Why Balance Is the New Busy: Insights from Google’s Executive Productivity Advisor

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Welcome back to the Redefining Work podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Laura Mae Martin , Executive Productivity Advisor at Google and author of Uptime: A Practical Guide for Personal Productivity and Well-being .

We dove deep into what it really means to be productive, how to manage the overwhelm of modern work life, and why balance—not busyness—should be your badge of honor.

What is Productivity, Really?

It’s 2024, and we’re all grappling with the idea of productivity. Whether you’re staring down an endless inbox, multitasking across Zoom calls, or trying to juggle work and personal life, productivity has become this holy grail we're all trying to grasp.

But Laura drops a truth bomb early on: productivity isn’t about output. It’s about intention.

Laura defines productivity as when "your intention matches your action." So, if your goal is to relax and unplug for a day, then binge-watching Netflix on your couch could be your most productive day ever.

It's a complete reframe from the "grind culture" most of us are trapped in.

"If my intention was to unplug and I did that, it was a productive day," Laura shared. It's about aligning your actions with what you set out to do.

So, no, it’s not always about how many emails you sent or tasks you crossed off. This shift in mindset is key for preventing burnout, something we all could use right now.

Google's 20% Time: A Career Evolution

What I found fascinating about Laura’s journey is how she transitioned from sales to becoming Google's Executive Productivity Advisor—initially through Google’s famed "20% time" policy.

For those who aren’t familiar, Google gives employees 20% of their workweek to explore side projects unrelated to their main job. Laura used this time to develop productivity strategies for herself, which eventually snowballed into a full-time gig.

It started small: "People would lean over my desk and ask how I managed my inbox, how I scheduled my time," she said. Soon, she began teaching these techniques internally, and before she knew it, her 20% project became her 100% role.

It’s a prime example of how curiosity and passion can lead to game-changing career pivots—even within the same company.

Inbox Zero is a Myth, But There’s Hope

Email. It’s the bane of modern work life, and let’s be honest, most of us are drowning in it.

Laura doesn't sugarcoat it: "Email is the gateway to productivity because it’s so personal."

Her approach? Treat your inbox like a dryer full of laundry. Would you pull out one sock, fold it, and then walk it upstairs? No. So why do we handle email that way?

? She breaks it down into three steps:

1. Get rid of what you don’t need. Search "unsubscribe" in your inbox and eliminate distractions.
2. Pop your priority emails. Use filters or labels to highlight emails from your boss or top clients.
3. Batch process like laundry. Don’t just pick off one email at a time; take a full load and tackle it all at once.

"I close my email at least once a day for some focused work time," Laura suggests. Instead of focusing on how many times you check your inbox, think about how often you close it.

This method creates space for actual work and helps avoid the never-ending refresh cycle that keeps us from doing deep, focused tasks.

Uptime vs. Downtime: It’s All Connected

The core concept of Laura’s book, Uptime, is about finding your productivity "zone." You know, those magical hours when you’re firing on all cylinders. But here’s the kicker: Uptime can’t exist without downtime.

In the tech world, uptime refers to the period a system is operational, but even computers need to shut down for maintenance. "The downtime feeds into having uptime for longer," Laura explains. It’s a simple but powerful reminder that rest is a necessary part of being productive.

This ties into her advice on managing personal and professional life. Balance, she says, is about prioritizing everything in your life—not just work. If you're moving across the country with your family, that’s as much of a priority as your next big project at work. There’s only one “you,” so your to-do list should reflect all parts of your life, not just the work part.

Mastering the Art of Saying No

For many of us, the hardest part of productivity is learning to say no. Laura is a "recovering yes-sayer," and she’s built strategies around being a "friendly shark" with her time. In her book, she even includes templates for politely declining requests without burning bridges.

Here’s a gem: "No, because…" Adding context or an explanation softens the no and maintains relationships. Another favorite? "No, but…" Laura shared a personal story about turning down a speaking engagement because it was on Halloween—a family priority—but she still kept the door open for future opportunities.

"I try to make balance the new busy," she said. It's a subtle, but impactful shift in how we view productivity. Rather than glorifying the grind, it’s about creating time for what matters most, professionally and personally.

Key Takeaways

1. Productivity is about intention, not output. Shift your mindset from "busy equals important" to "intentions align with actions."
2. Emails can be tamed. Apply Laura’s laundry metaphor and batch process your inbox to free up mental space.
3. Uptime needs downtime. Don’t underestimate the power of rest in fueling your best work.
4. Boundaries matter. Learn the art of saying no, and protect your time like a "friendly shark."
5. Balance should be the new busy. Stop glorifying the grind and start embracing intentionality in all areas of your life.

I followed Laura's "unsubscribe tip" the moment we finished recording and it instantly made my inbox more pleasant.

?? Have a favorite productivity tip? Share it in the comments.

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