Structure and spontaneity
This isn’t a rigid plan — it’s a sketch.
This isn’t about chasing virality or pretending to have all the answers. The Content Brief is where we explore the messy and meaningful both/and of work and life—with practical tools, real stories and curiosity as our guide. I’m Christin, and I believe clarity comes from the contradictions we name and the stories we tell.
*
We’re often told to choose: stick to the plan or follow inspiration. But too much structure suffocates creativity, while too much spontaneity leaves us scattered.
The trick is building containers that leave room for surprise.
I used to design strict content calendars — posts planned to the day, themes mapped months in advance. It kept me organized, but it drained my creativity.
So I swung the other way and only created when inspiration struck. Some weeks were magical; others, I produced nothing.
What finally worked was building a flexible container: a light plan that gave me focus but still let me improvise.
The Both/And Calendar Sketch
Here’s a simple way to design for structure and spontaneity:
Anchor Days: 2–3 slots each month for core commitments (newsletter, client deliverables, family events). Non-negotiable.
Flex Days: Unplanned time blocked for inspiration, rest or overflow.
Wildcard Slots: 1–2 places reserved for unexpected opportunities.
This isn’t a rigid plan — it’s a sketch. Enough shape to feel steady, enough space to breathe.
Where could you add a “wildcard slot” in your week — a little space for the unexpected?
Structure and spontaneity don’t cancel each other out. With the right container, they feed each other.
Hit reply and tell me: are you more prone to over-structuring or avoiding structure altogether?
In this *get everything planned* season, is this my approach to content planning now you’d want to know more about?
❤️🔥 Subscribe for more brief insights + practical tools…
…to help you build both meaningful work and a livable life.