As a solo creator I have learnt to plan my time and more importantly my energy as efficiently as possible.
I plan my days, weeks and months quiet strictly.
Here are the 5 main things that I do regularly that I feel keep me on track…
📆 A Scheduling day (once a week)
I do this every Monday, a scheduling day to do all my posts for that week.
As I am posting across 5 different platforms it takes me all day, I can’t live without it!
It also enables me time to create and think and not have to be on the platforms day to day.
I’m always at my best when I post and go, the work is done.
There is a stillness and detachment from the day to day noise.
On my scheduling day I don’t do anything else, no calls or emails unless its absolutely essential.
If I finish early I try and move away from anything in front of my phone or computer, ideally a walk or run in nature, maybe a freestyle or gym session.
🧑🏻💻Deep editing blocks
I usually get in 2 blocks in the morning with a break (I usually go for a walk between) before I check email or take any calls and reply to messages.
The point of these blocks is have full energy and focus before other things pull you away.
Most if my videos take quite a bit of time so these uninterrupted blocks are essential for me.
💡Creative work and Awareness (once a week)
This is usually on a Friday for me.
My creative time involves me looking at my notes for ideas that I have saved.
A lot of ideas I have during the week come at random times so I have notes in my phone where I write them down as well as an album on my phone where I save any screen shots/screen records that I can take inspiration from.
The awareness is looking at my video analytics, seeing what’s working, what’s not working and how I can marry the ideas that I have noted down with the data to plan my next videos.
I prefer to do this process on paper, the bigger the better as it seems to allow me to connect ideas better.
The photo below is from a brainstorm for content around Euro 24, I titled it ‘Bad ideas’ to allow me to write absolutely anything down and see what came from it. The idea that I circled went viral actually!
🎥Filming Days
I film most weeks, but I usually have a big filming day twice a month.
Quite simply to film and action the video ideas that I feel are ready to go!
I’ve been trying to collab with more creators and film in different places this year which has really helped me stay inspired and see things from different perspectives.
I love this quote from Timothy Leary, a reminder to ‘find the others’.
“Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts. Do the unexpected. Find the others…”
― Timothy Leary
Collaboration moves us forward.
📈Learning
The thing that seems to stick everything together for me is daily learning, practice and development.
I read each morning for my personal and professional development.
Books that inspire me, challenge me and make me think of new possibilities.
Digitally a lot of my learning the past few years has been getting to grips with tools like adobe effects and Blender. Its difficult at times, the rewards take time but its necessary.
Like Josh Waitzkin (The Art of Learning) would say - if your not getting you’re ass kicked each day then your not going to progress and grow.
I’m reading a fantastic book at the minute ‘What you’re made for’ by George Raveling and Ryan Holiday.
On learning George says-
“If you want to extricate yourself from a cycle of mediocrity, if you want solutions to your problems - study books”
Stay humble and keep taking those baby steps forward.
I hope this helps…
John
PS - If this helped you in anyway, please consider joining my mailing list on the link below or forward to someone else that it may help. I write these posts to share an honest account of what I’m learning and facing each day as a video and content creator in the hope that it helps others.