How to Batch Content and Save Time for Your Side Hustle

Do you have a side hustle and are struggling with the constant need to create content, respond to emails, keep track of finances, AND actually do the work your side hustle requires?

If you have a side hustle, you probably only have a certain amount of time you can actually dedicate to your business, so you DON’T want to waste 30-60 minutes a day thinking of and writing a winning Instagram caption every single day you need to post.

That’s where BATCHING comes in.

Batching content basically means that you commit a certain amount of time to doing a LOT of one single task.

This allows you to focus on ONE thing at a time, instead of restarting your brain and focus every time to switch to a totally different task.

Today, I’m walking you through how you can EASILY batch your content for your side hustle and save time AND sanity while doing it.

Schedule a Batch Planning Day Once a Month

Before you jump into actually batching your content, you are going to need to map out a batching calendar that will work for you and your busy schedule.

I usually have a single day, at the end of each month, where I plan out my “batching days” for the entire next month - aka, what tasks I will do on each day of the month.

The reason I recommend planning this monthly is that even though it would be GREAT if every month worked the same - it usually doesn’t.  Vacations and unplanned events come up, projects at your 9-5 can get crazy, or you can just be in a season that needs more rest.

Revising your batching schedule each month allows you to refocus on your tasks, adjust tasks that may need to change to help your business plan, and also give you a chance to try something new each month!

Pick 1 Day Each Week or Month for Each Task

For batching content/tasks, I always recommend choosing either one day out of a week or one day out of a month to dedicate to each task.  Here’s what I mean:

• Once a week, you will plan out your Instagram captions and corresponding photos for that week.

• Once a month, you will plan out your Instagram captions and corresponding photos for that entire month.

There is no right or wrong way to do this!  I would recommend trying out each way and seeing what works for you.

I usually have an easier time just writing the entire month’s worth of captions on a single day - then I literally don’t have to think about it for another month!

Create a Successful Environment for Your Batch Days

Batching can become very taxing on you - since you are basically doing the same tasks over and over again.

That’s why I HIGHLY recommend making sure that you create an environment that you can work successfully in.

Here are some tips to help make sure that you are in a good space to get work done:

• Schedule breaks throughout the batch working time to clear your mind and take a breather.

• Have your content planned BEFORE you work on it (I have a separate content planning day) - so you know exactly what to work on and don’t get distracted.

• Don’t be afraid to switch up your environment depending on the task.  For blog days, I sit in my comfy bed or couch since I’ll be writing in silence for a while.  On Pinterest days, I’ll sit on my desk and throw on a show in the background to keep me entertained while I do some pinning.

• Don’t make batch days TOO long - if you feel like you are completely drained after a particular batch day, try splitting that task up over a couple days so you don’t lose momentum.

I always recommend EVERYONE, whether you are a full or part time business owner, to batch your tasks.

It helps you focus, get tasks done FASTER, and helps you feel a TON more accomplished when you complete a task for an entire week or even month!