How to Plan One Month of Content (without burning out)

A realistic system that works even when you’re busy, uninspired, or juggling 17 projects.

Tiffany in a striped dress with a blazer and her computer sitting on a desk.

Let’s be honest: content planning can feel like a full-time job. And if you’re running a business, raising kids, or building a personal brand (or all three like me), creating consistent content can quickly become overwhelming.

But it doesn’t have to be.

The key isn’t doing more. It’s building a system that works for you. One that gives you space to breathe, stays aligned with your goals, and doesn’t leave you scrambling the night before a post is due.

I’m walking you through the exact method I use to plan a month of content across social media, blogs, and newsletters without burning out. Let’s go.

Step 1: Start With Strategy (aka the Brain Dump)

I always start my content planning with a brain dump. This is where I sit down, usually with a notebook and a Diet Coke, and get everything for the upcoming month out of my head and onto paper.

It’s not fancy. It’s not filtered. It’s just everything that’s swirling around in my mind:

What events are happening this month?
What brand deals or collaborations are due?
What topics am I feeling pulled to talk about?
Are there any holidays, launches, or seasonal moments coming up?
What’s going on in my own life that I want to share?

Once it’s all out, I can actually see the shape of the month. That’s when the real planning begins. This is the foundation that guides everything else. If I skip this step, I end up reacting to my schedule instead of creating content with purpose.

Step 2: Let AI Do the Heavy Lifting

After I’ve done my brain dump, I plug everything into ChatGPT and let AI help me build a complete content plan. It saves me time, keeps me consistent, and gives me fresh ideas across all platforms.

Here’s a prompt I use all the time to build my monthly calendar:

Sample AI Prompt:
I need help planning a 30-day content calendar. I post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok (2x daily), send 2–4 newsletters, and publish 4 blog posts per month. Here’s what I’m working on this month: [insert events, holidays, brand deals, topics]. Please create a weekly breakdown including post formats, suggested captions, and hooks. Make it realistic and batch-friendly.

This gives me a full roadmap across:

Instagram and Facebook posts
TikToks (with space for daily OOTDs)
Newsletter topics
Blog post ideas

From there, I start creating a content list. This becomes the plan for what I need to film, write, or design.

Step 3: Build a Content List (Shoot Prep Mode)

Once I have my calendar, I shift into creation mode.

This is Tiffany's plan for the month for all of her content.

This is where I make my content list — a simple breakdown of what I need to produce:

Videos (Reels, TikToks, talking head)
Still images or outfit photos
Carousels or infographics
Newsletter graphics
Blog headers

This list becomes my shot calendar and helps me plan my next content day with intention. I don’t guess what I’m creating. I walk into content day with a plan.

Step 4: Batch Like a Boss

Batching is where the magic happens. On shoot days, I knock out multiple videos, outfits, and graphics at once.

Then I:

Edit everything in bulk
Upload it into Plann
Start scheduling posts in advance

I also batch-write blog posts and newsletters. I might not send everything at once, but I like knowing it’s ready and waiting when I need it.

Here’s the real win: batching is what saves me creatively.
It lets me carve out intentional time to be in the zone to film, write, shoot, and get in a creative rhythm. It also helps me block my time instead of constantly switching gears.

And most importantly, it keeps me from feeling like projects are constantly looming over my head. When things are batched and scheduled, I can exhale and make space for the next idea.

Step 5: Leave Room for Real Life

Not every post needs to be pre-scheduled. I always leave a little wiggle room because real life is unpredictable, and sometimes the best content is the unplanned kind.

The goal isn’t to have every square inch of your content locked in.
It’s to build a system that supports consistency without crushing your creativity.

Final Thoughts

If content planning has felt like a mountain, I hope this gave you a better trail map.

Need help planning your own 30-day calendar? Try my method:
🧠 Start with strategy
💻 Use AI
📸 Prep your content list
🗓️ Batch like a boss
🌿 And leave space to breathe

You’ve got this.

Want to save the time and have me create a plan like this for you? Send me a message and let me plan your content plan!