The Lazy Genius Podcast - Bonus: How to Lazy Genius the Start of a New Month

Episode Date: September 29, 2022

Today is a quick little bonus episode - How to Lazy Genius the Start of a New Month. We’re a whisper away from October, and anytime the calendar turns to a new month, we feel some things. There’s a sense of potential, maybe of dread, of wondering if we got everything done last month that we meant, of making sure we’re not forgetting anything that’s coming up so we can prepare for it. That’s great, but let’s make sure we’re approaching it like Lazy Geniuses.   Helpful Companion Links Episode #258: The Seven Kinds of Rest and How to Know Which One You Need Episode #255: How to Name What Matters 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 are 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 a quick little bonus episode. How to Lazy Genius the start of a new month. We are a whisper away from October, and anytime the calendar turns to a new month, we feel some things, right? There is a sense of potential, maybe of dread, of wondering if we got everything done last month that we meant to, of making sure we're not forgetting anything that's coming up. So we're we can prepare for it. There are many ordinary challenges that lie dormant until we enter a new month and then we're like, tighten up, start to plan, right? Now that's great, but let's make sure we're approaching it like lazy geniuses. First off, let's put the beginning of the month in the correct perspective. There is nothing inherently magical about the first of the month. It does not carry any requirements. You can just treat it like any other day, right? There are even seasons where marking months almost feels defeating, like when you're home with tiny humans or you're waiting for menopause to be over or you're in a pandemic. Sometimes noticing the start of yet another month where you feel

like you're in the exact same place is really discouraging. Now, you can honor that discouragement and recognize the season that you're in. Remember, lazy geniuses live in the season. You don't have to let that discouragement be in charge and keep you discontent with your life, but don't just buck up and push through. Some seasons are hard or boring or discouraging. Name it, honor it, be kind to yourself as you try and navigate it, and let it hold a seat at the table but not be in charge. Second, sometimes there is something magical about the start of the month. The exact opposite of what I just said. Now, not inherently, not inherently magical. It's not part of its nature. But the start of the month is an opportunity to notice when you might want to mark something, name something,

look forward to something. Maybe your past month was hectic or scattered or stressful and a new month feels like a built-in deep breath to assess, to let go of what's not working and create space for something that does. Sometimes we are in that that harried space, right? And it's like the 23rd of the month or something. And we actually set our sights on the start of the next month. We see it as a reset. We rarely reset on the 23rd because it feels weird. Now, it isn't weird. And you can totally reset on the 23rd. But it does feel weird. You're like, let's just wait till the first. So there is also kind of a motivating energy when the calendar turns to a new month. Third, the start of the month can be an acknowledgement of a next step. Maybe there is a habit or a routine that you've slowly been

developing, and with each month you add one more part. It's kind of like weightlifting. You know, you don't start with the heaviest weight. You build your way up to it. So for some of you, a new month is a marker of what your next small step is going to be towards a longer commitment to something. And fourth, a new month can bring disappointment or discontentment with what you didn't get done. We can often take the opportunity to be quite unkind to ourselves about how little we got done or how much further along in something we should be by now and aren't. The beginning of the month can basically bring shame, is what I'm saying. And that's a bummer. That's a big bummer. So like many things that we have done around here, it is important to name

the specific kind of energy you have at the start of the month. Be specific. It will almost certainly be different month to month. So name where you are now. It's like that episode on the seven different kinds of rest. If you have a big blanket, like I need rest declaration, without naming the specific thing you're trying to accomplish, you're going to waste your energy and not get the rest that you need. The same is true here. Name what your energy is at the start of this next new month. So you can be more accurate in knowing how to approach it. And if you even need to approach it at all. We'll be right back.

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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 podcast. Now, here are three things you can practically do to enter into a new month with the mindset of the lazy genius, okay? Number one, name what matters. There is an episode about how to name what matters that we'll put in the show notes. So head there if you need that. But a month is actually a great length of time to specifically name what matters in your life right now and not feel bogged down by what matters about everything. forever, right? It's short enough to make some choices that can serve you now without feeling

committed for longer than that, but it's long enough to actually make an impact on your quality of life. Because a lot happens over the course of a month and you're likely wearing a lot of hats and caring about a lot of things, a great way to name what matters for the next month is to break it down into four categories. What matters in my schedule? What matters in my home? What matters in my relationships and what matters in myself. Now, if you have other categories that work better for you, go for it, go for it. But I bet these generally cover most spaces for most people. You know, maybe work is missing, but your to-do list or your boss usually will dictate

what matters there. You know, what matters within your relative control might fall into the scheduling, a relationship at work, how you're caring for yourself in and outside of work. So name what matters in your schedule, in your home, in your relationships, and in yourself. Now, in my opinion, this is not the right way, but in my opinion, I think it's probably wise to start with your schedule simply because how you're spending your time will most likely dictate what matters in the other areas, right? So what's happening on your calendar? like a ton? Absolutely nothing, somewhere in between. For the next month, what matters most about your

schedule? Not necessarily what item on your calendar is the most important. It's more about what matters about how you experience your schedule. Even more grounding, what matters about how you experience your time? Do you need some nights at home with a family? Are you feeling lonely after everyone else has been focused on getting back into the swing of fall and you'd like to put a couple of fun things on your calendar and invite other people to join you. Look at your calendar and name what matters most to you this month, just this month. Then you can move on to the other three categories or whatever categories you want. Now since we're coming up on the Christmas holidays, maybe what matters most in your home this month is cleaning out what is no longer essential. Slowly do some purging, starting with the most offensive rooms

if you feel like you're going to put it off to the end and then you get desperate big black trash bag energy, you know, we don't want that. But maybe you want to do that before you start, you know, bringing in gifts that you're storing for others, you know, to give to them or making space for gifts that are given to you. That's just an example. But do what matters to you.

Okay, so that's the very first, like general practical thing you can do for the month. Name what matters just for the month. And in those particular categories, if it helps. The second thing you can do is to make the simplest plan for the bills and pills. What do I mean by bills and pills? The regular things that must happen, right? You know, bills have to be paid once a month. Pills might have to be taken once a day.

There are plenty other things that if left undone now, will cause a gigantic problem later, right? So right now, just jot down what those essential things are. Not what you wish you were doing. This is not the time to create a workout plan because you need to get more cardio or whatever. In fact, I think most of the things we often feel like we need to add to our list or body-related things. Your body is very important, very.

It, along with your spirit and your soul, they make you who you are. And you should tend to yourself in a kind way. But let's be honest. Most of the time we're all geared up to do something new. It's when we think we need to change the shape or the size of our body. So I'm asking you with the deepest sincerity to avoid that energy right now. Your body is good. Yes, you can absolutely start small.

You can begin tending to it in a way that honors it as it is. You can try to prioritize moving it. I think all of that is wonderful. But I don't want you adding 60 minutes of cardio three times a week to this very small task of trying to simplify your bills and pills. Okay? So jot down the things that have to happen, have to. No negotiation. You have to pay your bills. You have to take your antidepressants. You have to turn in that report. You have to get your car inspected. You have to buy the plane tickets for your trip that's the first week of November. That one is for me. What has to happen? Then put those things in their place. Schedule what needs to be scheduled. Give yourself a deadline and a space to accomplish what can't be scheduled. Decide once or ask the magic question or batch something to make it easier.

The point here is to list out what has to happen. And hear me again, I'm talking has to, not hope to, not wish to, has to. What has to happen. And then make the simplest, simplest plan to get it done. And third, do the same thing for the hope to's. Make a list of hope to's and the simplest plan to create space for them to happen. And listen, for that list. You need to dig deep for all the kindness here. If you get to the next first of the month and you haven't done any of your hope-toes, I forbid you to beat yourself up about it. You hoped to. That's the point. You can hope to get to something or to begin a new habit or whatever, but if you don't, you are not the problem.

I think when you name what matters and you make a plan for the half-toes, I think it does leave more room for the hope-toes. So if you didn't get to them this month, you really are doing great. Maybe it's just because you had too many half-toes. Maybe you had a two-week period and you were just a ball of psychosis for half a month because hormones are stupid. Maybe those hopes are someone else's hopes and they're not really yours. Maybe some of your hopes are better suited for a different season. And back to the have-toes, be highly editorial with your have-toes.

nothing should go on that list that could not go on next month's list. Trim the fat, only keep the essential have-toes forth this month. The other things can be hoped-toes. You know, I do hope to get to that this month. But if it waits till next month, it's okay, right? So the rest of those can be hope-toes. And they will be tended to if you're able. And if you are not, you deserve kindness as you move them to the next month.

So remember, the start of the month is not inherently magical. it can hold a little magic in its new beginning, and that's fine. It could be a reminder to mark something that matters, and it could also bring some disappointment that you didn't do what you wanted. So be sure you name how you're entering into a new month before you start making a bunch of plans that are too big. Once you name your energy going into the month, name what matters most about that upcoming month, possibly in the four categories of your schedule, your home, your relationships, and yourself. Then write down your have-toes and make the simple. plan to get them done. Finally write down your hope twos and be kind to yourself if they end up

being pushed a bit. I hope this short episode was an encouragement and as we turn the calendar into October, remember that you are doing great. You matter. You can make choices that are different from other peoples and you can make choices for a short season like the next month so that you can get your stuff done and you can feel like yourself while doing it. Thanks for listening and until next time be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. I'm Kendra. I'll on Monday. Have 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.