100 daily blog posts

I’ve published a blog post every one of the past 100 weekdays. That’s 20 weeks of daily blogging. I wrote a post about it after 8 weeks, so here’s another one.

It’s fair to say this habit has changed my life.

• I realized I needed to look for a new job while writing a blog post. 3 months later (2 weeks ago), I started my new job.
• I realized I am an extrovert, not an introvert while writing a blog post, which fundamentally changed my interactions with people.
• That led me to understand that I have mild social anxiety. Since then, I’ve gotten much better at making value-based choices rather than avoidance-based.
• Just 2 days ago, a post of mine led to some fascinating and hilarious discussions, including the first episode of a podcast I’m putting together with a friend.
• I’ve crystallized dozens of random thoughts and ideas, because writing is thinking. And I’ve made connections that I never would have made otherwise. I’m not sure if I would have gotten my new job if I hadn’t already thought through answers to lots of the interview questions while writing blog posts.
• I’ve made new friends with people who found a post and contacted me about it.

It’s life changing, and it’s fun. I look forward to it every time.

In terms of stats, these 100 posts have gotten about 96,000 views so far. 67,000 of those views came from the top 5 posts:

• That coworker who never stops refactoring: 23,722 views
• Wiki bankruptcy: 17,998 views
• 5 second feedback: 12,731 views
• Plan the sprint, not the project: 7,571
• Your calendar should be an allowlist, not a blocklist: 4,969

The 80/20 rule at work, as always.

When I try to convince people to try it, they say they don’t have time or they will run out of topics. Well, prove it! Try it as an experiment!

Here’s what I do:

1. Whenever I have an interesting thought or come across an idea in a book that resonates, I make it the title of an empty blog draft. (Bonus: this helps to remember what I read!)
2. Every morning, when I sit down at the computer, I pick one of those drafts and write about it. Just ramble, who cares! If it’s crap, I’ll write another one tomorrow anyway.
3. Publish, then get started with my work day.

That’s it. Simple, as the best processes always are. Anyone can do it.

Try it for a week and see if you want to keep it going. It only gets easier as you go.