Kendra Adachi, a three-time New York Times bestselling author and the voice behind 'the Lazy Genius,' shares insights on time management uniquely tailored for women. She discusses the challenges women face in balancing productivity with personal well-being, emphasizing the need to prioritize meaningful tasks while letting go of perfectionism. Kendra highlights the societal pressures on women and offers compassionate strategies for navigating the mental load. This conversation is all about embracing authenticity and finding balance in a hustle culture.
The podcast highlights that traditional time management strategies often overlook women's unique challenges, emphasizing a need for personalized approaches to productivity.
Kendra Adachi advocates for breaking down larger tasks into manageable steps to reduce overwhelm and create a sense of achievement in daily life.
Deep dives
Impact of Hard Water on Hair and Skin
Hard water, which about 85% of the United States uses, contributes significantly to hair damage and dry skin. Containing high levels of dissolved minerals and chlorine, hard water can lead to issues like a dry, itchy scalp and prevent hair color from lasting. The introduction of filtered showerheads has become a solution, as they utilize a three-stage filtration system recommended by dermatologists to clean shower water, improving hair and skin health. This advancement offers a hassle-free installation and easy filter replacement, making it an effective alternative for those struggling with hard-water-related issues.
Redefining Time Management for Women
The podcast highlights a critical observation that many time management strategies are predominantly created by men, yet mostly read by women, indicating a mismatch in practical application. The guest, Kendra Adachi, emphasizes that the traditional methods of time management fail to accommodate women’s unique challenges, leading to feelings of inadequacy and frustration. Adachi’s approach encourages women to focus on what is truly important in their lives and to accept that they cannot do it all, alleviating the pressure of unattainable perfection. By prioritizing key objectives and learning to be 'lazy' about lesser priorities, women can cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling approach to managing their time.
The Importance of Understanding Personal Cycles
Adachi discusses the significance of recognizing and accommodating personal cycles, such as hormonal changes, which impact energy and productivity levels. She encourages women to embrace periods of lower energy as natural and to adjust their responsibilities accordingly, such as substituting elaborate meals with simpler options during less energetic days. By fostering an understanding of one’s body and its rhythms, individuals can be kinder to themselves and focus on setting realistic expectations. This perspective promotes a more compassionate and pragmatic approach to self-management, encouraging women to engage in tasks that align with their current energy levels.
Creating Small, Achievable Goals
Another key insight shared is the value of breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feelings of overwhelm. The discussion stresses that by simplifying to-do lists and focusing on small victories, individuals can reduce stress and foster a sense of accomplishment. For instance, rather than writing 'buy Christmas gifts' as a singular entry, this task can be divided into smaller actions, making it feel less daunting. This strategy helps maintain motivation and progress, allowing individuals to tackle life's demands without succumbing to the pressures of perfectionism or unrealistic expectations.
Sometimes I can feel like I can conquer the world, and sometimes I don't want to get out of bed. 93% of time management and productivity books are written by men. (By the way, I love men but women are built different!) There are so many more nuances to women who are looking for help prioritizing and planning. So this week, we have a ladies-only episode where I interview Kendra Adachi, also know as "the Lazy Genius." Kendra is a 3-time New York Times bestselling author, nationally ranked podcaster, wife, and mom. Her latest book is called The Plan: Manage Your Time like a Lazy Genius. Listen to her give us advice on how to get stuff done that matters without turning into a tired robot. You can learn more about Kendra here: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/.
Kim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.
The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.