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The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius
The New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way brings her signature Kind Big Sister Energy to a practical time management book for people weary of productivity but eager to live a good life.
If productivity systems tend to let you down, reading The PLAN will be such a relief.
Most time-management books leave you feeling inadequate, focusing on greatness and optimization. But what if you want to simply live your life without chasing productivity at every turn? Is there a way to manage your time without being at its mercy?
Absolutely, and The PLAN will show you how.
In her signature “Kind Big Sister” style, Kendra Adachi offers a fresh take on managing your time. Using the memorable acronym PLAN, you will learn to prepare, live, adjust, and notice like a Lazy Genius, all through the lens of what matters to you in your current season. With The PLAN, you’ll
• discover two beliefs that will change your time management forever
• integrate your hormones, personality, and life stage into your planning process
• use the Lighten the Load framework to get your stuff done
• experience freedom from the crushing pressure of greatness, potential, and hustle
• live wholeheartedly today
Refreshingly compassionate and immediately practical, The PLAN is what you’ve been waiting for.
If productivity systems tend to let you down, reading The PLAN will be such a relief.
Most time-management books leave you feeling inadequate, focusing on greatness and optimization. But what if you want to simply live your life without chasing productivity at every turn? Is there a way to manage your time without being at its mercy?
Absolutely, and The PLAN will show you how.
In her signature “Kind Big Sister” style, Kendra Adachi offers a fresh take on managing your time. Using the memorable acronym PLAN, you will learn to prepare, live, adjust, and notice like a Lazy Genius, all through the lens of what matters to you in your current season. With The PLAN, you’ll
• discover two beliefs that will change your time management forever
• integrate your hormones, personality, and life stage into your planning process
• use the Lighten the Load framework to get your stuff done
• experience freedom from the crushing pressure of greatness, potential, and hustle
• live wholeheartedly today
Refreshingly compassionate and immediately practical, The PLAN is what you’ve been waiting for.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
1664 people are currently reading
10951 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 847 reviews
August 7, 2024
Thank you to Convergent Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
My full review of this book follows and it contains many words, but the short version requires only four: what the heck, Kendra?
As a longtime fan of all things Lazy Genius, I was thrilled to hear that Kendra Adachi had written another book. On time management! Specifically for women! At last!
But The PLAN is, unfortunately, a disappointment in several ways. The first thing that stood out was the uncharacteristically, aggressively negative tone Kendra used when talking about how the world is set up in favor of “the patriarchy”. From a person who makes a living, in part, admonishing people to ‘access kindness’ (including many times in this very book), her feminist rage seems ironic, if not hypocritical. But the thing that really annoyed me was the patronizing way she belabored the point throughout the book, as if she had just discovered sexism and needed to explain it with crayons and small words to the rest of womankind.
The second thing I noticed as I read was the lack of a clearly defined audience. I’m not sure who this book was written for and I don’t think Kendra was clear on that, either. The first words of the book are literally, “I wrote this book to help you in any life stage.” Yet very little of the advice applied to my childless, perimenopausal life and I’m hearing the same from other women in a variety of life circumstances who have read the book. She seemed to be aiming for the incredibly broad target audience of ‘women in general’, which is great for maximizing sales, but not helpful for readers seeking actual help.
The final main problem I had with this book was the way the information somehow managed to be too much and not enough at the same time, like a big bowl of alphabet soup that fills you up for a few minutes, but leaves you hungry soon after and doesn’t provide much nutrition. There is a lot (and I do mean a lot) of repetition, and the book is padded out with an overwhelming, chaotic collection of acronyms, lists, and sketches.
In the first section of this book, Kendra makes a big promise: nothing short of a revolution in time management. But the rest of the book doesn’t deliver, offering instead largely generic advice, forced acronyms, and information recycled from past episodes of the Lazy Genius podcast. This book was a great idea that deserved a lot more time and thought than was given to it. I rate it 2 1/2 stars. I highly recommend Lazy Genius content, but suggest you skip this book and look for it in Kendra's previous books and her podcast.
My full review of this book follows and it contains many words, but the short version requires only four: what the heck, Kendra?
As a longtime fan of all things Lazy Genius, I was thrilled to hear that Kendra Adachi had written another book. On time management! Specifically for women! At last!
But The PLAN is, unfortunately, a disappointment in several ways. The first thing that stood out was the uncharacteristically, aggressively negative tone Kendra used when talking about how the world is set up in favor of “the patriarchy”. From a person who makes a living, in part, admonishing people to ‘access kindness’ (including many times in this very book), her feminist rage seems ironic, if not hypocritical. But the thing that really annoyed me was the patronizing way she belabored the point throughout the book, as if she had just discovered sexism and needed to explain it with crayons and small words to the rest of womankind.
The second thing I noticed as I read was the lack of a clearly defined audience. I’m not sure who this book was written for and I don’t think Kendra was clear on that, either. The first words of the book are literally, “I wrote this book to help you in any life stage.” Yet very little of the advice applied to my childless, perimenopausal life and I’m hearing the same from other women in a variety of life circumstances who have read the book. She seemed to be aiming for the incredibly broad target audience of ‘women in general’, which is great for maximizing sales, but not helpful for readers seeking actual help.
The final main problem I had with this book was the way the information somehow managed to be too much and not enough at the same time, like a big bowl of alphabet soup that fills you up for a few minutes, but leaves you hungry soon after and doesn’t provide much nutrition. There is a lot (and I do mean a lot) of repetition, and the book is padded out with an overwhelming, chaotic collection of acronyms, lists, and sketches.
In the first section of this book, Kendra makes a big promise: nothing short of a revolution in time management. But the rest of the book doesn’t deliver, offering instead largely generic advice, forced acronyms, and information recycled from past episodes of the Lazy Genius podcast. This book was a great idea that deserved a lot more time and thought than was given to it. I rate it 2 1/2 stars. I highly recommend Lazy Genius content, but suggest you skip this book and look for it in Kendra's previous books and her podcast.
September 10, 2024
I have followed Kendra Adachi for years and have found her relatable content both inspiring and useful. I really enjoyed The Lazy Genius Way (the chapter about friendship was chef’s kiss) so I was looking forward to reading The Plan. Just like in the Lazy Genius Way, I really appreciated the TL;DR at the end of every chapter because it makes it very easy to go back and find what you’re looking for. I also really liked the pep talks because I think it is in that kind of honest encouragement that Adachi shines. However, on the whole, I found this to be a little too much. There are so many acronyms and plans within The Plan that I was overwhelmed. The idea that time management systems are written by men for men rang true, but I found the intensity of the tone around that subject a bit off putting. This could all be because as a menopausal woman, I’m not the target audience for this book. I appreciated Adachi’s efforts to be inclusive, but the emphasis on productivity attuned to your cycle was not something I could relate to, even as I still have kids at home that require me to balance all the things. I have no doubt there is an audience for The Plan, but it’s The Lazy Genius Way that I will continue to give as a gift.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
November 3, 2024
I have read Kendra's other two books and I'm an avid listener of her podcast. However, not too far into this book, I started to think, "I don't like this." But I wanted to be fair and read the whole book. I have not changed my mind. I'm actually a natural planner/organizer person, but I've still cleaned wisdom from Kendra in the past. This felt like a hodgepodge of all the advice she's ever given...with a lot of confusing acronyms/diagrams. It even felt like a hodgepodge of other people's advice. I agree with other reviews--there's a pretty aggressive feminist tone throughout this book that's fairly off putting. Mostly though, I just thought this book was completely overwhelming. Would not recommend.
December 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.
93% of time management books are written by men for men, so believe me when I say that The Plan by Kendra Adachi is unlike any other time management book I've read. You will not find the "push" behind the bootstraps mentality (although I did see one Wayne Gretsky reference). Instead, Kendra takes on the role of caring big sister to guide you through how to PLAN your life around your hormones and hiccups. For that reason, I can see that some might be turned away from this book. Because it's not what you expect when you pick up a book on time management. If you go into this book expecting it to be like others you've read, you will be disappointed. Instead, The Plan is full of compassion and kindness towards yourself with practical tools to navigate real life.
I have been a long time listener of The Lazy Genius Podcast. I listen religiously, and the podcast has become part of my Sunday ritual. I have several episodes saved to return to when I'm feeling particularly stuck with life. Her first two books The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen are helpful resourses in my arsenal for troubleshooting different areas of my life. I am so excited to add The Plan to my repertoire, and I will return to it frequently.
The Plan is broken down into three sections: Principles, Strategies, and Pep Talks. Through each, Kendra walks readers through how to use the PLAN Pyramid (tetrahedron) to Prepare, Live, Adjust, and Notice. Each chapter also concludes with a helpful summary. Without the summary, it might be overwhelming to get caught up in the frequent step-by-step lists embedded throughout each chapter. As an action-oriented reader myself, I have learned it's best to read through the entire book before going back to implement changes (I also keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas for when I come back). The 13 Lazy Genius Principles are woven throughout with a whole bunch of new ways to approach "being a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't."
What I appreciated most in this book was the softer approach. Here's a little of what you can expect with this approach:
- An entire chapter about cycle synching with women's hormones with productivity
- A Someday List instead of the more aggressive bucket list
- Pep Talks for various situations in life (feeling overwhelmed, feeling guilty, lacking motivation, etc.)
- How to plan seasonally
- Being kind to yourself
I predict The Plan being a divisive book because it's in the minority for books of its kind. Not all books are for all readers, but for those who need this book, it will change your life.
93% of time management books are written by men for men, so believe me when I say that The Plan by Kendra Adachi is unlike any other time management book I've read. You will not find the "push" behind the bootstraps mentality (although I did see one Wayne Gretsky reference). Instead, Kendra takes on the role of caring big sister to guide you through how to PLAN your life around your hormones and hiccups. For that reason, I can see that some might be turned away from this book. Because it's not what you expect when you pick up a book on time management. If you go into this book expecting it to be like others you've read, you will be disappointed. Instead, The Plan is full of compassion and kindness towards yourself with practical tools to navigate real life.
I have been a long time listener of The Lazy Genius Podcast. I listen religiously, and the podcast has become part of my Sunday ritual. I have several episodes saved to return to when I'm feeling particularly stuck with life. Her first two books The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen are helpful resourses in my arsenal for troubleshooting different areas of my life. I am so excited to add The Plan to my repertoire, and I will return to it frequently.
The Plan is broken down into three sections: Principles, Strategies, and Pep Talks. Through each, Kendra walks readers through how to use the PLAN Pyramid (tetrahedron) to Prepare, Live, Adjust, and Notice. Each chapter also concludes with a helpful summary. Without the summary, it might be overwhelming to get caught up in the frequent step-by-step lists embedded throughout each chapter. As an action-oriented reader myself, I have learned it's best to read through the entire book before going back to implement changes (I also keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas for when I come back). The 13 Lazy Genius Principles are woven throughout with a whole bunch of new ways to approach "being a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't."
What I appreciated most in this book was the softer approach. Here's a little of what you can expect with this approach:
- An entire chapter about cycle synching with women's hormones with productivity
- A Someday List instead of the more aggressive bucket list
- Pep Talks for various situations in life (feeling overwhelmed, feeling guilty, lacking motivation, etc.)
- How to plan seasonally
- Being kind to yourself
I predict The Plan being a divisive book because it's in the minority for books of its kind. Not all books are for all readers, but for those who need this book, it will change your life.
November 5, 2024
I agonized over whether to give this book 3 stars because I didn’t really like it very much, or 4 because Kendra’s overall body of work is INCREDIBLE and I want to be supportive. I think honesty is going to win out today. But if you aren’t familiar with her other books or podcast, they are definitely definitely worth it! This one just didn’t connect with me and felt disjointed.
January 5, 2025
Firstly, I really enjoyed Kendra's book "The Lazy Genius Way", and I was anticipating enjoying this book, also. I am extremely grateful that I borrowed it from the library, though, because I would have been so disappointed if I had spent my hard earned money on a book when I feel that I disagree with a lot of the premise of the book.
Kendra goes out of her way to talk about "the patriarchy" and victimhood so much in this book, that I was sincerely surprised. It must be difficult for her to go through life feeling so incredibly put upon. A couple of actual sentences from the book that I could hardly believe were: "Remember, the system wasn't built for us." and "We have been breathing the air of the patriarchy our entire lives and don't even see the disregard we experience on a regular basis." Oh, please! I'm so sick and tired of people spending all their time trying to determine how they are the biggest victim on the scale of victimology that they keep score on.
I am stunned that the author felt so strongly about how hard done by women are. It's a wonder how she can be successful after describing all the ways that "the patriarchy" has wronged her. Honestly, I'm so tired of all the pro-woman and anti-man discourse in society, I genuinely did not expect it in a book about Time Management! I feel sad that she clearly has such a negative opinion of men.
Additionally, I honestly felt like way too much attention was given to menstruation in a book about Time Management. If that's your thing, that you want to focus and organize your whole life around your menstrual cycle, then all the power to you -but I felt like it was talked about WAY too much. Totally unnecessary. I was able to pick up a few general tips, but overall, I was beyond disappointed. I won't be going out of my way to read any more of Kendra's books, because I think she's taking a direction that I won't be interested in following.
So disheartening that an author that I genuinely liked who I anticipated to have a Christian Worldview has taken such a negative and cynical worldview. I'm sad to see that she has clearly "drank the kool-aid" of some women's gender studies foolishness.
Kendra goes out of her way to talk about "the patriarchy" and victimhood so much in this book, that I was sincerely surprised. It must be difficult for her to go through life feeling so incredibly put upon. A couple of actual sentences from the book that I could hardly believe were: "Remember, the system wasn't built for us." and "We have been breathing the air of the patriarchy our entire lives and don't even see the disregard we experience on a regular basis." Oh, please! I'm so sick and tired of people spending all their time trying to determine how they are the biggest victim on the scale of victimology that they keep score on.
I am stunned that the author felt so strongly about how hard done by women are. It's a wonder how she can be successful after describing all the ways that "the patriarchy" has wronged her. Honestly, I'm so tired of all the pro-woman and anti-man discourse in society, I genuinely did not expect it in a book about Time Management! I feel sad that she clearly has such a negative opinion of men.
Additionally, I honestly felt like way too much attention was given to menstruation in a book about Time Management. If that's your thing, that you want to focus and organize your whole life around your menstrual cycle, then all the power to you -but I felt like it was talked about WAY too much. Totally unnecessary. I was able to pick up a few general tips, but overall, I was beyond disappointed. I won't be going out of my way to read any more of Kendra's books, because I think she's taking a direction that I won't be interested in following.
So disheartening that an author that I genuinely liked who I anticipated to have a Christian Worldview has taken such a negative and cynical worldview. I'm sad to see that she has clearly "drank the kool-aid" of some women's gender studies foolishness.
October 11, 2024
I love her podcast and her other book. This book was a little disappointing to me. I hate to write this because I do really enjoy her podcast and I really enjoyed her first book. I was super looking forward to this book and even preordered it. I have never preordered a book before, that’s how excited I was.
Also, she says this book is for everyone in the authors note. I think she should be honest. This is for women. Probably mostly geared towards moms or women in their 30s/40s. I think the cover or authors note should be more clear. What’s wrong with having a defined audience?
If you are a regular listener there’s a lot of rehash from it. I didn’t feel like it was cohesive or fresh. It felt like she watched the Barbie movie too many times then wrote a book. I say that as a fan of the Barbie movie. The energy in this book was just random.
There were a few new ideas and I liked the pep talks though. It’s basically just what she talks about in her podcast. Cycle syncing is also already a thing and wasn’t new to me.
Also, she says this book is for everyone in the authors note. I think she should be honest. This is for women. Probably mostly geared towards moms or women in their 30s/40s. I think the cover or authors note should be more clear. What’s wrong with having a defined audience?
If you are a regular listener there’s a lot of rehash from it. I didn’t feel like it was cohesive or fresh. It felt like she watched the Barbie movie too many times then wrote a book. I say that as a fan of the Barbie movie. The energy in this book was just random.
There were a few new ideas and I liked the pep talks though. It’s basically just what she talks about in her podcast. Cycle syncing is also already a thing and wasn’t new to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2024
To start off, I want to say I loved Kendra Adachi’s first two books, The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen. They were fun reads and so practical, I have hard copies that I reference back to. So I had high hopes for the same to be true of The Plan. Unfortunately, it really fell flat for me. The premise was that there are no time management books for women and this is the book to solve that problem. But it mostly started with a rage against the patriarchy that we are victims to and that it’s no one’s fault that we can’t get it together. It felt like a much more disjointed version of the Lazy Genius method, which in the end, really solves the time management issues itself if you use it. It was nothing earth shattering and really needed a level of research about women and time management to make it have more impact, it just felt very opinion and not facts. And was way overkill on our cycle, like yes, it is an issue and we should use it more in planning our lives, but it felt over punched. But all that to say, I love Kendra and definitely recommend her other books and her podcast.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
July 4, 2024
Did I learn new things? Yes. Did I feel blindsided by the fact that Kendra mentions the patriarchy and menstrual cycle liberally? Also yes.
Kendra writes like she speaks, and it’s easily readable and refreshing. But neither the book cover nor description imply this time management book is geared toward women, so that felt off.
Kendra writes like she speaks, and it’s easily readable and refreshing. But neither the book cover nor description imply this time management book is geared toward women, so that felt off.
December 10, 2024
If you love time management and Kendra’s practical, encouraging approach then you’ll enjoy this book. Lots of permission to be a real, full human (woman) with practical advice for getting things done while also living a full and unpredictable life.
October 16, 2024
Kendra Adachi’s latest book, The PLAN, promises a fresh perspective on time management, building on the concepts introduced in her previous work, The Lazy Genius Way. As a fan of her earlier book and its practical strategies (and as a time management nerd myself), I approached this new title with excitement. However, I found myself feeling somewhat let down by the execution.
While Adachi presents several valuable ideas—such as the need for a more inclusive approach to time management that recognizes the voices often sidelined in this space and the importance of adapting planning to align with our seasonal energies—these messages can get lost amid an overwhelming number of strategies and acronyms contained in the book. The abundance of steps and tips felt daunting, which detracted from the overall effectiveness of her advice.
Additionally, Adachi's conversational style, while initially engaging, begins to wear thin over time. Phrases using “vibe” are repeated so frequently that they lose their humour and charm. Although she encourages readers to pause and implement her suggestions if they start to feel overwhelmed, many of us simply want to read through the material and absorb the strategies without feeling bogged down by excessive detail.
In a genre that often benefits from simplicity and clarity, The PLAN sometimes seems to miss the mark. While there are certainly nuggets of wisdom to be found, the delivery may leave readers wishing for a more streamlined approach. In the end, sometimes less truly is more.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
While Adachi presents several valuable ideas—such as the need for a more inclusive approach to time management that recognizes the voices often sidelined in this space and the importance of adapting planning to align with our seasonal energies—these messages can get lost amid an overwhelming number of strategies and acronyms contained in the book. The abundance of steps and tips felt daunting, which detracted from the overall effectiveness of her advice.
Additionally, Adachi's conversational style, while initially engaging, begins to wear thin over time. Phrases using “vibe” are repeated so frequently that they lose their humour and charm. Although she encourages readers to pause and implement her suggestions if they start to feel overwhelmed, many of us simply want to read through the material and absorb the strategies without feeling bogged down by excessive detail.
In a genre that often benefits from simplicity and clarity, The PLAN sometimes seems to miss the mark. While there are certainly nuggets of wisdom to be found, the delivery may leave readers wishing for a more streamlined approach. In the end, sometimes less truly is more.
This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
December 2, 2024
3.5? 4 generous ⭐️ because I love Kendra?
Audiobook
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book! I was so excited to read it. I absolutely love Kendra and have been listening to her podcast for a couple of years now. I loved The Lazy Genius way and really liked Lazy Genius Kitchen. I’m even going to meet Kendra at a book signing in Chicago in a few weeks- yay! Her principles play in my brain and help me manage my day with threee young kids and not lose my ever loving mind.
That said, this book was okay. I do feel like there was a lot going on here. And for those of us who have read and enjoyed her other books and who listen to the podcast, it was on a similar wavelength to all of her usual stuff… maybe too similar at times? Maybe repetitive?
All of the thoughts on the menstrual cycle are relatively new for her, though I’ve also heard them elsewhere, so these weren’t really new revelations to me personally. But they might be really helpful for someone who hasn’t heard some of these ideas before!
I don’t know… I think I needed a flow chart or for someone to make me a visual on Canva of all of the different steps and processes. For real. I’d love that! A little flip book of pretty visuals to go with the book. Otherwise, it was a lot to digest.
I will say that I really enjoyed the cute pep talks at the end of the book. Great big sister energy there at the end.
This was not my favorite of her books. I’d confidently rank them in the order they were written.
Audiobook
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book! I was so excited to read it. I absolutely love Kendra and have been listening to her podcast for a couple of years now. I loved The Lazy Genius way and really liked Lazy Genius Kitchen. I’m even going to meet Kendra at a book signing in Chicago in a few weeks- yay! Her principles play in my brain and help me manage my day with threee young kids and not lose my ever loving mind.
That said, this book was okay. I do feel like there was a lot going on here. And for those of us who have read and enjoyed her other books and who listen to the podcast, it was on a similar wavelength to all of her usual stuff… maybe too similar at times? Maybe repetitive?
All of the thoughts on the menstrual cycle are relatively new for her, though I’ve also heard them elsewhere, so these weren’t really new revelations to me personally. But they might be really helpful for someone who hasn’t heard some of these ideas before!
I don’t know… I think I needed a flow chart or for someone to make me a visual on Canva of all of the different steps and processes. For real. I’d love that! A little flip book of pretty visuals to go with the book. Otherwise, it was a lot to digest.
I will say that I really enjoyed the cute pep talks at the end of the book. Great big sister energy there at the end.
This was not my favorite of her books. I’d confidently rank them in the order they were written.
January 23, 2025
I finally finished it!
I started this as an ARC (advanced reader copy) and it was Soooooo good. But it’s also so chock full of gold nuggets that I wanted to savor it slowly. Then I lost momentum. So I waited until I got my paper copy—when I met Kendra at a book event!!!— but even then, I wasn’t taking time to read it.
So I got the audiobook. And with audio being my favorite way to take in information, I sped through the whole thing, hearing everything in Kendra’s familiar and kind and funny voice. Getting a broad overview was perfect—AND I’m so glad I have the paper book I can actually hold in my hands because I will for sure 100% reference the book again. And again and again.
Especially the project part. I’ve found that having listened to Kendra’s podcast for years, I’ve grown by leaps and bounds in how to plan a day/week/season and with kindness. I’ve learned a lot about how to pivot.
But where I struggle is in the out of the ordinary, there are a thousand decisions to make, and so many steps to take… and then I wait and procrastinate and let my indecision turn into a decision without any intention.
Her chapter on projects and breaking them down is a gem.
Definitely recommend this book for time management with lots of self-compassion and integration (not greatness or perfection) as the goal.
I started this as an ARC (advanced reader copy) and it was Soooooo good. But it’s also so chock full of gold nuggets that I wanted to savor it slowly. Then I lost momentum. So I waited until I got my paper copy—when I met Kendra at a book event!!!— but even then, I wasn’t taking time to read it.
So I got the audiobook. And with audio being my favorite way to take in information, I sped through the whole thing, hearing everything in Kendra’s familiar and kind and funny voice. Getting a broad overview was perfect—AND I’m so glad I have the paper book I can actually hold in my hands because I will for sure 100% reference the book again. And again and again.
Especially the project part. I’ve found that having listened to Kendra’s podcast for years, I’ve grown by leaps and bounds in how to plan a day/week/season and with kindness. I’ve learned a lot about how to pivot.
But where I struggle is in the out of the ordinary, there are a thousand decisions to make, and so many steps to take… and then I wait and procrastinate and let my indecision turn into a decision without any intention.
Her chapter on projects and breaking them down is a gem.
Definitely recommend this book for time management with lots of self-compassion and integration (not greatness or perfection) as the goal.
October 23, 2024
CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS
Read
December 15, 2024Helpful. How helpful it truly is will come with time as I see what sticks in my mind and naturally comes up when needed.
January 5, 2025
A great start of the year book.
A book about time management for women, since the vast majority are written by men, who (mostly) don't have a boss or run a household, or (for sure) don't have monthly periods, which affect our energy levels (this might be one of the biggest take aways for me from this book, to consider that). And she points out that we are living in a productivity industrial complex that wants us to not be content so it can keep going by our purchases. Summing up her Goals and Dreams chapter: Your ordinary life has extraordinary value. You don't have to work to uncover a secret dream because there might not be one. Your dream also doesn't have to include hustle and influence and numbers. Dreams don't have to be measurable to have meaning. Everyone has the right to dream big, but that doesn't mean everyone has to. It's all just life and all of it counts! *mind blown*
I've heard Kendra on podcasts and read her first book, which I really like the idea of be a genius at things that are important to you and lazy about things that aren't. It goes against our cultural norms of 100% Boss Babe or 100% Hot Mess.
So this book looks at things we want or need to do and helps us to make a plan to live life.
We don't hack our life, we live it. We are kind to ourselves and notice and adjust as needed.
I got this from the library but it probably wouldn't hurt to own a copy to refer back to. And I'd love my girls to read it as well.
A book about time management for women, since the vast majority are written by men, who (mostly) don't have a boss or run a household, or (for sure) don't have monthly periods, which affect our energy levels (this might be one of the biggest take aways for me from this book, to consider that). And she points out that we are living in a productivity industrial complex that wants us to not be content so it can keep going by our purchases. Summing up her Goals and Dreams chapter: Your ordinary life has extraordinary value. You don't have to work to uncover a secret dream because there might not be one. Your dream also doesn't have to include hustle and influence and numbers. Dreams don't have to be measurable to have meaning. Everyone has the right to dream big, but that doesn't mean everyone has to. It's all just life and all of it counts! *mind blown*
I've heard Kendra on podcasts and read her first book, which I really like the idea of be a genius at things that are important to you and lazy about things that aren't. It goes against our cultural norms of 100% Boss Babe or 100% Hot Mess.
So this book looks at things we want or need to do and helps us to make a plan to live life.
We don't hack our life, we live it. We are kind to ourselves and notice and adjust as needed.
I got this from the library but it probably wouldn't hurt to own a copy to refer back to. And I'd love my girls to read it as well.
April 15, 2024
I'm a fan of Kendra Adachi so when I saw her new book The Plan on NetGalley I put my request in right away (thanks for approving me!). This book was able to take Adachi's Lazy Genius Principles and present them in a fresh way, with added detail. This is a book written for women, and the overarching theme for me is that life doesn't have to be perfect to be good. I already practice many Lazy Genius Principles like doing things now that will benefit future me, and meal planning. Despite this, I found this book full of useful reminders to be kind to myself, and how to take what matters and make it smaller to combat overwhelming to-do lists. I would recommend this book to women who are looking to streamline their lives in a way that values what matters over perfection. You don't have to read her first book The Lazy Genius way first to enjoy this book, but I think it would add to your reading experience if you did.
May 26, 2024
Let me preface this review by saying that I enjoy the author's Lazy Genius podcast and first book, The Lazy Genius Way. However, I did not feel like this latest book from Kendra Adachi reflected lazy genius qualities. Part rage against the patriarchy, part nervous squirrel energy, The PLAN presents a convoluted approach to planning and time management that I did not find particularly helpful. An effective strategy should be simple and easy to remember, and this was not. I believe that, as the author herself would say, she built the machine too big. However, I did enjoy the way the author related the phases of the menstrual cycle to planning stages, and the pep talks at the end of the book were a lovely touch that I can see myself referring to in the future.
Thank you to Convergent Books for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Convergent Books for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2024
This was absolutely fantastic. Funny, smart, accessible, and quintessentially Kendra—bringing her Big Sister energy to give us guidance we need and permission to make it work. I’ve been an LG follower for many years and I am so grateful for the way she has helped shape my thoughts on caring for my home and family and life.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC!
11/2024 update: this time I listened to it and as always Kendra’s voice makes me laugh and brings me comfort. 🥰
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC!
11/2024 update: this time I listened to it and as always Kendra’s voice makes me laugh and brings me comfort. 🥰
November 12, 2024
All the patriarchy talk was annoying. I don't know why EVERY book these days includes agendas. I want to learn about time management.
November 9, 2024
I really enjoy Kendra Adachi’s Lazy Genius Way and the podcast. A lot of it is similar to ways I already think or have adapted to as life gets busier, but Kendra puts it into simple and relatable terms. The Plan uses a lot of her already established principles and mindsets, so it felt like this book just rehashed that to some extent in a time management context. But a lot of it is valuable advice, reminders, frameworks, or maybe most of all, permission. Permission to be kind to yourself, to recognize the amount of energy you have (or don’t), to start small, to live in your season rather than planning your life around big, lofty goals, and to focus on what matters most rather than trying to maximize and optimize every aspect of your life or day.
November 15, 2024
This Plan did not work for me. I absolutely love listening to the Lazy Genius podcast and Kendra has some amazing nuggets of wisdom on the Lazy Genius way and just starting small. However, Kendra Adachi’s The Plan, felt like a rage against the industrial complex of patriarchy self help books, sprinkled with nervous squirrel energy, and topped off with all the acronyms and strategies about the strategy you can imagine. I did enjoy the audiobook and hearing Kendra share her passion on this subject, but overall it just felt really overwhelming for this reader.
March 30, 2025
Rating: 3.75- I don’t really read a lot of planning books but was all in to read one by the Lazy Genius. She shared a bunch on her podcast to make me interested.
My favorite part throughout the book was that she was constantly talking about how bleeding every 28 days does make a difference in our energy and motivation and that does affect our plans.
Lots of other great questions in this book. Not brand new ideas, especially if you have been listening to the lazy genius for a while. But I don’t mind being reminded to live in your season, how to finish a project or be kind to yourself.
Here are a couple of good quotes:
“Doing more for its own sake is what makes you tired.”
“The happiest people are the ones most connected to their families, friends, and communities, but we live in a culture that is becoming more focused on the individual”
Her pep talks were great at the end of the books.
This quote was from “When your not motivated”
“Cooking dinner isn't another thankless time suck. It's a way to love yourself and your people no matter how ungrateful they are for the nourishment.”
My favorite part throughout the book was that she was constantly talking about how bleeding every 28 days does make a difference in our energy and motivation and that does affect our plans.
Lots of other great questions in this book. Not brand new ideas, especially if you have been listening to the lazy genius for a while. But I don’t mind being reminded to live in your season, how to finish a project or be kind to yourself.
Here are a couple of good quotes:
“Doing more for its own sake is what makes you tired.”
“The happiest people are the ones most connected to their families, friends, and communities, but we live in a culture that is becoming more focused on the individual”
Her pep talks were great at the end of the books.
This quote was from “When your not motivated”
“Cooking dinner isn't another thankless time suck. It's a way to love yourself and your people no matter how ungrateful they are for the nourishment.”
March 3, 2025
I loved the Lazy Genius book. It was full of mindset shifts and practical ways to accomplish the things on your plate.
This book might be helpful if you’re drowning in too many things to do. It’s more about putting things down and re-framing what is on your plate.
I think some people might like the thumb in the nose to the patriarchy, and “we have to do things different” perspective. To some point I agree. Learning plan around your energy levels is good, but I found it to give a bit of “us vs them” vibes.
Usually, I leave a habit/planning/scheduling book inspired and ready to go, but this one didn’t give me that charged feeling. I think this one would probably be categorized better under “recovering from burnout” literature than planning/scheduling.
So if you have more than you can ever get done, and want to be inspired brutally cut back this is good. If you want to learn ways to get done what you have to do… maybe get the Lazy Genius book instead.
This book might be helpful if you’re drowning in too many things to do. It’s more about putting things down and re-framing what is on your plate.
I think some people might like the thumb in the nose to the patriarchy, and “we have to do things different” perspective. To some point I agree. Learning plan around your energy levels is good, but I found it to give a bit of “us vs them” vibes.
Usually, I leave a habit/planning/scheduling book inspired and ready to go, but this one didn’t give me that charged feeling. I think this one would probably be categorized better under “recovering from burnout” literature than planning/scheduling.
So if you have more than you can ever get done, and want to be inspired brutally cut back this is good. If you want to learn ways to get done what you have to do… maybe get the Lazy Genius book instead.
January 11, 2025
I am a Kendra fan for life. She has helped me tremendously in many practical and emotional ways. HOWEVER, I did not find this book nearly as helpful as her first one, “The Lazy Genius Way.” Perhaps it’s because I already use many of her principles in my life, so this felt less ground-breaking? But, there were a lot of strategies and steps in so many chapters, and it was hard for my brain to hold them all. Still took away several quotes that will be useful and love the softness of her approach to life. She’s so kind. But didn’t feel this was as helpful as her other two.
June 19, 2025
I liked “The Lazy Genius” a lot more! But the principles will stick with me:
1) the goal is not greatness; the goal is integration
2) don’t start from the future; start from where you are
1) the goal is not greatness; the goal is integration
2) don’t start from the future; start from where you are
October 8, 2024
Thank you @convergent_books @netgalley @prhaudio for the eARC & ALC #PRHAudioPartner #netgalley
Big-sister energy meets time management! A refreshingly practical guide for those tired of productivity overload. With humor and simplicity, Adachi helps readers discover how to prepare, live, adjust, and notice what truly matters—right now, not someday. Find freedom from the hustle and embrace what works for your life today!
I wasn’t even 10 pages in when I realized, "Oh—this is the management companion for every millennial and Gen X woman who obsessed over the Barbie movie!" It has strong "it is impossible to be a woman in a man’s word” vibes. This is the productivity guide for the hormone-tracking, energy-identifying, self-compassion-giving woman who craves a balanced life—and Kendra truly delivers. The steps are so accessible yet undeniably insightful. The go-with-the-flow girlies wouldn’t typically pick up this self-help book, but you should! I was a little overwhelmed by all the acronyms 😅 but there’s no other book as wittily engaging and breathtakingly grounded in self-compassion and practical wisdom.
I primarily read the ebook because I wanted to take more notes on my kindle. But Kendra’s voice is so soothing on her podcast that I couldn’t resist listing along to some chapters 🥰 Both format are super engaging!
Perfect for you if you like:
Living fully in the present, not for an imaginary future
Small, practical steps for where you are
A productivity guide that feels more like coffee with a friend
Insightful, transformative tips
Similar to:
Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connolly
Do Less by Kate Northrup
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
Big-sister energy meets time management! A refreshingly practical guide for those tired of productivity overload. With humor and simplicity, Adachi helps readers discover how to prepare, live, adjust, and notice what truly matters—right now, not someday. Find freedom from the hustle and embrace what works for your life today!
I wasn’t even 10 pages in when I realized, "Oh—this is the management companion for every millennial and Gen X woman who obsessed over the Barbie movie!" It has strong "it is impossible to be a woman in a man’s word” vibes. This is the productivity guide for the hormone-tracking, energy-identifying, self-compassion-giving woman who craves a balanced life—and Kendra truly delivers. The steps are so accessible yet undeniably insightful. The go-with-the-flow girlies wouldn’t typically pick up this self-help book, but you should! I was a little overwhelmed by all the acronyms 😅 but there’s no other book as wittily engaging and breathtakingly grounded in self-compassion and practical wisdom.
I primarily read the ebook because I wanted to take more notes on my kindle. But Kendra’s voice is so soothing on her podcast that I couldn’t resist listing along to some chapters 🥰 Both format are super engaging!
Perfect for you if you like:
Living fully in the present, not for an imaginary future
Small, practical steps for where you are
A productivity guide that feels more like coffee with a friend
Insightful, transformative tips
Similar to:
Tired of Being Tired by Jess Connolly
Do Less by Kate Northrup
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
January 6, 2025
I loved this book! Kendra is so fun to listen to on her podcast, and she always has fantastic ideas. I love her whole framework: be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t. In “The Plan” specifically, I so appreciated her pointing out that 93% of time-management books are written by men, who don’t often have a boss, a home to run, or a menstrual cycle. Their productivity paradigms just don’t work for women! Kendra’s compassionate yet practical voice is so empowering and non-judgmental. There are so many tools here that I will use as I need them!
December 7, 2025
3.5 stars!!
A well thought out time management/self-help book curated for women. I thought the author took a very feminist and interesting view on time management. I thought the book was very well laid out—first her theory, then strategies, then pep talks. Including neurodivergent situations and examples was a key part of the book I found to be very helpful. I liked that she used many examples to show how her theory can apply to multiple different instances and “seasons” of life. Overall a very interesting perspective!
A well thought out time management/self-help book curated for women. I thought the author took a very feminist and interesting view on time management. I thought the book was very well laid out—first her theory, then strategies, then pep talks. Including neurodivergent situations and examples was a key part of the book I found to be very helpful. I liked that she used many examples to show how her theory can apply to multiple different instances and “seasons” of life. Overall a very interesting perspective!
January 18, 2025
4.5 stars- I deducted half a star only because I listened to this as an audiobook and at a certain point all of the acronyms and lists started to make my head spin. Maybe that wouldn’t have been the case if I had been physically reading the book.
I love Kendra (aka the Lazy Genius) Her approach to everything is always so kind and compassionate and this book about time management specifically for women is no different. It’s full of kind big sister energy and there were so many takeaways and helpful reframes that I feel like I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
I love Kendra (aka the Lazy Genius) Her approach to everything is always so kind and compassionate and this book about time management specifically for women is no different. It’s full of kind big sister energy and there were so many takeaways and helpful reframes that I feel like I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
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