Be your most productive by eating the frog

We all have tasks that we put off, especially at this time of year. All tasks are not equal, and when you start putting off key tasks, it can really get in the way of your goals and plans. 

Think about the goals you made, the plans you put in place, and the tracker you’ve built.  What’s the most important task you haven’t done that would move you forward right now? If you aren’t sure, you can see some thinking prompts in this note about winter motivation.

 A few years ago, I came across a method that I have fallen back on over and over again when I’m not as productive as I need to be. “Eat the Frog” (metaphorically, no frogs are actually harmed!) is  based on something Mark Twain said, and was popularized by productivity author Brian Tracy.

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” – Mark Twain

The concept is simple: identify the highest value task in your day, and do it as soon as you sit down at your desk. Before you do anything else, even checking your email. By doing this, you ensure that the most important thing gets done before you get bogged down in the details of the day. And if you want to go further, make the second task of the day the one you’ve been avoiding – and there is always one of those.  This way, you keep things moving, even if you aren’t checking everything off your list. Your day will get off to a good start, and you can use that to create momentum.

And if you simply have too many frogs, it might not be a motivation problem. It might be a capacity problem. A short consultation can help clarify what makes sense for you to hand off.

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