What's Next for Part-Time Traveler? A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Analysis paralysis: also known as: overthinking, too many ideas without implementation, a cruel close relative of perfectionism, and...the reason I haven't written on this blog consistently.

"Le Penseur" (or, "The Thinker) - Auguste Rodin, Mus

e Rodin. Paris, France.(Which may be my favorite museum on the planet.)I often read social media and blogging advice online, and whenever I come upon "how to get ideas for content" or "brainstorm 100 posts in one hour" I think, do people actually have this problem?!  I have the opposite issue.  If you could see my drafts folder - meaning the number of blog posts I've started and not finished - or my Evernote notebook where I keep a running list of writing ideas, you would likely be paralyzed too. Enough. As someone who has struggled with finding her "path," (hello, quarter-life crisis!) I admire this quote:

A lack of energy and creativity is not my problem. Nothing excites me more than the 'before' and 'after' of blogging. I love stumbling upon ideas, even outlining them!  And I love putting something out there that connects me to you: the awesome reader on the other side of this screen. It's the part in the middle, the part when I have to sit down and let the words flow without my internal editor nixing one after the other, that I struggle with. As a result, I've only been posting when:

a) I feel a surge of inspiration

b) I have the time <-- who does?

c) Some combination of the above.

Since I'm always thinking about and applying lessons I've learned from travel, I realized: we don't get a break from the road.  Day after day, even when we'd rather not be sitting in the back of a pickup truck in the dust and hot sun, when we would trade our left arm for a good, insect-free night in our own beds...we travel on. And if there was one thing confirmed at my most recent gathering of bloggers, it's that this blog thing is a lot of work. There is so much time, sweat, and yes, maybe even some tears, that goes into every single post.  Often it's without much (or any) recognition or pay.  (So, hug your favorite blogger today?) I need to stop blogging only when it's comfortable and convenient.  The best things in life, even those (like travel) so that we so passionately and thoroughly enjoy, are not ever restricted solely to select moments of divine inspiration. It's about showing up.  With so many things in life, most of all it's just about showing up!  Buy that plane ticket and take that trip.  Train for that race, form that strong personal bond, write that post...you've got to show up.  And not just once - but over and over, even (especially) when you don't feel like it.My commitment to producing quality content (as opposed to rushing to post something I'm not proud of just to stay consistent...) will not waver. As part of my effort to stay accountable to this "showing up," I'm sharing a bit of what I have planned for you, dear reader:

What's Next for Part-Time Traveler

• New Itineraries

  • Coming soon: Vietnam

• Food Guides

  • Coming soon: New Orleans

• Global Kitchen Adventures + Recipes

  • Coming soon: Chicken Adobo (Philippines)

• Balancing Home with Travel

  • Coming soon: How Travel Helped Me Knock Perfectionism

• San Francisco (My Home!)

  • Coming soon: Apartment Hunting in SF and My Apartment Tour!

• Continuing the Photo Series "Take Me To..." including new short spotlights on a city or place

  • Coming soon: Venice in Black + White

• Prioritizing Travel

  •  Coming soon: Maximizing Your Vacation Time for International Travel

I'm also crafting a follow-up to my most popular post to date - tentatitvely titled '20 More Lessons Learned From Travel' (because every day I realize more!) Essentially I'd like to welcome you back to my little corner of the Internet and give you a preview of what will be coming your way. I invite you subscribe to the forthcoming monthly Part-Time Travel Newsletter.Or follow along on Twitter // Instagram // Facebook (your choice!)  (Hint: I tend to share curated articles and random thoughts on Twitter, my favorite travel + SF photos on Instagram, and daily inspiration + posts on Facebook.)

Is there something you'd like to see more of that's not listed here? What would be most helpful to you to see on Part-Time Traveler in the future? I love hearing from you.

Another, perhaps less well known, thinker - closeup at La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona, Spain. (Another one of my favorite places in the whole world!)

P.S. You may also be wondering about my next trip.  Another reason to stay tuned... :)