Dig into actionable, realistic time management strategies designed for the professional working woman that mold to you.

Anyone else get kind of anxious when new year’s resolutions talk crops up? Probably because I learned at an early age that they don’t really stick, I feel a twinge of defeat whenever they’re discussed. Am I alone here??⠀

Recently, I had a great conversation with one of my favorite people. On our walk to get coffee, we talked about the difficulty of saying “no” or “later” to a new project.

We both like to say something like, “given everything on my plate right now, I can turn to this on X date” — and either hope they’re good with the later date or, in some cases, turn to someone else.

But here’s the problem: Due to people-pleasing guilt, we often throw out a date that will only work if we work nights/weekends on our current projects to make ourselves available. Time we’re sacrificing from our people we want to spend time with.

Whether you’re an attorney managing a partner or client’s expectations or an entrepreneur managing those of a client or collaborator, you know what I’m talking about.

Planning doesn’t always work out. Obviously, sometimes life throws you curveballs. And sometimes plans don’t work in more subtle ways.

In my lawyer days, I used to workout first thing in the AM. So after my daughter started sleeping through the night, I recovered from months of sleep deprivation, and I got my early mornings back, I scheduled working out for that first-thing-in-the-AM slot. After all, that’s what had worked for me for years.

But, while I had no problem getting up at 5am, I found myself consistently ignoring that “Quick Workout” calendar alert. Me! The person who harps on and on about your calendar.

Instead, I wanted to work — to research issues for clients, to work on my online course I’m releasing next year, etc.

When you find yourself consistently ignoring a planned activity, it’s not a sign planning doesn’t work or that something is wrong with you. It’s just a little nudge that the activity is either not scheduled at the right time or may not be the right activity for you in the first place.

My new time management advice: pretend you have a toddler. You know what makes you think twice about saying “yes” to any invitation or new opportunity? Having to spend time finding childcare to cover you for the event, pay $15-18/hour for that coverage, and not only pay for the hours you’ll be at the event, […]

Lately, I been catching myself asking how I’m “supposed” to do this entrepreneurial thing or how I’m “supposed” to be a great mom to H. I’m also often asked by clients how they’re “supposed” to manage their time. When it’s other people asking that question, it’s a lot easier for me to see that it’s […]

“That won’t work for me.” It’s an easy and convenient way to dismiss a new concept you hear about. I’m so guilty of this — “My life is totally different from hers; that won’t work for me. Dismissed. (Nevermind that what I’m currently doing ALSO isn’t working for me.)” Marie Forleo’s book challenged me on […]

I had a client recently who announced in this “can you believe what a mess I am?” tone, “I don’t think I’ve ever finished a to-do list.” As though this was some deep character flaw. Most to-do lists are dozens of items long. Some of those items take hours or days to complete. And life […]

Days before my wedding, my mom gave me the best advice I’ve ever received. Leading up to the wedding, I was pretty stressed out. Work had been crazy for months. My rehearsal venue canceled on me the Monday of the wedding week (btw only after I called them to confirm the menu … good times). […]

What 2-hour period of the day do you get your best work done? For me, it’s 5-7am. Pre-kids, I used to get that window all the time. Pregnancy and then a kiddo under 1.5 years old made me have to adapt because … there was no way. For a while, that “works best” window was […]