Laura Mae Martin, Google's executive productivity advisor, is renowned for helping engineers and executives overcome burnout and productivity slumps. However, even she faces procrastination challenges. Her simple yet effective strategy for tackling procrastination is to "act like your own assistant."
Martin explains that starting a big task is often the hardest part, and important goals, creative projects, and self-care can easily be pushed aside. By acting as your own assistant, you can break through this procrastination barrier in just five minutes.
### How to Be Your Own Assistant
When you find yourself procrastinating on a project, Martin suggests asking, "If I were someone’s assistant, and I wanted my boss to get this done tomorrow, what would I do to nudge them along gently and make it easier?" This approach separates the planning and execution stages of a task, helping you feel more organized and less overwhelmed.
For instance, if you need to prepare a presentation, your "assistant self" might:
- Open a blank slide deck on your computer.
- Save useful images or research links in tabs.
- Find a sample outline from a similar project.
With everything prepped, starting the task the next day feels much easier.
Martin uses this technique in both her professional and personal life. When she procrastinated on hanging posters in her son’s bedroom, she had her "assistant self" lay out the tools the night before. The next morning, seeing the supplies ready made the task feel manageable and reduced her dread.
### Removing Distractions
Acting as your own assistant also involves removing potential distractions. Before starting a task, ensure you have snacks and water, close or minimize unnecessary tabs, and silence your phone. These small steps help maintain focus and prevent interruptions.
Most tasks don’t require more than five minutes of preparation to see positive results, Martin notes.
### Taking Breaks to Reset
When your energy wanes, Martin advises stepping away briefly to reset. "If you’re sitting at your desk and your brain is fried, whatever you do in that state is probably not going to be your best work," she says. "If you can take a moment to recover and re-visit the task, whether it’s in 10 minutes or the next morning, that’s going to energize you and make a big difference in your output."
By following these strategies, you can overcome procrastination and enhance your productivity significantly.