Did you your autoimmune disease flare up causing you to stop blogging for three months?
Did you get a new day job that took over your life causing you to take a break from posting regularly on Instagram?
Did starting grad school take way more time than you thought causing you to stop almost everything including emailing your list for the last five months?
Whatever it was, you felt you had no other option but to take an unplanned break and now you’ve found your footing. You want to return but you don’t know how to do so gracefully. It’s been months and you feel guilty and wonder how your followers are going to react.
Are they going to be upset? Are they going to ignore you? Are they going to think you’re just going to disappear again?
Let me ease your mind.
Your followers are busy with their own lives. Your super duper ‘check all the time to see if you’ve posted new content’ fans will have noticed that you’ve been absent. They might’ve even checked in with you to see if you’re okay.
But most of your followers are overloaded with their own lives to notice your absence in their inbox or on Instagram.
They’ll just be happy when you reappear with great content.
So, how do you come back?
Do you need to acknowledge your absence? Do you need to apologize? Do you need to come back with a party or some over-the-top content to grab your followers attention?
I’ve been asked these questions by probably 100 clients over the past eight years of running my consulting business, so let me tackle this once and for all.
Here are three suggestions to help you return after an unplanned break:
1. Jump back in without apologies.
Your followers don’t want your apology. They want you to get back to the content they love.
Like I said above, the people reading your blog or subscribed to your email list have overwhelming lives of their own. They probably haven’t noticed your absence, so don’t make it more obvious with flashing lights and long apologies.
Instead, create valuable, entertaining content for them. They will appreciate that more than an apology about how your day job is draining all your energy and you broke your toe and you’re taking care of your sister’s cat while she’s backpacking through Europe and you’re sorry for not emailing for the past three months.
Think about the ‘I’m sorry for not posting’ apologies you read. Don’t they fall into the annoying category?
Don’t stumble into that trap.
Just jump back into posting your regular content.
2. Don’t overthink it.
Many of my clients who have taken an unplanned break think they have to come up with Beyonce-at-the-superbowl-like comeback content for the first thing they post when they return.
This keeps them from posting because they can’t think of the “perfect” thing to post.
It doesn’t have to be the most brilliant piece of content you’ve ever posted. It should be good and offer value, but don’t stop yourself from moving forward because you haven’t created the best blog post of all time.
After a break, your first Instagram post or blog post or email to your list should look like the content you created before the break. Write something you’re used to writing or take a photo similar to the photos you uploaded before you stopped posting.
You want your followers to see the content and think, “yep, that’s so-and-so.” It should work with your brand.
3. Come back with consistency.
So you took an unplanned break? Sh*t happens. (Yeah, I just cursed. This is serious!)
I get it. For the past three months, I’ve had to change medications about six times and it has taken a huge toll on my health. I never thought I would miss a week of blogging, but I had to prioritize my work and Sunday Society was my absolute priority.
I finally have my medication under control and I’m back!
When you return, decide what consistency means to you. Emailing every week…blogging every other week…posting on Instagram three times per week.
Establish that rule for yourself and stick to it.
Don’t disappear again for another three months.
If you keep disappearing and reappearing, you become an untrustworthy brand and when you ask for money, your followers are going to decline because they don’t know if you’re actually going to be there. They don’t know if you’re going to deliver on your promises.
Coming back with consistency is key to returning with grace.
If you do these three things, you can return with confidence.
The bottom line is get back to work…the world needs what you have to offer.
Have you taken a unplanned break? What was your experience returning to blogging or emailing your list or Instagram or Facebook?
I’m glad you’re back, April. I missed you. I pray all as is well.
Thanks Katie! It feels great to be back to blogging…I’ve missed it.
Hope you’re on the mend April!
I think I am…thanks!
Your post is so timely! I have haven’t been posting on my blog and wondered how to word an apology. But I loathe apologies for this sort of thing and it never occurred to me that I didn’t have to apologize. How liberating! 😀 You’re absolutely right. Both readers’ and writers’ lives are crazy these days and we’re all just trying to make it from day to day. I appreciate you, April. Thank you kindly for posting again. I’d love to hear an update on your watercolor work. That’s the last I remember of your posts. Your work is wonderful!
I’m so glad this post has helped you realize that you don’t have to word an apology at all!
I’ll definitely post an update on my watercolors at some point. I haven’t painted all summer due to medical issues but I’m jumping back in (like I am with blogging!) so I’ll share eventually. When I have new watercolors to share, I post them on my Instagram account: @blacksburgbelle
I’m not sure this could have come at a better time for me April. I’ve been missing my tribe at Sunday Society and not taking any action on my biz. Thank you for the pick-me-up permission to just dive back in!
YES…dive back in! 🙂
Nothing else needed.
This actually happened to me this past month and I didn’t know how to return myself to my writing…I’m so happy you posted this and I hope all is well with you 🙂
So glad this was helpful. 🙂
So happy for you that the meds are working.
Wow April, this post is so timely. I needed to take a longer than planned break from my Blog for our daughter’s wedding. Your suggestions are so encouraging that I’m going to post on my Blog tomorrow.
Thank you!!!
Thanks Marti!
Congrats on your daughter’s wedding! I hope it was amazing.
Hi, I was off work for a year with a rare autoimmune decease. I wasnt actually expected to come back at all as the doctors only gave me between 3 and 6 days.
After that I returned for a short while before being made homeless and living on the streets. I was on the streets for 2 years and then rehab for 18 months.
The fact is though this time away enabled me to re-invent myself. I changed the focus of my photography from the stock work that I was doing to concentrate on family work.
It was tough but exciting. My client base changed and so did my style of writing.
Use the time to off to discover where God is leading you. It was the best move I made.
Chris
https://www.family-photographer.co.uk
You’re back!!
All is well – that is all I want 🙂
I did notice and did wonder at first, was concerned next, wondered whether to write but didn’t want to intrude as it was obviously something unusual to stop your blogging, then debated contacting Amanda (who I’m in touch with now and again) or Amanda Sue .. and then saw you were active on Sunday Society….
Hmm may be a change of business model… after all there is enough and more posts here …
In any case was kinda relieved and waited patiently for a while more…
Am happy April – and we are here when you want us.
You have given us so much, so generously – surely it isn’t too much for you to get back from us.
Am glad all is well and with a virtual hug!
Oops – sorry! The above reply was meant for April’s post.
BUT I also did check your kids photos and they are really unusual and expressive. Pity you don’t do portraits and are not in Hamburg 🙂
Good luck with your business!
Cheers,
Renuka
Wow…I’m so glad you’re doing better! I can’t imagine everything that you went through but it sounds like it’s made you a stronger person. Thanks for sharing.
Number #1 is so cool!
Like your readers just wanna hear from you – No excuses or something. If they would like to know what happen why you go on a long break, they will surely ask from the comment section or msg you up on your social media handle
Yes, exactly! 🙂
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve just started a new job, and struggling is the best word to describe how I’ve been feeling! I just haven’t been able to focus on creating content. You’ve no idea how useful this post is, and I’m going to action it as soon as I’m sure I can be consistent again, although I may need to rethink what that actually means!
You’re so welcome! Starting a new job is always an adjustment. You just need to figure out your “new normal” and decide how much time you’ve got to give. You’ll adapt!
So timely, so brilliant and so inspiring. I’m on a forced break for 6 weeks now and it’s killing me. Your post just gave me strength to get back with my content creation as soon as I can. Thank you so much!! I’m glad you’re well and back with great content!
YAY…I’m glad I could inspire you. 🙂
You’re back!!
All is well – that is all I want
I did notice and did wonder at first, was concerned next, wondered whether to write but didn’t want to intrude as it was obviously something unusual to stop your blogging, then debated contacting Amanda (who I’m in touch with now and again) or Amanda Sue .. and then saw you were active on Sunday Society….
Hmm may be a change of business model… after all there is enough and more posts here …
In any case was kinda relieved and waited patiently for a while more…
Am happy April – and we are here when you want us.
You have given us so much, so generously – surely it isn’t too much for you to get back from us.
Am glad all is well and with a virtual hug!
Thanks Renuka! It was extremely hard for me to pause blogging for a bit. I really appreciate your kind thoughts and patience.
As most have already stated, it’s a relief to know apologies are not needed or necessary! So grateful to hear that you are on the mend as well!
Welcome back lady, welcome back! <3 And I LOVE that featured image… the outfit is super cute, and your flowers are lovely.