The 60-Second Writing Habit (That Won’t Make You Hate Content)
De-influencing the mindset that you need an hour (or wait until Monday) to create healthy content habits
Take a seat, my lovely. Listen, if you’ve ever opened your laptop with the intention of “finally writing some content,” only to…
~ Get pulled into a client crisis
~ End up half-reading an Instagram carousel about “storytelling”
~ Or worse… Open ChatGPT, get some filler, and feel even more detached from your voice
… You’re not alone.
As a solo business owner ~ especially in the home, lifestyle, or creative space ~ your to-do list is already spilling over. You don’t need another thing that requires an hour, the right music, and a fresh coffee (although we won’t say no to a cheeky latte). What you need is a habit that makes sense for your time, situation, and your strengths.
This is the 60-second shift that I’ve used in my Head of Content teams when my team’s “writer’s block” moments hit hard. I want to get your content working with you, not against you.
Why most "writing habits" secretly sabotage business owners
The productivity lie your nervous system can spot a mile off
Every “content system” promising consistency often assumes the one actually, no, two things you don’t have:
Time. Or more specifically, what I like to call “creative spaciousness”. And the groundwork (we’ll get to that in a sec).
You’re not sitting in a co-working space with five uninterrupted hours and a neatly prioritised Asana board. You’re responding to clients, booking in suppliers, fielding delivery drama, and trying to get something in the oven before 8 pm. There’s always something.
So when someone says “just plan your content on Monday morning,” sighs in small business owner overwhelm
The real cost of waiting for the right time
Every time you wait for the ‘clear day’ to finally write content:
Your website gets older without a single SEO update
Your dream client scrolls past, because she’s never seen a message that sounds like you
You’re convinced you hate social media… and the algorithm hates you (it doesn’t, but I won’t deny that it isn’t easy)
And the part that breaks my heart the most… You start to believe content just isn’t your thing
It’s not true, I tell you!
You just haven’t found the way to do it that matches your life. And your pace.
The mindset shift that unlocks momentum
What if just 60 seconds were enough?
OK, stay with me here… this isn’t a “hack” (you know how I feel about those).
Let’s keep things simple and positive. What if a content habit didn’t require a “writing ritual”? What if it only needed one moment of reflection per day?
Because here’s what your dream client doesn’t need:
Another perfectly polished caption about your offer.
She needs a reason to trust you. To connect. To see what makes you tick (is it the same as what makes her tick?). To feel like you’re in the thick of it, too.
You build that trust in shared moments.
Introducing: The 60-Second Content Habit
Here’s how it works:
Every day, ask yourself ONE of the following. Then write 1–2 sentences into your Notes app (this is not a space for perfection):
1. What did I say to a client today that lit something up in them?
Ex: “She realised she didn’t need a sales funnel. She needed a sentence that made her client feel like she was finally being spoken to.”
If not today, look through your testimonials. Where did they start? What did you help them with?
2. What’s one thought I had about marketing/content/sales today?
Ex: “Today, I realised I don’t hate marketing ~ I just hate pretending to be someone I’m not.”
3. What’s one tiny moment I experienced today that felt very me?
Ex: “I re-read a testimonial from one of my fave clients in my head while folding towels. Which is how I know I’m in the right business.”
Each of these becomes:
A blog intro
A hook for a caption
An email opener
A way to say what you do without overthinking it
This is how you stop asking “how do I write a website?” or “how do I find the perfect client?” and start showing them exactly who you are and why you’re the small business owner they’ll turn to for birthday presents, a treat for themselves after a long week or a whole lot of saving (I’m looking at you painters, candle makers, jewellery crafters).
Ah! This was such a turning point for one of my Contentfidantes. Messaging had always been ‘fluffy’ in her eyes, the thing that business owners talk about but doesn’t make much of a difference.
Until we got into the nitty-gritty of what her dream client needs right now.
The result one hour after posting an updated caption →
Real-life scenarios (in your already full schedule)
OK here’s where it gets good. Notice how we haven’t actually started writing. We’re planting the roots. We’re doing the groundwork.
You’re in the car waiting for the kiddos to finish school
Your client said something that made your jaw drop. You know it’ll resonate. But instead of thinking “I’ll write that down later,” you open Notes and tap it in now.
Time: 43 seconds.
You’re making tea between calls
You catch yourself muttering about a trend that’s everywhere again. You think, “I could write a whole post about this.” So you do two lines.
Time: 58 seconds.
You’re answering a client email
You explain why their About Page doesn’t need to tell their whole life story. The way you say it? Gold. Paste that into a doc.
Time: 39 seconds.
These are content moments. And they’re happening every day.
Your job? Start catching them. Before the algorithm can convince you, you’ve got nothing worth saying…
Why this works (even if SEO makes your eyes glaze over)
Website or socials, whatever your content focus we know how important your SEO efforts are. Because what Google’s actually looking for now isn’t keyword stuffing. It’s human-first content.
That means:
Emotionally relevant stories
Real language
Specificity
Original phrasing
So when you jot down that thought in the school pick-up line, or capture that kitchen-table epiphany you’re not just writing content.
You’re building an SEO footprint that feels unmissably you.
Even better? Tools like SurferSEO or Frase can help you drop in your longtail keywords (copywriting for lifestyle brands, blog writer for small business, how to find the perfect client) after the fact.
Let it be editing, not your first move.
I promise consistency doesn’t need to cost you your day
You don’t need a complicated content calendar.
You need:
A daily micro habit that takes less than 60 seconds
To feel safe enough to show up as yourself (not your competition)
And a method that respects your genius without over-relying on your time
Once you’ve got 5–10 of these captured moments?
They become blog posts, newsletters, captions, and even website copy that you can use over and over.
This is the writing habit that builds momentum without building resentment.
I worked with this Contentfidante Client, she was soo frustrated with her content, especially convincing herself what she “should” be doing with very little evidence to back it up…
So we got to the root of her issues. She wasn’t talking to her dream client; she was worrying about what her ex-co-workers might think of her content. Nope, we’re not having that.
After one session of focusing on her values and what SHE wants her business to be, and how that resonates with her dream client.
← This is how she was left feeling…
You’re ready. Let’s do this!
You’re not wrong for resenting the content circus.
You’re just done building your brand off of someone else’s formula.
This is how you come back to your own.
One 60-second note at a time.
Want help planting the roots, or helping them bloom into content that makes sense for you?
That’s literally what I’m here for.
In the meantime, I’ll pop the kettle on.
Hols x
