Why “lazy Geniuses” Ask Themselves This Question

If you’re overwhelmed, scared, or frustrated with your to-do list or daily routine, this little trick can help. You just need to think a little lazier.

One of the core productivity principles in Kendra Adachi’s The Way of the Lazy Genius is a reminder to always ask yourself the “magic question”: What can I do now to make my life easier later? Adachi developed the “lazy genius” method to help her “be a genius at what matters and lazy at what doesn’t matter”.

How the Magic Question Can Make You More Productive

The idea behind the magic question is to motivate you to take the smallest action now, and then ride the waves of relief you’ll feel later when the resulting annoying task becomes much easier as a result.

“The smaller something, the simpler the solution. When you ask the magic question, you usually win pretty quickly,” Adachi said in a podcast episode about the concept . “Once you get into the habit of asking this question and then notice how even the simplest answers can positively impact your day, your time, your energy and your attitude, you will want to keep asking!”

How does the magic question work?

Lately, I’ve been using this technique when I’m low on time, energy, or both. First, I admit that I can’t take on a big task right now. Then I ask myself: what is the least I can do to make the task easier when I come back to it later? Here are some personal examples of this practice in action over the past week:

• I don’t have time to sign my kids up for cycling classes right now, but I can open a browser tab so it’s ready to remind me when I get back to my computer.
• I don’t have time to sew up a hole in this dress, but the thread is within reach, so I’ll thread the needle and put it on my to-do list for later.
• I don’t have the time or energy to clean the car before I pick up the kids from school, but I’ll take the empty laundry basket to the car so it’s full when we get home.

When to ask the magic question

Ask yourself the magic question in these scenarios:

What is tiring or frustrating in my daily routine? Adachi said she hacked into her family’s after-school routine by picking up a plate of snacks before picking up the kids. Try asking the magic question about your morning routine, bedtime routine, laundry process, or weekly meal planning. Where do you get stuck or frustrated with these routines? Is there a little thing you can do now to make it easier later?

What did I not finish on my to-do list today? Even if I didn’t complete the task today, I like the idea that I can move forward a bit and come back to it later.

What impending task or project have I been avoiding? Do you have projects or tasks that carry over to the months of your calendar because you can’t get started? Ask the magic question and suddenly you’ll find yourself getting things done.

You only have a few free minutes and you can’t complete the whole task. What do you fit into those 10-15 minute breaks a day (other than well-earned TikTok breaks)? If I know something is going to take an hour but I only have 10 minutes, I try to do something tiny to help myself with a future task, like finding a phone number, writing a list of questions, or setting a reminder.

Adachi compares the magic question to the laying of dominoes and the fall of the first one. This first step gives impetus to the next and the next.

(No pressure, but I’ve noticed that for particularly daunting tasks, taking one small step reduces stress so I can jump right into steps two and three. The magic question can help you achieve more than you expected, whether it’s now or later. By taking the first small step, you set yourself up to crush that challenge later.