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

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 a heartfelt milestone, the host reassures listeners that mastering time management is achievable, even amidst life's complexities. A balanced blend of digital and paper planning is discussed, catering to diverse tech skills. Real success stories highlight how commitment to the process can transform organization and task management. The speaker shares personal anecdotes, debunking the myth of perfection while emphasizing that everyone can learn these essential skills. It's an empowering message for women feeling overwhelmed but ready to take control.

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.

In this engaging discussion, life coach Michelle Gauthier, host of the Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast, tackles the pervasive issue of people pleasing among high-achieving women. They explore how this tendency can sabotage personal time and goals, and share insights on recognizing subtle cues of people pleasing. Michelle introduces her "Love & Fit" test to help assess requests, offers specific phrases to say no confidently, and suggests gamifying the process of reclaiming time. This episode is packed with practical strategies for setting boundaries and embracing a more intentional life.

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Adulting comes with its share of heavy responsibilities. The discussion reveals the importance of updating wills and trusts, especially after moving. Personal experiences shed light on tackling these daunting tasks amidst everyday chaos. Listeners gain practical tips for managing estate planning effectively. The conversation also highlights how these preparations can offer peace of mind and lessen burdens on loved ones. It's all about making adulting a bit lighter!

Discover practical time management strategies specifically designed for new parents navigating the newborn phase. Explore the unique challenges of parenting different children and the importance of tailoring approaches to each child's needs. Learn how technology and support networks can ease the complexities of this life transition. The discussion also emphasizes self-care and mental health awareness, providing actionable tips on outsourcing tasks and improving daily routines for better efficiency.

Emily Dion Hill, a Principal and portfolio manager at an Atlanta investment firm, discusses the intricate relationship women have with money. She emphasizes the emotional challenges faced in financial management and the need for supportive dialogues in the industry. The conversation dives into unique strategies for financial wellness, highlighting the confidence gap and the importance of regular financial check-ins. Additionally, Emily introduces tools like Copilot for better household budgeting, and shares insights on cultivating consistent financial habits to empower women.