The Lazy Genius Podcast: Bonus – How to Approach Holiday Downtime
Host: Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius)
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special bonus episode, Kendra Adachi provides gentle, practical advice for navigating holiday downtime—the stretch between the bustling pre-Christmas rush and the quiet, sometimes disorienting, days after. She addresses both the realities and expectations of time off, emphasizing contentment, adaptability, and self-permission. Whether listeners have a packed family holiday or are looking for ways to meaningfully fill suddenly empty hours, the episode guides them in finding a balanced, personal approach to rest and activity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the Diversity of Holiday Downtime

(Starts at 03:30)

• Kendra first acknowledges that not everyone has significant downtime during the holidays. Some people have to work straight through, or have caregiving and other life responsibilities that don’t pause for the season.
  • Notable quote:
    “All of these people, including me, right now, talking about their long holiday breaks...it might make you feel a little down… Or maybe you have work off, but not life off.” (04:16 – 04:50)
  • She expresses empathy and permission for these listeners to skip the episode if it’s not relevant, making it clear that their reality is seen and respected.

2. Transition from Holiday Hustle to Downtime

(05:30)

• Observes that pre-Christmas is filled with “buzz”, travel, gatherings, and tasks, but the days following can feel oddly empty or unstructured.
• She notes that this “funny stretch where time is unusual” can be beneficial or frustrating, especially when it's unexpectedly empty, or somehow still too packed.

3. The Challenge of Free Time, Especially in Groups

(07:10)

• Distinguishes between ‘free time’ as an individual (more rare and personal) vs. ‘holiday downtime’, which usually involves family or others being around.
  • Recommends past episode 320 ("How to Feel Good About Free Time") for those who struggle with unstructured solo time.
  • “Holiday downtime… is not really free time per se, and it’s definitely not just for you.” (07:45)

4. Step 1: Establish the Purpose for Your Downtime

(09:05)

• Suggests identifying the main goal for this season. Is it rest? Play? Family time? Catching up on a project?

• Recommends reflecting on what counts as rest for you. (Mentions episode 258, “The Seven Kinds of Rest.”)

  • Notable quote:
    “Sometimes we use the word ‘rest’ as a blanket description for anything that isn’t responsible, basically. But there are different kinds of rest.” (09:35)

• Encourages setting purpose both individually and, if relevant, as a family.

5. Step 2: Adjust Your Perspective and Expectations

(11:05)

• Advocates for realism—our imagined perfect downtime may clash with the actual demands or personalities in one’s household.
  • Example:
    “If I was just me… I would spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s in the coziest clothes, reading, eating, and napping… But I don’t live a life where I don’t have obligations or people to tend to.” (11:18)
  • Acknowledge it’s easy to feel resentful when reality doesn’t match imagined scenarios.
  • Suggests kindly adjusting perspectives to better match real situations and people.

6. Step 3: Lightly (and Loosely) Plan

(13:10)

• “Do you have a plan?”—particularly for that in-between week after Christmas. Kendra proposes forming a flexible, minimal plan to avoid last-minute stress.
  • Suggests texting friends now to see which kids/families are in town, or loosely queuing up family activities.
  • “By plan, I really just mean loosely, loosely put in place, right? ...You’re basically just making an activity queue.” (13:55)

Tactics:

• Use the “magic question:” What can I do now to make things easier for myself later?
• Identify go-to family activities (movies, puzzles, favorite restaurants).
• Gently gather ideas or resources so you’re prepared for downtime needs, but don’t over-schedule.

7. Step 4: Implement Gentle House Rules (Optional)

(16:10)

• Suggests considering “holiday house rules” to curb recurring frustrations (noise, boredom, screen time, movie choices, etc.).

  • Reference:
    Past episode 212, “A Guide to Summer House Rules,” for structural ideas.

• Examples:

  • Quiet hour every day
  • Rotating who picks the movie, snack, or seating for family movie nights

Kendra’s Core Message: Permission to Do What Works for You

(18:05)

• Kendra underscores: Holiday downtime doesn’t have to be magical, Instagrammable, or even especially productive.

  • “It doesn’t have to be a time where everyone is gladly playing games or doing puzzles or charmingly covered in flour making cookies. It could be that everyone is doing their own thing on a screen and you’re reading.” (18:40)

• Emphasizes flexibility—from how long you keep decorations up to how each person spends their day.

• Reminds listeners: “Just be kind to yourself and receive your own permission to enjoy holiday downtime in the way that you or your people need to.” (19:25)

Relatable Examples & Personal Anecdotes

(20:00)

• Kendra admits her own downtime is often a “mixed bag”:
  • “There will be a good bit of whining because kids are bored. A little frustration for me as I remind them of the things that they just received that they could play with and then all of that will not happen, even all at once, because my kids are different and they will feel these different things at different times.” (20:25)
  • Family traditions may sputter or kids drop out halfway.
  • The overall takeaway: It’s okay if things go differently than hoped.

Notable Quotes

• “You don’t need to over plan, overanalyze, or overstress. Just be where you are.” (21:15)
• “If there are small things now you can think about or put in place to help make the next tiny little stretch of time, this little season of holiday downtime, easier—I hope this episode helps.” (21:30)

Listener Tip: Lazy Genius of the Week

(22:00)

• This week’s tip comes from listener SJP122:
  • Use leftover Christmas wrapping paper to make oversized confetti for New Year’s Eve—easier to clean up, fun, and resourceful.
  • “Bonus tip. Make the pieces big so they’re easier to clean up at the end of the night. No vacuum required.” (22:20)
  • Kendra notes: “Big confetti is still confetti and you can still throw it, and easy cleanup is always a win.” (22:45)

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 03:30 – Acknowledgement of listeners who don’t get much (or any) downtime
• 09:05 – How to decide on a purpose for your downtime
• 11:05 – Real-world expectations vs. idealized holiday downtime
• 13:10 – Planning lightly for post-Christmas downtime; “activity queue”
• 16:10 – House rules to smooth repetitive issues
• 18:05 – Kendra’s overarching message of permission and flexibility
• 20:00 – Realistic picture of holiday downtime in Kendra’s house
• 22:00 – Lazy Genius of the Week: Wrapping paper confetti

Tone and Style

Kendra’s delivery throughout is gentle, compassionate, and sprinkled with self-deprecating humor and real-life examples. The tone is nonjudgmental, encouraging listeners to approach holiday downtime with both intention and flexibility, and permission to do whatever feels right (or possible) for them and their families.

Main Takeaway

Approach your holiday downtime with thoughtfulness but little rigidity. Establish your purpose and set gentle expectations, communicate openly and loosely plan—but above all, give yourself permission to let the holidays be whatever you and your loved ones need. Let go of perfection, embrace what is, and enjoy the gift of this unusual, in-between season.