You don’t need a studio to look polished on Instagram—you need a system. In one focused hour, Canva can take you from a blank grid to a week of on‑brand posts that people actually save. The secret is deciding once: two formats, two colors, two templates. Then you write captions first so the design serves the message. This guide walks minute‑by‑minute through planning five ideas, building a carousel that hooks, and exporting files that are ready to schedule. You’ll also get a simple rhythm for mixing carousels, singles, and stories so your feed stays consistent without feeling repetitive. Less tinkering, more posting—and better results.

Minute 0–10: Pick your system
Two formats (carousel + single), two brand colors, two templates. Consistency beats novelty.

Minute 10–25: Draft the week
Five ideas: quick tip, myth vs fact, mini‑tutorial, behind‑the‑scenes, audience question. Write 80–120‑word captions first.

Minute 25–40: Build carousels
5–7 slides: Hook → Problem → Steps → Result → CTA. Keep text under 25 words/slide. One strong image or icon per slide.

Minute 40–50: Create singles
Make a quote and a before/after. Reuse colors, fonts, icons.

Minute 50–60: Export + schedule
Export 1080×1350; rename files by date; schedule in‑app.

Tips
Lock fonts/colors in Brand Kit; write concise alt text; A/B test hooks.