Content creation can drive you crazy if you let it.
One minute, you feel like a creative genius, and the next, you’re staring blankly at your screen, wondering if you even have anything worthwhile to say. Been there, done that!
But after years of doing this, I’ve found a few rules that help keep me on track without burning out. These six content rules are my survival guide. Seriously, they keep me sane and help me stay consistent, so I can enjoy the process instead of dreading it.
Write Often, Not a Lot.
❌ Batch-create 30 posts a month.
✅ Write 30 minutes a day.
✅ Write 2 hours a week.
I used to try to batch-create a month’s worth of content in one sitting because, you know, #efficiency. It sounded so smart. But guess what? By week three, I hated everything I had created. It all felt forced and robotic like I was trying to sound like someone I wasn’t.
So, I ditched that whole “create 30 posts in a day” nonsense and started writing a little bit every day instead. 30 minutes here, an hour there. And honestly? It’s a game-changer. It keeps my ideas fresh, and I don’t feel like I’m forcing creativity just to tick off a box.
Think about it like building a muscle. You don’t hit the gym once a month and expect to get in shape, right? It’s the daily (or at least regular) practice that builds strength over time. And writing is the same. Small, consistent efforts win the race, not overwhelming yourself with a massive writing marathon.
Focus on the Habit, Not the Goal.
❌ “I can’t wait to get to 10K followers.”
❌ “I hope this post goes viral.”
✅ “I made a commitment to post 4X a week.”
I used to be obsessed with numbers. Like, I was refreshing my follower count and checking post engagement every five minutes. Sound familiar? Yeah, it was exhausting. And when the numbers didn’t move as fast as I wanted, I would spiral. Maybe my content wasn’t good enough? Maybe I wasn’t interesting enough? Ugh, the mind games!
Then I realized, the goal doesn’t matter if I’m not enjoying the process. So, I switched gears. Now, instead of focusing on hitting 10K followers or getting that viral post, I focus on the habit. I committed to posting four times a week, and that’s what I stick to. The numbers? They’ll come when they come.
It’s like that saying: "Control what you can control." I can control my consistency. I can’t control how fast the followers roll in or whether something goes viral. Focusing on the habit keeps me sane, and it helps me enjoy the ride a whole lot more.
If I Can’t Chop an Idea Into Multiple Ideas, I Don’t Want to Post About It. 🙅🏽♀️
✅ 10 steps to optimize your LinkedIn profile.
✅ 10 profile mistakes lowering your conversions.
✅ How to optimize your profile (step-by-step).
Let me tell you, there’s nothing worse than coming up with an idea that sounds good in your head but falls flat when you try to execute it. Been there, and done that too many times to count. So now, I follow a simple rule: if I can’t break an idea down into multiple bite-sized pieces, I don’t bother with it.
Why? Because good ideas have layers. Take something like optimizing your LinkedIn profile. I can break that down into several posts, one for headline tips, another for profile photos, another for your summary, and so on. That way, I’m giving value in smaller, easier-to-digest pieces, and I’ve got a string of content ready to go. It also saves me from getting stuck with one big topic that feels too overwhelming to tackle.
In short, work smarter, not harder. If an idea can’t stretch, let it go.
“Keep It Simple, Stupid.”
❌ Complex
❌ Jargon-filled
✅ Clear
✅ Accessible
I used to think that sounding super smart and using all the “right” buzzwords would make my content better. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. If anything, people just got confused, and my engagement tanked. Now, I stick to the KISS rule, Keep It Simple, Stupid.
You don’t need to throw in fancy industry terms or write like you’re submitting a thesis. People just want clarity. They want to get what you’re saying without having to Google half your words. So, I write how I speak.
I keep it real, relatable, and easy to follow.
Trust me, when you stop trying to sound smart and just focus on being understood, you’ll build a deeper connection with your audience. They’ll come back because you make them feel like they get it, not because you made them feel like they had to take a crash course to follow along.
80 Degrees of Separation.
❌ Write content, design graphics, post content, engage comments, and respond to DMs.
✅ Create content.
✅ Let your assistant handle the rest.
I’ll be honest, I used to do everything myself. I was writing, designing, posting, replying to comments, answering DMs, and the works. And it was exhausting. I felt like I was spinning a hundred plates at once, and none of them were staying in the air for long.
Then I hired my assistant, Precious, and it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Now, I focus on what I do best creating and let her handle the rest. She makes sure the posts go up, engages with comments, and even reschedules stuff when I get too caught up in trying to make everything perfect. (Yup, I’m guilty of overthinking sometimes too.)
The point is, you don’t have to do it all. If you can, delegate. If not, streamline your process to focus on the things that move the needle for you. For me, that’s content creation. Everything else? Someone else can handle it.
Have Fun With It!
❌ Write a dissertation.
✅ Write how you speak.
Here’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned: content creation is supposed to be fun. If you’re not having fun, something’s off. I used to stress so much about every little detail making sure each post was perfect like I was submitting it to my high school English teacher.
But the truth is, no one’s expecting a dissertation. They just want something real, something that speaks to them. So, I started writing the way I talk. Casual, quirky, sometimes a little weird (but in the best way).
And you know what? It worked. People responded to my authenticity way more than they ever did to my “perfect” posts.
So, stop trying to be someone you’re not. Let your personality shine through. Share your quirky ideas, document your random thoughts, and just have fun with it. The more you enjoy it, the more your audience will too.
Those are the rules that keep me grounded. I used to burn myself out trying to be perfect, trying to do all the things, and constantly chasing after numbers. Now, I focus on what works for me: being consistent, keeping it simple, and most importantly, having fun along the way.
Because at the end of the day, content creation shouldn’t feel like a chore, it should feel like you’re sharing a little piece of yourself with the world.
So, what rules or boundaries have you set for yourself as a creator?
Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear how you keep things manageable and fun!
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