Procrastination and lack of motivation are the worst enemies of productivity. Feeling safe and comfortable when procrastinating is like an addiction that becomes poison. However, there is one technique that can overcome these issues. Call it Eat the Frog.
Sound weird, right? “Eat the Frog” is unrelated to productivity. Who eats frogs then instantly becomes productive?
Eat the Frog is a technique to lift your productivity. Using it can give you some significant advances in your schedule. You can put many things at the right time, solve more pressing issues as you move on with your day, and you can continue your day in peace.
If you don't understand what Eat the Frog is, stay tuned to the end of this post, and you'll find an explanation:
- The meaning of Eat the Frog
- Anyone who needs this technique
- Any job that can be a “Frog.”
- Tips for implementing
- Reasons why Eat the frog worked
What is Eat the Frog?
Sometimes some people call it a productivity's hack. Eat the frog is one of the productivity strategies that focuses on completing the most challenging activities first. This technique aims to:
- Don't miss out on top priorities and make meaningful progress
- Eliminate the most difficult tasks and get rid of your worries about them
“Frog” represents the most difficult or often procrastinating task you have. You expect the task to take care of itself - but that's just an excuse to procrastinate.
Who can use the “Eat The Frog” technique?
Anyone can use this technique to raise their productivity level. Even so, the highest percentage of people using this method is looking for creative solutions to increase productivity.
Simply, this technique is suitable for anyone who:
- Has deadlines throughout the week or month.
- Can't focus on work or specific tasks.
- Confused about prioritising tasks.
- Juggling multiple projects at once.
What task can be the “Frog”?
Any task or project can become the “frog”, as long as the task is often delayed or you don't want to work on it. "Eat the Frog" implies a list of unpleasant tasks and prime candidates you should put off. In some ways, this list is the most important and valuable. The following types of tasks are most likely to be "frog":
1. A complicated task
This type of job is the primary candidate that you always procrastinate because:
- It takes too much time to complete.
- It is too complicated and boring.
2. An important task
This task often affects self-confidence when the desired results are not achieved. The fear of negative feedback or unwanted effects can greatly affect your confidence and willingness to perform tasks. Finally, you postpone it until the last minute, and frequently you find yourself in a time scramble.
For example, chats or client calls that demand cost and time estimates on a project that you find difficult to understand.
3. An extremely important and complicated task
Sometimes, when you are out of luck, a task can be critical and complex at the same time. It would be boring to finish.
You may often find yourself in these unpleasant situations if you are a student. You must finish a project report in a few hours because you've been putting it off too long. Writing a detailed essay is difficult, especially if you're running against time.
If you're still having a hard time finding “frog” on your to-do list, try following Tracy's advice in Eat that Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time:
- Break down all tasks according to the closest deadline
- Identify the project that feels the most difficult and monumental
By identifying the right “frog”, you can maximise your daily productivity. This technique can make your day a success and put you in a better mood for the rest of the day you need to complete.
Why does “Eat The Frog” work?
The success of a productivity technique depends on the people working on it. Eat the Frog won't work if you don't do it. But, the following advantages make it easy to implement:
1. It ensures you set up your to-do-list
Checking email, social media notifications or even lunch promos might be the things you often do first while sitting at work. These things put you in reactive mode. Once you start responding to notifications and emails one by one, you've given up your time and attention on what other people need. This kind of priority quickly takes over your workday.
In other words, this productivity strategy requires you to complete your agenda first before other things pile up. Your focus will not be divided by things that are not your priority.
2. Leave yourself with more time to complete enjoyable tasks
The complex tasks have been completed in the morning and you feel you have time to relax with the enjoyable tasks. It will raise your mood. A good mood will impact the next day when you return to work, and it will freshen up your mind.
Some people don't like making project estimations, and some don't like writing detailed reports. All of that doesn't matter when it's done sooner, right?
3. The best working hours to complete tasks
Not all working hours have the same productivity. The morning is a golden time for some people, where energy and motivation are at their peak. But on the contrary, when you finish lunch, some people want to relax and do less challenging projects.
What makes this technique performs well because it uses the best time to complete the most challenging and exhausting jobs. This technique helps you save priority tasks when you're out of energy.
Tips for doing this strategy
The most noticeable advantage of “Eat the Frog” is that it is not too complicated. The simple steps will make it easier to see which one "jumps" like a frog. Here are some tips to get the most out of it:
1. Start planning and set priorities
Believe it, “Eat the Frog” is all about planning. So start by writing a to-do list and prioritising.
It may seem time-consuming because some tasks are overwhelming, but believe me, it's not that bad. You don't have to think about it all the time. Writing it down makes you realise that this isn't bad. Use the formula of the Eisenhower Matrix to create a priority list.
Now that you've got a basket of priority lists, it's time to choose the appropriate breakfast. Identify the task that makes the most suitable “frog” candidates, and remember to eat them when it's time for “breakfast.”
2. Eat your frog in the morning
Wake up early, do your morning routine and eat your frog! Remember that this doesn't mean ruining your day by completing the most unpleasant task in the morning. It's about making the best of the hours to complete the job. Think that you will feel relieved after this task is completed.
3. If you have two frogs, eat the giant frog first
The priority task list does not contain only one task. You can have more than two priority projects at a time. Then how to determine the "frog" which is more complex and needs to be prioritised? Simple! Eat the giant frog first. Remember that there are essential and complex, important, and complex “frog” criteria. Let these three criteria guide you in choosing the giant frog.
Final Thought
When it comes to increasing productivity, we may get overwhelmed. Many complex tasks can catch us off guard, then we start procrastinating. That’s why we need to get to the bottom of the issues.
We need to make our priorities clear and start making planning or strategy to run through them. This so-called strategy "eat the frog" lets you run through your most challenging and complex tasks first thing in the morning. After eating your frogs, you can start doing other tasks with great relief knowing your most complicated tasks are done. So, what are you waiting for? Get up and kickstart your productive day now!
