Imagine two to-do lists. The first is crammed with dozens of small, easy tasks. The second has just 1-3 daunting but important priorities. Which list do you tackle first? If you’re like most people, you gravitate toward the easy list—but that’s a recipe for procrastination and unnecessary stress. The path to productivity starts with a different approach: Eat the frog. Do your hardest, most impactful task first, before anything else. This one habit will transform your days.
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. (Not Mark Twain)
How to eat the frog and get more done
It’s a simple idea, but it makes a lot of sense. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your long to-do list, start by figuring out the biggest task or problem that needs solving and do just that. We often avoid the big, scary, important tasks because they’re usually the most difficult. So we fill our time with easy small tasks while the big one looms over us.
Identify your frogs
Your “frogs” are the high-priority items on your to-do list that will have the greatest positive impact. At the start of each day, take a few minutes to review your goals and determine which 1-3 tasks are essential to complete. These are likely the tasks on which you are most likely to procrastinate.
Eat the biggest frog first
Rather than easing into your day with simpler tasks, eat your biggest frog first. Work on your top priority before doing anything else. Resist the temptation to clear out smaller to-dos. Completing your most difficult task early boosts momentum and accomplishment to propel you through the rest of your list.
Break frogs down
Sometimes our most critical tasks seem so daunting that we don’t know where to start. If a frog feels too big to swallow, break it down into smaller, actionable steps. For example, if your frog is “write sales proposal,” you could break it into:
Proactively block time
Block out uninterrupted time on your calendar to dedicate to eating frogs. Treat these focus blocks as unmissable appointments. Turn off notifications, close your email, and eliminate distractions. Protect your frog-eating time at all costs.
Repeat daily
Make eating frogs a daily habit. What seemed difficult at first will feel more natural as you train yourself to do the hardest things first. With repetition, you’ll procrastinate less, and your productivity will soar.
Productivity isn’t about getting more things done. It’s about getting the right things done. By eating your frogs—your most difficult, dreaded tasks—first thing every day, you ensure you’re making progress on what matters most. You’re investing your time and energy strategically, not just spinning your wheels on trivial todos.
If you want to achieve your goals and feel accomplished at the end of each day, make eating frogs a non-negotiable habit. Start small, with just one important task a day, and gradually work up to swallowing bigger frogs.
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