Marketing with no time or energy: my 5-minute visibility system
Marketing your business shouldn’t require full-time energy when you’ve got part-time capacity. Especially if you’re doing everything solo, or juggling business alongside chronic illness, neurodivergence, or caregiving.
If you’ve ever stared at your phone thinking, “I should post something,” and then taken a nap instead... same same. You’re not lazy. You’re likely burned out, overstimulated, and under-supported.
That’s where a 5-minute visibility system comes in.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through a marketing approach designed specifically for low-energy days. It’s flexible, gentle, and sustainable, because marketing with no time or energy isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing differently.
Why traditional marketing advice doesn’t work for everyone
Let’s be honest, most marketing tips assume you have endless energy, time, and executive function. Things like:
Batch 30 days of content in one sitting
Be consistent on 3–5 platforms
Create long-form blogs, videos, AND newsletters weekly
That’s great… if you have a full team or full spoons. But if you’re working around a chronic illness flare, school drop-offs, or ADHD-induced executive dysfunction, that kind of advice quickly becomes overwhelming.
Low energy marketing requires a totally different approach, one that’s built for real-life business owners who want to stay visible without burning out.
What is a 5-minute visibility system?
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a way to stay visible and engaged online in just five minutes a day.
This doesn’t mean you only work five minutes a day, it means that even on your worst day, you have a plan that keeps your marketing ticking over.
This approach is especially helpful for:
Spoonie business owners
Neurodivergent entrepreneurs
Anyone in a season of low capacity
Solo business owners who don’t have help
The core components of a 5-minute visibility system
Here’s what a realistic daily visibility plan can look like, even when you’re operating on fumes.
1. One-minute check-in or story
Hop on Instagram Stories or LinkedIn for 60 seconds. Share:
A behind-the-scenes update
What you’re working on today
A reminder about an offer
The key is casual over polished. This isn’t about production value, it’s about presence.
2. A recycled or pre-written post
Have a folder of “evergreen” posts you can rotate. Think:
Testimonials
Personal insight posts
Quick tips
Bonus points if they’re already formatted for multiple platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, etc).
3. One soft sales CTA
Even if it’s just: “DM me if this resonates,” or “PS: I have a few spaces left this month.”
You don’t have to feel salesy to be visible.
4. One micro engagement task
Pick one:
Comment on 3 posts from ideal clients
Reply to 1 story
Answer a question box
This keeps your profile active in the algorithm and builds relationships in small, gentle steps.
How I use this system in my business
I built this system because I needed it. My capacity fluctuates thanks to chronic health issues and ADHD. I’ve gone from full-content-calendar energy to “if I look at Canva, I will cry” energy in under 24 hours.
So I keep a bank of:
B-roll clips and voiceover ideas
Instagram story templates
Evergreen captions I can reuse
And I use systems like:
Metricool for scheduling
My Notes app for storing posts
A Google Sheet with “low energy” ideas
Some weeks I’m all-in. Other weeks, I rely on this system, and the idea is that no one notices the difference but me.
Adapting the 5-minute system to your life
Not every day is a 5-minute day. But building a system that can run in five minutes means:
You stay visible even on tough days
You reduce the shame spiral of inconsistency
You make space to show up when you’re at your best
Here’s how to make this system work for you:
1. Start small and stack
Don’t overhaul your entire marketing plan overnight. Try just:
One story a day
One post reused from last month
One comment or reply
Once that feels easy, build from there.
2. Create a “low energy” content library
Save your:
Top-performing posts
Testimonials
Voice notes that could become posts
This gives you something to pull from when you have no energy to create from scratch.
3. Honour your energy cycles
Do more when you have more. Prep a few posts when you’re in a flow. That way, you’ve got backups for the weeks when you’re not.
Visibility doesn’t have to mean exhaustion
You don’t need to be everywhere all the time. You don’t need to post every day. You don’t need to follow a strategy that wasn’t built for your life.
You just need a system that works with your energy, not against it.
My 5-minute visibility system isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about sustainability.
Because your business needs your presence, not your perfection.
Want help applying this to your own business, without the pressure to do more than you can?
Come to Office Hours. It’s my monthly mentoring space for small business owners who want practical, energy-aware support tailored to your life. We focus on sustainable visibility, realistic strategy, and business that works for you, not the algorithm.
Here’s to being seen, on your terms.
