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

35. How to work with your energy when it comes to time management

21 snips

Jan 1, 2024

Learn how to work with your energy patterns for effective time management. Discover strategies for managing energy levels and matching tasks, and understand the importance of aligning tasks with suitable energy levels. Embrace reality and work with your energy using the Bright Method program.

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ADVICE

Protect Your Daily High-Energy Slot

Note your daily high-energy window (e.g., 5–11am or 9–1pm) and protect it for focused work.
Adjust this plan to situational constraints like kids, meetings, or time zones.

ANECDOTE

From Early Mornings To Kid-Time Reality

Kelly used to get deep work done from 5am to 11am when single and child-free.
With two young kids she now prioritizes sleep and accepts later work start times around 8:30am.

ADVICE

Plan For Weekly And Seasonal Swings

Track how your energy shifts across the week and season and schedule accordingly.
Reevaluate when life phases change so your plan stays realistic.

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Ever hit a wall of exhaustion and then beat yourself up for not being productive? In this episode of the Bright Method podcast, I dig into how to work with your natural energy levels—rather than fight them—so you can approach time management in a more realistic and sustainable way.

We'll cover:

How to identify your baseline energy patterns—daily, weekly, and even seasonally
The key mindset shift of "matchmaking" your high- and low-energy tasks to the right time of day or week
How to plan for energy "disruptors" like big meetings, medical appointments, or even fun events that still leave you drained
Practical ideas for what to do during low-energy windows (especially if you can't just take the afternoon off)
Why observing your energy—without judgment—is a powerful first step, especially if you're not sure where to start

Plus, I share how this concept has played out in my own life and what it looks like inside the Bright Method system, where we use digital calendars not just to manage time, but to help tailor your plans to you—your focus, your energy, your real life.

If you want to bring more intention and ease to your life, this episode will help you do just that—without needing to overhaul your entire lifestyle or become a morning person.

Referenced episodes:

Ep. 9: Strategies to get more ease in your life
Ep. 17: Why white space is actually NOT helping you get more breathing space
Ep. 19: Know a hard work seasons is coming up? Let's make Future You's life easier (including building in recovery 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 then select the episode.

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.