Have you ever been in such an embarrassing situation? -- Always delayed in action by difficulties, or even been defeated, giving up lightly in the face of daunting tasks.Or always overwhelmed by an overly optimistic daily to-do list, never thoroughly completing the day's plan, so that you always fail to reach the final goal?
How can we overcome this quirk of the human psyche, and how can we overcome the psychological resistance that comes with big goals and start taking action?
The answer is a deceptively simple and memorably named productivity method called Eat The Frog.
What is Eat The Frog
"Eat The Frog" is a term popularized by author Brian Tracy in his book "Eat That Frog!" It refers to the idea of tackling the most difficult or challenging task of the day first, rather than procrastinating or avoiding it.
Eat the Frog is perfect for those who:
- Procrastination, always delaying doing things
- Doing a lot of chores but not making any progress on the important things
- Having a hard time sticking to your productivity system
- Indecision about what work to do at any given time
- Difficulty concentrating on one thing at a time
- Never once completing a to-do list thoroughly
When applying the concept of "eating the frog" in a work environment, it means tackling the most challenging tasks or projects first. This helps to increase productivity and reduce procrastination because once the most difficult things are done, you will be able to take care of other things more easily.
To give you an example from your work environment, let's say you're a project manager who has a lot of things to deal with on a daily basis. You find that one of your projects has many difficulties and challenges, but it is also one of the most important. Following the "eat the frog" philosophy, you would choose to tackle this project first, making sure it receives adequate attention and resources. Once this difficult project is resolved, you can tackle the other projects with greater ease.
Another example is that if you are a salesperson, you may find it difficult to start a sales campaign or a program to reach new customers. Following the "eat the frog" philosophy, you would prioritize these tasks because they are critical to performance and business growth.
Why Does Eat The Frog Work?
Eat the Frog in the work environment is about managing time and priorities to ensure that the most important tasks are prioritized to improve efficiency and results.
Firstly, it helps to tackle the most challenging or important tasks in the morning when your mind is fresh and energy levels are high, increasing the likelihood of successful completion. Procrastinating on difficult tasks can lead to increased stress and anxiety, whereas addressing them early can provide a sense of accomplishment and momentum for the rest of the day.
Additionally,"eating the frog" helps to develop discipline and time management skills, as it requires individuals to confront and overcome their natural tendency to avoid difficult or unpleasant tasks. Over time, this can lead to improved work habits and a more proactive approach to handling responsibilities.
Furthermore, prioritizing the most important tasks through the "eat the frog" approach ensures that crucial projects receive the attention they deserve, potentially leading to better results and outcomes. By completing the most challenging tasks first, you free up mental space and time to focus on other important matters, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
"Eat The Frog" approach works because it promotes efficiency, productivity, and a proactive mindset, ultimately leading to better outcomes and reduced stress in the workplace.
Tips for eating your own frogs
“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.”
In fact, your "frog" is your biggest, most important task. It is the task you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it. So, another way of saying "eat that frog" is that if you have two important tasks in front of you, start with the biggest, hardest, most important task first. So how do you start eating your first frog? And how do you stick with it?
Tip#1 Identify the Frogs
Begin by identifying the most challenging or important tasks on your to-do list. These are the "frogs" that you should prioritize and address first.
Tip#2 Set Clear Goals
Clearly define your goals for each task or project. This will help you stay focused and motivated as you work on completing them. (If a task seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. This can make it easier to tackle and reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.)
Tip#3 Schedule Your Frogs
Allocate specific time slots in your day dedicated to working on your most challenging tasks. Just choose the time period when you are most productive, this could be in the morning when your energy levels are high or at a time when you are least likely to be interrupted. Note that at the same time you need to eliminate distractions and minimize potential distractions when working on your frogs. Find a quiet space, turn off notifications, and focus solely on the task at hand.
Tip#4 Use Time Management Techniques
Consider using time management techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique (working in focused intervals with short breaks) to maintain productivity and avoid burnout.
Tip#5 Celebrate Progress and revisit to adjust your frogs
Acknowledge and celebrate your progress as you complete each challenging task. This can help maintain motivation and a sense of accomplishment.But don't forget to take time to reflect on your "frog-eating" experience. If certain strategies work better than others, adapt your approach accordingly.
How to eat your frogs with NearHub Board
NearHub Board can be a very useful tool when using the "eat the frog" method, here I’ll give the operating steps:
- Make a list of tasks: Fully utilize the toolbar,such as pencil or sticky notes, to make a list of all your tasks on the NearHub Board, including those you consider "frogs" that are challenging or important.
- Setting Priorities: Use special handwriting colors to mark or highlight the tasks you consider most important or challenging. This helps give you a clear picture of which tasks need to be prioritized.
- Make a schedule: Create a schedule on the Whiteboard to organize when you will work on each task. You can use different colors and symbols or use removable sticky notes in different colors to indicate different tasks and time periods.
- Break down and refine using the whiteboard: Break down large or complex tasks into smaller subtasks and refine each step on the whiteboard. This helps to give you a clear picture of how to complete the task step-by-step.
- Track progress: You use the whiteboard to track your progress, use text boxes and sticky notes to mark completed tasks and record any relevant notes or ideas.
By using the whiteboard to organize and present your task lists, you can better manage and implement the "eat the frog" method, thus improving productivity and task management.
Conclusion
Overall, the primary role of the "eat the frog" approach is to help individuals effectively tackle challenging and important tasks in order to improve productivity and time management. The approach emphasizes prioritizing the most challenging tasks in order to overcome procrastination and increase the sense of accomplishment at work. Don’t hesitate to eat your FIRST FROG!!
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