Mark Twain was a genius for saying, 

‘If you have to eat a live frog, do it first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.’

Now, as disgusting as it might sound, what does it mean to eat the frog?

This productivity concept demands you to tackle your most important or challenging task first thing in the day. The “frog” basically represents your most daunting task. By completing it early, you set a positive and productive tone for the rest of your day. 

Though this approach might seem simple to you, it brings along the power to focus. Ever experienced those days when you’re completely lost on where to begin with your to-do list? This is exactly when you will have to eat the frog. 

On to the real deal now, 

How to Identify ‘Frogs’?

There can be more than one important task on your to-do list each day. Hence, the question, how can one identify the frogs out of all the tasks? Here are some tips to help you pinpoint:

Frogs are Important but Not Urgent

Frogs are tasks that greatly impact your personal growth. They align with your long-term goals and contribute to your overall progress and success. While tasks like answering emails, responding to messages, or managing daily errands are necessary, they are not frogs. These smaller tasks may seem urgent but can usually wait. If these smaller tasks often interrupt your focus time, try time blocking to make sure you can tackle your frog first thing in the morning.

Frogs Require More Time Than Other Tasks

Typically, frogs need more than an hour to complete, ideally between one and four hours. If a task will take longer than four hours, break it into smaller tasks. This way, your daily frog takes up no more than half of your day. This approach helps manage your time effectively: you can dedicate half the day to your frog and the other half to other tasks, appointments, and daily activities.

Frogs Often Come With Resistance

Just as eating a live frog isn’t appealing, the tasks you identify as frogs usually come with some mental resistance. These might be tasks that are mentally challenging, not enjoyable, or ones where you feel significant pressure to succeed, leading to procrastination. If a task feels particularly daunting, it’s likely your frog for the day.

For example, this is what my to-do list looks like today:

• Create social media posts for my socials. 
• Write a blog on personal growth and development for Better Livin’ 101. 
• Attend an online appointment with my doctor. 
• Follow-up with a client. 

While all of the tasks are important, writing a blog post for the website is the frog. It requires more time and effort, has a lasting impact, and contributes to my long-term goals.

5 Powerful Tips to Eat the Frog

Tame the Tadpole

The frog is the most important but often dreaded task on your to-do list. If starting with the biggest, baddest frog is daunting, try a “taming” approach. Break down the frog into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make it seem less intimidating and get you started on chipping away at it. 

Prime Time

Not a morning person? No problem! The key is to tackle your frog during your peak productivity time. Whether that’s first thing in the morning or later in the day, schedule eating the frog when you have the most focus and energy to power through it. 

Prepare the Frog a Night Before

Do not spend all your time gathering resources or setting up your workspace. The night before, identify your frog and collect everything you will need to work through it effectively. This will streamline the process and eliminate any excuses for procrastination in the morning. 

Make it a Habit

The idea behind Eat the Frog is to make conquering your most important task a regular habit. The more consistently you eat your frog, the more progress you will make toward your goals. How can we not mention the satisfaction of checking off that big, important task every day?

Choose the Biggest Frog

If more than one frog exists, prioritize ruthlessly. Focus on tackling the biggest, most impactful frog first. This will ensure you get the most important work done, even if you run out of steam later. Knocking out a big frog first thing brings along a sense of accomplishment and frees up mental space to deal with the remaining less daunting tasks. 

Feeling Overwhelmed? Eat That Frog!

“Eat that frog” is more than just a catchy metaphor. It is a powerful tool to boost productivity and achieve your goals. With consistent practice, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish by simply eating one frog each day. So, what are you waiting for? Go forth, identify your frog for tomorrow, and conquer it with confidence!