Laura Mae Martin, Google‘s executive productivity advisor, has successfully transformed a personal weekly tradition into a popular company-wide initiative. The “No-Tech Tuesday” challenge, which encourages employees to disconnect from their devices for one evening a week, has gained significant traction within the tech giant.
Martin, who helps Google’s top leaders maximise their productivity, initially started the practice with her husband.Every Tuesday evening, they would set aside their devices and engage in offline activities such as board games and outdoor pursuits. “Those Tuesdays ended up being some of our favourite nights,” Martin revealed in her new book, “Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing.”
Recognizing the potential benefits for Google’s workforce, Martin introduced the concept to the company five years ago. The challenge asks participants to turn off their phones for a few hours on Tuesday evenings. Since its inception, over 2,500 Googlers have participated annually, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Participants reported numerous benefits, including improved sleep quality, increased energy levels the following day, and more time for creative hobbies and meaningful human connections. Some even noted enhanced problem-solving abilities, attributing it to giving their brains time to rest.
The initiative’s success is reflected in the statistics: 97.2% of participants reported that No-Tech Tuesday positively impacted their work performance and/or stress levels, while 92% planned to continue the practice beyond the initial challenge.
Martin emphasises the importance of digital detoxing, even if only for one evening per week, in creating the mental space necessary for both professional and personal growth. For those finding a full evening unplugged daunting, she suggests starting with smaller steps, such as completing one task before checking phones in the morning or finding brief phone-free windows during the day.
Martin’s No-Tech Tuesday practises what she calls “JOMO” – the joy of missing out – over the more common fear of missing out (FOMO).
Martin, who helps Google’s top leaders maximise their productivity, initially started the practice with her husband.Every Tuesday evening, they would set aside their devices and engage in offline activities such as board games and outdoor pursuits. “Those Tuesdays ended up being some of our favourite nights,” Martin revealed in her new book, “Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing.”
Recognizing the potential benefits for Google’s workforce, Martin introduced the concept to the company five years ago. The challenge asks participants to turn off their phones for a few hours on Tuesday evenings. Since its inception, over 2,500 Googlers have participated annually, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Participants reported numerous benefits, including improved sleep quality, increased energy levels the following day, and more time for creative hobbies and meaningful human connections. Some even noted enhanced problem-solving abilities, attributing it to giving their brains time to rest.
The initiative’s success is reflected in the statistics: 97.2% of participants reported that No-Tech Tuesday positively impacted their work performance and/or stress levels, while 92% planned to continue the practice beyond the initial challenge.
Martin emphasises the importance of digital detoxing, even if only for one evening per week, in creating the mental space necessary for both professional and personal growth. For those finding a full evening unplugged daunting, she suggests starting with smaller steps, such as completing one task before checking phones in the morning or finding brief phone-free windows during the day.
Martin’s No-Tech Tuesday practises what she calls “JOMO” – the joy of missing out – over the more common fear of missing out (FOMO).
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