The new book from Kendra Adachi (aka The Lazy Genuis) arrived on my porch one afternoon and I ignored my to-do list because reading what she had to say truly mattered to me. I ended up staying up past my bedtime to finish it. It’s been quite a while since I read a book in one day, but Kendra is funny and practical, real without putting herself or others down, and asks questions that I had to answer in my journal the next morning. Talk about some surprise therapy, thanks to “The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done.”
“Your tasks aren’t necessarily the origin of your stress; trying to fit into a mold of who you think you should be almost always is. You spend all day doing and managing and overthinking, and before long, you forget who you are in the midst of the madness. You need a practice of remembering who you are and resting in your identity. There’s more than one way to do this, so don’t feel pressured to find the single, perfect thing that defines you. Your list will be long, and that’s good.”
Kendra Adachi in “The Lazy Genius Way“
I could quote many other tidbits of wisdom, questions that poke right my inner struggles, and truth I want to remember. I wrote notes in the margins and starred whole sections. Sure, some parts were more relevant than others, but I closed this book and was encouraged to be me as I remember what matters, calm the crazy, and trust myself.
One surprise that happened right in the introduction was how Kendra wrote about her own perfectionism roots and I felt like she was describing my own childhood and all the ripple effects since. I tried really hard to change someone that didn’t change, and, yes, I felt responsible. That’s a heavy burden to carry, and I didn’t expect this book to be what help me continue to work through it. You just never know where and how God is going to continue the good work He’s doing in us.
All of that to say, the introduction of “The Lazy Genius Way” is powerful, and I don’t think I’m the only woman who needs the pep talk Kendra offers. Of course, the rest of the book is full of practical wisdom, funny comments, and more pep talks for your weary soul. So read on, my friend.
About the book
The chorus of “shoulds” is loud. You should enjoy the moment, dream big, have it all, get up before the sun, track your water consumption, go on date nights, and be the best. Or maybe you should ignore what people think, live on dry shampoo, be a negligent PTA mom, have a dirty house, and claim your hot mess like a badge of honor.
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the mixed messages of what it means to live well.
Kendra Adachi, the creator of the Lazy Genius movement, invites you to live well by your own definition and equips you to be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t. Everything from your morning routine to napping without guilt falls into place with Kendra’s thirteen Lazy Genius principles, including: decide once, start small, ask the Magic Question, go in the right order, and schedule rest.
Discover a better way to approach your relationships, work, and piles of mail. Be who you are without the complication of everyone else’s “shoulds.” Do what matters, skip the rest, and be a person again.
“The Lazy Genius Way” is a 240-page hardcover book is published by WaterBrook (Aug. 11, 2020). It’s also available as an ebook.
About the author
Kendra Adachi went to college to become a high school English teacher but instead became the Lazy Genius, passionately and candidly sharing how to stop doing it all for the sake of doing what matters. Her work includes hosting The Lazy Genius Podcast, cooking dinner on Instagram, and convincing her three young kids that talking into the phone is Mommy’s job. She and her husband love raising their family in the same North Carolina city they both grew up in. Learn more at her website.
*****
I’m reviewing this book because I genuinely loved it so much. I pre-ordered it and paid for my copy with my own money. This review for y’all is just bonus material. You’re welcome.
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