Ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to create your dream course? Between juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities, and the relentless guilt of not having launched that online course yet, it’s easy to feel like you’re running on a treadmill with no off button. I’ve been there. For years, I’ve struggled to find the energy and motivation to work an additional few hours after my 9-to-5 ends. Spoiler alert: I’m still figuring it out, but I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way—lessons I’m sharing with you today.

This post isn’t just a list of generic tips; it’s a reality check. We’re diving into why managing your time is so hard as a course creator, especially if you have a demanding job or family obligations. Plus, I’ll walk you through the techniques I’ve tried (and still use) to keep my sanity intact. Oh, and don’t miss the freebie I created just for you: a time-blocking template tailored for course creators. Sign up for my email list to grab it here.

The Struggle Is Real: Time Management Challenges for Course Creators

Let’s start with the obvious: being a course creator isn’t just about creating a course. You’re a marketer, content creator, tech support, and visionary—all rolled into one. It’s a lot. Here are some of the most common challenges:

• Overwhelm: Imagine staring at a to-do list that includes everything from recording course videos to setting up an email funnel, all while remembering to walk the dog. The sheer volume can leave you paralysed.

• Procrastination: You know you need to outline your next module, but instead, you find yourself organising your sock drawer. Why? Because starting feels daunting when perfectionism whispers that it’s never good enough.

• Lack of Boundaries: Picture this: you’re halfway through editing a video when your kids burst in asking about dinner, and suddenly, work and home blur together.

• Shiny Object Syndrome: You’re mid-project when you hear about the latest AI tool promising to revolutionise course creation. Before you know it, hours are gone, and your course is still incomplete.

Add to this mix the emotional load of caregiving—whether it’s raising kids, supporting elderly parents, or simply trying to be present for your family—and it’s no wonder we feel stretched thin.

The Danger of Ignoring Time Management

Poor time management isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a fast track to burnout. Here’s why:

• Burnout and Stress: Constantly playing catch-up leaves you feeling drained and frazzled. Imagine rushing through a course launch while juggling a demanding job and family—it’s a recipe for exhaustion.

• Missed Opportunities: That email list you planned to grow? It’s still a dream because your marketing tasks kept getting pushed back.

• Self-Doubt: The more you delay, the louder that inner voice becomes, questioning if you’re cut out for this.

• Impact on Quality: When you’re racing against the clock, the details—like proofreading your course slides—start to slip, and it shows in the final product.

Research shows that multitasking and chronic stress reduce productivity and impair decision-making (Harvard Business Review, 2010). If you’re serious about building a sustainable course business, time management isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Self-Sabotaging Behaviours and How They Creep In

Let’s get real about self-sabotage. It’s sneaky, it’s persistent, and it’s a massive time thief. Here’s how it shows up:

• Perfectionism: Spending three hours tweaking the font on one slide. Yes, it happens. Instead of making progress, you’re stuck on details no one else will notice.

• Impostor Syndrome: You’ve spent the last two days researching “effective teaching methods” because you’re convinced your course isn’t “legit” enough. Meanwhile, your first lesson is still unwritten.

• Procrastination: The task feels so overwhelming you decide to binge-watch your favourite show instead, promising yourself you’ll start tomorrow.

• Overcommitting: You said yes to running a webinar, helping a friend with her project, and baking cookies for your kid’s school event—all in the same week. Now, your course is on the back burner.

• Analysis Paralysis: You’ve been comparing five different video editing tools for weeks, unable to pick one and move forward.

The good news? Once you identify these patterns, you can start addressing them. A little self-awareness goes a long way.

Prioritisation Techniques That Actually Work

When everything feels urgent, how do you know where to start? Here are a few techniques I swear by, complete with examples to make them relatable:

1. The Eisenhower Matrix:

   • This tool helps you sort tasks into four categories: urgent/important, not urgent/important, urgent/not important, and neither. For example, creating your course outline might fall into the urgent/important category, while redesigning your website logo is probably not urgent.

   • Start with the tasks that are both urgent and important, like finishing your email sequence for launch day.

2. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule):

   Focus on the 20% of tasks that will drive 80% of your results. For instance, writing your course content and promoting it on social media are high-impact tasks compared to obsessively fine-tuning your course cover image.

3. Time Blocking:

   Dedicate specific blocks of time to tasks. For example, reserve Monday mornings for outlining lessons and Wednesday afternoons for recording videos. Having a set schedule reduces decision fatigue and keeps you on track.

4. Weekly Reviews:

   Spend 30 minutes every Sunday reviewing your progress. Ask yourself: What worked? What didn’t? For example, if you spent too much time answering emails, set limits next week by checking your inbox only twice a day. Trust me, after a few weeks you will actually look forward to your planning sessions and going to love them!

   

   Automation and Delegation: Your Secret Weapons

   Automation Tools:

   Set up email sequences using platforms like ConvertKit. For instance, when someone signs up for your freebie, they automatically receive a welcome email, saving you from manually following up.

   Use social media scheduling tools like Buffer. Imagine scheduling a week’s worth of Instagram posts in one afternoon, leaving you free to focus on content creation.

   Organise recurring tasks in tools like Trello. For example, create a checklist for every module you build, so you don’t reinvent the wheel each time.

   Delegation Tips:

   Outsource repetitive tasks. For example, hire a virtual assistant to format your course slides or proofread your blog posts.

   Delegate tasks you’re not skilled at. If video editing takes you hours, find a freelancer who can do it in half the time.

   Focus on what only you can do—like sharing your unique expertise and engaging with your audience.

How to Manage When Life Gets in the Way

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: life. Maybe you’re juggling a full-time job, caregiving responsibilities, or both. Finding the energy to work on your course after a long day is tough. Here’s what’s helped me:

• Set Micro-Goals: Instead of aiming to finish an entire module, break it down. For instance, aim to write just one lesson or record one short video. Completing small tasks keeps you motivated.

• Create Rituals: Establish a consistent routine to signal it’s work time. For example, pour yourself a cup of tea, put on noise-cancelling headphones, and light a candle before diving into course work.

• Honour Your Energy: Pay attention to when you’re most productive. If mornings are your sweet spot, carve out 30 minutes before work to tackle creative tasks like brainstorming

Final Thoughts

When I applied for a Learning and Development Manager position years ago to a multinational corporation, they asked me to deliver a mini-session for a panel and I chose Time Management as my topic. It is so vital and so many of us struggle with it that it’s worth looking into time and time again. (It was also such an acute issue in that organisation that the topic and my execution of the training session won me the job, but that’s another story.)

Time management isn’t just about cramming more into your day; it’s about aligning your actions with your priorities. Remember, building a course business is a marathon, not a sprint. On tough days, remind yourself that progress—even small progress—is still progress.

You’re not alone in this journey. Many of us are figuring it out as we go, battling self-doubt, overwhelm, and the occasional (okay, frequent) desire to binge-watch our favourite series instead of tackling our to-do list. But every step you take brings you closer to your goals.

Start small, use the techniques we’ve discussed, and don’t forget to grab your freebie—a time-blocking template tailored to course creators like you. It’s packed with practical tools to help you plan your week, reflect on your progress, and take control of your time. Sign up here to get it delivered straight to your inbox.

You’ve got this. Take a deep breath, pick one task, and start. And don’t forget to celebrate every small win along the way—it’s these wins that pave the road to success.