How I Plan a Month of Content in One Day (Without Burning Out)
From Burnout Blogger to Strategic Creator
Back in 2018, I started a food blog – The Fufu Cafe. I loved writing recipes, styling photos, and sharing my culinary experiments in my small Denver kitchen. But I quickly realized something: running a blog isn’t just cooking and writing; it’s marketing, SEO, photography, research, editing, social media, and so much more.
I was doing it all manually, by myself, without a plan. One week I’d post three recipes, the next I’d disappear for a month. My audience didn’t know what to expect, and honestly, neither did I.
Somehow, that chaotic, all,over,the,place approach followed me into freelancing in 2019–2020. And it was all too much. I’d juggle multiple client projects, squeeze in my own content, and end up burned out. Then in 2021, I launched Morse Creatives (your new favorite design and marketing studio) with my husband. While I finally felt like I had a “real business,” I was still struggling with one thing: content consistency. For the next few years, I felt like every internet marketer and content creator was yelling at me: “CONSISTENCY IS KEY”. I just didn’t know how to crack the content code.
Then the truth hit me hard: if I wanted to grow Morse Creatives into a self,sustaining business by 2026, I couldn’t just rely on inspiration. I needed a system.
I went to work experimenting with my content strategy.
That’s where this method comes in: how I plan a month of content in a single day, without burning out. It’s part business strategy, part survival tactic, and it’s what allows me to balance being a wife, future mom, and business owner while still creating content I’m proud of.
If you’d rather watch the behind,the,scenes, I shared it on YouTube here: How I Plan a Month of Content in One Day.
Step 1: Start With Your Business Goals
One of the biggest mistakes I made in my early blogging days was chasing trends instead of aligning with my goals. I’d post whatever recipe or lifestyle idea popped into my head, even if it had nothing to do with the audience I wanted to build or the long-term business I envisioned.
Now, every month starts with this question: What do I want my content to do for my business right now?
For example:
If my goal is to book new web design clients, my content highlights brand identity, strategy, and past client projects.
If my goal is to grow my YouTube audience, I prioritize vlogs and thought leadership videos that show the Creator to CEO journey.
If my goal is to build my email list, I create content that drives traffic to download The Creative’s Brand Growth Kit.
Action Step:
Write down your 1–2 business priorities for the month. Then make sure your content ideas directly support those goals.
Step 2: Choose 2–3 Content Pillars
In 2019, when I was freelancing, I tried to cover everything. One day I’d share design tips, the next I’d post about self,care, then I’d randomly talk about food. It confused my audience, and honestly, it drained me.
Now, I build my content around 3 main pillars that reflect my brand and audience:
Creator to CEO Journey – I share vlogs, behind,the,scenes, and personal lessons as I build Morse Creatives.
Business & Branding Tips – actionable strategies for creators who want to scale into entrepreneurs.
Lifestyle & Personal Growth – the human side of business building, from marriage to motherhood planning to life in Portland.
This framework keeps my content cohesive and still flexible enough to share authentically.
By the way, you don’t have to niche down. I explain more about using content pillars instead of niching down in this video.
Action Step:
Define 2–3 pillars that you can commit to for the rest of this year. These will anchor your content and help your audience know what to expect.
Step 3: Map Out 4 Core Topics
Here's the game-changer: you don't need 30 ideas for 30 days. You need four great ones.
When I was food blogging, I thought every post had to be brand new and original. That led to burnout, because it's impossible to sustain. Now, I create four big ideas per month and repurpose them across all platforms I'm on.
For example, one of my “big ideas” could be:
“How to build a personal brand without niching down.”
From that, I create:
A YouTube long, form video
2 YouTube Shorts
A LinkedIn thought leadership post
A blog post
An email newsletter
An Instagram Reel
That one topic becomes a full week of content across platforms.
Action Step:
Pick four big ideas that tie back to your pillars and goals. These will carry you through the month. Every week will have a theme, and every month will have a cohesive theme.
Step 4: Put It Into a Content Calendar
During my freelancing years, I used to rely on sticky notes and random to, do lists. Not anymore. Now, I use a simple Canva calendar to map everything out. I start with a draft in Microsoft Excel because I’m a millennial lol.
Here’s what my current schedule looks like:
Fridays or Saturdays: YouTube long-form (from my Creator to CEO Diaries or Ambitious Late Bloomers series)
Tuesdays: YouTube Shorts (cross-posted to Instagram Reels)
Mondays: LinkedIn thought leadership or blog cross-post
Thursdays: Blog post + email newsletter
This gives me rhythm and structure. My audience knows when to expect content, and I don’t waste mental energy wondering, “What should I post today?”
Action Step:
Create your own repeatable posting rhythm that matches your energy and schedule.
Step 5: Batch Create in One Day
When I say I plan a month of content in a day, I don’t mean I wing it, I batch like my life depends on it.
Here’s what my batching day looks like:
Morning: Makeup and prep, then film 2 long-form YouTube videos (about 30 minutes per video).
Afternoon: Eat lunch, then write 2-3 blog posts and draft 2–3 LinkedIn posts.
Evening: Prep 4 email newsletters and start designing social graphics in Canva.
By the end of that day, I’ve covered 80% of my monthly content. The rest (like spontaneous vlogs or trending Shorts) I create in real time if I have energy.
Action Step:
Pick one day a month and block it out as your “content day.” Treat it like an appointment with your future self.
Step 6: Automate What You Can
Back in 2018, I posted every recipe manually. I’d set alarms on my phone just to hit publish on Instagram at the “right time.” That was not sustainable. Nearly all major social media platforms now allow us to schedule content; utilize this feature!
Now, automation is my best friend:
YouTube: schedule uploads in advance.
LinkedIn & Instagram: I schedule in the native apps, but you can schedule posts with tools like Buffer or Later.
Email: I draft and schedule in Squarespace.
This way, I can step away from my computer and focus on life, like evening walks with my husband, meal prepping, or prepping for my next big surgery, without worrying that my content will disappear.
Step 7: Measure What Works
When I first noticed that my video “My Honest Thoughts About Living in Portland” was outperforming everything else, I realized how valuable analytics are. That video still drives subscribers today.
Instead of guessing what works, I check:
YouTube: Which videos have the best retention?
LinkedIn: Which posts spark comments and saves?
Blog: Which keywords drive organic traffic?
That data tells me what to double down on, and what to drop.
Action Step:
Commit to a weekly 20-minute analytics review. Look for patterns, not perfection.
Avoiding Burnout: My Non-Negotiables
Here’s the truth: planning content in one day only works if you protect your energy. Here’s how I do it:
Limit to 3 platforms max. Right now, it’s YouTube, LinkedIn, and my blog—with Instagram being added slowly. I’ll scale back LinkedIn once I add Instagram.
Buffer weeks. I always keep 1–2 pieces of evergreen content in my back pocket for when life gets busy.
Grace over hustle. If I miss a week, I don’t spiral. I reset and move on. It’s not the end of the world.
Why This Works for Creators
If you’re like some of my clients, you might feel:
Behind in life compared to peers.
Stuck creating without direction.
Unsure how to build a brand that lasts.
This system works because it’s not about posting more, it’s about posting smarter. With clear goals, pillars, and batching, you’ll save time, grow your audience, and finally build a brand that supports your life, not drains it.
Watch the Full Breakdown
Here’s the full video where I break down my process:
Final Thoughts
I’ve learned so much since my messy food blogging days. The biggest lesson? Consistency and strategy beat hustle every time.
By planning a month of content in one day, I’ve built a system that lets me show up consistently without sacrificing my health, marriage, or long-term dreams of motherhood and business growth.
And if you’re ready to do the same:
Download my free SEO brand guide, The Creative’s Brand Growth Kit, to get started building a creative business that lasts.
