The Lazy Genius Podcast – Episode #428: How to Make a New School Year Easier

In episode #428 of The Lazy Genius Podcast, hosted by Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius, listeners are guided through strategies to simplify the transition into a new school year. Released on July 28, 2025, this episode is a treasure trove of practical advice, insights, and personal anecdotes aimed at making the back-to-school period less overwhelming and more manageable.

Understanding the August Energy

[00:30] Kendra Adachi: "August has really big transitional energy. So today let's talk about how to make a new school year specifically easier."

Kendra begins by addressing the unique energy that August brings—a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and nervousness—as families and educators gear up for the new school year. She acknowledges that August often feels like "one long Sunday night," capturing the pervasive sense of impending change and the looming responsibilities that come with it.

Reframing Back-to-School as a Project

[09:51] Podcast Producer: "In order to make a new school year easier, we're going to treat it like a project."

Kendra introduces the concept of viewing back-to-school preparations as a project rather than a daunting array of tasks. This reframing is crucial for reducing overwhelm and provides a structured approach to tackling the myriad of responsibilities that come with the new academic year.

The Five-Step Project Framework

Kendra outlines a five-step process to effectively manage the project of preparing for the new school year:

1. Make a Plan (Assessment Phase)

[09:51] Kendra Adachi: "Step one is to make a plan, to assess, to kind of examine what needs to happen and go back to school."

Kendra emphasizes the importance of dedicating specific time to evaluate and plan the necessary tasks. Whether alone or with others in similar situations, setting aside an hour or two to map out the project is essential. This collaborative or solo planning session helps in organizing thoughts and creating a clear roadmap.

2. Name What Matters (Objective Setting)

[11:49] Kendra Adachi: "What matters here? What are you really after?"

Identifying the core objective of the project is the next critical step. Are you aiming for ease, preparedness, or creating memorable experiences? Clarifying what matters most guides decision-making and prioritizes tasks. For instance, choosing to order supplies online for simplicity versus shopping in-store for a more engaging experience reflects different priorities.

3. Confirm Your End Date (Defining Completion)

[11:50] Kendra Adachi: "Confirm your end date when this project of yours is over."

Establishing a clear endpoint for the project helps prevent endless tasks and reduces stress. Whether the end date is the first day of school, the last day of summer, or a date after the first week, having a defined completion point ensures that preparations stay on track and don’t drag on indefinitely.

4. Set Aside Time to Work on the Project (Scheduling)

[21:00] Kendra Adachi: "Some tasks likely don't need nearly as much time as you give them."

Kendra discusses the importance of allocating specific times in your calendar to work on project tasks. By scheduling dedicated time blocks, you ensure that essential tasks are addressed without the need for last-minute rushes. She highlights that many tasks often take less time than anticipated, alleviating the feeling of being overwhelmed.

5. Break Down the Decisions and Tasks (Task Management)

[22:00] Kendra Adachi: "Break down the decisions and the tasks. It's time to think about what needs doing for this new school year project."

The final step involves listing and categorizing all necessary tasks. Categories might include morning and evening routines, room readiness, school supplies, medical appointments, lunch preparations, transportation arrangements, and attitude adjustments. Breaking down tasks into specific, manageable activities ensures nothing is overlooked and makes the project more approachable.

Personal Anecdote: Kendra's Back-to-School Prep

Kendra shares her personal experience to illustrate the application of her five-step framework:

• Bedtime Adjustments: Gradually shifting her children’s bedtimes to align with school schedules.
• School Supplies: Coordinating school supply lists post open house events to ensure she procures only what’s necessary.
• Lunchboxes and Backpacks: Cleaning and organizing lunchboxes and backpacks to streamline morning routines.
• Carpool Logistics: Managing complex carpool arrangements, acknowledging it as a significant but manageable hurdle.

This personal narrative serves to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the project approach in real-life scenarios.

Insights on Time Management and Task Perception

Kendra offers valuable insights into time management, emphasizing that tasks often take less time than perceived when properly planned. She shares a humorous example involving cleaning the kitchen with her daughter, highlighting how setting specific time blocks can lead to efficient task completion:

[22:00] Kendra Adachi: "Sometimes our overwhelm about a new season is bigger than the actual list we have."

This insight underscores the importance of not letting perceived complexity inflate the actual workload, making preparations feel more manageable.

Lazy Genius of the Week: Lauren's Reframe

[30:55] Kendra Adachi: "Lauren writes... this reframe for me has made such a difference in my outlook, stress levels and how I prioritize the different aspects of my life."

Kendra celebrates Lauren as the Lazy Genius of the Week, highlighting Lauren’s strategy of making a list of things she looks forward to in August. This positive reframing helps manage stress and fosters a balanced outlook. Lauren's approach is lauded for its effectiveness not only for educators but for anyone experiencing an overwhelming season of change.

Kendra connects Lauren’s strategy to The Lazy Genius Playbooks, which offer structured yet flexible planning tools to capture positive aspects and maintain focus amidst transitions.

Conclusion: Embracing the Project Approach

Kendra concludes by reiterating the benefits of treating the back-to-school season as a project with clear objectives and timelines. This method transforms a potentially stressful period into an organized and manageable transition. She encourages listeners to embrace the project framework, assuring them that with proper planning, the new school year can be navigated with ease and minimal stress.

Notable Quotes

• Kendra Adachi at [03:00]: "All we're doing is making plans which are all just intentions. They're just intentions anyway. They're not pass fail."
• Kendra Adachi at [11:49]: "What matters here? What are you really after?"
• Kendra Adachi at [22:00]: "Sometimes our overwhelm about a new season is bigger than the actual list we have."
• Lauren at [30:55]: "This reframe for me has made such a difference in my outlook, stress levels and how I prioritize the different aspects of my life."

Final Thoughts

Episode #428 of The Lazy Genius Podcast serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to ease the back-to-school transition. By adopting a project-oriented approach, Kendra Adachi provides listeners with actionable steps to manage tasks efficiently, reduce stress, and create a positive start to the new school year. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or student, the strategies discussed offer valuable tools to navigate this seasonal shift with confidence and calm.