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

You've probably heard me say (98493 times) that everything comes back to time. This explains why it's smart to streamline tasks (which all require time) in your calendar. It also plays another role: anything that bugs you in your life can also be alleviated and/or have clarity and progress brought to it through using our calendar. Let's discuss a lot of practical examples! A full transcript of thi...

Someone asked me if I could address what to do when you're anxious about the next calendared event, which prevents you from focusing on the current thing you're trying to work on. Let's discuss – both in terms of if certain things cause that feeling to set it and if it's everything you calendar. Also, if you have time and are willing, I'd so appreciate if you'd rate and review this podcast. Thank...

If you have a partner, getting them onboard with a time management approach can be tricky. Let's dig into some tips on how to do it. Here's the article referenced in the episode, How to Get Your Partner's Help at Home: Help Them See the Ocean. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the epis...

It irks me when I hear people say, "Just schedule time for self-care." Many people I work with might find the time for a break, but struggle to enjoy it because they feel anxious they should be doing something "productive" with that time. Let's talk about that – and what to do about it. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To...

Too often, we women struggle to say no at work to keep our workload reasonable and maintain boundaries because we want to be a "good employee," which many of us subconsciously believe means we need to be the "perfect employee." As a result, we say yes to things we don't want to do, answer emails at night, are always on Teams/Slack, etc. Let's talk about how to handle these thoughts so that we can...

If you're like me, making a mistake can wash you in shame and derail you for a period of time. Let's talk about some guiding principles that have helped me, including advice I've received from others and ways I've used the Bright Method to help me get out of that mistake shame spiral. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To fi...

Without any scientific data to back me up, I believe kids push parents into traditional gender norms (at least in same-sex couples) because of legitimate (though frustrating) biological reasons during that first year with a baby. Because of that, kid (and home) labor gets unevenly distributed to women, and this pattern of the labor division gets established. And then, because of the new crazy pace...

Hi there! Hopefully this is the last episode with bad sound quality. (Reminder: I'm in a rental and had to switch up my sound set-up in the move – and apparently did not do well). I tried to fix it once I realized it (we'll see how I did next episode), but I'd already recorded this one. Today, we'll talk three sets of summer tips: First, around workload in the summer and intentional slowing down w...

Just a heads up that the sound quality is worse. We're in a rental now, and I need to figure out the recording quality again. Thanks for sticking with me through it! Turning to the substance, we all know the election is this year. Before it consumes us whole, let's talk about some practical things we can put in place to help us protect our peace of mind and sanity through it – while also being as...

Many of us (myself included) have deep loyalty to many in our lives, and sometimes, it causes us to make decisions about work that are different than what we want or tolerate situations at work much longer than makes us happy. My dad gave me incredibly useful advice on this front when I was 25 that's stuck with me since then. Let's talk about it – with the aim of helping us reign in that overactiv...

American culture is fixated on DOING – and those of us in it struggle to stop the doing to plan and prioritize. This quote caught my attention on that front: "You waste years by not being able to waste hours." The quote is by Amos Tversky and doesn't relate to planning, but it made me think that we do risk wasting weeks, months, and years by not planning and prioritizing where we want to go. Busyn...

For people with ever-different schedules, from ER physicians and nurses to pilots, this episode is for you! A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode. -- To take my free 5-day program, the Reset and Refresh, click here: https://kellynolan.com/reset-refresh . Mentioned in this episo...

Someone asked me on Instagram to address commutes from a time management perspective. So, let's dig into some strategies for traditional commutes & non-commutes for the days you WFH. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode.

Listen to at least the first five minutes before you decide whether or not this episode is for you. And I'd love to hear your feedback. Resources mentioned: Episode 29 of the Bright Method podcast regarding Outsourcing, including our complicated emotions around the topic Here's where to find more about Kelly Hubbell of Sage Haus: Website - https://www.mysagehaus.com/ Instagram - https://www.instag...

I recently had this breakthrough that's been very empowering and practically helpful, so I figured I'd share it here with you. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode. -- To take my free 5-day program, the Reset and Refresh, click here: https://kellynolan.com/reset-refresh . I al...

I personally find it fascinating to hear what people are saying "no" to and why. In addition, hearing examples helps normalize saying no and sparks ideas for what others might say no to – all of which helps us manage our workload and life so that we have energy and time for the things we decide are most important to us. So, here's an example from my own life: How and why I decided to say no to spe...

I keep seeing a theme in my time management work I want to talk about – the Vacuum Effect. Let's dig into it. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode. -- To take my free 5-day program, the Reset and Refresh, click here: https://kellynolan.com/reset-refresh . To learn more about a...

If you're ready for a digital spring clean (think: email, calendar, phone), jump into my free 5-day digital spring clean email series here ! Over the course of five days (starting when you sign up!), you'll get one digital spring clean tip emailed to you that you can act on right away to get more fresh air in your digital life! In this episode, we dig into three of my physical work environment tip...

Email can be a huge time management pain point for some of us. Let's go over three strategies we can use to help alleviate that pain. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode. -- I share actionable bite-sized time management strategies on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/_ke...

In my most recent 8-week Bright Method program, during one of the corporate breakout sessions, work travel came up – specifically, how to leverage the Bright Method when you travel for work frequently. It was a great example of how we can use Bright Method strategies in a specific scenario to bring more clarity and peace of mind to our lives, so I figured I'd share here for those in a similar spot...

A woman emailed me asking me about having the self-discipline to do the task you calendared when the time rolls around. Let's discuss! Resources mentioned: Bright Method episode on the year of ease (and energy, in general): Episode no. 9 Episode on procrastination by Kara Lowentheil: Listen on Apple here Listen on Spotify here To take my free 5-day program, the Reset and Refresh, click here: https...

Time management is incredibly personal, and not everyone wants to go all in on a digital calendar(s) like I teach. Because of that, I'm thrilled to have Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger on the podcast to discuss how she manages her life with a paper planner. We also discuss planning privilege and digital detoxing. Enjoy! To learn more about Sarah, her podcasts, courses, and newsletter, visit theshubox.com A f...

Meetings are critical for much of what we do, but they can also quickly become overused and ineffective. Let's talk through five strategies you can use to improve your meetings so they're more useful and everyone has more clarity coming out of them. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select th...

So many of us have struggled with burnout – at work, at home, or because of the tension between the two. Dr. Shanika Esparaz, a double board-certified physician in Ophthalmology and Lifestyle Medicine, has as well and has come out on the other side (while staying in medicine). On this episode, she'll share her burnout and recovery story and strategies that helped her (and now, her clients) manage...

Putting everything in your calendar we do in the Bright Method can be overwhelming. Let's go over reasons why it's worth playing through the discomfort. A full transcript of this episode is available on my website about two weeks after the episode is published. To find it, click here and then select the episode. -- To take my free 5-day program, the Reset and Refresh, click here: https://kellynola...