Summary of The Lazy Genius Podcast Episode #403: "How I Get Stuff Done When I Don’t Feel Like It"

Release Date: February 3, 2025

Host: Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius
Podcast: The Lazy Genius Podcast
Episode Theme: Strategies for overcoming procrastination and accomplishing tasks even when motivation is lacking.

Introduction

In Episode #403 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, host Kendra Adachi delves into a universal challenge: getting things done when motivation is low. Building upon insights from previous episodes (#238 "How to Get Stuff Done When I Don't Feel Like It" and #341 "The Real Reason It's Hard to Get Stuff Done"), Kendra offers a personal and practical guide. She shares 10 actionable strategies that have helped her navigate the common struggle of balancing responsibilities with fluctuating motivation levels.

1. Remember How Much I Hate Urgency [02:15]

Kendra emphasizes her aversion to the feeling of urgency. She explains that when tasks become urgent, they trigger negative behaviors such as impatience and shortness with others. To avoid this stress, she prioritizes completing tasks before they become time-sensitive.

"I become really short with people. I'm impatient even if someone is trying to help... Urgency is just my least favorite thing." [02:45]

Key Takeaway: Letting tasks pile up leads to unwanted urgency. By addressing tasks promptly, you can maintain a more pleasant and manageable workflow.

2. Motivation Through a Systemized Home [12:30]

A systemized home provides a harmonious flow that motivates Kendra to maintain order. She likens her household to a song that flows smoothly, avoiding the chaos that disrupts this harmony. For example, her family's dishwasher routine ensures that dirty dishes don't accumulate, preventing the cascade of tasks that lead to urgency.

"I love for things to just roll in a natural way... It creates urgency when things get out of flow." [14:10]

Key Takeaway: Establishing and maintaining systems in your home can reduce stress and increase efficiency, making it easier to handle daily responsibilities.

3. Depend on Systems for Stuff I Really Hate [25:00]

Kendra discusses her reliance on systems to manage tasks she dislikes, such as laundry and cleaning. She acknowledges that while systems can sometimes feel rigid or reminiscent of unhealthy habits, they are essential for maintaining order. For her family, having her husband take over dishwashing and hiring a house cleaner are examples of effective systems.

"I depend on systems to take care of things that I hate doing... The systems themselves weren't the problem. The reason I was using them was." [26:45]

Key Takeaway: Systems aren't inherently detrimental; they become problematic based on the motivations behind them. Utilizing systems can help manage disliked tasks efficiently.

4. Choose Enjoyment Over Distraction When Not Doing Something [35:20]

Instead of succumbing to procrastination through activities like social media scrolling, Kendra advises engaging in something enjoyable and meaningful. By doing so, you fill your time productively, which can subsequently boost the energy needed to tackle the initial task.

"Do something fun, you enjoy as a form of filling your own cup... It gives me enough energy and motivation to now go do the thing I didn't want to do." [36:10]

Key Takeaway: Redirecting your energy towards enjoyable activities can replenish your motivation, making it easier to address tasks you initially avoid.

5. Start Small [45:00]

Facing a daunting task can be overwhelming. Kendra recommends breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Whether it's organizing delivery boxes or updating a will, initiating with a simple action can reduce the perceived burden.

"If I'm staring at a dining room full of stuff, I say, okay, I'm just going to unpack the delivery boxes and take the cardboard to the recycling bin." [46:30]

Key Takeaway: Initiating tasks with small actions can overcome the inertia of starting, leading to gradual and sustainable progress.

6. Do Something You Like While Doing Something You Don't [55:00]

Combining a disliked task with a pleasant activity, such as listening to music or a podcast while cleaning, can make the process more enjoyable. This dual engagement helps maintain focus and makes the task feel less burdensome.

"Listen to music or a podcast or an audiobook while you're cleaning or cooking." [56:15]

Key Takeaway: Pairing chores with enjoyable activities can enhance your experience and increase productivity.

7. Do Hard, Annoying Things with My Kids Around [1:05:00]

Contrary to her earlier approach of reserving challenging tasks for times when her children are not around, Kendra now advocates for tackling these tasks in the presence of her kids. She finds that this not only maintains her focus but also teaches her children the value of completing responsibilities.

"Doing the thing with my kids around, it keeps me more focused on the thing. It's sometimes a little more efficient because I'm having to focus on other things that are happening around me." [1:06:45]

Key Takeaway: Engaging in tasks alongside children can provide a sense of accountability and make the process more efficient and less isolating.

8. Set Timers [1:15:00]

Utilizing timers can create a sense of urgency without the negative feelings associated with tight deadlines. Kendra suggests committing to a task for a short, defined period, which often leads to continued effort beyond the initial timeframe.

"Let's just do this for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, we can stop." [1:17:30]

Key Takeaway: Time-boxing tasks with timers can enhance focus and make daunting tasks seem more approachable.

9. Get Up Countdowns [1:25:00]

When feeling particularly unmotivated, especially due to fatigue, Kendra employs a simple countdown to prompt herself to start a task. This technique acknowledges the difficulty of initiating action while providing a structured method to overcome inertia.

"I'll literally count down on my head, sometimes even out loud. I'll take breaths in between the numbers... get up after I say one." [1:26:15]

Key Takeaway: Implementing a countdown can serve as a gentle push to begin tasks, making the initiation process less daunting.

10. Ask for Help or Solidarity [1:35:00]

Recognizing the importance of community, Kendra advocates for seeking assistance or solidarity when facing overwhelming tasks. Whether it's enlisting help from family members or seeking emotional support from friends, sharing the burden can make tasks more manageable and less isolating.

"Solidarity does in fact solidify us. It makes what was all over the place feel more put together simply because somebody just saw us in this moment." [1:37:45]

Key Takeaway: Reaching out for help or companionship can provide emotional support and practical assistance, enhancing your ability to complete tasks.

Conclusion

Kendra wraps up the episode by reiterating the 10 strategies to tackle tasks when motivation is lacking:

1. Remember how much I hate urgency.
2. Motivation through a systemized home.
3. Depend on systems for tasks I hate.
4. Choose enjoyment over distraction when not doing something.
5. Start small.
6. Do something you like while doing something you don't.
7. Do hard, annoying things with my kids around.
8. Set timers.
9. Get up countdowns.
10. Ask for help or solidarity.

Kendra emphasizes that these methods are personal and may vary for each individual. She encourages listeners to adapt and build their own toolkit based on what resonates with them.

Additional Content

Beyond the main discussion, the episode includes a Lazy Genius of the Week segment celebrating listener Blake Batura for sharing his approach to managing binge-watching shows through the Meal Matrix concept. This segment highlights the versatility of Lazy Genius principles in addressing diverse challenges.

Final Thoughts

Episode #403 provides a comprehensive and relatable guide for anyone struggling with procrastination and low motivation. Kendra's personal anecdotes and practical strategies, complemented by notable quotes and timestamps, offer valuable insights for listeners seeking to enhance their productivity without succumbing to stress and urgency.

Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. Listen to The Lazy Genius Podcast for more practical life strategies.