The Bright Method Podcast: Realistic Time Management and Productivity for Working Women & Working Moms

Click here to get the free back-to-school guide! Note: The Bright Method is not just for moms, and I try to have most episodes of this podcast apply to everyone – regardless of whether they have kids. But sometimes, the time management challenges associated with kids need to be addressed, so this is one of those episodes. If you are kid-free, feel free to skip this one and tune back in for the next! Back-to-school season is coming—whether your kids are starting in early August or later (and feel free to save this one for later if you're not ready to think about it yet). In this episode, I'll walk you through how to make the transition into the school year less stressful, less scramble-y, and more calm. Plus, it'll help you get back to enjoying the rest of your summer knowing you're on top of the upcoming back-to-school season. Whether you’re already feeling the low hum of logistical stress about supply lists, new routines, haircuts, and first-day emotions—or you’re someone who doesn’t think about it and then ends up scrambling later—this episode will help. I walk through: Why calendaring back-to-school tasks now will help you actually enjoy the rest of your summer more Why it’s worth starting with a blank sheet of paper before diving into the guide The benefit of calendaring out emotions around transitions (with a powerful story from a client about how it helped her stay calm during a kindergartner meltdown) What to do if you already feel like you’ve “missed the boat” on something like a haircut (hint: how to make sure it doesn’t happen again next year) A super practical tip from a fellow mom on what to do if a behavior or concern is bothering you now (but may resolve itself soon) How to use your calendar to help you have important conversations with your kids—and remember to actually follow through All of this is a small peek into how the Bright Method works: making the invisible visible, creating clarity through realistic planning, and helping you enjoy the now without dropping the ball later. → Grab the free back-to-school calendar guide I mention in this episode: https://kellynolan.com/back-to-school  → Try the free five-day program (Reset & Refresh): https://kellynolan.com/refresh  → Explore the full Bright Method program or join the waitlist for September enrollment: https://kellynolan.com/the-bright-method-time-management-course-with-kelly-nolan  Links you might enjoy: 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm. 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time. ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.

Discover strategies to reclaim your time amid constant demands, especially for working women in leadership. Learn how to prioritize strategic thinking over reactive tasks and explore the unconventional idea of taking "off" days for focused work. Gain insights from diverse stories that inspire creativity and motivation. Plus, check out a flexible ten-week time management program designed to enhance your productivity while fitting into your busy schedule.

Ever feel overwhelmed after saying yes to a new project or responsibility? Discover how the Diderot Effect, originally linked to consumerism, applies to time management. Each new commitment can lead to a chain reaction of responsibilities, leaving you buried in tasks. Learn how to better estimate the true time cost of your commitments and say yes with clarity. Explore the maker vs. manager distinction and find strategies to ride the curveballs life throws your way, turning chaos into control.

In this episode, I’m talking with Heather Hubbard, a former Big Law partner who now leads transformational retreats to help women hear and reconnect with themselves. Heather works with women who’ve done all the “right” things—built successful careers, checked all the personal boxes—and yet still feel unfulfilled or surprised by how they’re feeling. If that resonates with you, I think you’re going to really enjoy this conversation. Heather shares how a two-week unplugged vacation to Tanzania changed everything for her and why unplugging is so critical to hearing your own voice. We also dig into why many of us don’t realize how disconnected we’ve become from our real wants, how childhood versions of ourselves can serve as clues to the joy we’re missing, and why being bored can actually lead to good things. You’ll also hear us talk about: Why people-pleasing and fear are often what actually hold us back from doing what we want Why saying yes to something always means saying no to something else (and how to be more intentional about it) What comes up for high-achieving women when they finally create quiet and space for clarity—and how powerful that can be We also walk through what Heather’s retreats actually look like—from the luxury setting to the no-phones-allowed policy to the types of transformations people experience (and they’re not always what people expect when they walk in the door). Even if attending a retreat isn’t on your radar right now, Heather shares bite-sized strategies you can start using today to begin reconnecting with yourself, including how to hear yourself again even in the midst of a busy, noisy life. Resources mentioned: Heather’s retreat info and free assessment: https://www.heatherjoyhubbard.com/brightmethod  Heather’s podcast: Hustle & Flow Heather on Instagram: @heatherjoyhubbard Other links you might enjoy: 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm. 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time. ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.

Explore the complexities of 'living up to your potential' and why it can be troubling. The discussion challenges the notion of fulfilling potential, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing personal happiness over societal expectations. Discover how chasing this elusive concept can lead to dissatisfaction and misaligned choices. The speaker shares personal experiences, highlighting the impact of external pressures on decision-making. Ultimately, it’s a call to redefine success based on genuine desires rather than a blurry concept of potential.

Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a triple board-certified sleep physician and founder of Restful Sleep MD, shares her journey from battling insomnia to becoming a sleep advocate. She highlights the critical link between sleep and overall health, revealing how inadequate rest can exacerbate anxiety and depression. Listeners gain practical strategies for enhancing sleep quality, particularly for busy women and those with ADHD. Dr. Afolabi-Brown also discusses unique challenges in high-stress jobs and offers tips to improve sleep in demanding environments.

Allison Schaaf, a registered dietitian and trained chef, shares invaluable insights on tackling the time-consuming challenges of meal planning for busy families. She emphasizes simplifying the process with effective strategies that don’t require constant reinvention. Allison discusses practical ways to involve kids in cooking, making meals more enjoyable. The behind-the-scenes of her meal planning service, Prep Dish, highlights its role in easing the invisible workload of meals while promoting healthier eating habits and family engagement.

In this 100th episode of the Bright Method podcast, I’m sharing something I haven’t said enough: I believe you can do this. Yes, time management is hard. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. In fact, the reason it feels hard is usually because your life got more complicated—and the system you were using just can’t keep up. But even though it's hard, you CAN do this. Today, let's talk about: Why I don’t believe time management is a quick fix  The kind of women I’ve worked with across 350+ Bright Method clients—and why that matters for you The only profession I’ve seen where Bright Method is a tricky fit (and what that tells us about calendar control) What’s often really going on when people say, “I don’t have control over my calendar” Why I believe women with ADHD and women who love paper can absolutely use the Bright Method How we mold the system to fit you—not the other way around Why being smart—and you are—means you can learn this skill, even if it feels overwhelming at first What one big law associate shared about implementing the Bright Method… 3 years after taking the program Plus, I share a behind-the-scenes look at my own experience: I’m not some mythical Pinterest-perfect person. I lose my keys. I leave food sitting on my desk. I had to learn this stuff just like everyone else—and I still use it every single day because it works. If you’ve ever thought, “This sounds good, but I'm not sure I could do it,” I hope this episode gives you a different perspective. If you want to try out the Bright Method for free, check out my 5-day video series at kellynolan.com/refresh. And truly: thanks for being here for 100 episodes. I’m so glad you’re here. Links you might enjoy: 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm. 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time. ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.

Today, we’re talking about career transitions and job searches—and I’m excited to bring on a guest to help us with it: career coach Julia Lynch. Inside the Bright Method, women gain clarity around where their time is going. And once some see it all laid out in front of them, they realize that it’s not just a "them" issue, it’s that their industry or employer just isn't the right fit for the life they want. That clarity often kicks off the desire to make a job move. To help with that process, I brought on Julia Lynch. Julia is a personal brand strategist and career coach who helps high-powered women make bold career moves by networking smartly and packaging their experience in a way that opens new doors. She's also the woman behind the Instagram handle @smarterinasec and Substack Varsity Reader. In this episode, we cover: The first step you need to take before you even start networking. Why it’s your job to create the story about who you are and what you bring to the table—so others can take that story and market you to others. Why you should start networking before you need a job. How some senior-level jobs are shifting into more "fractional" roles—and what that means. What a career coach like Julia really does and how to think about whether working with one makes sense for you. What to ask if you’re thinking about hiring a career coach. We also talk about the reality that if you've been heads-down in one industry for a decade or more, it’s hard to know what else is out there—and how working with someone who knows the landscape can help you move faster and smarter. Whether you’re already thinking about a move or just want to be ready in case you want to make one down the road, I think you’ll find this conversation helpful. Julia's website is linked here, and you can set up a free discovery call with her here.  You can also find Julia on Instagram at @smarterinasec and on her Substack, Varsity Reader—she’s a great follow for both smart career advice and fun recs. Thanks for being here—and here’s to making career moves that better align with the life you want. Additional links you might enjoy: 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm. 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time. ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.

In this episode of the Bright Method Podcast, I dig into something I wish I’d fully appreciated earlier in my career: your boss likely has no idea what’s actually on your plate. That’s true whether you work for multiple people or just one—and it matters when it comes to managing your workload in a realistic and less overwhelming way. We’ll cover: Why you shouldn’t assume the work being assigned to you is reasonable or doable What it looks like to truly take ownership of your workload—and why it’s empowering Why understanding your own capacity is the first step in managing your workload Why this empowers you to propose solutions you want and protect the kind of work you enjoy What to do when your boss won’t adjust your workload—and how that clarity can still serve you Why boundaries “work” even when they don’t go the way you want them to I also talk through how a visual, calendar-based system helped me go from feeling constantly underwater to confidently managing what I could take on—and even turning down work in a clear, strategic way. Plus, I share a client story about how this clarity led to a more reasonable workload and enjoyable work that made a bigger impact. If you’d like a free way to get started with this system, check out my 5-day Reset & Refresh series at kellynolan.com/refresh. You can also DM me the word “refresh” on Instagram to get the link. Links you might enjoy: 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm. 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time. ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.