by Jennifer Metz

Created on: August 16, 2011

Blogging is often a fun way to foster self-expression. Whether your blog is personal, for fun and entertainment, or for educational/business purposes, the act of expressing our thoughts and knowledge to the world is often too hard to resist.

Every day more and more people enter the blogosphere. It seems blogging has become has normal as walking and eating for many people. While blogging is a great way to reach the world with your words, it can quickly become an addition. By human nature, we thrive on praises attention. Becoming addicted to blogging is a very real side effect for many.  Addictions, by definition, are not a positive behavior. 

Are you worried you may be addicted to blogging, or know of someone who is?

Here are some sure-fire signs that a blogging addiction exists:

1.  You have several blogs running at once, and is always on the prowl for new blogs to startup.

2.  You are always saying, "I need to write that in my blog!" and jots down notes.

3.  You write and post multiple blogs in one day.

4.  You check your "site stats" all day long.

5.  You sit down, and just brainstorm random new things to blog about.

6.  You talk about blogging with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and the cashier at the grocery store.

7.  You peruse the internet in search of blogging contests.

8.  You become determined to make money blogging, and research how to get paid to blog, while planning on giving your notice at your regular 9 to 5.

9.  You sneak your blogging page up on the computer at work and blog when you should be working.

10.  You tell the kids that dinner will have to wait, you have a blog to post.

As you see, becoming addicted to blogging can be detrimental to your career, your family, and your overall mental health. If you were able to identify with more than one of the signs above, you may have a problem. While I am unaware of blogging addiction anonymous groups, I am sure they will start to surface throughout the world has more and more people fall victim to the street-drug of blogging. You may even start up your own group.

Worried you might be addicted? Try walking away. At least for a few days. Do you have it really bad? Try walking away for a few hours.  If that doesn't help, cancel your Internet.

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