Does social media sometimes feel like a never-ending to-do list? You’re not alone. Many of us start the day with big goals, only to find ourselves scrambling for what to post at the last minute. It’s overwhelming, exhausting, and, frankly, unsustainable.

One of the most common questions I’ve received throughout my career is: How do you manage to accomplish so much? The answer lies in one of my core strengths—being a maximizer. I’ve always been passionate about making the most of my time and resources, a skill that’s been critical in my role as a social media manager for multiple EdTech brands. And one strategy that’s made a massive difference? Batching.

Batching is a time-management powerhouse, widely used by content creators, marketers, and business owners alike—though you may hear it referred to by different names. Some call it content batching, while others think of it as batch working or task batching—but at its core, it’s all about grouping similar tasks together to increase efficiency, reduce context switching, and free up time for bigger-picture work.

Imagine logging into your scheduling tool and seeing weeks—even months—of content planned and ready to go. No more daily stress, no more blank screens—just intentional, high-impact posts that allow you to focus on strategy instead of scrambling for ideas.

This isn’t a pipe dream—it’s the power of batching. With a few strategic steps, you can streamline your content creation, save valuable time, and bring more creativity to your social media strategy. Let’s dive into how you can make batching your new secret weapon.

1. Block Out Time

Before you dive into content creation, the first and most important step is to set aside dedicated time for batching. Even just one hour can make a huge difference—you’d be surprised how much you can accomplish when you focus.

Start small: Block out a 60-minute session this week and challenge yourself to create as much as possible.
Build momentum: As you get into the rhythm, gradually extend your batching sessions and refine your workflow.
Make it a habit: Add batching sessions to your calendar just like a meeting—because content planning deserves your attention, too!

Once you’ve carved out the time, you’re ready to dive into evergreen content, repurposing, automation, and all the other steps that make batching a game-changer for social media strategy.

2. Start with Evergreen Content

If you’re constantly scrambling to post about upcoming events or daily updates, you’re making your life harder, and the truth be told, you’re approaching social media in all the wrong ways. Evergreen content—posts that remain relevant over time—can fill your content calendar and provide consistent value to your audience.

Steps to get started:

Decide on an evergreen series (e.g., inspirational quotes, tips, or interesting facts).
Build at least 15 posts for your series using simple visuals or videos.
Use tools like ChatGPT to generate ideas or draft captions, then refine them to match your brand voice and your audience's needs
Schedule the posts as placeholders in your social media calendar (we use Sprout Social), and adjust as needed.

3. Repurpose Existing Content

Stop reinventing the wheel! Look at your existing resources—blogs, webinars, podcasts, newsletters—and break them into smaller pieces for social posts.

Example:

When one of my clients appeared on a podcast, we pulled eight short video clips of key moments. Depending on the audience, I scheduled those over three months, tailoring each post for the platforms we managed.

I’ve also created a quote series by pulling impactful snippets from existing content. Over time, we identified the most popular quotes based on engagement and repurposed them into a high-performing carousel post—proving that one great idea can be transformed into multiple valuable assets.

Batching isn’t just about working ahead—it’s about working smarter by making the most of the content you already have.

4. Automate the Process

Once your evergreen content is ready, pre-schedule using tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social or even pre-schedule your posts on the platform. Decide how often to post that particular type of content (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) and use these as a foundation for your calendar. This approach leaves you free to focus on timely content or big events and content launches that need extra promotion.

5. Use Batching for Specific Campaigns

Speaking of promoting events, batching isn’t just for evergreen content. It works great for campaigns tied to blogs, eBooks, annual reports, or events.

How to do it:

Extract 4–5 social posts from each resource.
Plan where and when each post will go live.
Add captions and visuals and schedule them across platforms.

This method ensures you maximize your content while aligning with larger campaigns.

Bonus: If your company is attending conferences, you need a plan. We have a checklist that will be super helpful for promoting your upcoming events on social media.

6. Start Small

Batching can feel overwhelming if you’re just starting, especially if your schedule is packed. Start by setting aside one hour to create as much as you can. Even a few pre-scheduled posts can save time and reduce stress in the long run. For a structured way to organize your marketing efforts, check out this planner designed specifically for EdTech marketers to streamline your content strategy.

Pro tip: Build your series incrementally. Add 30 minutes each week to refine and expand it until you have a robust backlog of content.

7. Embrace Simplicity

Not every post needs to be overly polished or branded. In fact, simpler posts often perform better because they feel more authentic. Use clean templates (we love Canva for this) and straightforward designs to save time without sacrificing quality. If you need guidance on choosing the right visuals, check out our tips on how to create compelling social media images.

8. Reap the Benefits of Batching

Once you’re in the rhythm of batching, you’ll notice significant improvements:

Time savings: Spend less time daily on content creation.
More creativity: Freeing up mental space allows you to innovate.
Reduced stress: No more last-minute scramble to create posts.

How Batching Social Media Content Saves Time and Boosts Creativity

When I first started batching my social media content, it took a little extra time upfront—but the payoff was exponential. Instead of constantly scrambling for what to post, I could focus on creativity, strategy, and higher-impact work.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind of content creation, start small. Set aside just one hour this week to batch a few posts, and watch how it transforms your workflow. Social media doesn’t have to be a source of stress—it can be a well-oiled, strategic part of your marketing efforts that gives you back time and mental space.