Last year I wrote a post summarizing my year of blogging (2024 summary here) and I thought it would be fun to do something similar again! (It looks like a long post, but there aren’t actually that many words!)
GENERAL BLOG STATS FOR 2025
- Views: ~265,000
- Visitors: ~45,100
- Posts: 237
- Words written: ~274,400
- Comments (INCLUDING MY RESPONSES!): ~9,800
- 52.7% of my posts are read on a smartphone
- The most “popular time” to read my blog is Friday morning at 9 am. This tracks as Happy Things Friday posts tend to generate the most views.
- The single day with the most views was November 3 (a Cool Blogger’s Walking Club recap post); what is HILARIOUS is the previous year (2024), November 3rd had the most views as well!
TOP REFERRERS
*This represents the websites through which the most people find/access my blog.
- Colleen @ Martin Family Moments (still by a country mile!)
- Ernie @ nosmallfeetblog
- Kristen @ The Frugal Girl
- Sarah Hart-Unger @ The Shu Box
- Kae @ Grateful Kae
- Living Better One Day at A Time (I don’t actually read this blog, but apparently I’m on her blogroll)
- Andrea @ Momfessionals
- Erika @ A Little Bit of Everything
- Sarah Jedd @ Harry Times
- Allison @ Bibliomama
TOP COUNTRIES (BY VIEWS)
- The United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- France
- Ireland
TOP CLICK THROUGHS
*These are the top blogs people visiting my blog click through to visit via links listed on my site.
- Lisa @ Lisa’s Yarns (currently set to private)
- Kae @ Grateful Kae
- Sarah @ The Shu Box
- Birche @ Birchwood Pie
- Kristen @ The Frugal Girl
- Suzanne @ Life of a Doctor’s Wife
- Jenny @ Runner’s Fly
- Kyria @ Travel Spot
- Julie @ Thinking About…
- Catrina @ Keep on Running
MOST VIEWS
*The posts on my site that received the most views in 2025.
- Gratitude in Practice: Kristen (The Frugal Girl)
- The F.I.G. Collective
- Gratitude in Practice: Laura Vanderkam
- Gratitude in Practice: (Grateful) Kae
- Happy Things Friday: 26 September
- Gratitude Guests: Colleen (On Gratitude in Marriage and Parenting)
- Happy Things Friday: 5 December
- Happy Things Friday: 30 May
- Happy Things Friday: 27 June
- Happy Things Friday: 19 December + Niche Giveaway
TOP SEARCH QUERIES
*In other words, what people put in Google before ending up at my site. I cannot compete—thankfully—with Suz on this.
- optimistic musings of a pessimist
- optimistic musings
- optimisticmusings
- five frugal things
- hurkle durkle [ironic, as I only posted about this once]
- castle rock trailhead photos
- ice cream flavours [from my Top Five/Bottom Five, maybe?]
- medford beach nova scotia [I get this; such a gorgeous place!]
- best beaches nova scotia [I posted about my Top 5 favourite Nova Scotia beaches this year, and then ranked a whole bunch of other beaches here and here]
- breakfast near sacre coeur [this is always on my search list; I guess people get peckish while touring Paris? I have declared my breakfast there on a trip in 2019 to be the Best Breakfast of My Life]
TOP COMMENTERS
*Something is kerfluey with this; I know, for instance, that Lisa comments on almost every single post so it does not track that Jetpack isn’t putting her on this list. Sorry, Lisa!
GRATITUDE GUEST POSTS
A huge thanks to all my guests this year! In order of appearance (for a total of 16 posts):
- Gratitude in Practice: (Grateful) Kae
- Gratitude in Practice: Nicole
- Gratitude in Practice: Kristen (The Frugal Girl)
- Gratitude in Practice: Joel Larsgaard!
- Gratitude in Practice: Laura Vanderkam!!
- An Extra Special Gratitude Guest: Let’s Talk About Joy (Literally)!!!!!
- Gratitude in Practice: Kyria!!!
- Gratitude in Practice: Kathleen — the Minimal(ish) Mom [Her podcast has since been rebranded to The Reframe.]
- Gratitude in Practice: Dr. Gillian Goddard and Women’s Health
- Gratitude Guests: Catrina from Keep on Running!
- Gratitude Guests: Colleen (On Gratitude in Marriage and Parenting)
- Gratitude Guests: Stephany (On the Joys of Pet Ownership)
- Meet My Favourite Guy: A Q&A with John (Part One)
- Meet My Favourite Guy: A Q&A with John (Part Two)
- Gratitude Guests: Meagan Francis on Parenting, Gratitude, and Leisure Pursuits
- Gratitude Guests: Kelly Neil on Nova Scotia, Cuisine, and Gratitude
CREATIVE WORK
I decided to start generating revenue in August. A huge thanks to SHU and Kristen for offering encouragement and suggestions. I invest a lot of time and energy into my blog, and it was affirming to hear from these women (who very successfully produce content for profit in various forms) that it was okay to pursue payment!
Also, a shout-out to Sophie who steered me toward starting a paid Patreon community, which I did in mid-August. It’s been a wonderful space to write a bit more openly about life challenges, and deep-dive into my personal gratitude practice.
While I do NOT like the aesthetic of ads, they are the path of least resistance for generating income. I was accepted to the Mediavine Grow program in August and recently got word that I’m being transitioned to the full mainstream Mediavine ad network. This came as a complete surprise to me, but I’m delighted. I’m hoping they will be a bit less intrusive moving forward, though a reminder that reading my posts in a feed reader, via e-mail, or with a browser ad blocker does eliminate the ads!
Thanks to everyone for supporting this blog by reading and contributing in such a range of ways. It truly means a lot!!!
Now it’s your turn:
- I’d love to know where you’re currently reading from; anyone outside of the Top Ten Countries listed above?
- How long have you been reading my blog—new this year, or a long-time friend?
- Which posts are your favourite? Happy Things Friday? Gratitude series? Frugal things?
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You can be so proud of this, Elisabeth!
Stats posts are always fun, but this one really shows the work behind the warmth and consistency. Nearly 10k comments says everything about the kind of community you’ve built.
I smiled seeing my name pop up a few times – and Switzerland at #7 genuinely surprised me… clearly you have more readers here!
And those Friday 9am readers know what they are doing! 🤗
I have to admit I love stats posts and surveys, though I can see them being tedious and boring to many people! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for commenting so frequently. I always enjoy your perspective on life. And here’s to hoping we connect in person in 2026!
Wow, that’s a lot of blogging! Congratulations on so much creative work!
I think I like the Happy things Friday and gold stars/demerits are among my favorite posts. Your travel posts are great too. You give such detail on where you go, activities, food, lodgings, and costs. I don’t travel, so you allow me to see what’s out there! Whether is your Nova Scotia sites or European explorations, you write so well!
Now I need to make sure I vomment more- I want to move up that list! Some days, it’s hard to write a good comment, especially when I’m not feeling Happy things or grateful. But pessimists are welcome here- thank you for keeping it real!
Oh, and I comment a lot at 4am, so my spelling and editing skills stink. Can i be at the top of most typos in comments list?
Ha! My posts are full of typos, so never ANY judgement from me.
Aww. Thanks <3
You definitely win for the first commenter most days. I'm sorry your sleep is so hit and miss, but I love seeing your comments pop up bright and early.
Demerit alert: I haven't written a gold star/demerit post in SO LONG. I have so many demerits (and gold stars) that have happened. I think I'll have to start with a clean slate and just reach for more recent gold stars/demerits.
Pessimists are DEFINITELY welcome here. I am one!
I love reading these kinds of posts! A great year of blogging, Elisabeth!
Yay! I suppose they can be tedious to read for some people, but I love these sorts of summary posts!
Congratulations on an amazing year of blogging and growth! I know you put so much effort into it and it shows. You have such a gift with not only words, but also the ‘smaller’ things, like aesthetics on the page, your photos, and of course your fun and creative ideas for posts, AND the way you tackle tougher subjects with grace and care. I suspect 2026 may generate some challenges for you with blogging as you navigate how to combine it with your extended time in Europe + less alone time! But I have no doubt that we’re in for a treat- I can’t wait to follow your journey there, no matter what the posts or posting schedule look like.
I personally feel like I’ve been all over the place with blogging this year- sometimes I posted a TON (many days in a row!) and others times I felt like a cricket. 2025 had a lot it in for me, as you know, with above average time away from home, etc. My work was also sort of all over the place (not location wise, but just like really intense periods and then less so), so I guess all of this tracks. Some weeks it truly fits in better than others! I’m working on letting go of some frustrations I feel about this and reminding myself that it’s totally OKAY to take breaks (like your ‘bloggy breaks!’), or post less frequently for a while etc. That’s the nice thing about blogging- there are really no rules. 🙂 I sometimes think about LagLiv and how very infrequently she posts, but yet everyone still gobbles up her posts when she DOES post. It still works! (I am happy that you post very regularly though, because your posts are such a bright spot and it would be Very Sad if you only posted once a month, lol! :)) I do feel bad when I either comment less (which I know I have lately…) OR am flaky about responding to comments on my own blog. That makes me feel like kind of a jerk but I don’t mean to be! I think people know that. 🙂
Anyway, cheers to… year 6?!! of the wonderful Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist!! 🥂
Aww. Thanks, friend <3 I AM BLUSHING!!!
Yes, I haven't thought through finding time to blog while travelling and homeschooling the kids. I will play it by ear and there is no "boss" except me, so that's handy 🙂
You have had such an intense year. I love whenever you post and when it's more frequently, I'm delighted... but also understand why sometimes life requires breaks and "offline life" should ALWAYS come first!!!
No guilt about commenting. Comments take the most time from my end and I am commenting much less than I used to. You are NOT a jerk!!!
Hmmm. I started in 2021...so yes! That makes this Year 6. Wowzers????!!!!
This was fun to read! I love stats!! I am glad I found you all those years ago. It must be 3+ years at this point? I think I found you through SHU’s blog?
I am kind of not surprised I’m on the list of click throughs. We have a good overlap of readers and I had no way to let my readers know I had to take my blog private because of the lawsuit so some of those click through are probably to see if I’m ok as my last public post was about the fire (which I then had to take down). Gah. Lawsuits.
I am glad you highlighted Catrina! She’s so inspiring and we have a lot in common as she also had her CFA designation. She’s definitely a FIRE role model for me!!
Kae just pointed out I’m going into Year 6 and I’m pretty sure we were connected very early on. You bring so much joy to my life, Lisa! I’m so glad we connected via the internet.
What a year you’ve had. I’m sorry you had to make your blog private but totally understand and am so glad you still have a space to write. I am horrible about remembering to click over since it doesn’t push to Feedly. Speaking of demerits!!
Woot woot! A great year for the bloggy blog! The best part was getting to meet you and the fam in person!
Here is to the year of blogging to come!
YES! I am going to do a summary of LIFE stats and blogger meetups will feature prominently <3
Oh this was a fun recap! I never really look at my stats (I should do this) (I say this every year). I guess I don’t really know HOW. Although I remember looking once at referring phrases and it was like “braless on vacation” and something that was a bit porny so I was a bit alarmed about it!
I love your Happy Things, it’s probably my favourite of them all. I’m glad we met – I’m sure it was through the Secret Santa one year. Maybe 2020? 2021? I really don’t remember, I’m just glad we are friends. xoxoxo
Braless on vacation… I am dying of laughter, Nicole. Between you and Suz, my goodness 🙂
Happy Things Friday posts are definitely my favourite to write!
Yes, we met via Secret SANta… I am so horrible with remembering dates. I wish I’d known you for my whole life, but am so grateful we eventually met. You bring a lot of joy to my life <3
WELL. You know what I’m most excited about- I’m your #1 commenter??? I’m very proud of that (and nobody better try and take that title from me in 2026!) Honestly- your blog is the first one I read every morning, and any time you take a “bloggy break” I’m slightly sad and disoriented until you’re back. My favorites of your posts are the Happy Things Fridays, and I also love all the Christmas recap posts. But I really love them all.You had a great year of blogging and should be proud of it!
Comments from you genuinely make me happy every single time I see them, Jenny!
I am sorry my absence disorients you, but this compliment most certainly made my day!!!!
Well done, Elisabeth! Blogging is a lot of work and I appreciate your dedication. I believe I’ve been reading you since 2001/2 – it was when you had your old blog. I enjoy all your posts and really look forward to the Cool Bloggers Walking Club, Gratitude and Happy Things Friday posts for the motivation they give me. I also love your travel recaps – armchair travel is the best alternative to the real thing!
I’m so glad you enjoy such a range of posts. I’m hoping to do FIGs in February and CBWC in April, but I will maybe have to modify them a bit to account for preparing for (and BEING IN) Europe.
Travel posts are the most work, but also the most rewarding so it really means so much to me that you enjoy them.
I think I discovered you around a year ago but I can’t remember how 🙂 But now it is one of my favorite blogs. Here’s to another wonderful year of blogging 🙂
Yes! Your blog (and books) are new to me and I’m ever so glad we found each other. And I’m blushing to learn I’m one of your favourite blogs <3
I am in the US and I started following you after your contact with Kristen, The Frugal Girl. I love both of your attitudes. And even tho, sometimes life is tough, you do both see the brighter side and that is what we need in this world. And I do read you everyday, but I do love the Friday posts!
I adore Kristen and have loved the overlap our blogs have had; we’d love to do some more things together in 2026… I just need to come up with ideas!
Elisabeth, I loved your “hurkle durkle” post! My husband and I have shortened it to “hurkle-ing,” but we use the term on an almost-daily basis. He enjoys a good hurkle in the morning, during which he shares ultra-random Facebook and Instagram Reels with me. 🙂
HURKLE-ING. I love it!!!! Even more, I love that you use the phrase regularly. Hurkle durkling is underrated!
For my part, I like Top/Bottom Five posts and random life posts. I’m very easy to please!
Your blog is essentially unreadable to me on my phone because of ads, so I’m surprised so many folks use the mobile version. That’s crazy to me!
I feel like I’m running out of Top Five/Bottom Five posts. I need some fresh ideas. But those routinely seem to rise to the top of people’s lists.
Ugh. That is what I hate about ads. I’m hoping they get less intrusive once I move away from the free option.
I don’t read any blogs on my phone unless it’s in a feed reader. I’m always shocked if I click through and discover someone has ads because Feedly eliminates them (to be fair, I also use an ad blocker…)
I’m reading from a suburb of Chicago. I think I comment on almost every post – same or maybe slightly less than last year and last year I made the top commenters, so I agree that the tracking might be off a tad . . . although last year I was surprised to make the top commenters so Who Even Knows? I do like your Friday gratitude posts, but I don’t read blogs very often on Fridays so I often end up showing up after the party, so to speak. I do enjoy the I’ve Never Done This posts, because sometimes they make me think about things I’ve not thought of in forever. Or they make me chuckle. Congrats on getting some income/getting accepted into that program. Well done, you.
Stay tuned, I have a Never Have I Ever post rattling around in my brain (it’s getting a bit harder to come up with things)!
I just found your blog in 2025, but I do not remember how. I think you commented on my blog first, so maybe you found me through Nicole or Ernie. It’s always interesting to see the different connections and how we all come together. Your Happy Things Friday are my favorite because Friday is my favorite day of the week and who doesn’t appreciate a list of happiness?
It makes me so happy to hear other people enjoy HTF because they’re definitely my favourite posts <3
I love reading all these stats! So fun! That’s A LOT of words you wrote in 2025, and all of them thoughtful and well written – well done. Its been wonderful to see this blog develop, bring in income with some ads, and the Patreon get started – glad I could give some encouragement 🙂 I think I must have started reading your blog regularly about 3 years ago, and I think I found you from SHU – I remember seeing your name with its individual spelling, and clicking through to check out your blog. Reading about you starting your blog in Tranquility by Tuesday was one of the inspirations for me to start my blog actually, so many blogs have been around for decades, so seeing a new one flourish encouraged me to think – I could do this.
My favourite posts are probably your Happy Friday posts, though I do love your Frugal ones too! Heres to a great 2026 for Optimistic Musings!
Yay! I’m so glad Laura V’s advice about habits ended up leading to TWO blogs being started (probably more).
You’re in luck: there is a frugal post set for tomorrow and, of course, HTF on Friday!
I think I ‘met’ you the same time I met most of the cool bloggers, November 2022 during NaBloPoMo. I love your blog posts, and I’m glad you have found a way to monetize it. You’re an excellent writer, and getting paid for that is no crime. <3
That particular year of NaBloPoMo brought A LOT of us together.
Aww. Thanks for the encouragement. I know the ads are capital A annoying, but without pursuing sponsorship, it’s really the only way to generate any income <3
First time commenter, I think. US based. I started reading your blog within the last 1-2 years. You drew me in with your genuine zest for life & thrifting.
I love learning about people’s day-to-day in various locales around the world. You inspire me to visit Nova Scotia – only during the warmer months!! – not sure I can handle snow. But it really looks gorgeous there.
Aww. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Nova Scotia really is gorgeous… less so this time of year, so you’re making a wise choice to visit in warmer months!
I, like many people, love stats! This was fun to read. Girl, how in the world do you put out that many quality posts? I know, I know, you do a lot, and you enjoy it, and I’m proud of you.
I’m glad you don’t have weird search queries, and I love the phrase Hurkle Durkle!
I tend to enjoy shorter posts more often, so the Top five/Bottom five are always fun; that being said, I try not to miss any of them.
It’s 2026—Let’s Go!
I am not known for being the best at producing short posts, Suz! Sigh. But I think Hurkle Durkle was a very short post, so I’m chuffed it was a top search query 🙂
Are you getting all of this from Jetpack? I have never really analyzed my stats, which is so odd because I am ALL ABOUT THE STATS in so many other areas of my life…. and it is for sure interesting 🙂
I think we’ve known each other for at least 3-4 years now? I actually can’t remember the before times… and I am just so glad the blogosphere brought us (and all of us) together. I don’t know if I have a favorite post. I sometimes get behind but I try to catch up and read all of your posts. 🙂
Mostly all from Jetpack with a few from Site Kit (Google).
Oh, I wanted to add: I read your posts mostly within Feedly (on the computer). Your content box is set to very wide on your blog layout, so I prefer to read in Feedly where it’s a little bit more “contained”) before I hop over to comment. I usually enjoy people having pretty blog layouts, but depending on the setting and font, I prefer reading in Feedly. (That’s no critic, just general feedback ;)).
Good to know!
I love blog stats! I’m posting mine on Friday. It’s so fun to see what is resonating with people. 🙂 I love your Happy Things, demerits/gold stars, and top 5/bottom 5 posts. I also love when you just post about random questions that have popped up, like where do you keep clothes that you’ve worn but aren’t dirty? Ha!
I love your blog and your writing style! You certainly have a knack for the written word, my friend.
I can’t wait to read your post.
Awww. Thanks so such sweet compliments <3
My 2025 in review (blog + books) just went live this morning! 😀
I am SO impressed with your amount of blog posts! Here I was feeling wild that I had 89, LOL! Baby steps … 🙂
I’m so glad to have discovered your blog this year, and look forward to continuing to “get to know you” as 2026 rolls on 💖
89 is a lot of posts, Rebecca!!!!! I loved reading your review post <3