The Lazy Genius Podcast - Episode #391: "7 Things You Shouldn’t Expect Your Planner to Do"
Release Date: November 11, 2024
Introduction
In Episode #391 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, host Kendra Adachi delves into the realistic expectations one should have when using a planner. Titled "7 Things You Shouldn’t Expect Your Planner to Do," Kendra, accompanied by co-host Jenna Fisher, explores the limitations of planners and introduces an innovative tool designed to enhance planning without the pressure of perfection.
1. Understanding Your Planner's Limitations
Timestamp: [02:04]
Kendra sets the stage by sharing the chaotic feeling that often accompanies the transition into the busy holiday season. She discusses how the influx of planner advertisements can create unrealistic expectations. The key takeaway is the importance of recognizing that planners are tools, not magic solutions.
"Your planner is not magic. It cannot solve your problems in the way you've been told it can." – Kendra Adachi
2. The Seven Expectations to Release
Kendra unpacks seven common misconceptions about what planners can achieve:
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Season of Life Awareness Timestamp: [04:30]
Planners typically don't adapt to the user's current life phase. Kendra emphasizes the necessity of personalizing planners to reflect one's unique circumstances.
"We have to be intentional about naming where we are what's going on for real, what we have margin for, and what needs to be let go." – Kendra Adachi
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Automatic Prioritization Timestamp: [06:15]
Planners often default to themes of optimization and greatness, neglecting individual priorities and contentment. Kendra encourages users to adjust their planners to align with personal values rather than industry norms.
"Don't expect your planner to automatically prioritize what matters to you." – Jenna Fisher
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Comprehensive Overviews Timestamp: [07:21]
While some planners offer monthly, weekly, and daily views, Kendra warns that trying to see everything at once can lead to a sense of control and perfectionism that may be more harmful than helpful.
"Stop expecting your planner to show you everything at once." – Kendra Adachi
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Stress and Busyness Elimination Timestamp: [09:50]
Planners cannot eradicate life's inherent chaos. Instead, they can help manage and slightly reduce stress by providing structure.
"Life will never be completely free of stress and busyness." – Jenna Fisher
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Space for Obstacles and Pivots Timestamp: [14:17]
Traditional planners focus heavily on preparation but often lack flexibility for life's unexpected changes. Kendra introduces the concept of balancing preparation with the ability to adjust and pivot as needed.
"Pivoting is part of the deal. Changing your mind is part of the deal." – Kendra Adachi
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Connection with Others Timestamp: [16:45]
Planners typically emphasize time management over relationship-building. Kendra highlights the importance of integrating meaningful connections into one's schedule rather than treating them as tasks.
"Relationships are sometimes stuck into the cracks. They are not integrated into our lives." – Käendra Adachi
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Reminder to Check Planner Timestamp: [18:58]
Users often expect planners to serve as constant reminders to stay on track. Kendra suggests reducing reliance on planners for discipline, advocating for a more compassionate and flexible approach.
"Don't expect your planner to remind you to look at it." – Jenna Fisher
Introducing the Lazy Genius Playbooks
Timestamp: [20:00]
Moving beyond traditional planners, Kendra unveils the Playbooks—a series of small, thematic notebooks designed to complement existing planners. Unlike planners that aim for universal applicability, Playbooks focus on enhancing the user's planning process by aligning with their current life season.
Key Features:
- Season-Specific Design: Four Playbooks for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, each addressing the unique needs of its season.
- Intentional Planning: Includes prompts and questions that encourage users to define their priorities and adjust plans as needed.
- Flexible Integration: Compact enough to fit within existing planners, allowing seamless incorporation into daily routines.
"The Playbooks are small, thin, highly satisfying notebooks that help you see your season, name what matters, and prepare, adjust, and notice in an intentional way." – Kendra Adachi
Lazy Genius of the Week: Bethany Weathersby
Timestamp: [23:00]
Kendra celebrates Bethany Weathersby, who successfully integrated a simple yet effective strategy to manage post-church family dinners. By preparing dessert in advance, Bethany transformed hectic evenings into peaceful family gatherings, exemplifying the essence of what matters most.
Bethany's Approach:
- Preparation: Making dessert in the afternoon to alleviate evening stress.
- Intentionality: Fostering family connection and reducing evening chaos.
- Consistency: Maintaining the routine even after her oldest child became an adult, showcasing long-term commitment.
"When you name what matters, like Bethany did with these long days at church, it allows you more freedom, not less, in the choices that you make to support that." – Kendra Adachi
Conclusion
In this insightful episode, Kendra Adachi redefines the relationship between individuals and their planners. By shedding unrealistic expectations and introducing the Playbooks, she empowers listeners to approach planning with flexibility, compassion, and intentionality. The message is clear: planners are tools to aid in living a meaningful life, not to enforce perfection.
"Let’s take the pressure off the perfect planner by recognizing it cannot do these broader things that we keep expecting it to do." – Kendra Adachi
Listeners are encouraged to embrace a more balanced approach to planning, focusing on what truly matters and allowing room for life's inherent unpredictability.
Notable Quotes
- Kendra Adachi: "Your planner is not magic. It cannot solve your problems in the way you've been told it can." [02:04]
- Jenna Fisher: "Don't expect your planner to automatically prioritize what matters to you." [06:15]
- Kendra Adachi: "Stop expecting your planner to show you everything at once." [07:21]
- Jenna Fisher: "Don't expect your planner to remind you to look at it." [18:58]
About The Lazy Genius Podcast
The Lazy Genius Podcast is hosted by Kendra Adachi, a systems expert and permission giver, dedicated to helping listeners be "geniuses about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't." Through practical advice and innovative tools like the Playbooks, Kendra empowers individuals to live more intentional and fulfilling lives.
Connect with The Lazy Genius Collective
For more information about the Playbooks or to share your own Lazy Genius story, visit thelazygeniuscollective.com/playbooks and join the community in redefining what it means to plan a meaningful life.