The Lazy Genius Podcast: Episode #407 - How to Create a Flexible Weekly Plan

Host: Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius
Release Date: March 3, 2025

Introduction

In Episode #407 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, Kendra Adachi delves into the art of crafting a Flexible Weekly Plan, blending structure with adaptability to help listeners manage their lives more effectively without succumbing to rigidity or overwhelm.

Why Plan? Understanding the Purpose

Kendra begins by exploring the fundamental reasons why planning is essential, emphasizing that planning serves various personal needs and enhances overall well-being.

1. Avoiding Missed Commitments

   • “Making a plan, even a super flexible one, it helps us get a little closer to having more things in place than not.” [02:30]

2. Reducing Reactive Stress

   • Without a plan, we often operate in a constant state of response, reacting to immediate demands rather than proactively managing our time and energy.
   • “A plan might help lower that responsive energy because a little more is already in place than not.” [03:05]

3. Easing Decision-Making Load

   • Planning acts as an autopilot, minimizing the mental strain of repeatedly deciding what to do next.
   • “A plan can relieve some of that constant decision making.” [03:45]

4. Establishing a Starting Point

   • Having a plan provides a foundation from which to adjust and adapt, offering a sense of grounding.
   • “I think this is my primary reason, to be honest. A plan naturally captures all four of these reasons to a degree.” [04:20]

The Importance of Naming Your Why

Kendra emphasizes the significance of naming the purpose behind your planning. Understanding why you plan helps maintain motivation and ensures that the plan aligns with what truly matters to you.

• “When we know why we do something, we're better able to keep doing it because we see why it matters.” [05:00]

She encourages listeners to identify personal motivations, whether it's to reduce stress, increase productivity, or create a balanced life.

Deciding What to Plan

Before diving into the mechanics of planning, Kendra advises listeners to determine what aspects of their lives need planning. This could range from meals and movement to appointments and errands.

• “What are you planning? Don't plan more than you need to, especially if you’re not already in a comfortable rhythm of doing it.” [07:15]

She advocates for starting small, focusing on the most impactful areas to prevent feeling overwhelmed.

Steps to Create a Flexible Weekly Plan

Kendra outlines a seven-step framework to develop a flexible yet effective weekly plan, interweaving the Lazy Genius principles of order and placement.

1. Pick a Time to Plan

Choose a consistent time each week dedicated to planning. Kendra personally prefers Sunday afternoons, spending about 30 minutes under a blanket on her couch while observing her birds.

• “Pick a time you're going to plan. That's really important.” [09:10]

2. Decide What to Plan

Identify the specific categories you intend to plan for the upcoming week, such as meals, movement, tasks, or rest.

3. Gather Your Tools

Assemble the necessary tools based on your chosen categories. This might include a calendar, a notebook, pens, cookbooks, or digital apps.

• “I always need paper for something. Plus my pen. My favorite pen is a black muji 0.38 pen.” [10:45]

4. Put What You're Planning in Order

Determine the sequence that best suits your needs. For Kendra, this sequence begins with carpool schedules, followed by tasks, movement, and meals.

• “First carpool and then tasks on their days. The next thing I plan is movement... then meals.” [11:20]

5. Put What You're Planning in Place

Organize your plans within their designated categories, using placeholders to maintain flexibility.

• “Saying Tuesday is errand day is way more flexible than listing out seven errands.” [12:30]

6. Notice and Adjust

After laying out your plan, review it for any necessary adjustments. This step ensures the plan remains realistic and adaptable to unforeseen changes.

• “Look at your week. Look at your preparation. What feels like it needs an adjustment now that you have everything in a place, move things around.” [13:50]

7. Keep Noticing and Adjusting as You Live Your Week

Flexibility is key. Continuously monitor and tweak your plan to accommodate real-time changes, ensuring it remains a helpful tool rather than a source of stress.

• “Expect change, expect adjustment, expect that what you prepared is not always gonna work or happen.” [15:10]

Practical Insights and Examples

Kendra shares personal anecdotes and practical examples to illustrate her points, such as her decade-long commitment to meal planning and how it sustains her family's daily rhythm.

• “Meal planning has become such a necessary rhythm for how my family operates...” [10:10]

She also highlights the importance of starting small and focusing on areas that significantly impact your life, like meal planning for her family.

Conclusion and Recap

To wrap up, Kendra reiterates the dual importance of knowing why you plan and deciding what to plan. These foundational steps foster flexibility and prevent plans from becoming rigid structures that lead to burnout.

• “High levels of preparation are not the answer. A balance between preparation, noticing, and adjusting is.” [16:00]

She encourages listeners to embrace planning as a responsive and adaptive process, much like gardening or baking, where flexibility and attentiveness lead to the best outcomes.

Lazy Genius of the Week

Kendra celebrates Jess Knox as the Lazy Genius of the Week for her innovative strategies in simplifying family decision-making. Jess employs an odd-even day system for choosing meals and designates a "President of the Week" role for each child, fostering autonomy and fairness.

• “Jess writes, 'we’ve simplified decision making in our family... the President also gets one-on-one time.'” [29:50]

Kendra praises Jess’s approach, highlighting its effectiveness in promoting family harmony and individual responsibility.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify Your "Why": Understanding the purpose behind planning enhances motivation and ensures alignment with personal values.
• Start Small: Focus on the most impactful areas first to prevent overwhelm.
• Embrace Flexibility: Plans should serve as guides, not rigid structures. Continuously adjust based on real-time needs and changes.
• Use Placeholders: Flexible placeholders allow for adaptability without sacrificing structure.
• Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate effective strategies within your planning process to reinforce positive habits.

By integrating these principles, listeners can create Flexible Weekly Plans that accommodate the unpredictability of life while maintaining a sense of control and purpose.

This summary captures the essence of Episode #407, providing actionable insights and practical steps for creating a flexible weekly plan. Whether you're new to planning or seeking to enhance your current strategies, Kendra’s compassionate and adaptable approach offers valuable guidance.