The Lazy Genius Podcast: How to Get Better at Projects

Host: Kendra Adachi (The Lazy Genius)
Date: February 23, 2026
Episode: #457

Overview

In this episode, Kendra Adachi shares her guide to getting better at projects, both big and small. Instead of hustling for productivity or chasing perfection, Kendra, the self-described “systems expert and permission giver,” presents 10 practical tools for approaching projects with kindness and flexibility. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, small steps, and making projects meaningful (and even fun!). The episode also features her top 10 sporting events, a listener’s clever monthly project system, and a pep talk for getting through cranky days.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding Projects and Setting Expectations

• Kendra begins by normalizing the fact that everyone has projects—fun ones and not-so-fun ones.
• Projects are out of the ordinary, take extra work, and always replace something in your regular life.
• “You’re probably not bad at doing projects. It’s just that projects are out of your ordinary and they require a lot of decisions…be kind to yourself.” (16:14)

[09:56] She challenges listeners to approach today’s advice with a kinder, more optimistic mindset, especially if a dreaded project is looming.

Characteristics of a Project

• One main objective
• Has an ending point
• Is out of your ordinary rhythm
• Requires multiple decisions and tasks (i.e., “a project has its own to-do list”)

2. Kendra’s 10 Tools for Getting Better at Projects

[16:55] Kendra’s tools apply to any project, from organizing a closet to planning a move.

1. Know What Keeps You Going

• Reflect on what motivates you in a project—music, visible progress, teamwork, spontaneity, etc.
• “I love to make a to-do list of the tiniest things. I feel like I’m moving when I can cross something off.” (19:29)

2. Know What Slows You Down

• Identify what stalls your momentum: feeling overwhelmed, tedious details, lack of clarity, or something else.
• Break projects down into “projects within a project” to avoid overwhelm.
• Relatable example: prepping her son’s room to be painted became several mini-projects.
• “What makes you slow down, lose momentum, or even just stop altogether?” (21:39)

3. Find a Reason to Care

• Go beyond “knowing your why”—find a reason you genuinely care about, even if the motivation is external (like doing it for someone else) or tied to a reward.
• “We care about other things in our regular life more, and we need a reason to care about the project.” (24:56)

4. Keep the Details in One Place

• Projects have lots of scattered notes and ideas—consolidate them!
• Use a notebook, Google Doc, notes app, or Lazy Genius Projects Playbook.
• “When you choose one specific place for all your projects, always, it helps you remember what matters about them and what you’ve already done.” (27:46)

5. Know What You Are Displacing

• Projects always take up time or energy you’d otherwise spend elsewhere.
• Acknowledge what’s getting sidelined and make peace with it.
• “You don’t have to be a superhero who can just hold more and do more.” (29:21)

6. Make Project Days Easier

• Don’t try to squeeze a project in with all your usual routines.
• Lower the pressure: order pizza, skip chores, or relax routines on project days.
• “The more you make project days easier, the better you’re gonna get at projects.” (30:11)

7. Have What You Need Before You Begin

• Anticipate supplies, information, or support you’ll need—being prepared reduces friction.
• Even a bank of ideas (like for Kendra’s album project) counts.
• “There is nothing that slows down a project quicker than not having what you need.” (31:01)

8. Go in the Right Order

• Many projects flop due to doing things out of sequence (e.g., organizing before decluttering).
• Kendra’s universal order: 1) Name what matters, 2) Calm the crazy, 3) Trust yourself with what comes next.
• “There are right orders for all kinds of specific things. But here’s an order that’s good for literally anything and everything.” (32:01)

9. Expect to Pivot

• Things rarely go exactly to plan. Build flexibility and expect changes.
• “One of my favorite things to remind you all of is that it’s more valuable to learn how to pivot instead of learning how to plan.” (34:01)

10. Plan Some Fun

• Intentionally make projects enjoyable—with music, rewards, friends, or playful energy.
• Example: Turning an arduous insulation project after Hurricane Katrina into a fun memory with questions and camaraderie.
• “Plan some fun in your projects...Even fun after them.” (35:21)

3. Summary and Recap

[36:00] Kendra briefly recaps her 10 tools, encouraging listeners to use even just one to improve their relationship with projects:

• Know what keeps you going
• Know what slows you down
• Find a reason to care
• Keep the details in one place
• Know what you’re displacing
• Make project days easier
• Have what you need before you begin
• Go in the right order
• Expect to pivot
• Plan some fun

“When you do these 10 things every time you do a project, projects will become more and more enjoyable. I promise.” (35:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Projects are out of your ordinary and they require a lot of decisions and a lot of things to do. They’re like a whole thing. And it’s hard to add a whole thing into an already busy life. So be kind to yourself about projects.” (16:14)
• “Name what matters…calm the crazy…and trust yourself with what comes next. This order works for, like, kind of everything.” (32:13)
• “It’s more valuable to learn how to pivot instead of learning how to plan.” (34:09)
• “Plan some fun in your projects…Intentionally infuse fun ahead of time. The more you do this, the more you’ll enjoy doing the projects on your list.” (35:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 09:56 — Introduction to 10 tools for better projects
• 16:55 — Tool #1: Know what keeps you going
• 19:29 — The power of tiny to-do lists
• 21:39 — Tool #2: Know what slows you down
• 24:56 — Tool #3: Find a reason to care
• 27:46 — Tool #4: Keep the details in one place
• 29:21 — Tool #5: Know what you are displacing
• 30:11 — Tool #6: Make project days easier
• 31:01 — Tool #7: Have what you need before you begin
• 32:01 — Tool #8: Go in the right order
• 34:01 — Tool #9: Expect to pivot
• 35:21 — Tool #10: Plan some fun
• 36:00 — Recap of the 10 tools

Segment: Kendra’s Top 10 Sporting Events

[38:09] Kendra enthusiastically ranks her favorite major sporting events, making for a lighthearted interlude:

• Honorable Mention: F1 Grand Prix Monaco (“I don’t really care about the racing, but I walked the track!”)
• 10. Wimbledon (“Spectacularly British vibe.”)
• 9. Super Bowl (“Fun, but the games are usually terrible.”)
• 8. NBA Playoffs (“Never not take a chance to watch Steph Curry play.”)
• 7. Men's FIFA World Cup (“Some diva vibes spoil it, but I will watch every match.”)
• 6. Winter Olympics (“Curling is my favorite… Maybe I just love curling.”)
• 5. Summer Olympics (“Just more colorful, so much more happening!”)
• 4. March Madness (“A house divided—UNC vs. Duke!”)
• 3. NFL Playoffs (“Wild Card weekend is the best weekend of the year.”)
• 2. Playoff Baseball/World Series (“I freaking love playoff baseball. The drama!”)
• 1. Women’s FIFA World Cup (“Peak of the peak—the athleticism, the drama!”)

“I will kick my whole family out of the room if they get in my way of watching the Women’s World Cup.” (44:45)

Segment: Lazy Genius of the Week

[46:57]

• Highlight: Angela from Winston-Salem keeps a recurring reminder for monthly house projects and tracks all her ideas in a phone note, allowing flexibility and keeping project thoughts out of her weekly to-do list.
• Kendra’s take: “Angela is supporting her weaknesses...carving out specific time...keeping everything in one place...expecting to pivot...such a great example of compassionately getting better at projects.” (48:03)

Mini Pep Talk: When You’re Cranky

[49:00]
Kendra admits to a recent cranky day and offers this tip:

“Be patient when you’re cranky. Be patient with yourself…with your family and friends…with the process of getting out of it. Sometimes, like, a couple of bangers can get you back to normal…other times, you wake up the next day still feeling cranky. Be patient.” (50:10)

Takeaways

• Projects don’t have to be overwhelming or joyless—small shifts and self-understanding can make a huge difference.
• Use Kendra’s 10 tools as a flexible framework for approaching any project.
• Remember, it’s about being a genius about what matters, and lazy about what doesn’t.

For More

• Playbooks and project tools: thelazygeniuscollective.com/playbooks
• Podcast recaps: thelazygeniuscollective.com/listens

Host sign-off:
“Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.” (51:16)