scheduling them, is a much easier way of blogging regularly.

That I enjoy taking photographs to accompany my posts, and should do it more often.

Most of all, I've learnt that I really enjoy being part of a blogging community.  I've loved 'meeting' new people on Twitter, reading new commenters and visiting their blogs to comment in turn. 

Finally, a massive thanks to Elizabeth at Rosalilium for coming up with the #BEDM challenge in the first place.  How will I ever cope with coming up with my own topics in June?!