How can you make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation?

If you work full-time in content creation, you might feel like you have no time for your own personal projects. Whether you want to start a blog, a podcast, a YouTube channel, or anything else that requires creativity and passion, you might wonder how to fit it in your busy schedule. However, with some planning, prioritization, and discipline, you can make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation. Here are some tips to help you balance your work and your passion.

1 Set realistic goals

Before you start working on your personal project, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how much time and effort it will take. Setting realistic goals will help you avoid frustration, burnout, and disappointment. For example, if you want to launch a blog, you might set a goal of writing one post per week, rather than one per day. If you want to start a podcast, you might set a goal of recording one episode per month, rather than one per week. Be honest with yourself about how much you can handle and adjust your goals accordingly.

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Author Tushar Sheth

Bestselling Author & Versatile Content Expert | SEO & Web Content Writer | Graphic & Web Designer
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It's possible with some strategic planning and effective time management. Here are some tips to help you balance both: 1. Prioritize and schedule: Set aside specific blocks of time in your weekly schedule dedicated to your projects. 2. Time blocking: Segment your workdays into focused blocks of time for different tasks, such as content creation for your job, responding to emails, and working on personal projects. 3. Set realistic goals: Be mindful of setting achievable goals for your projects. 4. Utilize your breaks: Whether it's during lunch breaks or after work hours, use these pockets of time to brainstorm ideas, jot down notes, or tackle smaller tasks related to your projects.

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2 Schedule your time

One of the best ways to make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation is to schedule your time in advance. This means blocking out specific hours or days for your personal project and sticking to them. For example, you might dedicate every Saturday morning to working on your blog, or every Tuesday evening to recording your podcast. By scheduling your time, you can ensure that you have a consistent and uninterrupted time slot for your personal project, and that you don't neglect your work or other obligations.

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Muneeta Aneja
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Scheduling is something that needs to be done on a priority basis. Get planners or simple spiral notebooks, and create a to do list of the tasks that have to be completed the other day. Prioritise the most important tasks and put a star on them and challenge yourself to complete them asap, and tick them out. Than come to the secondary tasks, and try to complete them one by one without over whelming yourself. If you are creating fashion content, try to get it shot in one day only with the changes in wardrobe, so that you don't have to waste another day, applying makeup and changing clothes. Focus on some other task on the other day. Planning, listing of ideas, and scheduling your tasks and time is of utmost importance.

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3 Use tools and resources

Another way to make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation is to use tools and resources that can help you save time, automate tasks, and improve your productivity. For example, you might use a content calendar to plan your topics and deadlines, a project management tool to organize your tasks and workflows, a content creation platform to design and edit your content, or a social media scheduler to post and promote your content. By using tools and resources, you can reduce the amount of manual work and focus on the creative aspects of your personal project.

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Akansha Sahgal

Marketing Professional | Social Media and Business Strategies for Individuals & Businesses | Owner- Fashion 'n' Fiesta
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With many new tools and AI powered game changers, there is so much that you can do in much lesser time. Some of the ways through which I fasten up my content quantity without compromising the quality are: 1. Monthly calendars using simple excel sheet. You can also use tools like Notion and Asana. 2. Using AI for my research work and curating first drafts for relevant topics. 3. Canva templates and Lightroom presets to help me fasten up the designing part. 4. In-app schedulers or third party scheduling apps to schedule post in advance at one go.

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4 Delegate or outsource

Sometimes, you might need to delegate or outsource some of the tasks related to your personal project, especially if they are not your core strengths or passions. For example, if you are not good at graphic design, you might hire a freelancer to create your logo or cover art. If you are not confident in your writing skills, you might hire an editor to proofread and polish your blog posts or podcast scripts. By delegating or outsourcing, you can free up some of your time and energy for the tasks that you enjoy and excel at.

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Shariq Mohamed Yusuf

Content Writer | Specialising in Content Strategy, SEO, and Creative Storytelling
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Instead of outsourcing every non-core task, consider a "swap meet" with fellow creators! Offer to edit a friend's website copy in exchange for their video editing expertise. This collaboration saves resources, builds community, and lets you each focus on your passion. Remember, your network can be your secret weapon – use it to your advantage!

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5 Set boundaries and limits

Finally, one of the most important tips to make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation is to set boundaries and limits for yourself and others. This means respecting your own time and space, and saying no to distractions, interruptions, and requests that are not aligned with your goals and priorities. For example, you might turn off your phone and email notifications when you are working on your personal project, or decline invitations to social events that conflict with your schedule. By setting boundaries and limits, you can protect your focus, motivation, and well-being.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you make time for personal projects while working full-time in content creation?

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1 Set realistic goals

2 Schedule your time

3 Use tools and resources

4 Delegate or outsource

5 Set boundaries and limits

6 Here’s what else to consider

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