The Lazy Genius Podcast - #288 - How to Make the Rest of 2022 Easier

Episode Date: November 14, 2022

We’re in the middle of November. American Thanksgiving is next week which means that Christmas is in five minutes, and it’s easy to feel like we’re losing our minds a little bit with all the things. Today, we’re going to make the rest of 2022 easier with five fairly simple steps that will give you really practical help in making the next six or seven weeks feel good and enjoyable rather than rushed and stressful.   Helpful Companion Links The 2022 Holiday Gift Guide Episode #131: The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Episode #206: The Lazy Genius Guide to Buying Great Gifts Episode #287: How I’m Making Dinner Easier for the Rest of the Year The Holiday Docket Check out my books The Lazy Genius Kitchen (includes my turkey recipe and How to Host Thanksgiving like a Lazy Genius) and The Lazy Genius Way Download a transcript of this episode.   This podcast is hosted by Kendra Adachi and executive produced by Kendra Adachi, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. 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

Hey there, you're listening to the Lazy Genius Podcast. I'm Kendra Adachi, and I'm here to help you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. Today is episode 288, how to make the rest of 2022 easier. We're in the middle of November. American Thanksgiving is next week, which means that Christmas is in five minutes, and it's easy to feel like we're losing our minds a little bit with all the things. So today, we are going to make the rest of 2020. too easier with five fairly simple steps that will give you really practical help in making the next six or seven weeks feel good and enjoyable rather than rushed and stressful. In fact, I'd like for you to do one of two things. I want you to either listen to this episode in full, knowing that you will listen again with a little more time and then some paper because we're going to walk through some exercises here. So either listen now, knowing that you're going to listen again, or hang tight, look at your life the next couple of days, and then find a time, even put it on your calendar where you can listen to this episode and have time to pause and do the steps I'm encouraging

you to do in real time. So this episode is super practical, super, super practical. And it's going to give you the best kind of homework to make the rest of 2022 easier. Now, before we jump into the five steps. If you are absolutely drowning, absolutely drowning, and feel like you just cannot get a handle on the holiday season, I will quickly remind you of the holiday docket. The holiday docket is a digital resource. It's just a downloadable PDF, and it is the lazy genius guide to celebrating well. It walks you through the season, helps you name what matters to you, and it gives you places to go in the right order so that you can have what you need. You can troubleshoot certain problems. You can plan your opening and closing ceremonies. Basically, it's like a path to taking a deep breath

during this busy time so that you can enjoy the things that you want to enjoy. So if you were just absolutely drowning, I really want you to go get that because you're going to drown and then you're not going to be able to enjoy the things that are coming. And I don't want that to happen. So you can listen to this episode. It will absolutely help you. But if you need like a more robust process that's holiday centric, the holiday docket is in the digital store and we'll have a link in the show notes. Okay, here are our five steps to making the rest of 2022 easier. Name what's happening. Ooh, gotcha. Name what's happening. Make what's happening smaller. Have what you need. Put everything in its place and categorize. This is the order,

friends. Let's take them one by one. First, name what's happening. Usually we start with name what matters. It's a little weird. And while that is an undercurrent of everything that we'll talk about, today, whether said or not said, there are a lot of things that are happening right now and for the rest of the year. There are a lot of things that are out of the ordinary, that are not part of routines, that just sneak up on you. So instead of starting with some general, you know, intangible word about what matters, like connection, which we love and it matters, but also like a lot is happening. Let's instead start with what's happening because it's already there, okay now here's where the activity begins we're already we're already getting out our paper i want you to

get a piece of paper uh open a spread in your bullet journal if you still do that open a google doc something okay just get something where you can do this homework and i also want you to get your calendar whether it's you know your plan or digital calendar or whatever you just need to see what's coming and you need a place to take notes okay so our first step is to name what's happening now as you're like you got your pen poised. Let me add a caveat here before we begin. I don't want you to do more work than you have to here. Okay. So listen to me please. Not like her not already, but really, really listen to this part. So often we add things to our to do lists even though they're already in a routine and will get done or we plan for things that are kind of already planned. We

complicate our planning process with things that already have what they need and already have a place. And those are our two goals here today. You want to have what you need and then you want to put everything in its place. Now we're about to name what's happening as we go through your calendar, but I want you to recognize that not everything that you see on your calendar has to be written down. Some things are good to go. And you don't want to crowd your list. or your brain with things that are already in place. Okay? Here's an example.

One thing on my calendar, actually it's multiple things, but for the same event, are rehearsals and then the actual performance, which is like a weird word to use for a thing at my church, but it's rehearsals and the performance for this Christmas musical Lessons and Carol service at my church, okay? There are several rehearsals coming up and then the two performances. and if I were to go through my calendar, you know, those are the things that are happening, and it's actually happening several times, and you might think I should write those down. That's something that's happening. But is there anything that I need for those rehearsals or that performance?

Actually, no. I just need to sing and wear the right clothes, which I already have because the color palette for everyone is like whites and creams and tans and I've got that stuff. Like it's fine. So I've got what I need to wear. and then is everything in its place? Is everything required of me already on the calendar? It is because the only thing required of me is to practice.

And those rehearsals are already on the calendar, right? So in this exercise of naming what's happening, I don't need to name lessons and carols at my church because I already have what I need and it's already put in its place. Does that make sense? Now, another example would be Thanksgiving, which is next week. You like me might have in its place host Thanksgiving. It's a calendar item. It's on the right day and time. Great. It's in its place. But a lot has to happen. A lot of other things are happening before that particular happening arrives,

right? Do I have everything I need? Oh gosh, not at all. As of now, I have not chosen what we are even eating. I have not ordered my turkey. I haven't decided on what the table might look like, what I'll need for that. I also haven't even put when I'm going to do those things in their place. So when I go through my calendar in this first exercise, I'm going to write host Thanksgiving under what's happening because there's a lot that I need and there's a lot that I need to put in its place for that thing as opposed to the Lessons and Carol's example. Do you see the difference?

So as you look through your calendar, your job, is to name what's happening, but really only name and write down the things that require something of you that still needs something or still need a place. Now, the second part of this first step part is to also name what you wish was happening. Is there anything not scheduled that you wish you were doing? Maybe you want to host a holiday party for friends, you know, like a fun game, night or something. Maybe you have yet to put going to look at Christmas lights on your calendar or walking to the city's huge Christmas tree or baking cookies or something like that. Those things are just kind of floating in the ether, but they have not landed. That's actually where the holiday

docket is super helpful because it helps you name what matters to you and therefore what you need to make space for. So as you look at your calendar, it's important what's listed and it's also important to notice what's not. What's missing? What have you yet? to put in its place. So write down those things on your what's happening list. Maybe they're not happening yet, but you want them to. I actually did this for myself already. And the things that are happening or that I want to happen that need to go through this process are gifts. I still have lots of open loops on even some birthday gifts and obviously holiday gifts. Hosting Thanksgiving, like I already said, decorating for Christmas, holiday baking, something I very very,

much love and have not yet put on its place on my calendar and it is definitely going to fall through the cracks if I don't and then maintaining regular life, you know, like chores and meals and stuff. So make your list of what's happening and what you would like to have happen. And in all of this, by the way, as you go through this process, please do not forget rest. Please schedule rest. That is a lazy genus principle for a reason. We'll be right back. Aw, isn't something we need to travel for.

it's something waiting for us in everyday life, whether in a city street or a moment with a work of art. I'm Dr. Keltner, host of the Science of Happiness podcast. Join me for Cities of Aw, a special series on how our public spaces can spark awe, wonder, and enhance the quality of public life. You can find us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Now for step two, make what's happening smaller.

If I just write down host Thanksgiving on my what's happening list and leave it, that is hilarious and also does me no good. Instead, I need to make what's happening. I need to make that smaller. What else is happening in order to host Thanksgiving? Well, I need to brainstorm recipes, choose the menu, shop for the food, cook the food. There's also the table and the vibe, right? You know, like, what's my table going to look like? What music are we going to listen to?

there are a lot of smaller pieces to hosting Thanksgiving. And I don't want to miss any. Basically hosting Thanksgiving, it just has a lot happening within it, right? And that's what we want to do. We want to name those. We want to make what's happening smaller. Getting gifts for people. That also has a lot happening in it, right? You're making a list of who you're going to get gifts for, and then you're brainstorming ideas for those things, and then the shopping and then the wrapping and then the giving, right? So that's just making what's happening smaller. So that is your next task. Keep making the list of what is happening, but make it smaller. Break it down. Break it down. Step three is to have what you need. It might help you to make another column on your paper or on your Google Doc and like write down

things that you need based on what's happening. Like as you go through your list, like you can have a, you can just have a separate column of like, oh, here are the things that I need. Now, this is a great example. It's a weird example, but let's roll with it. So I never host Thanksgiving ever. Like the last time I really hosted was maybe 10 years ago. But really, my mom hosts for my side of the family and Kaz's mom hosts for his side of the family.

Well, this year, Kaz's brother and his family are coming into town like they often do. But there have been some challenges in our family this fall, in the Adachi side of the family. and those challenges have really taken a lot out of my mother-in-law. So I offered to host Thanksgiving this year to give her a break, honestly, completely expecting her to say no. And she said yes. Now, I was so excited. I am so excited because I love Thanksgiving. I love hosting Thanksgiving. And it has been so long. But guess what I need that I don't have? An oven. Like a working oven. I don't have a full working oven. We have a double oven that we've had for like a long time, like almost 12 years. And the top, it no longer heats, you know? Like, cool, cool, cool. It's fine.

So it's not really a double oven. It's just like a storage cabinet. And then also the door is broken. Like the oven door works kind of, but it is super broken. Well, a few weeks ago, Koss said, wait, you're cooking Thanksgiving for everyone. And it's like 13 people. And I was like, I know. I'm so excited.

And he said, is our oven. going to be able to handle that? And my eyes got real big. And I was like, oh, no, no, it cannot. It cannot handle it. So one of the things that we needed was a new oven. And he jumped in. He jumped into researching, which is something he's super good at. I hate it. I hate it so much. He kept asking what matters to me about a new oven. I would tell him he would adjust his research. And then he literally presented me with like three ovens that fit what mattered to me. And then I chose one. And hopefully it will arrive before Thanksgiving. I'm like a little nervous, you guys. nervous. But that's okay. That's okay. But I needed, that is something that I need for Thanksgiving to

happen, right? There's this thing that is happening. Do I have everything I need for it? No, I really don't. So I got to make the time to get what I need. So you, as a recap, so far, you have gone through your calendar, you have written down what's happening that still needs something or to be put in its place. Remember, you're not going to put anything on there that's like already sort of running on its own. You also added what you want to make happen that doesn't have a place yet. Then you made all those things that are happening smaller if you could. You're breaking down those big things into smaller happenings. And now I want you go through that list of smaller things.

That list of smaller things will either indicate something you need or something that needs to be put in its place. So I don't want you to like make that list of the smaller happenings and then just like think it's not relevant. scratch it out. It's actually very relevant. We're going to go back to it. But step three is for you to go through that and notice what you need. Now, not every entry will need something. It won't. For me, the entry of brainstorm Thanksgiving recipes, that doesn't really need anything specific that I don't have. It just needs time. It needs to be put in its place, which is step four. And we're not there yet. So you will go through your make-what-'s happening smaller list and you will write down anything that you need. Okay. Now we're going to go through the list again because it's step four

and we're going to put everything in its place. This is like essentially a scheduling exercise. When you look at your list of what's happening, when are you going to do those things? Put them in a place. Put them in your calendar. For me, I am marking off about three days spread out through the next few weeks to take care of gift stuff. The nice thing is I don't have to itemize those tasks very much. You know, like I can just block off four hours and put on the calendar like take care of holiday gifts. And depending where I am in the process of what's happening, I'll know that I'll either be brainstorming and looking around stores or online or I'll actually be out and about shopping for real or I'll be wrapping stuff or whatever. Does that make sense? So it doesn't have to be like super, super

itemized unless that's helpful. It's just block out the time. Put what's happening in its place. Because it's not just the events that are happening. It's all the things leading up to them and they need a place too. Y'all, this is why the season of the year is supposed to be the most fun and it's like not. It's not because we have full lives already. There's already a lot happening. If you add these massive things that are also happening, like the biggest holidays of the year or whatever, and they have many, many parts that you don't always have the supplies for or have scheduled the time for, you will lose your mind and you will not enjoy the things that matter. That is why this exercise is so important.

So finally, to wrap this up, step five is to categorize. As you look at your list of what's happening and as you look at it. at the things that you need and as you see where they are in their place, I want you to remember these three categories. Make it easier. Make it matter or let it go. I love using three different colored highlighters for this. So like with a line or a dot or whatever, like somehow visually see the things that you're going to make matter. Like what is the highest priority and you're going to give your time to it? What are you going to make easier? Things like, meal planning for the whole month or not really cleaning your house in the ways that you normally do

or getting store-bought cookies instead of making them yourself or whatever, you know? And then what are you going to let go? You can let it go completely by ignoring it or, and just for now, just for this season, you know, or you can let it go by letting it into the hands of another person, right? It's no longer your responsibility. Okay, so let's recap. you've got a lot happening so I want you to name it that's your first step go through your calendar and write down everything that's happening that still needs something or still needs to be put in its place or is too big and has parts to it that still need something or still has to be put in this place step two is to make what's happening smaller break it down step three is to have what

you need go through your list and write down anything you don't have that you need to make these things happen. Step four is put everything in its place, like literally schedule where these things will happen in your life. They don't have to be super detailed. They can be more in broad strokes, but you have to put them somewhere. And then fifth, categorize those things that have to be done that are happening by making them easier, making them matter, or letting them go completely or into the hands of someone else. Now, if you think about it, I don't know, for me, man, the rest of the year kind of feels a little easier now. Because everything has been thought through.

You either have what you need or you have planned when and how to get what you need, right? You've put everything that's happening in its place on the calendar. And you've given yourself permission to be a lazy genius, to care about certain things more than other things, even to let some things go. And absolutely things are going to come up that you do not expect. But because everything else is mostly in its place, you're not going to be thrown by. that. You just make it work and fit it in because everything already has a place. Our lives tend to feel overwhelming because all the details feel like they're swirling around and they're just not rooted anywhere. This exercise roots your stuff. It gives it a place.

And you can trust that even though you have a lot happening, that everything has a place and everything's going to get done. You don't have to worry about it. You don't have to catastrophe. It's ostracifies it and feel like, you know, there's one big ball of scheduling stress that's rolling down a hill at you like your Indiana Jones or something. Everything is in its place. And then as you go through your days and weeks coming up, you can plan those days and weeks knowing that you only need to do what is in front of you. Because everything is there waiting its turn. I love that so much. And that's how to make the rest of 2022 easier.

Now, I want to give you just a couple of resources. We'll put these in the show notes, but there are a couple of podcast episodes that can actually help you make some of these things happen. Last week's episode was one of those about how I'm making dinner easier for the rest of the year by kind of monthly meal planning and using some of my meal planning strategies. If you want to do that, we'll put some gift-giving stuff in there. Just a couple of resources to kind of get you thinking if you need them. Okay, before we go, let's celebrate the lazy genius of the week.

This week, it's Amanda Baird, who shared this in the Lazy Genius Facebook group last year, and I'm obsessed with this idea. Amanda writes, want to give a photo gift, but make it a little different than other years? Try the no good photos allowed family calendar. My siblings all sent me their best, worst photos, and I made spreads for each month. I have a hunch that this will be memorable. Our community manager, Latoya, she sent me this idea from Amanda, and Latoya, said that Amanda posted photos of the family calendar, like in the Facebook group, and that the words were epic and hilarious. So I am pretty obsessed with this idea. This feels like a

great gift project for a family, for a group of friends, for whoever. So as you make the rest of your 2022 easier, and if there's a place where this project would fit, what a great idea. So thank you, Amanda, and congratulations on being the lazy genius of the week. Okay, y'all, that's it for today. Be sure you check those show notes for those links. Thank you. you as always for listening. Thank you for sharing the show with your people. Our downloads steadily go up every single month and it's because y'all are sharing the show. It just really means so much that you do that. So if you enjoyed this episode and you think someone in your life would find it useful and encouraging, I would love for you to send a link to a friend or

share the show on Instagram or Facebook or just like grab a friend's phone and download the show for them and say listen to this. I really love that vibe personally. So thank you to those of you who boss your friends until listening to things. I appreciate you very much. Until next time, be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. I'm Kendra. I'll see you next week. If you ever felt like you were living just a B or B plus life, it's so dangerous to live that more dangerous than a B minus or a C plus life because when you're living a B or B plus life, you don't change it. You think it's good enough. Is it? I'm Susie Welch. I host a podcast called Becoming You. People think, okay, an A plus

Life is not available to me, but there is a way. We are all in the process of becoming ourselves. Listen to Becoming You wherever you get your podcasts.