Overwhelmed? Use My One-Page 'PLATE' Template for Writing Newsletters

A simple daily sheet that turns big goals into steady wins.

Image created with Substack

Hey friends—welcome back to Revitalize Your Productivity Mojo.

Sunday nights used to be my cliff. I’d open my laptop, skim a to-do list that read like a grocery receipt, and tell myself, Tomorrow I’ll fix everything. By Tuesday, I was knee-deep in “urgent” emails, rearranging tasks, and promising Thursday-me would be a hero. Thursday, I never showed.

The problem wasn’t laziness. It was overwhelm. I was staring at the whole feast and forgetting to take a single bite.

Then I started using something so small it felt silly: The One-Plate Rule. One meaningful bite per day. Not five. Not “crush everything.” One plate, finished clean.

It changed how I work—and more importantly, how I end my day. A few months ago, I had three competing beasts:

• A long overdue video script

• A board meeting deck for a client who doesn’t like fluff

• A health plan my knees would tolerate

My old approach? Try to juggle all three, dabble in each, finish none.

New approach: One-Plate Rule.

• Monday’s plate: draft only the opening 200 words of the video. Not the whole script—just a first paragraph that didn’t make me roll my eyes.

• Tuesday’s plate: sketch five ugly slides for the deck. No polish

• Wednesday’s plate: one knee-friendly workout I could repeat (15 minutes, at home, zero bravado).

By Friday, the script had momentum, the deck had bones, and the workout felt doable. I didn’t win a championship. I just stopped lying to myself about what progress looks like.

Why the One-Plate Rule works

• Clarity beats intensity. When you choose one outcome, the day takes on a distinct shape.

• Momentum is a mood. Finishing something small changes how you feel about the next thing.

• Your brain loves closure. “Done” is a reward. Stack enough and your week feels different.

Three fresh examples of why the ‘plate’ technique works?

1) The “30-Minute Book”
A friend wanted to start a book but kept tinkering with the perfect outline. We made a deal: 30 minutes a day, one scene card. In two weeks, she had 14 cards and a voice she trusted.

2) The “Podcast in Pieces”
Another creator I know never shipped episodes because editing felt endless. He changed the plate: Day 1—intro and outro only. Day 2—choose three clips. Day 3—publish, even if the middle was rough. Listeners didn’t care about the roughness; they cared that the episodes came out.

3) The “Quiet Declutter”
A neighbor cleared a chaotic garage with a five-item rule: five things a day—trash, donate, or keep. Six weeks later, he parked a car in there for the first time in years.

How to try it tomorrow morning:

1. Name one outcome that would make the day honest.

   • Example: “Record the first 90 seconds,” “Clean the top shelf,” “Send the pitch email.”

2. Make the first step tiny and visible.

   • Open the script and write two sentences.

   • Put a donation box by the door.

   • Paste the email subject line into your draft.

3. Protect 25 minutes like a dentist appointment. Door closed. Phone away. Timer on.

4. Stop when you said you would. Log the win. If you have energy left, great—take a bonus bite. But the day is already a success.

Mantra: One plate a day keeps heroic fantasies—and burnout—away.

Checkout this Note-Taking Framework I created for every Substack Writer (steal it today)

The Note-Taking Framework Every Substack Writer Should Steal

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Want the deeper system, templates, and use cases?

Below is the paid section with my complete framework, printable planner, and five step-by-step scenarios (writing, health, decluttering, client work, and learning).

This is the structure I use with clients and in my work. It turns a scary project into daily, finishable tasks.

What’s inside the Paid Section:

1. The PLATE Framework (1-page explainer)

2. The Daily PLATE Planner, you can copy and paste

3. Explanation of the PLATE Planner template

4. A filled example using the template (easy to understand)

5. PRO tips to get more from this template

6. Five Guided Use Cases