Dreading a meeting or presentation? Try ‘Eat the Frog’ technique to jumpstart your day

To successfully 'eat the frog,' it starts with identifying what exactly your frog is. (Representational)

In a world filled with mounting to-do lists and relentless multitasking, many find themselves trapped in a cycle of postponing the most challenging tasks. Enter the “Eat the Frog” technique—a productivity strategy that promotes tackling the most difficult or unpleasant task of the day first.

Coined from the famous quote by Mark Twain, who suggested that if you start your day by “eating a live frog,” nothing worse could happen for the rest of the day, this technique has proven effective for high achievers and procrastination-busters alike.

The "frog" in this context is the task that you are most likely to avoid but also the one that will have the greatest impact on your day. The concept, popularised by Brian Tracy in his book “Eat That Frog!”, centres on using willpower and clarity to prioritise and complete significant tasks before less demanding ones.

By focusing on the day’s hardest task early, proponents of the technique argue that individuals are better able to maintain focus, reduce stress, and experience a motivating sense of accomplishment that fuels productivity.

How It Works

To successfully “eat the frog,” it starts with identifying what exactly your frog is. This might be a pending report, a challenging presentation, or a dreaded phone call. Once identified, the next step is committing to handle this task as your first order of business. By knocking it off your list early, you’re not only getting rid of the heaviest item, but also setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.

1. Prioritise Tasks: The “frog” is the task that adds significant value or removes major hurdles. Sorting tasks by importance and urgency is key.

2. Schedule Focus Time: Allocate a specific time to work on your frog task without interruptions, ideally early in the day when energy levels are higher.

3. Avoid Perfectionism: Often, we delay these “frogs” because they seem daunting. Embrace the motto “done is better than perfect” to push through.

Why It Works

Psychologically, this technique capitalises on our mental clarity in the morning. Studies suggest that willpower depletes over time, which means delaying difficult tasks may lead to avoidance altogether. By tackling the hardest item first, the "Eat the Frog" approach conserves mental energy for other tasks and allows for a sense of control and accomplishment to permeate the day.

1. Builds Momentum: After eating the proverbial frog, the rest of the day feels more manageable, with lesser tasks feeling less burdensome.

2. Lowers Procrastination: The technique targets procrastination by making it harder to ignore a planned task once a habit is built around it.

Applications Beyond the Workplace

This productivity hack has applications beyond traditional work settings. From personal fitness goals to household tasks, the “Eat the Frog” method can also be applied in areas such as self-care, project management, and even relationship goals. By identifying and handling essential tasks early, individuals can build consistent habits, tackle bigger personal projects, and cultivate a disciplined approach to time management.

Drawbacks

While effective, this technique may not work for everyone. For people with fluctuating schedules or energy levels that peak later in the day, completing the most demanding tasks in the morning may feel impractical. Additionally, this technique requires consistent self-discipline, and initial attempts to “eat the frog” can be uncomfortable and require practice.