Why Women Struggle With Time Management (and what to do about it)

Why do so many productivity systems fail women?

In this episode, productivity coach and former healthcare executive Nancy Garfinkle explains why traditional time management advice does not work for women, especially business owners, mothers, and caregivers juggling invisible demands.

After spending more than 36 years in healthcare leadership, Nancy walked away from corporate life at 61 and rebuilt her work around clarity, accountability, and intention. In this conversation, she shares what finally worked, why to-do lists are not the same as goals, and how women can stop staying busy and start making real progress.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, or frustrated by productivity systems that never quite fit your life, this episode will change how you think about time.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why time blocking fails when it fills every hour of your day

The difference between a to-do list and real goal planning

How women can build flexible schedules that survive real life

Accountability without shame or blame

Why success is not a straight line and never has been

How to reclaim joy, energy, and confidence at any stage of life

Nancy also shares details about Ignite 2026, a new online summit series created to give women a stage, amplify women’s voices, and help attendees reset and thrive in the year ahead.

🔗 Connect with Nancy Garfinkle

Instagram: Coach Nancy Garfinkel

Facebook: Nancy Garfinkel and Nancy Garfinkel, the No BS Coach

Private Facebook Group: The Productivity Place

Website: www.nancygarfinkel.com

If this conversation resonated with you, like the video, subscribe, and share it with a woman who needs permission to stop doing it all.

Chapters:

00:00 Why time management doesn’t work for women
02:45 Nancy’s 36-year career in healthcare leadership
06:10 The moment she said “I don’t need this anymore”
10:30 Why to-do lists are not the same as goals
14:55 How real time blocking actually works
20:10 Accountability without blame or shame
25:40 Decision fatigue and the creation of Decision Debbie
31:50 Why success is not a straight line
36:20 Pivoting, resilience, and bouncing forward
41:45 Ignite 2026 and creating a stage for women
47:30 Why it’s never too late to start again