The Lazy Genius Podcast

I’m sharing my favorite planning tool ever, something that doesn’t start big or push perfection but instead honors your season, your energy, and what matters most today. If you’ve ever felt let down by traditional planners, this episode is for you. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. How to Bullet Journal: The Absolute Ultimate Guide Learn more about The Playbooks or grab a Summer Playbook here Here’s a link to an Instagram Live where I talk about the Summer Playbook Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re new here, this is a favorite episode we do once a quarter. Barbara Brown Taylor, a fantastic author, coined this phrase years ago: what’s saving my life, and I love the regular practice of taking note of what that is for me. I’m sharing ten things that are saving my life right now in this particular season of life, and they, as always, are quite the smattering of unrelated things. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Jesus by Jon Guerra The BEMA Podcast RMS Coconut Cleansing Balm (affiliate link) Caroline Girvan YouTube channel Merlin Bird Identifier app Get a Summer Playbook Get the next Latest Lazy Letter that lands in inboxes on Wednesday, May 7 Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We spend so much time in our kitchens—making food, cleaning up food, putting away food. The mess that comes out of that room is nothing short of terrifying. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 things that help me keep my kitchen mostly clean on a fairly regular basis. Maybe you’ll find an idea or two that will work in your home or you’ll be inspired to notice the rhythms you already have in place without realizing it. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sam Kelly Notice & Do guide House Rules by Myquillyn Smith Episode #410: How to Deal with All the Paper Episode #209: How to Keep Your Surfaces Clear Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My oldest is wrapping up his freshman year of high school, and I can feel how fast it’s all going. This episode is about what I hope he—and all my kids—know before they leave home. It’s not a checklist of adult skills (though those can be great); it’s more about the slow, everyday work of becoming. I’m sharing a few helpful categories and what falls inside them for us, but your version will look different—and that’s the point. This isn’t about doing it all. It’s about starting small, right where you are. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for another Office Hours episode! Every quarter, you send in your questions and challenges, and I offer a Lazy Genius lens to help you navigate them. You don’t need someone else to solve your problems—you’re smart and know your life best. Sometimes just asking the question is the solution. But listening to others? It’s a powerful reminder that you’re not alone in what you’re carrying. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. The Instagram post for reference Burnout by the Nagoski sisters Episode #332: How to Enjoy Your Evening Hours Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Episode #66: The Lazy Genius Yard Sale Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naming what matters is the whole foundation of everything we do here, and I think it’s also one of the most challenging. Today, I’m going to share six common mistakes when naming what matters so that you can catch yourself when you run into one of these. Hopefully it’ll help you see with clearer vision. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #406: Big Sister Pep Talk: You’re Not Selfish Episode #255: How to Name What Matters Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we get a little closer to spring break and summer which inevitably involves a trip or two, I wanted to do an episode to help us think about trips with a little more intention. The ten things apply to work trips, family vacations, girls weekends, all the things. If you leave your house for more than a night or two and then come back home, this episode will be helpful. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Bonus Episode: The Disney World Episode Episode #165: The Lazy Genius Packs for a Trip Episode #248: The Lazy Genius Guide to Easier Travel Episode #265: How to Come Home from Vacation Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I did an episode on organizing paper over five years ago, and it’s solid. But it’s time to look at it again. Because paper is everywhere. It’s like Michael Scott said in that episode of The Office where they make their own TV commercial: limitless paper in a paperless world. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #91: The Lazy Genius Organizes Paper Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids are wonderful. Kids are also annoying. Parenting asks us to love them while they push our buttons, and if we don’t think ahead, we might react in ways we regret. In this episode, three things to remember when your kid is driving you up a wall, plus seven common frustration points and how to handle them with a little more intention. Not a parent? No pressure to listen! But if you need a different episode today, Episode 302: The Lazy Genius Guide to Basketball is here to help you survive March Madness. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode 216: Navigating Siblings Who Fight Join the mailing list to receive the Latest Lazy Letter on the first Wednesday of every month! Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you think like a Lazy Genius, there are three surprising steps to a clean house. They’re a short little row of dominoes that impact how you see your home and what you do to keep it clean. And maybe your definition of clean will shift a little, too.  Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This kind of episode is like Christmas for me. I love talking about planning but with a compassionate, flexible bent. We do not need anymore rigidity or weird shame spirals about failed plans. No thank you. We’re just living our lives, putting things in place where we can, intending to do whatever we decide, but then lowkey expecting that not all of those things will happen. We need to be flexible with both our plans and ourselves. Today, I’m going to give some ideas on how to approach both.  Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Jodi Picoult TikTok Cookish from Christopher Kimball Muji 0.38 pens Mildliners in Gold Get the next volume of Latest Lazy Letter (hitting inboxes on March 5th) Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m always honored when you all say I’m the big sister you’ve never had, and I think sometimes we need a good ol’ pep talk from a big sister. Today’s is about selfishness. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Burnout by the Nagoski sisters Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Man, I love these episodes. I love lists so that’s obviously a blast, but intentionally looking for the good things, the life-saving things, the joyful things in my life right now is something I hope I never stop doing. So today I have a list of ten things, a pretty mixed bag per usual. What brings me life and saves my life is going to be different from yours. But I will try and do a good job of sharing why that thing is on the list so that you might better understand why something is on your personal list. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Book Buddy app Messy by Olivia Dean (YouTube playlist) Cashmere Throw Blanket by Quince Cookish by Christopher Kimball (affiliate link)  I’ve Got Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God by Erin Moon (affiliate link) @justmacrose on Instagram Tiny little stirring spoons (affiliate link) Get on the list for the Latest Lazy Letter. Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For whatever cocktail of reasons, life just feels like a lot right now. An extra amount of a lot. Constant chaos feels like the norm instead of the exception. Finding calm in the chaos is not just a cute alliterative podcast title. It’s required. It’s survival for me right now. It’s necessary spiritually and mentally healthy work for me to actively seek, create, and receive calm in the chaos of life right now, and I want to share ten ways you might try doing that, too. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Rejoice by Andrew Peterson (YouTube) Episode #403: How I Get Stuff Done When I Don’t Feel Like It The Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren Get your Spring Playbook here or grab a “seconds” version at a discount here. Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a universal problem. All of us have stuff we have to do and we just don’t feel like doing it. So either we don’t do it and get behind or we do it but with much reluctance. Neither option is fun. So today, I’m sharing ten things that help me get my stuff when I don’t feel like it. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #238: How to Get Stuff Done When You Don’t Feel Like It  Episode #341: The Real Reason It’s Hard to Get Stuff Done Episode #21: The Lazy Genius Does Laundry (see also: Episode #113: The Lazy Genius Does Laundry Updated!) Episode #51: The Lazy Genius Cleans the Bathroom The next Latest Lazy Letter comes out Wednesday, February 5th. Get on the list here! Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Y’all are super familiar with this episode by now, but I’m going to take some of your questions from Instagram and Lazy Genius them. I will say that any time we do these episodes, the answers in the post are so good. Some I don’t even answer because y’all do such a great job of answering each other’s, all with a compassionate Lazy Genius lens. So after you listen to this, don’t hesitate to scroll through past Office Hours Instagram posts @thelazygenius because they are quite excellent. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Past Office Hours episodes: #315 - Office Hours, #354 - Office Hours with Kendra, #327 - Lazy Genius Office Hours, #377 - Office Hours, #352 - Office Hours with the Office Ladies Past Office Hours Instagram posts here, here, here, and here. Episode #334: How to Create a Relaxing Home Routine Episode #254: Chores I Do Every Day Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live in your season is one of the thirteen Lazy Genius principles I write about in my first book, The Lazy Genius Way, and fun fact: it was the hardest chapter to write. Even though I talk about contentment in that chapter, a theme we now cover quite often, I was still hanging on to the greatness train by my fingertips. In this episode, I’m going to share a few highlights about what it means to live in your season since we can always use a reminder, and I’m going to share how that personally looks in my own life years after releasing that first book. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Celebrations are strangely complicated. Sometimes we shy away from them, especially if we’re celebrating something about ourselves. Other times we have them but feel pressure to celebrate a certain way, to make everything as sparkly and memorable as possible. I’m not promising that you’ll never feel disappointed with your celebrations again, but I do think there’s a lot of room to feel greater satisfaction when we mark our moments. Side note: This our 400th episode!! Kind of fun to talk about celebrating on the 400th episode. 🎉 Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Past episodes that are celebration-adjacent: #195 - Creating Your Own Holiday When There’s Nothing to Look Forward To, #119 - Plan Your Opening Ceremony, #159 - The Magic of Closing Ceremonies, #294 - How to Celebrate Your Own Birthday Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The beginning of the year or the beginning of anything often has us rethinking our routines and rhythms and systems and choices to see if there’s anything we want to change. Before you start to put on your problem-solving glasses, utilizing that new year energy to make everything fresh and ready to begin, let’s name what’s working. I have three rules, three questions, and three categories to help you think this through. Helpful Companion Links Order my new book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #349: 10 Small Changes I’m Glad I Made Episode #366: Twenty Helpful Decisions I Keep Repeating Sign up for the Latest Lazy Listens email. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices