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

2. Underestimating how long things take you & what to do about it


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Struggling to stick to your calendar because everything takes longer than you thought it would? You're not alone—and there's nothing wrong with you.

In this episode of The Bright Method Podcast, Kelly Nolan, time management strategist and former patent litigator, breaks down one of the most common challenges professional women face when time blocking: underestimating how long things take.

You'll learn:

  • Why underestimating is totally normal (and not a personal flaw)

  • How to be realistic—not aspirational—when estimating time

  • What to do when you're new to time blocking and still figuring it out

  • A simple strategy to break down projects into bite-sized steps for more accurate planning

  • Why doubling or tripling your time estimate is often the smartest move

Whether you're a busy working mom, corporate professional, lawyer, physician, or entrepreneur, these practical strategies will help you create a calendar you can actually stick to—without the stress, shame, or decision fatigue.

Plus, Kelly shares how the Bright Method helps you: ✔️ Embrace flexibility while still sticking to a plan ✔️ Adjust and experiment without self-judgment ✔️ Plan your time with confidence—even when the task is new or unfamiliar

🎧 Tune in to learn how to stop feeling defeated by your calendar and start using it as a tool to design a life that actually works for you.

And if this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend! It's how more women can discover a calmer, more realistic way to manage their time.

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 select the episode.

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Links you might enjoy:

  • 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management ProgramGet 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.

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The Bright Method Podcast: Realistic Time Management and Productivity for Working Women & Working MomsBy Kelly Nolan

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