On Barb’s Bookshelf: The Lazy Genius Way

I love the term “Lazy Genius.” As author Kendra Adachi uses it here, “lazy” is not an uncomplimentary adjective meaning “doesn’t do any work” or “doesn’t get anything done.” Instead, “lazy” refers to someone who prefers to work smarter, not harder.

In that respect, I am all about being lazy. I’ve been known to say that laziness is the mother of invention, and I read Cheaper by the Dozen dozens of times, partly because I was fascinated that the parents worked in the efficiency field. If there’s a way to do something faster or with less effort, bring it on. I’m always looking for those.

But Kendra Adachi emphasizes in The Lazy Genius Way that being a Lazy Genius is not simply about getting your chores done so you can sit around and eat ice cream and read novels or binge-watch Netflix. It’s about getting stuff done so you can do the things that matter. And it’s about getting rid of what doesn’t matter. It’s not just simplifying — it’s making smart choices.
Lazy Genius Way cover

Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t … to you.

Listen to the full introduction to The Lazy Genius Way on Kendra’s podcast.

There’s a lot in this book about being real, and that isn’t only the kind of “real” where someone on Instagram shows you what a disaster their life is because they forgot to put the carafe into the coffeepot before they hit the “brew” button, or their kids run around naked, strewing dirty, clean, and in-between laundry in their wake. It’s also the kind of “real” where you celebrate the good stuff and don’t feel ashamed of bragging (Small Success, anyone?).

In The Lazy Genius Way, you’ll be encouraged use the lazy tricks to help you save time so you can turn around and spend that time the way you want to spend that time: with family, with friends, deepening your spiritual life, taking better care of yourself.

The chapters in this book are packed with tips, strategies, and ideas – so bring your pencil and planner and prepare to think about how and why you do the things you do. The habits, how-tos, and routines that end each chapter will inspire you to make changes and celebrate what you’re already doing well.

What’s my own best Lazy Genius tip? Wear a lab coat when you cook. It covers even more than an apron, so if you make a mess cook with enthusiasm, you won’t regret it later when it’s time to do the laundry.

Kendra Adachi is a Christian author, podcaster, and Instagram personality, so the spiritual is a big part of this book. She talks about church, about biting off more than you can chew when you decide on a devotional practice, about living up to those Proverbs 31 expectations … and about changing the way we think about ourselves and others. Being a Lazy Genius, it turns out, is more than just saving time. It’s about using your mental, physical, and spiritual resources in ways that nourish you and those around you.

The Lazy Genius on Instagram

The Lazy Genius Podcast

The Lazy Genius website

This book is available for preorder now and releases August 11, 2020.

 


 

Copyright 2020 Barb Szyszkiewicz

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Failing at the Heroic Minute

All I wanted was a Pajama Day.

Last night I realized that, since I’m playing at the 7 PM holy-day Mass tonight, I could take my time about things and spend the morning in my PJs. I wouldn’t have to get dressed until it was time to head to Adoration at noon.

I relished the idea of working in my PJs, with the bonus of avoiding an early-morning shower-schedule collision with my daughter.

I even woke up a few minutes early! And I remembered that I’d be hanging around in my PJs, so I put on my cozy slippers and went downstairs to make my cup of tea and begin my morning routine.

All was well until TheKid’s alarm went off at 6, and he didn’t get up. He didn’t get up at 6:10 or 6:15 when I called to him from the hallway.

He didn’t get up until 6:24.

I wasn’t sweating it TOO much, because he’d said that his first-period class was having bagel sandwiches for breakfast and he’d already brought in his money to give to the classmate who was picking up the order. THEN he told me that the breakfast party had been moved to tomorrow.

And that’s when I failed at the Heroic Minute.

Succeeding at St. Josemaría Escrivá’s Heroic Minute is getting up when you’re supposed to. No snooze alarm. No rolling over and pulling the blanket over your head. I’m normally pretty good on that score.

For me, the Heroic Minute involves managing a graceful response when someone throws a monkey wrench into your plans.

I like plans. Monkey wrenches, not so much.

At 6:24 I kind of lost it when I realized that I was going to have to change out of my pajamas so I could drive TheKid to school, because there was no way he’d manage to shower, dress, and finish breakfast before his bus arrived at 7:13.

Me: I have nowhere to be until noon today. Don’t miss the bus and make me have to get dressed to drive you to school.

Kid: You don’t have to get dressed. You’ll be in the CAR.

Me: What if there’s an accident?! (Why yes, I did just hear my mother’s words … and her mother’s … come out of my mouth.)

Kid: If there’s an accident, nobody’s going to care if you’re in your pajamas.

Being my mother’s daughter, there is no possible way I could leave the house in pajamas. Or slippers. So I put on my sweatpants (translation: almost-pajamas that are fit to wear outside the house) and a pair of sneakers and grumped around folding laundry until it hit me.

I was mad because my kid’s laziness wasn’t letting me indulge in being lazy.

Ouch.

So I grabbed my car keys, and off we went, and we had a laugh about the music on the radio (instead of a fight, as is our usual), and I hope we redeemed the bad start to the day — just a bit.

Lesson learned. I don’t get to plan to be lazy, whether that means hanging out in pajamas for half the day, or indulging in spiritual laziness.

I should be grateful for the surprise of down time when it comes my way, but I should not take it for granted.

The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (Proverbs 13:4)


Copyright 2018 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Image: Canva