The Bright Method Podcast: Realistic Time Management and Productivity for Working Women & Working Moms
Kelly Nolan
Ready for a time management approach that is actually designed for professional working women – ones that help you lighten the mental load, draw boundaries with more confidence, focus on the important (not just urgent) stuff at work, and be present with friends and family?
Podcast host, Kelly Nolan, an attorney-turned-time management strategist, mom of two, and creator of the Bright Method™, delivers practical, realistic time management strategies tailored for busy professional women, working moms, and ambitious women juggling careers and home life.
We cover topics like:
How to time-block in a way that actually works and avoid common time-blocking mistakes,
How to manage the mental load around all of our roles at work and at home,
How to handle work deadlines with less stress and scramble,
How to keep distractions in check, from social media to people swinging by your office, and
How to plan in a realistic way so you can feel on top of it all and avoid overcommitment.
Whether you're a lawyer, physician, executive, woman in corporate, professor, entrepreneur, or any woman navigating a full plate, this podcast gives you tools to design a sustainable system that works for your real life—not a Pinterest-perfect version of it.
Follow now, and let's get you falling asleep proud of what you got done today and calm about what's on tap tomorrow.
Podcast host, Kelly Nolan, an attorney-turned-time management strategist, mom of two, and creator of the Bright Method™, delivers practical, realistic time management strategies tailored for busy professional women, working moms, and ambitious women juggling careers and home life.
We cover topics like:
How to time-block in a way that actually works and avoid common time-blocking mistakes,
How to manage the mental load around all of our roles at work and at home,
How to handle work deadlines with less stress and scramble,
How to keep distractions in check, from social media to people swinging by your office, and
How to plan in a realistic way so you can feel on top of it all and avoid overcommitment.
Whether you're a lawyer, physician, executive, woman in corporate, professor, entrepreneur, or any woman navigating a full plate, this podcast gives you tools to design a sustainable system that works for your real life—not a Pinterest-perfect version of it.
Follow now, and let's get you falling asleep proud of what you got done today and calm about what's on tap tomorrow.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 22, 2025 • 16min
126. How to Practically Build Peace With The Effort Required For or Given To A Result
Discover how to find harmony between effort and results with insights from Oonagh Duncan. Learn to own your life's chapter and align your priorities. Delve into the realities of pursuing ambitious career goals while managing impacts on personal life. Kelly shares practical planning tips to minimize stress during intense work years. Explore the importance of realistic timelines and accept that less effort may yield fewer promotions. This discussion sheds light on preventing overwhelm through clarity and effective time management.
Dec 15, 2025 • 26min
125. Answering 3 Questions: Isn't calendaring like this overwhelming?
Is personal calendaring overwhelming? Dive into common concerns about time-blocking and alerts as tools for managing life. Discover how invisible mental loads can complicate scheduling and learn that calendars should be flexible, not rigid. Kelly emphasizes the benefits of placing personal tasks on the calendar to gain clarity and manage expectations. She suggests adjusting reminders if they become too daunting and shares practical tips for handling unexpected changes. Planning can transform your life into a manageable project.
6 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 12min
124. How to get more strategic, creative ideas
In a surprising twist, school presentations inspire a deep dive into time management. Research reveals homework in early grades has limited benefits. The discussion shifts to how timed tests can stifle creativity and memory. Listeners are encouraged to understand their brain's response to pressure, challenging the myth that last-minute stress enhances performance. Simplifying tasks by scheduling everything helps reduce cognitive load, fostering space for creative, strategic thinking. Balance is key to thriving at work and at home.
5 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 18min
123. A Lightbulb Moment: Empowerment Without A System Leads to Overcommitment (idea from Eleanor Beaton)
A fascinating discussion highlights the shift from mindset coaching to building operational systems for women entrepreneurs. It emphasizes that empowerment without structured systems can lead to overcommitment and exhaustion. The importance of recognizing personal tipping points in life is addressed, showcasing the need for effective time management frameworks. Practical advice is shared, focusing on how concrete systems can provide clarity and control over time, enabling sustainable growth and better decision-making in both personal and professional realms.
Nov 24, 2025 • 11min
122. Your Capacity & Your Capability Are Different Things (Talking About Suzy Reading's Amazing Quote)
Explore the powerful distinction between capability and capacity. Discover why recognizing your limits can lead to smarter decision-making. Learn how aligning your workload with your actual capacity enhances enjoyment and execution of goals. Kelly shares her journey through law school and how using visual calendars transformed her approach to time management. By embracing your limitations, you can amplify your strengths and make better choices in both personal and professional life.
7 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 18min
121. Slow-Rolling Tasks & Shiny Object Syndrome Bosses (or Selves)
Feeling guilty about unfinished tasks? Discover how slow-rolling can actually work in your favor. Learn to reassess stale tasks before diving in and find out why some never need to be completed. If you've got a shiny-object boss or inclination, pausing before acting can reduce overwhelm. Explore Kelly's strategies for managing new ideas and reclaiming focus, including the importance of scheduled reflection periods. Slow-rolling not only saves time but also protects your wellbeing and enhances decision-making!
8 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 15min
120. Time Zones: My Achilles' Heel
Time zones can feel like a small detail, but they can lead to scheduling chaos! Discover smart strategies for clarifying time zones when booking meetings. Learn how to calendar flights and label events carefully to avoid confusion. Plus, get insights on handling unique cases like Arizona's daylight savings quirks. Don't let time zone challenges disrupt your productivity; trust your calendar and stay organized!
Nov 3, 2025 • 21min
119. Theme Days: Why I don't do them, but it's a personal call!
I get asked a few times a year whether I theme my workdays – e.g., Marketing Mondays, Admin Tuesdays, Finances on Wednesdays. While I'm sure this works for some (and keep on keeping on if it works for you!), I'll explain why it hasn't worked for me – and what I do instead. 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.
Oct 27, 2025 • 25min
118. Why I don't let AI make my time management decisions
Discover why relying on AI for time management might not be the best choice. Kelly shares an unsettling story about executives asking AI for strategic decisions. She emphasizes that time allocation is key to achieving personal and professional goals. The discussion touches on the limits of AI tools, which often miss the nuances of life seasons and human relationships. Ultimately, Kelly urges listeners to own their time-management choices, highlighting practical uses for AI without compromising their decision-making.
Oct 20, 2025 • 27min
117. For my All-or-Nothing Thinkers (🙋🏻♀️)
This discussion dives into the pitfalls of all-or-nothing thinking, especially as responsibilities grow. The host shares a personal journey about returning to fitness with a realistic once-a-week plan. Listener reactions reveal common doubts about smaller commitments. There's a focus on how consistent, albeit smaller efforts, can lead to meaningful progress. The podcast encourages experimenting with manageable goals and highlights the importance of sustainability over perfection.
