My Simple System for Planning a Week of Blog Posts in Under 30 Minutes
I don’t have the luxury of spending hours on content calendars.
I’ve got two kids, a full-time job, and homeschooling happening one room over.
But despite the chaos, I still manage to publish 5–10 blog posts per week.
The secret?
A simple, 30-minute weekly planning routine.
Here’s exactly how it works:
Step 1: Set a 30-Minute Timer (No, Really)
When you’re busy, constraints create clarity.
Every Sunday evening (or early Monday), I set a 30-minute timer. It’s short enough that I can’t overthink, just fast planning and quick decisions.
Step 2: Quick Topic Brainstorm (5–10 minutes)
I open Notion, create a fresh list, and quickly write down:
- 1–2 questions I’ve personally had this week about fatherhood, writing, or workflow.
- 1 relatable experience or lesson from family life.
- 1 practical post idea (like a tutorial, tool breakdown, or system overview).
- 1 reflective or motivational topic that speaks to tired dads like me.
The goal here isn’t perfection, it’s momentum.
Step 3: Assign Topics to Weekdays (5 minutes)
My weekly structure looks something like this:
- Monday: Blogging & Strategy
- Tuesday: Fatherhood & Lifestyle
- Wednesday: Systems & Workflow
- Thursday: Tools & Resources
- Friday: Writing & Mindset
I drag-and-drop my ideas into this framework in Notion, instantly creating clarity.
Step 4: Outline Fast, Outline Lean (10–15 minutes)
This is the magic step.
I quickly write bullet points under each topic:
- Intro Hook (one strong sentence)
- 3–5 clear subheadings or key points
- One takeaway or CTA (usually my newsletter or waitlist)
That’s it.
No detailed paragraphs.
The outline is just enough structure to sit down and draft later.
Step 5: Capture Headlines Immediately (5 minutes)
Clear headlines save a ton of mental energy later.
I write draft headlines upfront, like:
- “How Fatherhood Changed My Definition of Success”
- “Why I’m Not Chasing Traffic (and What I’m Doing Instead)”
These headlines become anchor points, easy starting points for my weekday writing sessions.
Why This Works Every Single Week
This system works because it fits into real life.
It’s not perfect or fancy, but it’s repeatable.
It helps me turn vague ideas into actionable writing steps.
It gives me structure without strangling creativity.
Most importantly, it keeps me consistent even when life gets chaotic.
Want my entire writing routine?
I’ve put my whole system into a guide:
The Writing Dad System a step-by-step guide to writing consistently as a busy dad.
