The Lazy Genius Podcast
Episode 453: 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 2
Host: Kendra Adachi ("The Lazy Genius")
Date: January 19, 2026
Episode Overview
In the second part of her two-episode series, Kendra Adachi dives deeper into practical, compassionate strategies for becoming a better problem solver. Emphasizing kindness, small steps, and realistic expectations, she shares the final seven of twelve essential tools for approaching life’s challenges “like a lazy genius.” The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, real-life examples, and actionable mindsets, all couched in Kendra’s signature gentle, humorous, and self-compassionate style.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Reflecting on Productivity Culture (03:30–08:30)
- Comparison with Productivity-Obsessed Media:
Kendra candidly discusses a lower-performing episode (“Permission to Not Be Great”) and what it revealed about broader cultural narratives around improvement, ambition, and contentment.- She points out the dominance of “life-changing” and “body reset” content in January and explains why her content, focusing on self-acceptance and realistic expectations, doesn’t always top the charts—and why that’s okay.
- Quote: “Greatness has a louder voice than contentment does.” (05:05)
- Measuring Life Differently:
She encourages listeners to “measure differently,” favoring fulfillment over comparison and approval.- Quote: “The top is a lot of work with rules that don’t apply to people who are looking to steward their small, kind, contented lives right where we are.” (07:25)
Quick Recap of Part 1 (11:15)
Kendra recaps the first five ways to be a better problem solver:
- Make the problem smaller
- Remember your season of life
- Name what matters early and often
- Listen for invisible problems
- Notice catastrophic language
[For more detail, listen to Part 1.]
The Final 7 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver
6. Start Smaller Than You Want To (12:10)
- Explanation:
Kendra differentiates between “making the problem smaller” and “starting smaller”—the latter means beginning with even tinier actions, often much less than you feel inspired by. - Personal Example:
Her journey from an overly ambitious seven-minute morning stretching routine to a 15-second hip circle as a sustainable daily habit.- Quote: “Start smaller than you want to… trust the power of small steps.” (14:44)
7. Take Your Time, Even When You Think You Don’t Have Any (16:38)
- Explanation:
Don’t rush into fixing things—pause, breathe, and allow yourself space to respond instead of react, even in minor crises. - Memorable Moment:
The “Bake Off bin” reference—how a contestant impulsively threw away his cake, missing a chance to at least present something.- Quote: “For the most part, you have more time to solve a problem than you think, and going slower allows you the space to choose a potentially better solution.” (18:13)
- Real-Life Story:
Choosing to prioritize her child’s emotional needs over sticking to a dinner timeline.
8. Let People In (21:50)
- Explanation:
Accept help and share challenges—problem solving needn’t be a solo activity. - Examples:
- Saying yes when a friend offers food help on a chaotic day
- Sharing struggles for solidarity and idea-swapping in community (like the Lazy Genius Facebook group)
- Delegating domestic problem-solving, especially in partnerships where women often bear invisible loads
- Quote: “Let people in, and you might be surprised at how just the sharing of the thing makes it easier…sometimes solidarity is the solution.” (22:45)
9. Go for Good, Not Great (27:41)
- Explanation:
Solutions don’t have to be perfect. Accepting “good enough” lightens the emotional load and opens you up to easier, more sustainable fixes. - Examples:
- Swapping a homemade cookie for a store-bought treat when time is short
- Using her foot to push a messy pile of shoes under a bench rather than fussing over neatness
- Quote: “You can’t be great at everything. You can’t have a great solution to every problem and sustain it for eternity. Good is fine.” (30:17)
10. Expect to Tinker (32:00)
- Explanation:
Solutions will need adjusting over time. Continuous tweaking is normal—so don’t give up or start over if things aren’t perfect right away. - Metaphor:
Problem solving as cooking—recipes are just the beginning, but you season and tweak to taste.- Quote: “Tinkering is just part of it…It’s honestly what makes solutions work and stick.” (33:12)
11. Be Patient with Inconsistency—Yours and Theirs (35:39)
- Explanation:
Consistency is often overvalued. Accept that humans (kids, partners, yourself) are inconsistent, especially when learning or adapting. - Soapbox Moment:
Kendra pushes back against productivity gurus who equate inconsistency with “letting yourself down.”- Quote: “Inconsistency gets a bad rap, especially when you’re starting something new. Be patient with your own inconsistency because it’s going to happen.” (37:02)
- “You’re putting people ahead of productivity. And that’s always going to put you in a favorable place…” (38:13)
12. Stop Trying to Solve Everything at Once (40:19)
- Explanation:
You can’t tackle every problem simultaneously. Focus on what matters most, let other things be for now.- Quote: “Stop trying to solve everything at once. It is exhausting you. And it’s not making you a better problem solver. It’s just making you, like, stressed out and tired.” (40:45)
- Integration Example:
Walks through how several of the tools apply together when helping a kid learn laundry—make it smaller, embrace inconsistency, let the child propose a solution, tinker, and don’t try to fix every aspect at once.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Frankly, greatness has a louder voice than contentment does.” (05:05)
- “The minute I or any of us expect our contented, compassionate lives to measure up the same way as the optimized, productive ones, we’ve lost the plot.” (06:39)
- “Start smaller than you want to. You will become a better problem solver when you trust the power of small steps.” (14:44)
- “For the most part, you have more time to solve a problem than you think, and going slower allows you the space to choose a potentially better solution.” (18:13)
- “Let people in, and you might be surprised at how just the sharing of the thing makes it easier… sometimes solidarity is the solution.” (22:45)
- “You can’t be great at everything. You can’t have a great solution to every problem and sustain it for eternity. Good is fine.” (30:17)
- “Tinkering is just part of it…It’s honestly what makes solutions work and stick.” (33:12)
- “Inconsistency gets a bad rap, especially when you’re starting something new.” (37:02)
- “Stop trying to solve everything at once. It is exhausting you. And it’s not making you a better problem solver. It’s just making you, like, stressed out and tired.” (40:45)
- “Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.” (41:35)
Segment Timestamps
- Reflecting on Productivity Culture & Measuring Differently: 03:30–08:30
- Recap of Part 1: 11:15–12:00
- 6. Start Smaller Than You Want To: 12:10–16:35
- 7. Take Your Time, Even When You Think You Don’t Have Any: 16:38–21:45
- 8. Let People In: 21:50–27:34
- 9. Go for Good, Not Great: 27:41–32:00
- 10. Expect to Tinker: 32:00–35:35
- 11. Be Patient with Inconsistency: 35:39–40:00
- 12. Stop Trying to Solve Everything at Once: 40:19–44:00
Listener Example: Lazy Genius of the Week (55:05)
J.C. Wurman is celebrated for her “decide once” solution:
- She designates the kitchen table as the place for kids’ backpacks and homework during the school year, instead of insisting they always use the mudroom.
- Quote from J.C.: “Each kid gets a chair for their backpack and a chair to do their homework at…I needed permission to use an unconventional space to hold what we needed for this season.”
- Kendra applauds the brilliance: “JC didn’t renovate her mudroom. She just decided to put the backpacks in chairs. This is so good.” (56:08)
“A Little Extra Something”: The 2026 Music Album Challenge (44:30–54:40)
- Kendra’s Project: Listen to 150 new-to-her albums and 150 already-loved albums across 2026 to encourage her own flourishing.
- Personal Reflections:
- Music brings her joy but is often neglected or relegated to background noise or kids’ choices.
- Finds deep rejuvenation in intentional listening, discovering new favorites (like Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes).
- Invites listeners to join or follow her journey in the newsletter.
Mini Pep Talk: For When Your Season Feels Too Long (57:05–1:00:45)
- Main message:
If you’re stuck in a hard, seemingly endless season (like raising little kids, caring for chronic illness), you’re not alone. - Encouragement:
“Long seasons, hard seasons, are beautiful teachers—even when we are super reluctant to listen.” (58:11) - Recognizes the pain and frustration but also points to the depth and perspective such times can bring to one’s life.
Final Takeaways
- Measure Differently: Don’t let societal standards or rankings dictate your sense of worth or success.
- Be a Genius About What Matters: Focus your energy and effort where it counts; let go elsewhere.
- Kindness Over Perfection: Practice small, patient, realistic problem-solving that keeps people—and yourself—at the center.
To Recap, Here Are the 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver
- Make the problem smaller
- Remember your season of life
- Name what matters early and often
- Listen for invisible problems
- Notice catastrophic language
- Start smaller than you want to
- Take your time even when you think you don’t have any
- Let people in
- Go for good, not great
- Expect to tinker
- Be patient with inconsistency
- Stop trying to solve everything at once
Host’s Parting Words:
“Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.” (1:00:53)
For more tips, music discoveries, or to join the Lazy Genius community, Kendra encourages signing up for the podcast recap email, “Latest Lazy Listens.”
