I’ve been creating online for over 3 years, grew a community of 5 thousand and published my first book. All while balancing leadership, being a student, and multiple jobs. Here’s my secret routine for how I get it all done.
the key: working in a state of flow.
working flow = high intensity + less time.
it’s enjoyable, so it makes it easier for me to stick to it.
my routine has 2 components:
curation takes place throughout the day. creation follows a more rigid timeline.
Curation=how I stay inspired & continue learning
- I listen to a podcast/audiobook every day for at least 10 min while going on a walk
- after, I use my IQA (Info, Quote, Action) framework to take notes on them
- I also write down storyworthy moments from my own life & lessons I’ve learned.
Creation=consistency x joy
every morning, I journal.
Journal components (1-2-3)
- write 1 thing I’m grateful for : motivation & track progress
- 2 minutes of mindful prayer: cultivate a sense of awe, be refreshed, and a reminder that I’m part of something greater.
- 3 goals: set focus for the day
then, I have a writing sprint:
- poem (5-7 minutes): embracing my inner child, and because it’s fun. “creating just for the sake of it”. for you, you could also draw, sing, paint, whatever you enjoy.
- atomic essay: 15 minutes. This helps me to retrieve prior information & apply it.
tips for building a writing habit:
- give yourself permission to create “boring” for the sake of consistency. it’s ok if not everything is a shakespearan masterpiece.
- embrace the challenge. if you expect it to be easy, you won’t get anywhere + it’ll get boring.
- fun is not the same as easy. joy is a state of mind, not conditional on events
finally, I batch my content
this takes place in 3 stages, which can be spaced out over 1 day or throughout a week. it takes about 1 hour for a week of content.
- 5 minute sprint (no edit rule). outline ideas, sort based on priority/interest/ past topic performance.
- let it sit.
- write the posts.
- let it sit.
- edit for clarity.
