How to Write Content When You’re Burned Out (AI Tips)
Writing content when burned out feels impossible, but here’s my experience… You know that feeling when your to-do list is breathing down your neck, your inbox is eating itself, and somehow you still have to write a blog post, update your website, or plan a new launch?
Yeah. That.
Let me be honest with you — as a brand designer, I usually live in the visual side of business. Color palettes, typography, layout… it’s my zone. But recently, I hit a wall when it came to writing. Not because I don’t know what to say. Because I was tired. And a little crispy around the edges. I’m a Mum as well as a business owner and my little one hadn’t been letting me sleep much.
So I started looking at how to make things easier. Simpler. More human. And that’s where AI — yes, that AI everyone’s either obsessed with or side-eyeing — started to actually help.
When You’re Doing Everything, Content Writing Can Feel Like the Last Straw
Most of the business owners I work with wear all the hats. They’re answering emails, managing their finances, DIY-ing their social media, trying to stay creative — and now everyone’s telling them to “show up consistently” online like it’s easy.
The reality of writing content for your brand when burned out is that it doesn’t feel inspiring. It feels annoying. It feels like that one extra thing you’ll never get to — until your homepage still says “coming soon” three years later.
So What Do You Do When You Have to Write… But You’re Running on Fumes?
Here’s what’s been helping me — and what I’m starting to build into the AI workshop I’ve got cooking for business owners like you:
1. Start Messy When Writing Content
Stop trying to write a polished paragraph on the first go. Just dump the brain. Voice note it. Start a Google Doc with terrible sentences. Think of it as creative compost — good stuff grows from the mess.
Try this:
- “What’s been annoying me lately about my industry?”
- “What do people always get wrong about [my work]?”
- “What do I wish someone had told me when I started?”
It’s not cheating. It’s outsourcing the part your brain doesn’t want to deal with today.
(Psst… more on this in my upcoming workshop — hit reply or message me if you want early access info.)
2. Use AI for Content Creation (Not Replacement)
This isn’t about letting robots write your brand for you (please don’t do that). It’s about using tools like ChatGPT to help unstick your ideas.
You can prompt it with:
- “Turn this bullet list into a blog post intro”
- “What are five ways I could explain [this idea] to beginners?”
- “Can you reword this paragraph to sound less formal?”
3. Ditch Perfect Content Pressure
You don’t need a viral-worthy piece of content. You need something honest and helpful. Something that sounds like you.
Honestly, the posts I’ve written when I felt a little frayed around the edges? They’re usually the ones that land best. Because they’re real. And people are craving real more than ever.
Writing Content in Real Life
I’ll share something: this post? I didn’t want to write it. I had “write blog” on my list for days, and I kept moving it. Eventually, I opened a doc, wrote “Writing when burned out” at the top, and let it spill.
Then I used AI to help shape the structure, pull out a headline, and tighten up a few rambly sentences. Bam. Done. Still mine — just with a bit of help. This approach to content creation when you’re exhausted saves so much time and procrastination.
Apply This to Your Brand Content
If you’re juggling client work, back-end admin, creative burnout, and trying to keep your content alive — I see you.
Here’s the thing: Writing content when burned out doesn’t have to drain you further. It doesn’t have to be painful and you don’t need to be a “good writer.” You just need to sound like you, and have the tools to make that easier on hard days.
That’s the kind of stuff I’ll be teaching in the AI workshop — how to use tech without sounding like a chatbot, and how to keep your brand voice intact even when you’re tired.
Want a Heads-Up When the Workshop Drops?
Drop your name here — I’ll send you the details when it’s live.
Thanks for reading
To find out more about graphic design services for small business or bloggers, check out my business page.