If you want to do full-time content creation in 2026, now is the perfect time to start.

If you want 2026 to be the year you finally do content creation full-time you don’t have to wait for January 1st to get started. Today is the perfect time to build the habits, routines, and simple daily actions that will help you turn content creation into your full-time job in the next 12 months.

In this post, I’m breaking down the exact things you can start doing right now to set yourself up for creator success next year. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of the small shifts you can make today to support your content creation journey long-term.

If you’re new around here, I’m Millie, a content creator coach and the founder of the BSP Model® (also known as the Ivy League for Content Creators). It’s my passion to help you step into your creativity, build confidence, and chase your dreams as a creator. I’ve been exactly where you are, and this blog is packed with free resources to help you take the leap. For even more, check out my YouTube channel (link here).

Now, without further ado, let’s get started!

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting me so I can continue to provide you with free content each week on my blog and on my YouTube channel!If you want to become a full-time content creator in 2026, now is the perfect time to start.

10 Things I Would Start Doing Today if I Wanted to Do Content Creation Full-Time

1. Consume With Intention

As a content creator, you’re naturally going to spend a lot of time on your phone, posting, engaging with your community, learning, and gathering inspiration. But endless scrolling can also leave you drained or even keep you from creating at all. That’s why it’s helpful to consume with intention.

How can you consume with intention? Curate your feed so that it feels good to be there. Follow creators who inspire you and mute or unfollow accounts that spark comparison, pressure, or negativity. Make your own feed a space that fuels creativity instead of draining it.

Then, put a simple system in place to help you keep scrolling in check. Track your screen time and set app timers to remind you to take breaks. It’s way too easy to open Instagram with the intention of “research”… and look up two hours later, still scrolling. I promise, I’ve been there too.

To make this habit stick, try adding simple boundaries:

• Set a daily time limit for your most-used social apps.
• Choose one day each week to step away from social media entirely and let your mind reset.

You may be surprised by how much creativity returns when you give yourself a little space.

2. Start Capturing Daily Moments Now

If you want to do content creation full-time, the best time to start is today. Begin capturing little moments on your phone to get into the habit of creating. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but every clip you film is practice.

Why do I want you to start now? First, content creation is a habit. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. You’ll build the muscle of filming consistently, just like you would when starting a new workout routine.

Second, capturing everyday moments helps you get more comfortable on camera and experiment with angles, lighting, and locations. Even if you’re not going to use these early clips, you’ll be able to learn a lot just from taking them.

Finally, it gives you a growing library of footage to pull from later, your own personal b-roll collection. We’ll talk more about that in the next one.

3. Get Organized from the Beginning

Start building a b-roll library now. Your future self will thank you. B-roll is the extra footage that complements your main content: making coffee, walking into a room, flipping through a book, or writing in a journal. For travel creators, it could be clips of your bag on a carousel, the view from an airplane window, or streetscapes while exploring a city. Or for fitness creators, this could be working out, running, making a shake, or even drinking water.

There are so many small moments in your everyday life that can become b-roll for you.

B-roll tip: If building a b-roll library feels overwhelming, or your niche makes it harder to capture on-brand footage, check out Storyblocks. I use Storyblocks often to find b-roll for my YouTube videos. They have a massive library covering almost every topic, so it’s easy to find clips that fit your content.

Now that you’re gathering b-roll, make sure it’s easy to find and use. The more organized your b-roll is, the easier it will be to edit, jump on trends, and create engaging videos down the line.

A simple way to start is to create folders in your phone’s photo app or cloud storage. You can make one general b-roll folder, or separate folders for your content pillars, whatever feels easiest to maintain. Save your favorite clips so you can find them later.

When editing, having a ready-to-go library of on-brand, aesthetic shots means you can quickly jump on trends, create text-overlay videos, or add dynamic clips to a vlog to keep your audience engaged.

4. Keep a Running List of Ideas, Hooks, and Trends

Inspiration can strike at any moment, so have a go-to spot to capture it. I usually just use my phone’s notes app, but a journal or planner works too if you prefer something analog. Keep a running list of ideas for videos and series, hooks, and trends; however, the key is to actually use these ideas.

Don’t let your ideas sit and gather dust. So, while you’re gathering ideas daily, I recommend setting aside time once a week to move your saved ideas into your content workflow or calendar. That way, your ideas turn into actual content, not just notes.

5. Make it Part of Your Lifestyle

The creators who are doing content creation full-time, seeing good results and posting consistently find ways to adapt content creation into their day-to-day life. Instead of feeling like you need a full “filming day” or a carefully planned script every time you create, start capturing the moments you’re already living. 

Pull out your phone while you make your morning coffee, set up your tripod while you’re getting ready, record a quick clip on your walk, or voice-note an idea while you’re waiting in line. When you practice documenting your real day rather than creating something for the camera, you naturally build a habit you can maintain long-term.

This not only helps you show up more consistently, it also makes your content feel more genuine because it’s rooted in what you’re already doing.

6. Get Into a Routine of Batching

Another approach you can take is building a routine around batching your content. This works especially well for creators who crave structure or who feel more productive when they’ve assigned specific tasks to specific days. By adding content creation directly into your calendar, you start treating it like the job you want it to be, even if you’re not monetized yet. For a lot of creators, this mindset shift makes all the difference when transitioning into full-time work later on.

So how do you batch effectively? Instead of completing an entire video from start to finish in one sitting, break the process up. For example:

• Monday: Script 2–3 videos
• Tuesday: Film all the videos you scripted
• Wednesday: Edit everything
• Thursday: Schedule your posts

Batching allows you to get into the flow of each task without constantly switching between different types of creative energy. It’s one of the simplest ways to save time, reduce stress, and significantly increase your output without increasing the hours you’re working.

7. Schedule Time for Learning

One of the best ways to set yourself up for long-term success as a content creator is to adopt the mindset that there’s always something new to learn. Be a sponge. Watch the YouTube channels of creators you admire, read their blogs, study what’s working for them, and take advantage of the endless free education that exists online. Investing in yourself doesn’t always mean spending money, sometimes the biggest investment is simply setting aside time to grow your skills.

And when you are ready to invest financially, courses can take your knowledge even deeper. Take the BSP Model®, for example: it’s the course I wish I’d had when I was starting out. It gives you a complete roadmap for building a strong personal brand, growing on social media, and creating multiple aligned income streams, without any of the guesswork.

Whether you’re learning for free or taking a course, the key is the same: carve out time to actively learn. The more you understand about your craft, the faster you’ll grow on this new path you’re creating for yourself.

8. Pick Just One Platform (to Start)

I talk about this a lot, and one thing I see all the time is creators feeling like they have to be everywhere at once. But honestly? My advice goes against that. Instead of trying to master every platform right out of the gate, choose the one that makes the most sense for your niche, your goals, and the type of content you love creating. Focus on that single platform first.

Once you’ve gotten into your groove, whether that looks like consistent growth, knowing your audience, or simply feeling confident with your posting strategy, then you can expand to another platform. Layer your growth intentionally instead of stretching yourself thin.

When you’ve chosen your platform, set yourself up for success. Optimize your profile so people immediately understand who you are and why they should follow you. Then start posting consistently and letting your content work for you.

9. Choose a Sustainable Posting Cadence

You do not need to post on social media every single day. A lot of creators say you should, sometimes even multiple times a day, and while a short “social media sprint” can help boost your account, it’s not something most people can sustain long-term. And if your goal is to become a full-time creator, you need habits you can actually maintain.

Instead of burning yourself out by posting constantly, choose a cadence that supports consistency. Start with 2–3 posts per week and stick to it. Once that feels easy and natural, you can always adjust or increase your frequency.

At the end of the day, consistency is what social platforms reward most. So while you’re building your foundation, focus on finding a rhythm that feels doable, repeatable, and genuinely aligned with your life.

So right now, when you’re just starting out, find a rhythm and a routine that works for you.

10. Start an Email List

I could honestly talk about this forever and if you’ve been around here for a while, you know I do. When I first started creating content, I completely ignored the advice to start an email list. I kept thinking, “I don’t need that… I’m just here to create content for other brands.”

But here’s the truth I learned the hard way: as a content creator, you absolutely need an email list. You don’t own your audience on social media. If the algorithm shifts or your reach drops overnight, there’s nothing you can do to magically fix it. But your email list? That’s a direct line to people who want to hear from you — people who’ve literally invited you into their inbox.

And email subscribers are usually more engaged than social followers. That’s why one of the first pieces of advice I give my students is to start their list as early as possible. So if you’re setting yourself up to become a full-time creator in 2026, let this be your sign: start your email list now. It will be one of the best long-term moves you make.

If you need help setting up your email list, this YouTube video helps you get started in a day.

If you’re dreaming of becoming a full-time content creator in 2026, now is the moment to start building the habits that future-you will thank you for. Small, consistent steps compound quickly, especially when you’re intentional about your systems, your growth, and your creativity. And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. 

Whether you’re here for free resources, want deeper guidance inside The BSP Model®, or just need a little encouragement along the way, I’m cheering you on every step of the journey.

Thanks for being here. I’ll see you in the next one! Follow your joy.