Calling all content creators! Need advice on how to maximize your output without resorting to Generative AI? It's easier than you think!

1. Don’t look at your phone for the first two hours when you wake up. Get boring tasks out of the way and attempt something small but impactful on your to-do list. Make this a daily habit because morning routines become ingrained into your schedule.

   Your phone is a gigantic distraction. If you want to go hard, choose a specific time of day to use your phone. I love to keep my phone on Do Not Disturb.

   
   

2. Write everything down. Don’t keep ideas loose in your head— make them real on paper. If you’re a digital person, keep a running list in Notes or Notion apps— (but in my opinion, nothing beats a notebook!) Notebooks are living and breathing records of your work that can utilize color coding, stickers, tabs, and cutouts. Add a table of contents for the perfect cherry on top.

   If you hate using notebooks, you probably back up all of your work and don't need me to tell you to do so... but just in case... back up all your work and organize things into well-named folders.

   
   

3. Stick to a filing system. Everyone is different, but I label everything I download and create with a name and sort into a named folder by date and relevance. I back-up all files to my external hard drive. I didn't always do so-- and I learned my lesson the hard way. But keeping everything labeled on my main computer and backup hard drive also means quicker editing, creating, and verifying.

   One of the best things I ever did for myself was sitting down and cleaning out my downloads, desktop, and bookmark folders. EVERYTHING got sorted and labeled. I have general asset folders, academic text folders, regularly used photo folders, newspaper clipping folders, etc. If your computer is in a dire tangle of files, make a party out of cleaning it with your favorite playlist, beverage, and meal. Your future self will thank you.

   
   

4. Keep a To-Do List. This one is obvious, but I've come across too many people who insist that they don't need to make lists of tasks.

   In my head, my to-do list looks like a quest menu on a video game (think Grand Theft Auto). But I'm extra.

   
   

5. Analyze your tasks. Break down each major project goal by listing out every small, medium, and large detail. Organize the list by the level of effort needed— easy, medium, and hard.

   You’re essentially breaking down every major goal into mini-goals.

   
   

6. For big projects, plan in chunks of time. Is the project on your list short, medium, or long term? Determine what aspects of your projects are 1-Day Tasks, 48-hour tasks, weekly tasks, monthly Tasks, Six-Month Tasks, and 1-Year Tasks, etc.

   For this reason alone, you must utilize calendars and/or planners.

   
   

7. Keep track of what tasks you can delegate. Everything is better with a list! When planning your project goals, be mindful of potential road bumps.

   Is your graphic designer pregnant? Is your photographer usually late turning around assets? Does your assistant need to fill out a W-9? How will (X) impact your schedule? How can you plan around it?

   
   

8. If you find yourself with free time but don’t want to waste it, refer to your analyzed project goals and ask yourself, “What is the most important task I can be doing with the time I have?” and get to it!

   Because you've broken down your task lists into Easy, Medium, and Hard categories, you can match your mood to the effort required. Maybe you don't feel like writing a new video essay or blog post that isn't due for another three months, but you can schedule that annoying email or newsletter you might end up flaking on later.

   
   

9. Revise your project goals lists every week. Which tasks are you slacking on? Which kinds of tasks are you getting quicker at executing? Take note of this when plotting your schedule for the following week.

   Maybe there's a task that would be better suited to being a marathon task (working on it nonstop for some time) versus being a sporadic endeavor. Always be willing to tweak your process.

   
   

10. If you are working on multiple projects at once, work on 1-3 mini goals from each project everyday to ward off burnout from individual projects AND to finish more in a single time frame. Read how to batch content here.

    
    

11. Treat yourself when you’ve accomplished a major goal!

    If that means getting a massage, ordering a fancy meal, or indulging in something from your favorite e-store, celebrate your wins for future motivation!

    
    

12. Get at least 8-10 hours of sleep a day. You will be grateful, alert, and creative when you give your body the rest it deserves.