Kendra Adachi argues that 93% of time management books are written by men who often don't contend with the same challenges as women, such as managing a household, caring for children, or dealing with periods. These books lack the perspective of those who carry the mental load of invisible scaffolding in their homes and families, making the advice incomplete and often impractical for many women.
Kendra Adachi's book, 'The Plan,' emphasizes that time management should be compassionate and considerate, focusing on setting intentions rather than rigid goals. It encourages readers to pivot when plans change and to avoid tying their self-worth to their productivity. The book challenges the traditional, often perfectionist-driven approach to time management.
Kendra Adachi uses 'big black trash bag energy' to describe the tendency to swing from seeking a perfect solution to feeling overwhelmed and wanting to start over completely. This metaphor applies to both physical clutter and emotional or scheduling overwhelm, where people feel the need to scrap everything and begin anew.
Kendra Adachi argues that life is unpredictable, and plans often fail due to unforeseen circumstances. Instead of focusing on creating perfect plans, she suggests developing the skill to pivot and adapt when things don't go as expected. This approach reduces the pressure to achieve perfection and fosters resilience.
Kendra Adachi's approach to time management was shaped by her childhood, where she felt the need to be dependable and competent to maintain safety and approval. As an adult, she struggled with perfectionism, especially as a mother, until she realized that trying to be perfect at everything was unsustainable and unfulfilling.
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Most people I know are feeling overwhelmed, to put it lightly. Between the stuff you have to do (work, paying your bills, getting your kid new shoes, or vacuuming up the dog hair before you host book club) and the things you wantto do and know will make you feel better (going to the gym, drinking water, REST, spending time with friends, starting one of the million hobbies you bought supplies for and shoved into a closet), it’s all too much and somehow we still don’t feel like we’re doing enough.
We’re supposed to do it all (and make it look easy), but it feels like an equation that always adds up to “well, if you can’t figure out how to do it all you must be a loser!”
Today’s guest is Kendra Adachi, AKA The Lazy Genius). Kendra is the author of The Plan: Managing Your Time Like A Lazy Genius)*, *a book that is nearly the exact opposite of any time management book I’ve ever read, and a message I desperately needed to hear.
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