How "A Days" and "B Days" Can Save Your Summer

You're doing everything "right" with your calendar. You've left white space, you're not booking every minute from sunup to sundown, and you're following all the expert advice about avoiding overcommitment. So why do you still feel like you never have any time for yourself?If this sounds painfully familiar, you're not alone. The truth is, most women are unknowingly lumping four completely different types of time into their "white space," and it's sabotaging any chance of actually having guilt-free downtime. Today, I'm breaking down exactly what's happening and how to fix it so your white space can finally work the way it's supposed to.In This Episode, I'll Cover:The 4 hidden time categories secretly living in your white spaceWhy buffer time isn't actually free time (and how to plan for it properly)How to protect your personal time from being hijacked by productivity modeThe "uncertainty budget" concept that prevents last-minute chaosSimple planning strategies that create real, guilt-free downtime________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

If you’ve ever said yes to something you didn’t want to do just to avoid disappointing someone, this episode is for you.I’m joined by Michelle Gauthier, a life coach and host of the Overwhelmed Working Woman podcast, for a real conversation about people pleasing. We talk about why it’s so hard to say no, how it shows up in ways you might not even notice, and what to do when you’re tired of stretching yourself too thin.Michelle shares her Love and Fit Test, a simple two-question tool you can use anytime to check in with yourself before committing to something. If you’re ready to protect your time and energy without the guilt, this is the mindset shift you’ve been looking for.In This Episode, We Talk About:What people pleasing really looks likeThe two-question Love and Fit Test you can use right awayHow to say no without overexplainingWhy shorter responses are often more respectfulWhat starts to change when you make choices that actually fit your lifeConnect with Michelle Gauthier:Website: www.michellegauthier.comInstagram: @michellegauthiercoachingOverwhelmed Working Woman Podcast: www.michellegauthier.com/podcast ________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

Ever scroll through social media and feel like you're already behind before 8 AM because some successful "guru" claims they've already crushed half a day's work? Well, I'm about to pull back the curtain on one of these claims. There's a specific productivity claim making the rounds from speaker Ed Mylett that he swears by: fitting three full days into one 24-hour period.Sounds too good to be true? That's because it is. Today I'm breaking down why this approach (and others like it) might actually be working against you, and what you should focus on instead.In This Episode, I'll Cover:Why Ed Mylett's "three days in one" approach isn't realistic for most womenThe real math behind popular "time manipulation" claimsWhy certain productivity hacks ignore how women's bodies actually workWhat to do when you feel behind because of social media productivity pressureA better approach to managing your time and energy________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

If you feel like you can’t get through a single task without being interrupted, you are not imagining it. Whether it is your phone lighting up, your kids asking for something the moment you sit down, or your brain suddenly reminding you of a dozen random things, interruptions are everywhere.In this episode, I am breaking down the two biggest types of interruptions that derail your day. One comes from the outside, the other from inside your own head. I will walk you through how to identify both and share practical, easy-to-use strategies to help you finally create space for focused work time.In This Episode, I’ll Cover:The difference between external and internal interruptionsWhy women are interrupted more often, both at home and at workA simple visual cue that helps reduce interruptions instantlyA two-minute brain-clearing technique that helps quiet mental clutterMentioned In The Episode:The One Note Challenge: www.megansumrell.com/notebook________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

If you’re a mom who’s ever found yourself wondering, “Why am I doing all the things and still feeling stuck?”, this episode is for you.I’m joined by Dr. Anne Welsh, a therapist and executive coach who works with working mothers navigating the identity shift that happens when your ambition meets the reality of motherhood. We’re digging into something she calls the ambition paradox—that feeling when you’re chasing all the right goals but still don’t feel fulfilled.This conversation is packed with validation, practical insight, and one of the best analogies I’ve ever heard for how to clean out all the “shoulds” and expectations we carry as women and moms.In This Episode, We Talk About:What the ambition paradox is and why so many mothers fall into itThe invisible identity shift that happens when you become a momWhy chasing “success” can sometimes pull you further from what mattersHow to figure out what’s truly yours and what’s been put on youWhat can shift when you start living from a place of alignment, not fearConnect with Dr. Anne Welsh:Website: drannewelsh.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/drannewelshLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drannewelsh ________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

If summer has ever left you feeling torn between being the “fun mom” and the “productive mom,” you are not alone. That internal tug-of-war between enjoying the moment and keeping your life on track can quickly turn summer into a season of guilt, stress, and burnout.In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite seasonal strategies, A Days and B Days, to help you enjoy summer and stay on top of what matters most. This simple system gives you a way to be fully present with your family without letting your priorities slip through the cracks.Whether you’re running a business, managing a household, or both, this episode will show you how to approach summer with intention, so you can enjoy it as much as your kids do.In This Episode, I’ll Walk You Through:What A Days, B Days, and even C Days actually areWhy this system helps reduce guilt, stress, and resentmentHow to customize your summer schedule to fit your family and your responsibilitiesHow communication and rhythm make this work (and keep it sustainable all summer)A few examples from my own summer planning that might inspire your own________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

I’ll be the first to tell you, I love AI. I use it almost every day to support my work and personal life. But when it comes to planning your time, it is important to know where AI fits and where it doesn't.After diving deep into several popular AI planning platforms, I am sharing the five major pitfalls I uncovered. These challenges are especially important to understand if you are balancing work, family, caregiving, and the realities of daily life. In this episode, you will hear why AI planning tools can actually create more overwhelm and where AI can truly support your planning in a helpful way.In This Episode, We’ll Cover:Why your digital calendar will never be "smart enough" to run your lifeHow AI planning tools make decisions without understanding what actually mattersThe danger of letting a tool prioritize your time without your inputWhy unpredictability and real-life pivots break AI’s logicThe one way I do recommend using AI to support your planning ________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

When we think about retirement, most of the conversation centers around finances. But what if that’s only part of the story? In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Monique Rhodes to talk about the part of retirement planning no one’s really talking about...the emotional and mental transition.Monique shares why so many women hit retirement age and find themselves feeling lost, disconnected, or even invisible, despite doing everything they were “supposed” to. Together, we unpack the loss of structure, identity, and purpose that can come when careers end and roles shift and how to intentionally plan for what comes next.Whether retirement is around the corner or years away, this conversation is filled with perspective-shifting insight and gentle encouragement to start thinking about the whole picture—your time, your joy, your relationships, and your purpose.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why financial planning isn’t enough to feel fulfilled in retirementThe identity shift that can leave women feeling untetheredThe emotional toll of losing everyday social connectionsHow to start building a meaningful post-retirement life before you get thereConnect with Monique:www.facebook.com/moniquerhodesofficialwww.instagram.com/moniquerhodesofficialFree Training on How to Design a Retirement Rich in Purpose, Connection & Happiness: https://theretirementroadmapacademy.com ________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

Working motherhood is one of the greatest juggling acts there is—and if you’re feeling like one dropped ball could send everything crashing down, you’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Armstrong, seasoned marketing executive, author, and mom, to talk about what it actually looks like to navigate a full-time career while raising kids—and how to do it in a way that’s sustainable, intentional, and aligned with what matters most.Sarah brings not just wisdom from her book, The Art of the Juggling Act, but decades of real-life experience. From setting clear boundaries at work (and communicating them without guilt), to putting her laptop away on purpose, to giving herself permission to shift her work hours around her family, this conversation is packed with honest reflections and practical strategies.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why communicating your boundaries is just as important as setting themHow to manage “Grace time” (and what that really means)What transference of hours looks like and how it supports working momsWhy removing your laptop and phone from view can shift your presence at homeHow small intentional shifts add up to feeling more in controlGrab Sarah's book, The Art of the Juggling Act, at https://shorturl.at/MRc33Connect with Sarahwww.linkedin.com/in/sarah-madden-armstrongwww.thejugglingact.com________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell

We all know we can’t live outside our financial means, right? But have you ever stopped to consider that the same is true for your time?In this episode, I’m introducing the concept of living outside your time means—a sneaky trap that leads so many women to believe they have a time management problem, when really… It’s just a math issue. You’re trying to fit more into your days and weeks than they can actually hold. And no amount of productivity hacks or color-coded calendars can fix that.I’ll show you how to recognize when you’ve hit that limit, and walk you through three simple but powerful steps to get back within your time means—so you can stop overcommitting, start planning realistically, and actually feel in control of your week.This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to “make it all fit” and start planning in a way that reflects your real life—and your real capacity.In This Episode, We’ll Explore:Why the problem isn’t you—it’s the mathHow to figure out your true time “budget” each weekWhat to do when your task list doesn’t fit your available timeThree key filters to help you decide what doesn’t make the cut (without guilt)Mentioned In The Episode:Want to learn how to calculate your time budget and plan with clarity? Join my TOP Bootcamp: thetopbootcamp.com ________________________________💻 Free Training Overwhelmed? Frazzled? Tired of your calendar controlling you? You’re in the right place. Sign up for my free, on-demand training and learn how to take control of your time—no matter what life throws at you. 👉 https://www.megansumrell.com/freetraining ________________________________ 📱 Get The Pink Bee App Access planning tools, trainings, and support all in one place. 👉 https://www.onelink.to/qxdcwu ________________________________Thanks for tuning in!Megan 🩷🐝www.megansumrell.comwww.instagram.com/megansumrellwww.youtube.com/@the_pink_beewww.facebook.com/megansumrell