You Don’t Need More Time—You Need a Better System

If you are like me, you don’t need more hours in the day. You need to stop trying to film, write, edit, and post all at once. It is killing your flow state and your productivity.

The Real Problem Isn’t Time

This week I had a realization: trying to do everything in one day is exhausting. I have been putting out a video a day since November 1, 2024. It is sucking all of my energy at times and I end up putting out subpar quality because of it.

I’ve been creating a video a day for months to drum up the habit and prove to myself I can stick with this and do hard things. If you do this, don't start the way I did, do this instead.

Try this simple weekly structure tweak instead:

• Monday: Scripting and planning

• Tuesday: Filming content

• Wednesday: Editing videos

• Thursday: Final touches and posting

• Friday: Review, repurpose, and prep for next week

I am usually pressed for time on most days anyway, and this is a way that I can buy back some of that time and accomplish the things that I want to accomplish. So unless you have just hours of free time every day, this is going to be beneficial to you also.

Input Days vs Output Days

We often hear about hustle culture. Work hard. Push yourself. Grind. But when it comes to making videos, that mindset can backfire.

You don’t build great content by jumping from idea to shoot to edit without breaks. You need a rhythm. A flow. Some days you consume, learn, and plan. Other days you create, film, and publish.

Here’s how I am thinking about it:

• Input Days: Reading, research, saving good ideas, collecting inspiration.

• Output Days: Writing, filming, editing, publishing.

• Review Days: Looking at what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.

Separating these tasks, my hope is that creative energy increases. I've been doing this long enough that I have a huge bank of ideas and won't be scrambling to come up with ideas anymore. I do get stuck editing, but that's mostly because I do my ft job and client work all day and by the time it comes to mind, I am burnt. This should make the whole process smoother.

A Simple System That Scales With You

If you’re serious about growing your content and audience, start with a system that you can stick to. This one works even if you only have a few hours a week.

1. Theme Your Days Trying to do everything in one sitting is a mistake. Themed days make it easier to focus. You reduce context-switching, and your mind gets into a rhythm. Here’s a basic structure to start with:

• Monday: Gather inspiration, read, listen to podcasts, highlight interesting points

• Tuesday: Write scripts or record bullet points

• Wednesday: Film 2-3 pieces of content

• Thursday: Edit and prep content for all platforms

• Friday: Post, review analytics, adjust strategy

(This can obviously be altered to fit your style, your work, your family, your school, etc)

Even if your schedule shifts weekly, use this as a guide. It helps create structure where chaos used to be.

2. Batch Inputs → Batch Outputs I collect content daily: quotes, tweets, clips, stats, ideas. They go into Notion or Apple Notes, (but I am switching now to an Apple Notes + Kortex workflow now). On scripting days, I will turn them into hooks and outlines. Then when I sit down to record, I can do so in batches, to save SO much time. Recording is what I look forward to THE LEAST. I HATE TALKING TO A CAMERA. It has gotten much easier to do, but man is it awkward and I do not like it, still, 5 months into this. Editing will be easier though because the footage is already done.

Here are a few tools that help me:

• Notion – For organizing video ideas, scripts, tweet drafts. Changing to Kortex now.

• ChatGPT & Claude – For developing outlines or summarizing key ideas (This is a big reason for the switch to Kortex)

• CapCut – My go-to for fast, clean edits

• Premier Pro - My editor of choice.

Batching saves energy. You don’t have to restart your brain for every video.

3. Make Every Video Brand-Aware

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make? Assuming people know who they are.

The truth: Every video could be someone’s first. That means your video is an introduction to your brand. Every time.

You’re not just uploading content. You’re building a reputation. So, talk clearly. Deliver value quickly. Help the viewer understand who you are and what you’re about.

This doesn’t mean pitching every video. It just means being intentional. Your hook should pull someone in. Your message should solve a problem. Your ending should leave them with a reason to come back.

One change I am implementing in future videos, is introducing myself and saying my name, and also asking either for a follow or a sub to the newsletter. I don't do this in 99% of my content. Will test and see if that helps with any growth.

What I’ve Been Exploring This Week

I’ve been diving deep into AI image generation lately. ChatGPT image generation and Midjourney are helping me speed up my thumbnail workflow, get creative with video assets, logos, animations and bring ideas to life visually. I’m using them to brainstorm design ideas and support brand visuals, especially for educational and client-facing content. My last video broke down an easy 3d logo animation hack that you can use here : https://www.instagram.com/p/DIH8UHnvtYl/

On the writing side, I’m switching to Kortex and couldn't be more excited. I have seen some breakdowns and tutorials on how this has helped experienced writers to help break down complex topics, brainstorm hooks, and create structure from scattered thoughts. I love how you can connect all of your scattered thoughts and ideas, tie them together with tags and captures, and then utilitize a.i. to expand or fill in your knowledge gaps.

And in real life, I had a surprising moment this week. I spoke with a real estate broker who told me about dozens of properties hitting the market in Madeira Beach. Many of them need to be sold or rebuilt. That one meeting made me think: maybe it’s time to get my real estate license and step into that world myself. I’m documenting the journey either way—because no matter where it leads, there’s a story to tell.

If You’re Just Getting Started…

A lot of creators think they need to be everywhere, do everything, and master every tool. But that mindset leads to burnout.

Instead, focus on building a small system that works. You can always scale later. Here’s how I’d start if I were brand new:

1. Pick One Platform – YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. Start where you enjoy consuming content most. I made this mistake and started trying to do all of them. I am focusing the core of my building on YouTube and IG now.

2. Post Every Day (or Every Other Day) – Don’t worry about perfection. Consistency builds skill. But the real progress will come from intentional practice.

3. Assign 1 Day a Week to Plan – Come up with 3–5 ideas in one sitting.

4. Film in Batches – Save time by doing multiple takes at once.

5. Review Each Week – Check your top-performing content and ask why it worked.

You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need more time. You need a system.

Final Reminder

Success in content creation comes from structure—not from stress.

Don’t fall into the trap of trying to do everything in one go. Break it up. Get organized. Let your systems carry your creativity.

And remember: people don’t care how long it took you to make a video. They only care how it makes them feel. The more energy you preserve, the better your content will be. YOUR videos are for THEM. Remember that. Put them first. Serve them.

If you want to go deeper into how I build my content machine—from tools to templates to time-blocking—I’m building a Creator Workflow System. You’ll get early access if you’re subscribed here.

Until then, keep creating. Keep learning. And keep showing up.