I get it, you’re struggling to find time to create your digital product. Every time you sit down to work on it, something pulls your attention away. Client work, family responsibilities, endless admin tasks – there’s always something more urgent demanding your time.
When I first started creating digital products, I kept telling myself I’d work on them “when things calm down.” But here’s the thing – things never calm down.
We don’t “find time” — we make time.
So in this post, I’m breaking down simple and actionable steps you can take to rework your schedule so you can finally carve out the time and energy you need to focus on what truly matters: turning your expertise into passive income that gives you more freedom.
Trust me, creating a digital product is completely doable, even if you can only find 30 minutes to spare a day. Ready? Grab your calendar and let’s get to it.
First, Remember Your Why
Before we dive into the practical steps, let’s take a second to think about why you want to do this in the first place. You’ll want to get crystal clear about this because along the way, you’ll be tempted to put this project on the back burner and even try to talk yourself out of it.
Having a strong “why” will keep you moving forward when things get busy.
Maybe you want to break free from trading time for money, or want more flexibility so you can prioritize your time on the things that matter most to you.
Whatever your reason, get specific about it.
→ What would having a digital product actually mean for your business or your life?
→ What could you do with your time that you can’t do now?
→ How would things change if you had a passive income stream to rely on?
When I created my first digital product, I reminded myself every day that this wasn’t just about making more money – it was about creating income consistency and time freedom. I was tired of chasing down late client payments, watching my income fluctuate every month, and having to say yes to every project because I couldn’t afford to say no.
That reminder is what got me up an hour early each morning to work on my first digital product and every digital product I’ve created since. It was the path to having more control over my time, my income, and my future.
Keep this motivation close. You’ll need it on the days when other tasks try to steal your product creation time.
Shift Your Mindset
Your mindset about time can make or break your progress.
We often tell ourselves we “don’t have time” when what we really mean is “I’m not sure this will work.” Deep down your subconscious is telling you “Why spend time on something if you’re not sure it’ll pay off?”
The bottom line is, if you want to accomplish a goal, it needs to be a priority in your schedule and it needs consistent effort.
If I had waited until I “found time,” I’d still be stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle of client work, dreaming about creating a digital product but never actually doing it.
The shift for me was making it a priority and that meant working on it first thing before client work took over.
That’s not the only way to do it, you have to find what works for you (that you can do consistently). The key is to stop waiting for the perfect time and start using the time you have.
Here’s how…
Step #1: Get Clear on Your Current Schedule
You can only fix what you can clearly see, which means you need a real understanding of where your time goes now.
Write down everything that makes up your current schedule. Sometimes the simple act of writing it down will help you see where you’re losing time due to inefficiency.
Include even the smallest details. Be honest about how much time you spend scrolling social media or getting lost in your inbox.
When you do try to work on your digital product, where are you getting sidetracked? Are you actually making progress, or do you find yourself reorganizing your files for the tenth time?
For example, I was spending nearly an hour each day consuming other people’s content about digital products. Reading blog posts, watching YouTube videos, following social media threads. I was stuck in learning mode because creating felt scary.
The problem with this is I was always consuming but never creating. So I set a strict 15-minute limit for learning each day and dedicated the rest of that time to actually working on my product.
Action Steps:
- Use a time tracking app for one week to see where your time really goes
- Identify at least two 30-minute slots per week you can dedicate to your digital product
- List your top three time-wasters and create boundaries around them
- Look for tasks you can batch or eliminate to free up product creation time
Step #2: Identify Time Blocks That Work For You
Not all time blocks are created equal. You need to identify when you work best and protect those periods for focused creation.
For example, I discovered that my best creation time is early morning. My mind is fresh, and there are fewer interruptions. So I started waking up earlier to work on my digital product before the day got busy.
But maybe you’re sharpest late at night after the kids are in bed. Or perhaps you can carve out focused time during your lunch break.
The key is finding time blocks that you can consistently protect and when your energy matches the task.
Action Steps:
- Track your energy levels throughout the day for one week
- Identify your peak creative hours
- Look for at least three time blocks you can consistently protect
- Schedule these blocks in your calendar as non-negotiable appointments
Step #3: Create a “Minimum Viable Schedule”
The biggest mistake I see people make is trying to find perfect conditions to create their digital product. They think they need entire days free or long uninterrupted blocks of time.
But here’s the truth: You can make significant progress in small, consistent time blocks.
Think about what’s the minimum time you need to make meaningful progress. Often, it’s less than you think:
- 30 minutes can be enough to outline a module
- 15 minutes is perfect for brainstorming content ideas
- Even 10 minutes lets you record a quick video
The key is being prepared so you can make the most of whatever time you have.
Action Steps:
- Break down your digital product creation into tiny tasks
- Match tasks to the time blocks you have available
- Create templates and systems to maximize short work sessions
- Keep a running list of small tasks you can tackle in 10-15 minute blocks
Step #4: Set Up Success Triggers
The hardest part of creating a digital product isn’t finding time – it’s actually using that time effectively when you have it.
I learned to create “success triggers” – small habits that signal it’s time to work on my product. For example:
- Setting up my workspace the night before
- Having my outline and materials ready (I use Notion to stay organized and create quick links to all working files so I can get to them quickly)
- Closing all browser tabs except my working document
- Using a timer (like this one) so when the clock ticks, I spring into action
- Ending each work session by jotting down the next step so I can pick up where I left off in the next work session
These triggers help me get into creation mode quickly, even in short time blocks.
Step #5: Plan for Interruptions
Life happens. Clients have emergencies. Kids get sick. Projects run over.
Instead of letting interruptions derail you completely, have a backup plan:
- Keep a list of small tasks you can do in 10-15 minutes
- Have a clear system for tracking your project so you don’t spend energy trying to figure out next steps
- Build buffer time into your schedule by setting realistic deadlines (account for interruptions in your plan!)
- Focus on progress, not perfection (I still struggle with this one, but the reality is things rarely go according to our ideal timeline.)
Focus on Confidence, Not Just Time
Here’s the thing about finding time to create a digital product: the real reason we struggle usually isn’t just about busy schedules. It’s about confidence.
When you’re not 100% sure if your idea will work, it’s easy to justify putting it off. The uncertainty creates a cycle – you put it on the back burner because you’re not confident about what you’re doing, but you never get confident because you’re not taking action.
Deep down you know that the biggest time-waster isn’t poor time management – it’s creating something people don’t want to buy.
When you validate your digital product idea first, you’ll know exactly what your product needs to include to make your audience happy. You have a clear picture of what to create – one that matches what people actually want to buy.
Instead of just dreaming about it, you’ll wake up excited to work on something you know will make a difference, instead of pushing it to the bottom of your to-do list day after day.
When you’re not just hoping it might work – you know it will – the time you carve out to build it isn’t just another task on your to-do list, it’s an urgent priority.
That vague “maybe someday” dream becomes “let’s do this.”
If you need a little help turning your digital product idea into a plan you can act on with confidence, join me in my 1-hour Validate Your Digital Product Idea workshop.
I’ll show you how to:
- Use ChatGPT to quickly uncover what your audience actually wants to buy
- Validate your idea in minutes instead of months
- Find the sweet spot between your expertise and market demand
- Create a plan you can feel confident about executing
Think about it: In just one hour, you could have complete clarity about your digital product idea. No more wondering if you’re wasting your time. No more putting it off because you’re not sure. Just a clear path forward with an idea you feel confident about.
As a special thank you for reading this far, we’re offering our blog readers an exclusive 50% discount with code VALIDATE50, but this discount won’t be available for long.
Enroll today using the link below:
→ Don’t forget to use the coupon code VALIDATE50 to save 50% off. But don’t wait! This offer is going away soon.
I hope this post has shown you that creating a digital product isn’t about finding massive blocks of time or waiting until everything is perfect. It’s about getting clear on your idea, knowing it will work, and taking consistent action. You got this. 💪
Comparing yourself to others. Yikes.
