The Lazy Genius Podcast
Host: Kendra Adachi ("The Lazy Genius")
Episode: Office Hours (#455)
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Lazy Genius Podcast is dedicated to "Office Hours"—a quarterly episode where Kendra answers listener-submitted questions about everyday challenges. True to her philosophy, Kendra offers compassionate, practical solutions rooted in her core idea: be a genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don't. This installment focuses on a diverse array of life topics with no parenting-specific questions, making the episode relevant to all listeners. Kendra is joined by voice memos from listeners and even invites special guest Emily P. Freeman to answer the final question about decision-making.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Returning to Planning After a Break

Listener Question (Furley, 09:11): How do you slowly get back into planning routines after a break without feeling overwhelmed?

• Kendra's advice:

  • Don't aim to "get back to where you were"—start from what you need right now.
  • Start with the "Before Moving On" page in the Playbook to reflect on your current state.
  • Focus on noticing and adjusting, answering soul-level questions rather than jumping into planning full-force.
  • Small steps and self-compassion are crucial; it's okay if you never return to your former system.

  "You might need to ride a different horse altogether... Just be where you are. Like, be a person." —Kendra (10:40)

2. Navigating Division of Labor and Invisible Problems at Home

Listener Questions:

• Trish: My spouse disagrees on what we're being "lazy" about (e.g., dinner)—how do I navigate this?

• Renee: How do I make house maintenance routines co-owned but still feel "lazy genius"?

• Kendra's insight:

  • The real issue is often “invisible problems,” i.e., underlying expectations and communication gaps.
  • For Trish: If he cares about dinner, he can help make it happen—or both parties can compromise on which nights to be more "genius" or "lazy."
  • For Renee: Use calendar alerts for shared tasks, but more importantly, have a conversation about the division of labor.
  • Resource corner: Episodes #235, #325 (disagreeing on what matters/how something is done), #337 (dividing labor), #298 (keeping up with habits).

  “Look for the invisible problem first... Don’t do any of that as a way to ignore the invisible problems. It’ll just stay a problem until you tend to it.” —Kendra (18:46)

3. Freshening Personal Style Without Overhaul

Listener Question (Heather): How do I decide what to wear without a full closet rehaul?

• Kendra's answer:
  • Lean into repetition, but tweak your "outfit formula"—swap out one item for a new shape or fit.
  • Browse Pinterest for inspiration tied to your lifestyle (e.g., "teacher outfit ideas").
  • Refer to episode #333 (Seven Ways to Always Know What To Wear).

4. Recovering Joy After Grief

Listener Question (Stacy): I’ve lost my parents and feel lost myself. How do I rediscover tiny joys?

• Kendra's gentle advice:

  • Replace “find” with “notice”—notice small joys as they come, rather than going on a hunt for them (less pressure, more presence).
  • Keep a “joy log” where you write down tiny moments of joy or laughter each day—no matter how small.
  • Recommend Kate Bowler's upcoming book: Joyful, Anyway (April 7).

  “Finding is more work, and you might not have the energy for that right now, but you might have the energy to notice what’s already there.” —Kendra (27:50)

5. Hosting Guests in a Small House

Listener Question (Larissa): Where do out-of-town guests sleep when you have no space?

• Kendra reframes:

  • Start by questioning if they need to stay at your house; set boundaries kindly but firmly if space doesn't allow.
  • If a prior setup is no longer possible, communicate the new normal—even if that means hotel stays.
  • Address invisible problems around expectations and boundaries, rather than just logistics.

  “If it is too confrontational to ask your parents or in-laws to stay somewhere else because you literally don’t have beds for them... you can just set a boundary and be done.” —Kendra (31:50)

6. Simplifying Home Décor After the Holidays

Listener Question (Laura): How do I decorate a room after taking down holiday decorations, without overcomplicating or overbuying?

• Kendra's advice (influenced by "The Nester"):
  • Quiet the space—live in it empty for a bit to see what it needs.
  • Cluster collections for visual impact, and look for items “bigger than a pineapple” for effective, non-cluttered décor.
  • Refer to Myquillyn Smith’s “House Rules” for more guidance.

7. Batching Adulting/Admin Tasks

Listener Question (Justine): How do I motivate myself to batch life admin tasks like bills or appointments?

• Kendra suggests:
  • Schedule a monthly “admin day”—and make it enjoyable (coffee shop, friend body-double, celebratory treat after).
  • Don’t worry about perfecting the system; try it once and iterate as needed.

8. Creating a Sustainable Hair-Washing Routine

Listener Question (Hannah): How do I make hair washing less of a chore amidst a busy mom/teacher life?

• Kendra’s real talk:

  • Find one day a week where hair washing doesn’t feel rushed—maybe the weekend or lunch hour.
  • On the other weekly wash, plan it on a day with the easiest dinner to free up time (e.g., “plan your hot dogs” night).
  • Accept some days will still be annoying, but not every day has to be the same.

  “There are times where I don’t dread washing my hair... when I do it on days that are not rushed.” —Kendra (38:40)

9. Handling Disrupted Weekly Routines

Listener Question (Kelsey): How do I adapt when my “reset” Mondays are interrupted by kids’ school holidays?

• Kendra’s approach:
  • Look ahead in your calendar and either move your reset day (to Sunday, for instance) or adjust your expectations.
  • Know you will catch up the next week—give yourself permission for imperfect weeks.

10. Going to Bed Earlier When Evenings Run Late

Listener Question (Alyssa): How do I go to bed earlier when I want "me time" after my teenagers are up late?

• Kendra’s solution:
  • Give yourself a couple designated late nights for your relaxation.
  • On other nights, stick to your earlier bedtime knowing your “me time” is coming.
  • Mix up where you spend that me time—sometimes in the living room with headphones, sometimes reading in bed.

11. Making Decisions When “Decide” Tasks Weigh You Down

Listener Question (Susanna): How do I become better at making small but paralyzing decisions?

• Special guest Emily P. Freeman (43:44):

  • Clutter is often delayed decisions—both physically and emotionally.
  • Remove low-stakes pressure: “Pick what you like and see how it grows.”
  • Establish regular reflection (weekly/monthly), making it easier to recall what has and hasn’t worked when faced with similar decisions.

  "Delayed decisions lead to clutter in our inner life, in our soul, in our brain..." —Emily P. Freeman (43:53)

• Kendra adds:

  • Most decisions don’t have a right or wrong answer; pick something and see how it goes.
  • Shifting away from a “greatness” mentality makes choosing less loaded.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Sometimes seasons leave us somewhere different and that's good.” —Kendra (11:55)
• “So many decisions, they don't have right or wrong options. There's so many good options.” —Kendra (46:00)
• “Do small things where you are. When we all do small things where we are, big things happen.” —Kendra (57:25)
• “We believe that smallness matters. We believe that today matters. We believe that the goal is not greatness or big systems...” —Kendra (56:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 09:11: Furley’s planner reset question & Kendra’s answer
• 14:27: Navigating different values and invisible problems at home
• 20:10: Practical wardrobe tweaks for when you feel stuck
• 22:15: Noticing small joys after grief
• 24:14: Guest accommodations in a too-small house
• 27:32: Home décor post-holidays—Quieting the space
• 29:50: Batching administrative tasks
• 33:30: Sustainable hair-washing routines for busy people
• 36:22: Dealing with disrupted weekly routines
• 38:40: Going to bed earlier with late teenagers in the house
• 41:19: Making (and not making) decisions—Emily P. Freeman's advice
• 49:46: February’s "Word of the Month": TEND (and recap of January’s "NO")
• 52:30: Lazy Genius of the Week: Tracy’s sweater tip
• 53:40: Pep talk for when you don’t know how to help

Lazy Genius of the Week

Tracy from Wisconsin:

• Buys next season’s sweaters on big post-holiday sales, tucks them away, and purges worn ones—creating space and a seasonal surprise.
• "This is the sweater version of like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of a winter coat..." —Kendra (52:54)
• Bonus tip: When you bring something new into a finite space, swap it for something going out.

Mini Pep Talk: Helping When You Don’t Know How

[53:40]

• The scale of need in the world can be overwhelming; you can’t fix or help everything.
• Focus on doing small things where you are—a donation, a phone call, a smile.
• “The minute we start believing that our choices have to be a certain scope in order to count is when things really start to fall apart.”
• Small, local acts of kindness and participation add up; start where you are, contribute what you can.

Word of the Month: TEND

[49:46]

• February’s collective focus is on tending—giving attention to the small things that matter daily.
• “After a month of saying no, we don’t need to just jump back in full force and manage everything. Let’s tend.”

References and Resources

• Episodes referenced for further help:

  • #235: When You Disagree on What Matters
  • #325: Differences on How Something Is Done
  • #337: Lazy Genius Division of Labor
  • #298: How to Keep Up with Household Habits
  • #333: Seven Ways to Always Know What To Wear
  • #332: How to Enjoy Your Evening Hours

• The Next Right Thing Podcast and Book by Emily P. Freeman (emilypfreeman.com)

• House Rules by Myquillyn Smith ("The Nester")

• Upcoming book: Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler (April 7)

Tone and Takeaway

Kendra’s signature warmth, relatability, and humor create a supportive space for listeners to see themselves in everyday problems and approach them kindly. Her emphasis is always on compassion, realistic expectations, and the power of small, sustainable steps over striving for greatness. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone seeking grace and practical wisdom for ordinary life.