21. When to say "no" when you want to say "yes"
We often think overcommitment stems from saying yes to things we don’t want to do—but what about the things we do? In this episode of The Bright Method Podcast, I explore a different kind of overwhelm: the kind that comes from saying yes to exciting, meaningful, energizing opportunities... that still tip us into burnout when they collide with everything else already on our plates.
If you're someone who’s energized by life and wants to say yes to everything that lights you up, or if you’ve ever found yourself drained and wondering, “Why does this all feel like too much, even though I love these things?”—this episode is for you.
We’ll talk about:
Why saying no to great things can be the smart move (because saying yes when it would overcommit you would prevent you from enjoying it – and probably other things, too)
How to evaluate personal and professional opportunities in the context of your full life
How to define the pace you want your life to feel like in this season
Tools to help you time your yeses more strategically
The value of trusting that there will be more chances in the future—and when to table ideas for later
I also walk through the concept of life chapters, how to practically plan for them, and why using a digital calendar or long-term planning spreadsheet can help you feel more grounded in what to say yes to—and when.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a new lens to evaluate the things you’re excited about—so you can pursue them with more intention and fewer regrets.
If you're ready for time management strategies that take your full life into account—including your goals, energy, values, and capacity—you’ll love this one.
Resources mentioned:
Article about the long-term planning tool, the "Years are Short" spreadsheet (idea belongs to Kelsey Wharton).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.
The Bright Method Podcast: Realistic Time Management and Productivity for Working Women & Working Moms
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.
- No. of episodes: 108
- Latest episode: 2025-07-28
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