As a Venezuelan therapist specialized in executive functions, time management, and procrastination, I eagerly anticipate the Spanish translation of this book.
I didn't underline anything at all, and I mean that as a compliment, a huge compliment. From the first page to the Pep Talks, the book felt more like a conversation than a manual. It served as a valuable reminder of the knowledge we possess but often fail to articulate when discussing time management.
The book emphasizes that tools are not the ultimate goal, nor even the ingredients. Their sole purpose is to facilitate a happier life. Kendra's relatable voice guides us through the process, as if we were sharing a cup of coffee in the kitchen. She reminds us that we are normal people living in a chaotic world, not perfectly gridded planners. Goals can change, and our mood plays a crucial role in effective planning.
The section on projects is exceptional—simple, clear, and easy to understand. The "Pep Talks" are like calling Kendra for advice.

The Plan is your comprehensive guide to compassionate and inclusive time management. Kendra points out the the built-in standards and inequities that women often experience based on traditional time management 'personal greatness' strategies. The double standard so many of us are living with is pointed out and gentler ways of scheduling our lives are recommended along with the Lazy Genius method of always naming what matters in your season. A useful pyramid for examining the different facets of our lives and time gives a new paradigm for prioritizing what matters in the busy-ness that is our life.

Did you know that 93% of time management books are written by men?! I didn’t! 🤯📋

I loved The Plan, written by Kendra Adachi.

What separates this book from many others (93%!) is that it focuses on females, and oftentimes on busy working moms (🙋🏼‍♀️!!) and highlights how to use that to gain awareness and appreciation for the uniqueness of those facts. Of seasons of life and understanding what should happen when, of female hormone cycles and how to (to the extent you can) embrace and alter how you spend your time during those cycles.

Some fave quotes:
✨ “You’re not a robot. You’re not a machine to program. You’re not a steadily humming operating system. You’re not something to fix, leverage, or optimize. You’re a flesh-and-blood person with a beautiful, slightly unruly life who just wants to get your stuff done, have fun, not yell at your people too much, and occasionally feel bone-deep contentment.” 👏🏻

✨”Fragmentation is being pulled in too many directions, often to the point of breaking. A common example is when all three of my kids are talking at the same time, one needing an answer, one needing comfort, and one needing a snack. That is a moment where I experience fragmentation, and it feels like pieces of my brain are now on the floor.” 🙋🏼‍♀️ I immediately sent this one to my husband because I frequently experience pieces of my brain on the floor!!!!

✨ “If getting ready for our future comes at the expense of our present, we will always feel discontent.” ⬅️

✨ Big Black Trash Bag Energy 🫠🙋🏼‍♀️

✨ “My brain is a caffeinated squirrel. She is always hoarding, always frantic, always darting from place to place.” ☕️🐿️🙋🏼‍♀️

✨ “What can I do now to make something easier later?” 🙌🏻

I just loved this book and loved Kendra’s constant reminder to stop, put things into motion, to not put it ALL into motion, to pick and choose what works for YOU!

And if you’re looking for another non-fiction personal development book for moms that I love, I recommend How To Design Your Life: A Busy Mom’s Roadmap to Creating A Life You Are Obsessed With by Sharon Leger! 📋

This book releases October 8, 2024! 💖

Thank you to NetGalley, Kendra Adachi, and Convergent Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! ✨

I think Kendra Adachi has added something that has been missing from time management books. The details of successful master planners: moms. Women plan naturally with relationships, priorities, and seasons in mind. Science backs this up with research that either points to the fact that girls are under-diagnosed with ADHD or boys are over-diagnosed with ADHD. Maybe we need to stop labeling and listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us. We are all okay. We were all made different on purpose. It’s not an accident. We are each and all God’s design.

As a BIG fan of Kendra Adachi and the Lazy Genius principles, I had already pre-ordered this book but was very excited to get a digital ARC (thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!)
This book is a lot, I’ll say that up front. That’s not a negative. There is a lot of content to chew on and it’ll be one I refer back to and reread depending on my situation, and had I been reading after release date I think I’d have taken a bit more time.
If you’ve been listening to Kendra’s podcast and reading her newsletter in the last year or two, the content of this book absolutely flows out of all the things she’s been talking about. The inclusion of hormonal challenges specific to women, the acknowledgment of how many darn hats we all wear compared to the dudes, and the way she has made an effort to provide alternative P.L.A.N’s for when you’re just, not holding it all together, struggling, grieving, etc, is just really kind and helpful.
I do think this book could raise the heckles of a few people who might be like “but weren’t you going to tell me how to just do All The Things and be totally organized and achieve all my To-Do’s?” Kendra really rejects the idea that a book or a system should pretend that is possible every day. Instead she’s offering a flexible solution that looks realistically at how life actually is and tries to make it incrementally better and to make you FEEL better about how you’re managing All The Things.
The pep talks at the back are gorgeous and remind me a lot of Kate Bowler’s wonderful blessings for a beautiful, terrible day.
I’ve got a lot of pondering to do still but ultimately, thank you Kendra for your incredible efforts bringing this book to us!

The PLAN - Kendra Adachi
Genre - Nonfiction, Self Help

Kendra Adachi - the Lazy Genius - has been speaking common sense and joy into me from Instagram for a number of years now. When she started talking about her new book - The PLAN, I had to give it a look. I’m so glad I did. Kendra (I like to call her that as if we are friends.) takes on the productivity culture with excellent evidence to back her claim. She advocates throughout the book for living in the now in place of always “planning” for the future - she uses the term integration in terms of a happy life, and I am here for it.
The idea of integration spoke to me - so Kendra had me from the beginning. She (and Brené Brown) refer to integration as “wholehearted living.” I have long worked toward some nebulous future and was seldom mindful about my current life - being integrated involves fully living in the now rather than working toward some future “greatness”. I have never achieved that kind of integration. I couldn’t even fully name what I was looking for, and I love the idea as outlined in this book. She offers three sections toward a more fulfilled life. The first section is Principles, and here is where she offers the basic ideas of the PLAN - hint, it turns the idea of planning as we know it a bit on its head. The second section offers strategies. I love her take on the “to do” list. Most of us could use a bit of “to do” list counseling I think. The third section offers pep talks. I fully believe I will refer to these often. She also provides us with a lovely overview/glossary section which organizes her thoughts for us as a reference. Books like this need to be revisited, and she recognizes the process of trying to change in the way that she organizes the book for easy reference. Kendra writes her book in such a way that you feel like she is sitting across the table from you and talking to you over tea. She is comforting and encouraging and funny.
I have already made some changes to my life based on my reading of this book. I am, quite honestly, living in retirement as I did as a full time teacher. I feel driven to produce and not just anything - something useful or “important” or income producing. All of those things I said I’d do “after I retired” weren’t getting any attention. So last week I pulled out a fancy cookbook and set a fancy table for my husband and me just because I could; I wasn’t too exhausted; and I had time. Listen, I didn’t even photograph the food to prove it happened - so mindful. (I sure did the place setting :-) While this may seem silly to you - it was a big step for me in living a more integrated life. So while I thought maybe this book wouldn’t be for me, it sure was. It likely is for you as well. You don’t have to know the Lazy Genius way or to follow Kendra in the socials to benefit from this book. But when you are done, you will want to get to know her better. And she will make you feel better either way. Go get yourself a copy of Kendra Adachi’s The PLAN and use it to make your life more fulfilling.

A few good nuggets, but as someone who listens to every podcast episode from Kendra + who absolutely loved The Lazy Genius Way, this was both disappointing and surprising in tone. I agree with some of the other reviews that mention the aggressive language (which definitely didn't line up with "kind big sister energy"), how menstrual cycles are way more of a focus than was needed throughout the whole book, how there are way too many acronyms, and that it's very repetitive.

Such a lovely, lovely book about how to be a human, get things done, and make the world a little less terrible in the process. Love how she encourages us, as women, to pay attention to ourselves, and what we need, and then go help the people around us. Time management is such a difficult thing, but Kendra is a steady, reassuring presence along this journey to integrate who I am, what I need to do, and who my people are all into one life-giving adventure. Truly a gem of a book, and incredible.

As a long time listener of Adachi's "Lazy Genius" podcast, I knew I would adore this title. I do not read productivity/self help books anymore, but I made an exception for this title!

Kendra Adachi brings her kind-hearted best friend energy to planning and time management. Her book focuses on how to live your best life, authentically, with your unique values. As with her other books (cookbook, etc), The Plan helps the reader assess a framework for time management that works best for them. She puts the reader in the driver seat. I love this about Kendra.

Read this if you are looking for a different sort of self help, productivity book--one that is feminist, values focused, and kind hearted.

Thank you Netgalley and Convergent books for an advanced copy of this title.

Kendra Adachi takes time management to the next level in The Plan. She brings the same down to earth tone of The Lazy Genius podcast to the page. Giving real life examples she breaks down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps.

What makes this time management book unique is that is specifically geared to the female perspective. Adachi emphasizes being kind to yourself when things go awry, and planning around your hormones.

I am already implementing what I have learned. I also highly recommend The Lazy Genius podcast.

Plot
If you are like me you know that managing all the expectations and demands can be daunting. Using the acronym PLAN, you will learn to Prepare, Live, Adjust, and Notice while considering things like hormones, personality, and live stage.

Why Kirsten loves it
I adore Adachi’s Lazy Genius Podcast and her book by the same name, so I just new I had to pick up her book on time management. The straightforward advice was easy to digest because it was written with women in mind. It takes into account that our seasons of life change more than men’s do because of family obligations, hormones, life stages, and the patriarchy.

We need to be more nimble than our male counterparts – unfairly or no – but Adachi’s PLAN helps us to do just that by leaning into what makes us different and having us push back again the traditional frameworks of planning because they were created for men, by men. (she mentions a stat early on of 93% of time management books being written by males.)

In the few days since I’ve read it, I’ve seen myself reframing the workload ahead of me, and adjusting to balance what is most important at this time in my life. Pair this with her first book and you will set yourself up for a happier, more successful life tailored to YOU.

This, THIS is the productivity book we were promised, the reference book to kindly hold our hands and remind us rest is important, we, as people, are important too.

Kendra shares such amazing wisdom about how to live, not how to hustle, and how to manage life during the chaos it inevitably brings. She incorporates the principles from her first book, the processes from her second, and hands readers a fabulous system that can be widely applied.

I'm only sad I don't (yet - it's pre-ordered) have my own physical copy to highlight, annotate, and tab, because even more so than her first two books. This is already a well-loved, impactful approach for real life and I am so grateful she shared it with all of us!

An interesting new way to look at time management from the Lazy Genius. I like the simplified woman-focused approach that Kendra suggests. I think many people could find useful information from this book.

"The Plan" is nothing short of transformative. This powerful guide delves into the intricacies of personal growth, offering readers a roadmap to reclaim their lives and shift their mindsets. Kendra’s insights are not just practical but deeply relatable, making the journey feel accessible and life-saving. With actionable steps and heartfelt anecdotes, the book ultimately inspires a profound sense of purpose, encouraging readers to envision and pursue their ideal futures. A must-read for anyone seeking clarity and direction!

The Plan is another 'out of the park' hit for Kendra. This book is an eye opener about things we should know, but it surfaces a realization that planning books are typically written by executive men who are programmed to execute their plans without the obstacles that women encounter. That's not to say those books are not helpful, but Kendra's emphasis on planning incorporates understanding of these obstacles and how to plan through them. As a person who loves to organize and plan, I walked away with tangible tips and am already looking forward to the audio version to be something I listen to on a yearly basis!

I have been a longtime follower of the work of Kendra Adachi. The Plan exceeded my expectations. While the messages carried a consistent tone with Adachi’s previous works, it was freshly presented through the unique lens of planning, specifically, planning as a woman. Adachi makes a clear case for ways in which a woman plans differently than a man. I greatly enjoyed this book and will definitely reread it.

Kendra has a beautiful way to cut through the crud and get to the heart of the matter. Her ability to concisely break down an issue into tangible, helpful pieces is unmatched. The book is like a breath of fresh air to those of us who have constantly pushed to do everything the right way, but always came up short because we were aiming for the wrong goal. It truly is the book of planning we all have needed from day 1. She gives loving permission to choose ourselves and live, instead of constantly running on the hamster wheel. Fantastic book!

I’ve followed Kendra and The Lazy Genius podcast and collective for a few years now. I bought her sticker pack, I live by the Holiday Docket, and I use her signature phrases in daily life. So of course The PLAN has been on my radar and my TBR since she announced it. And I was thrilled to receive a surprise ARC from NetGalley and The Lazy Genius Collective after preordering my copy.

The PLAN is very different from Kendra’s other books, but generally still in line with her brand. The biggest tonal shift readers will notice is the emphasis on how gender (and society’s impositions on gender) affect time management and expectations. Some may find this off-putting; I found it refreshing. Women need to give themselves grace and try not to internalize what we’re taught to perceive as failure amid a productivity system that was not designed for us.

*steps down from soapbox*

Beyond the girl-power vibes lie plenty of helpful strategies and steps toward reframing and understanding planning and time management. In true Kendra fashion, the ideas are drawn out in a way that should make them applicable to a variety of situations. I love that her approach is not ever “do this one thing this one way because that’s how I do it,” but rather “here’s a few general steps or a framework to apply to fit you and your situation best.”

I’m excited to put The PLAN into action in my life and to try some new strategies I never factored into my planning. (The chapter about menstrual cycles and how they can be integrated into planning was particularly mind-blowing.)

Compassionate, kind, and life-changing are all the best ways I can describe The Plan! Yes, I’ve been searching for this book, really this paradigm for my whole adult life. Since I’m 64 years old, that’s a very long time! I’m putting The Plan’s principles to work for me right now, but I’m jealous for the 20, 30, & 40-something women who can even now experience freedom from the guilt of productivity culture. I’m making my list of young women for whom I’ll be gifting a copy! Thank you, Kendra!

Kendra applies her strategies to time management with a grace filled approach, leaving readers inspired and ready to take on the challenges of present day time management issues with fresh solutions. This book expands on the principles set forth in "The Lazy Genius' and is full of practical, creative strategies to tackling sticky points. Highly recommend this book to others who may be tired of the 'go, go go!' approach and are seeking a gentler more tender view on productivity.