Eat The Frog
Sometimes, you have to do what you don't want to do today, so you can do what you want to do tomorrow.
The quote goes something like that.
I say this to my students all the time, when they don't want to go to class or take a big test; but we have all been there. We all have that one task that's on our plate, that we are absolutly dreading. For me, it's cleaning out my garage. Ugh. I loath the thought so much, I end up putting it off and off and off; and now it's the thing that I have avoided the longest.
Enter the concept of Eating The Frog.
Brian Tracy is the famed author who coined the phrase, in his book "Eat That Frog", where he provides tips to help combat procrastination. The idea is simple: do the hardest, most dreaded task first. It's a powerful concept that can make a difference in how you approach tough task; and a bullet journal is the perfect tool to help make that happen.
Productivity Principle: Complete the hardest or most dreaded task first thing in the morning, before distractions or decision fatigue has a chance to creep in.
When you tackle that frog first thing:
• You gain momentum for the rest of your day
• You feel more accomplished
• You reduce stress
Bullet Journal Tips
1. Identify your Frog - In the daily or weekly log, leave a space to highlight your frog. If you already have a weekly Top Three Priority list, make sure the frog is at the top, and then physically highlight, like with a highlighter or a special indicator that will make that task stand out. Don't be afraid to make it fun and visual, add a little frog doodle or highlight it green.
2. Time Block it - Treat it like an appointment or a meeting, no skipping, no rescheduling. Block out time first thing in the morning and stick to the plan, avoid doing any shallow work before hand, like checking emails or returning phone calls. Be sure to block out enough time to complete the task fully, use the 2 - Minute Rule to minimize distractions.
3. Track Your Wins - Include a habit tracker or a mood tracker to monitor how eating the frog first effects your productivity or your energy. You might start to see a positive pattern; you might even begin to dread that frog a little less.
4. Reflect and Reset - During your Weekly Reset Ritual note which frogs you avoided or didn't complete and why? Was the task to big? Did you not allot enough time? How did you handle distractions? What adjustments can you make for the upcoming week? Let your bujo become a tool for real self reflection and self - awareness.
Eating the frog is all about building discipline, reducing stress, and getting stuff done. A bullet journal is the tool you can use to help apply this concept or any other productivity tip to your every day life. It's more than just a planner, it is your partner; remember it works with you and FOR you.
So, tomorrow morning, flip to your current log, find your frog, take a deep breath; then eat it.
You've got this, plus you've planned accordingly.