In this episode, I dive into Chapter 7 of my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I share practical strategies for running a tight ship in both your work and personal life. I open up about my own journey with boundaries, time management, and the lessons I’ve learned from clients and personal experience. If you’re ready to stop overworking, reclaim your time, and shine brighter, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Boundaries Matter: Ishare how setting boundaries has helped me (and my clients) avoid burnout and reclaim joy in work and life.
• Parkinson’s Law: I explain how work expands to fill the time we give it, and why limiting our thinking time" to four hours a day can boost creativity and effectiveness.

• Production Line Analogy: I use my experience in manufacturing to illustrate how we can manage ourworkload, avoid bottlenecks, and prevent overwhelm.
• Saying No (Without Guilt): I talk about the importance of saying no, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Time and People Boundaries: I reflect on how I’ve learned to protect my time from "time stealers" and set healthy boundaries with people who drain my energy.
• Delegation and Letting Go of Perfectionism: I discuss how perfectionism and the need to please can lead to overwork, and how I’ve helped clients (and myself) delegate and trust others.
• Owning Your Space: I share stories about how body language, mindset, and language can help us projectconfidence and claim our space, at work and beyond.
• Recognising When You’ve Used Up Your ‘Help Quota’: I talk about the importance of fair exchange in relationships and knowing when to step back from living too much.

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle Read x

Bestselling Author, Coach &Speaker

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction & episode overview
• 02:01 – Antidote #7: Run a Tight Ship
• 04:44 – Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill time
• 06:49 – The four-hour productivity rule
• 08:12 – Managing your “production line” (workload)
• 13:15 – Overcoming perfectionism and people-pleasing
• 18:10 – Learning to say no
• 20:58 – Time stealers and digital boundaries
• 22:12 – Setting people boundaries
• 32:51 – Summary & key takeaways
• 33:48 – Next episode preview & closing

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead⁠

Connect with Estelle Read:
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit. For free resources, to join the SHINE Coaching Programme or to apply for a discovery call, visit www.EstelleRead.com

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.