Jennilee, known as @jennileeashlee on Instagram, is a micro-influencer who shares fashion and lifestyle content. She also happens to be a nursing student and in this interview she shares her tips and tricks to balance schoolwork with content creation.
Because I have such a busy schedule, I realized that I needed to be strict with my time between studying and content creation. On the days I don’t have class, I use that free time to batch content for the upcoming week.
I also make sure I use Klaia and write down the content ideas I have for a campaign or generally refer to the website to seek out what the brands are expecting of me. This tool helps me organize my thoughts and gives me a guide on what content I should be focusing on.
I use Klaia, my notes app on my phone, and Google Calendar! Klaia is so great in helping me keep my campaigns and collaborations organized into one place. I used to keep everything in my gmail, but a lot of information gets lost in the inbox or the threads between brand managers. I found that keeping specific areas designated for content creation is really helpful in managing brands and preventing discrepancies; Klaia gives me that platform.
Related: Invoicing Brands as a Content Creator + Free Invoice Templates
There was one instance where I was scammed of my own money. I thought the brand would pay me back, but they have gone “ghost” after I sent them the “required deliverables.” It wasn’t until a couple weeks after that I realized I just paid for an item like a regular customer.
I learned the hard way, and now I always tell my creator friends that if a brand wants you to pay some sort of fixed amount for something, you might as well be a customer to them and not the influencer.
I clean up around my room, make sure all of my assignments are submitted or completed, and take a shower and self care. Sundays are the days where I make sure I’m mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming week.
I have a Psychiatric clinical for a nursing course, which goes until 3pm. When I get back to my dorm, I take it easy and either watch Netflix or do some light studying.
I have class until 12pm, so that gives me more time to do more things. I would study, do homework, or if I really don’t do a lot of school work, make some content.
Wednesday is one of my free days of the week. Because it’s the halfway point of the week for me, Wednesdays are my self-care days, as well as doing chores. The content I make on this day consist of pre-making captions or brainstorming and getting inspo for future references.
Thursday is my scheduled content day where I batch at least 2-3 feed posts and 1-2 reels. Sometimes I’ll do some school work, but Thursdays I have set aside
for just making content.
I have a class until 12pm again, and sometimes I have a meeting right after so I’ll usually be free by 2pm. Friday is the day where I try to get as much homework done so I don’t have to worry about it for the weekend. I also start the editing process of my content on Fridays because I want to get a head start on my posts before they go live without the interruptions of weekend plans.
Then finally, Saturday is my relaxation day; I do nothing or I do something fun. It’s the day I have to myself and I use it to keep myself and my mental health
in check.
Throughout the week I try to post consistently. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday I post an in-feed and Tuesday and Thursday I post a reel. Everyday I’m posting on my IG story as well. And sometimes, because life is never perfect, I’ll be making content on a Monday or Tuesday and editing on a Saturday. Essentially, my week focuses on nursing school. When I find free time, I try to do some bits and pieces of content.
Klaia gives me the chance to separate my content work from my school work. I use it to organize my campaigns, because I tend to have 3-5 that get approved in a week. It also helps me keep track of what deliverables the brands want and when they want them live. Overall, the organization is why I use Klaia because everything is there for me to look at when making content!
Related: Getting Started on Klaia: How to Create a Campaign in Klaia Step by Step
On Instagram, my schedule is an in-feed post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I also post reels on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I post IG stories every day. My feed goes in a pattern: “face” or “full body” pic, then a filler photo. When I make content, I put what I want to post on which day and specify if it’s a “face” pic or a filler photo in my Google calendar. Giving me a week or two to oversee what I want to post helps me make the content beforehand so it will be ready when the time comes.
TikTok is the platform where I post more casual or funny videos that either follow trends or memes that are circling around. Sometimes I post content creator-
related TikTok videos which also are reposted to my Instagram (or vice versa). My focus is on Instagram – I plan out more on there.
Understand that it takes a lot of trial and error to find what works best for you. Do not be so hard on yourself at first because content creation is a job in itself. Also, try to prioritize what is important to you and don’t let one thing take over another. Balance is key and allowing yourself to stay within your limitations is important to maintain progress and prevent burnout or giving up.
Also, reach out to other creators! We are always willing to help newcomers because we have been in their shoes before; we want to make sure you guys are getting advice that will benefit you and help you grow as an influencer.
I take photos by myself most of the time. I have a tripod with a clicker that connects to my iPhone’s bluetooth. I personally like to take my own photos because I know my angles best and I know what I want to take as content for a brand. Sometimes I’ll be out with friends and they take a couple pics of me. Those are always fun to take because I always have a good time being with my friends, but usually, I am alone when taking pictures or making content.
After graduation, I see myself working as a nursing tech at a hospital for a year before I take my NCLEX and get licensed. After that, I hope to be living on my own as a registered nurse in a hospital in New York. I also see myself continuing my influencer journey past college as a side-hustle alongside being a registered nurse. I love being an influencer, so I do not see myself dropping this passion of mine any time soon.
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