How to Plan 30 Days of Content in Just 3 Hours

Ever sat down to post on Instagram or your blog and thought, “Ugh… what the heck am I even going to talk about today?” 😩

Yeah, been there. More times than I’d like to admit.

But here’s the thing—planning 30 days of content doesn’t have to suck up your whole weekend. In fact, you can do it in under 3 hours. Yup, that’s not a typo. Just 3 hours.

Sound too good to be true? Stick with me—I’ll walk you through exactly how to pull it off without losing your mind (or your coffee).

Why Bother Planning Content at All?

Let’s get one thing out of the way: content planning isn’t just for the “super organized” or Type-A folks with color-coded Trello boards and 12-week plans.

Here’s why planning your content in advance is a game-changer:

• Saves you time. No more “what do I post today?” stress.
• Boosts consistency. Algorithms love it. Your audience loves it. Win-win.
• Keeps your messaging on-point. No more throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks.
• Helps you stay strategic. You can align content with promos, launches, or life events (hello, holidays).

Planning is basically the grown-up version of winging it. Trust me, it pays off.

Hour 1: Get Clear on Your Content Pillars

What the heck are content pillars?

Think of them as your go-to topics—the themes your audience expects from you and what you want to be known for.

Let’s say you’re a fitness coach. Your content pillars might be:

• Workouts & movement
• Nutrition tips
• Mindset & motivation
• Client transformations
• Behind the scenes / lifestyle

See how that gives you structure without being overly rigid?

How to Choose Your Pillars (Fast)

1. List what you talk about the most.
2. Think about what your audience asks for.
3. Make sure it aligns with what you’re selling.

Stick to 3–5 pillars max—too many and you’ll overwhelm yourself. Too few and you’ll bore your audience. Find that sweet spot. 😎

Hour 2: Brainstorm Like a Beast (Speed Is the Goal Here)

Okay, now that you’ve got your content pillars, it’s time to fill them up with ideas.

We’re not trying to write the next Great American Novel here. You just need a quick list of 30 content ideas that make sense for your niche.

Here’s how to do it fast AF:

Step 1: Use the 10×3 Method

• Take your 3 main content pillars.
• Brainstorm 10 content ideas per pillar.
• That gives you 30 posts. Boom. Done.

Not sure what to post? Try these content formats:

• Tips/How-Tos: “5 ways to boost your email open rates”
• Behind-the-Scenes: “Here’s how I prep for a client shoot”
• Storytime: “That time I almost quit… and what saved me”
• Myth-Busting: “Why you don’t need to post daily to grow”
• Mini-tutorials: “Watch me repurpose 1 reel into 5 posts”
• Questions: “What’s the #1 thing holding you back right now?”

Mix it up and have fun with it. Don’t overthink—done is better than perfect.

Hour 2.5: Map It Out on a Calendar

Alright, now we’re in the juicy part: putting your ideas into an actual content plan.

You’ve got your 30 ideas. But let’s be real—if you don’t assign them to actual days, you’ll still end up scrambling.

How to Lay It Out (Without Complicating It)

You can use:

• Google Calendar
• Trello or Notion
• A physical planner
• Excel/Sheets

Honestly? Use whatever you’ll actually stick with. Fancy tools are pointless if you ghost them by week two.

Here’s a simple layout:

Day	Content Idea	Format
Sept 1	5 Tips to Stay Productive at Home	Carousel
Sept 2	My Morning Routine (Behind-the-Scenes)	Reel
Sept 3	Client Testimonial Story	Story
Sept 4	Myth: You Need 100k Followers	Static Post

…and so on.

Bonus Tip: Use “theme days” to make this easier:

• Motivation Monday
• Tip Tuesday
• Behind-the-Scenes Wednesday
• Throwback Thursday
• FAQ Friday

You get the idea.

Hour 3: Batch Create (Optional but Highly Recommended)

You’ve got your plan—now, let’s make it real.

If you’ve got the time, try batching a week’s worth (or even a month’s) of content.

Batching Basics 101

1. Write captions in one sitting.
2. Design graphics or thumbnails next.
3. Film short videos in one block.
4. Schedule using tools like Later, Metricool, or Buffer.

Even if you don’t post it all immediately, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re knee-deep in life and don’t feel like being on camera.

FAQs: Because I Know You’re Thinking It 😅

“Do I need to post daily?”

Nope. Quality over quantity. You can totally stretch 30 ideas over 6–8 weeks if you’re posting 3–4 times a week.

“Can I reuse old content?”

Heck yes! Repurpose like a boss. That blog post from last year? Turn it into 3 Instagram posts, 1 email, and a mini TikTok. Work smarter, not harder.

“What if I run out of ideas?”

First of all—you won’t, if you rotate your content pillars. But even if you get stuck, check:

• Your DMs or comments for questions
• Reddit forums in your niche
• Pinterest or AnswerThePublic
• What your competitors are talking about (shhh)

My Personal System: Real Talk

Here’s how I actually plan my content every month. No fluff, just my actual workflow.

1. I brain dump ideas into Notion while sipping coffee.
2. I color-code by content pillar (because I’m that person 🙈).
3. I map out each week loosely—just 3–4 posts/week.
4. Then, I batch-create captions and visuals on Sundays (with snacks).

Honestly? It feels less like work and more like building my brand with intention.

And yeah, sometimes I go off-plan. But having a structure means I always have a backup plan.

Bonus: Tools to Save You Even More Time

Want to make this even easier? These tools are your BFFs:

Planning & Organization

• Notion: For content calendars and brain dumps
• ClickUp: If you’re into project management vibes
• Trello: Drag-and-drop simplicity

Scheduling Tools

• Later
• Metricool
• Buffer
• Planoly (great for visual feeds)

Idea Generators

• AnswerThePublic
• AlsoAsked
• ChatGPT (yup, I’m biased but it works 😉)

Design Tools

• Canva (for literally everything)
• CapCut or InShot (for short-form video editing)
• Remove.bg (to remove photo backgrounds in 1 click)

Mobile Apps

• Preview App (visual feed planner)
• StoryArt (templates for stories)
• Snapseed (easy photo editing)

Pro Tip: Set up a folder called “Swipe File” where you collect ideas from other creators. Not to copy—but to get inspired when the creativity tank runs dry.

Real Talk: Stop Overcomplicating It

Here’s your permission slip: Content planning doesn’t need to be this ultra-complicated, soul-sucking task.

If you’ve got your core themes and a list of go-to ideas, you’re 80% of the way there.

The other 20%? Just putting your butt in the chair and doing it.

In Summary (AKA the TL;DR)

If you skimmed to the bottom (I see you 👀), here’s the short version:

How to Plan 30 Days of Content in 3 Hours:

1. Hour 1: Define your 3–5 content pillars.
2. Hour 2: Use the 10×3 method to brainstorm 30 content ideas.
3. Hour 2.5: Map it out on a calendar.
4. Hour 3: Batch create if you’ve got time.

Don’t forget to keep things flexible, reuse content when possible, and use the tools that make life easier. You’re building a business, not trying to win a gold medal in social media gymnastics. 🥇

Your Next Step? Block Off 3 Hours. Just Do It.

Seriously—open your calendar right now and schedule 3 hours for content planning. Treat it like an important meeting (because it is).

Put on your comfiest hoodie, grab your drink of choice, and start mapping out the magic.

And remember: you don’t need to be perfect—you just need a plan.

Now go crush it. 💥