The Lazy Genius Podcast Episode #417: "My Favorite Planning Tool Ever"

Release Date: May 12, 2025

Host: Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius

Introduction

In Episode #417 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, Kendra Adachi delves into her favorite planning tool, which she passionately refers to as her "favorite planning tool ever." Departing from traditional planning methods, Kendra introduces a unique approach that aligns with her philosophy of being "a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't."

The Pitfalls of Traditional Planners

Kendra begins by exploring the common challenges associated with conventional planners:

• Overwhelming Scope: Many planners require users to set lofty goals, often stretching over a year or more, which Kendra finds daunting. She shares her frustration with planners that demand long-term commitments without sufficient focus on the present.

  "Some planners start too big or with greatness being the goal... Please don't make me commit that to a page." [02:15]

• Performance Pressure: Planners that track daily deviations from goals can induce feelings of shame and frustration, making daily planning feel like a high-stakes endeavor rather than a supportive tool.

  "If every day must serve this invisible future... then every day is fraught with opportunities to fail and waste the day." [04:30]

• Lack of Flexibility: Traditional planners often don't accommodate the dynamic nature of life, where each season brings different priorities and needs.

Kendra's Journey to a Better Planning Solution

Unsatisfied with existing planners, Kendra experimented with various methods:

• Bullet Journaling: For years, Kendra utilized an empty notebook as a bullet journal, appreciating its flexibility but still feeling something was missing.

  "I did bullet journaling as well as I could for a while, but I was still missing something." [06:45]

• Custom Planner Attempts: She considered creating her own planner, even pitching it to publishers, but realized that a new planner was not the solution she needed.

  "Even still, it wasn't right. It wasn't right. I didn't actually need a new planner." [08:10]

This exploration led her to develop a tool tailored to her needs—the Playbooks.

Introduction to the Playbooks

Kendra proudly presents the Playbooks as her ultimate planning tool, designed to enhance daily life without the constraints of traditional planners.

"We created the Playbooks and they are without question my favorite planning tool ever." [10:05]

Key Features:

• Seasonal Focus: Playbooks are organized by season (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), allowing users to concentrate on immediate priorities and adapt to changing life circumstances.

• Daily Reference: Kendra uses her Playbook daily for task and priority management, integrating it seamlessly with other tools like Google Calendar and her notebook.

  "At minimum, I glance at it every day... It's like a short little field guide to my life right now." [11:20]

Structure and Content of the Playbooks

1. Seasonal Organization:

• Seasons Defined:

  • Spring: March, April, May
  • Summer: June, July, August
  • Fall: September, October, November
  • Winter: December, January, February

• Customization for Hemispheres: Currently tailored for the Northern Hemisphere, with plans to develop Southern Hemisphere versions based on demand.

2. Inside the Playbooks:

• How to Use This Playbook: An introductory page outlining the purpose and usage guidelines.

• House Rules: Reminders to approach planning in a way that honors personal needs and current life circumstances.

• Seasonal Reflection:

  • Past Season Review: Questions about the previous season's experiences and learnings.

    "What worked, what's changed since last year..." [12:50]

  • Upcoming Season Planning: Space to define what matters most in the current season.

    "Write down what matters to you in the season." [13:30]

• Brain Dump Pages: Pages for jotting down all tasks and thoughts for the month.

• Task Organization: Categorizing tasks into "Have To's" and "Hope To's," aligning with the methodology from Kendra's book, The Plan.

• Weekly Pages: Four pages per month dedicated to each week, serving as holding spots for tasks without the pressure of immediate action.

  "The week pages are the ones that I reference the most because that's where I pull my daily and weekly to-do lists from." [17:00]

• Monthly Reflection: Space to assess personal well-being and recognize areas of self-improvement.

• End-of-Season Review: A dedicated page to summarize the season, with optional journaling or creative expression through photos and stickers.

Playbooks vs. Traditional Planners and Other Tools

Kendra distinguishes Playbooks from other planning methods:

• Traditional Planners: Often date-specific with calendar pages, focusing on long-term goals and daily task tracking.

  "There are no calendar pages in the Playbooks. They are not dated." [20:30]

• Bullet Journals: Highly flexible but require users to manually input and define priorities, lacking guided reflection on what truly matters each season.

• Guided Journals (e.g., Emily P. Freeman's Next Right Thing): Focused on decision-making and reflection, whereas Playbooks emphasize task management and future planning.

  "The Next Right Thing Guided Journal helps with decisions... Playbooks help with task management and the future." [22:15]

• Seasonal Dockets: Available as downloadable PDFs for specific seasons, Playbooks offer a more integrated and physical tool that complements digital methods.

Advantages of Playbooks:

• Seasonal Flexibility: Adapts to the ebb and flow of life’s seasons, allowing for relevant focus areas.

• Minimalist Design: Simple aesthetics make it versatile and customizable to individual styles.

• Holistic Approach: Combines reflection, planning, and flexibility without the pressure of rigid structures.

Usage and Flexibility

Kendra emphasizes that Playbooks are meant to be user-friendly and adaptable:

• Personalization: Users can incorporate stickers, colored pens, or other creative elements to suit their preferences.

• Integration with Other Tools: Complements digital calendars and notebooks for comprehensive planning.

• Community Support: Access to a private Facebook group, "Playbook People," and additional resources via QR codes for creative usage ideas.

"There's never a shortage of ideas of how you might use your Playbook, but that pressure to get the most out of it... is from the old self-help paradigm." [26:40]

Kendra encourages users to approach the Playbooks with kindness and flexibility, allowing them to fit naturally into their lives without the stress of perfection.

Pricing and Availability

• Individual Playbooks: $12 each for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

• Bundle Offer: All four seasons available for $40, saving $8 overall.

• Purchase Links: Available at thelazygeniuscollective.com/playbooks.

• Shipping: Ships to all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Note on Southern Hemisphere seasons not aligning with regional climates.

"Since we printed on purpose a huge batch, our prices will remain steady until this inventory sells out." [29:50]

Lazy Genius of the Week

Winner: Kelly Dugan

Contribution: Kelly shares a creative method for organizing her flower pots:

• Photographing Pots: Takes pictures of planted pots immediately after planting.

• Labeling Plants: Uses a photo editor to add plant names next to each one.

• Organized Albums: Creates albums for easy reference for future planting seasons.

• Reminders: Sets reminders for additional tasks, such as purchasing more potting soil.

"This is a great reminder as we move into a season where a lot of you start planting flowers and stuff." [32:10]

Kendra commends Kelly for her thoughtful and organized approach, highlighting it as an excellent example of practical planning.

Conclusion

Kendra wraps up the episode by reiterating the value of the Playbooks in fostering a balanced and meaningful approach to planning. By focusing on what matters most in each season, the Playbooks offer a refreshing alternative to traditional planning methods, aligning with the Lazy Genius ethos of simplifying life while honoring personal priorities.

"Remember that different seasons require different things, which is a gift. You can be kind as you practice this new way of planning." [34:40]

Kendra invites listeners to explore the Playbooks and consider how they can enhance their own planning practices, ensuring that they remain grounded and connected in the present while gently navigating future endeavors.

Note: This summary excludes all advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections as per the request.