Monday Mo: Eat The Frog!

You know those workdays that you dread? The days when there is a task that is priority but NOT FUN and you really, really don’t want to do it? Most people push that task off for as long as possible. These tasks typically create a sense of stress, anxiety, frustration, or fear and it’s easy to push them off till later – until later becomes way too long and the task is likely a bigger problem to deal with. Not a fun way to start any day. 

I know I’ve had tasks like this and I do eventually get around to them – oftentimes they turn out to be WAY less of a problem than I had created in my mind. BUT, I waited and waited and pushed the tasks off and ended up worrying repeatedly and unnecessarily. If I had just taken care of the problem and gotten it over with – I could have gone on with my day being more productive….and happy. 

Recently I was introduced to Brian Tracy’s book, “Eat That Frog: 21 Ways To Stop Procrastinating” This book is jam packed with insights that motivated me to get on top of those difficult tasks that I normally dread. This book inspired me to tackle my most difficult project or task first thing every day and the results have been deeply impactful on my work life and my personal life.  

If you haven’t already read it, you are bound to get something significant out of this legendary book that has sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

What Does It Mean To ‘Eat The Frog’

Of course, it’s a metaphor! To sum it up, eating the frog is the way you improve your productivity and prioritization. The idea is to identify one challenging task (your frog) and complete the task (eat it) first thing in the morning. Leaving the rest of your day for more productivity without the stress and anxiety that plagues us when we know we have something we have to do but keep putting it off. 

Benefits Of Eating The Frog

Getting the most challenging task out of the way early on can set you up for success for the rest of the day. It allows you to tackle everything else with renewed vigor because the most challenging and difficult aspects of your day are over. 

Eating the frog means taking full advantage of the time you have. Your energy and willpower are typically at its highest in the morning. Prioritize your less demanding tasks for the afternoon when your energy isn’t quite as high – this can boost your productivity and mood. 

Tips To Help Swallow The Frog

• Determine exactly what your “frog” is
• If your frog is too big – break it down to manageable ‘bite-size’ portions
• Make your frog the first thing on your to-do list
• Get help if you need it

Everybody has different reasons for their procrastination habits. This book offers valuable tactics that can help anyone. It’s a competitive world and you want to stay on top of your game – not just in the game. To do that, you need to do more than others are willing to do. You can eat your frog and be the best. I challenge you to take the Eat That Frog challenge this month – every day and see if you don’t notice a difference.