STOP Procrastinating Tip #2 – Eat A Frog Every Morning!
April 14, 2010 by Debra Marrs
Filed under Blog, Organizing, Organizing Your Time, Writing Tips
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STOP Procrastinating Tip #2:
Eat A Frog Every Morning!
Also known as The Worst First Technique, this tip works best to get the things you dread out of the way first thing in the morning. I used to use this technique when I cold called prospects in my former business as a time management and organization consultant. Here’s how it works:
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- Before you go to bed, write down the most dreaded task you face.
- Tomorrow, right away, as soon as possible, do that dreaded task. Go ahead! Get it over with. Just do it!
Application for Writers: What are you putting off? What’s the #1 thing that has your writing stalled?
Use The Worst 1st Technique to overcome procrastination. Perhaps you need to make a call too. Maybe you need to find a subject matter expert to interview. Or perhaps you’ve been putting off editing a certain chapter. Maybe it’s an article you need to finish. Get it off your desk, be done with it so you can move on to something else. The Worst 1st Technique helps writers overcome writers block too.
What is it that you’ve been putting off?
As unpalatable as it may seem, this technique really works. Why? Because when you do the worst first and get it out of the way, you not only clear your brain of clutter that snaggles your creativity, you also boost your self-confidence that says “Yes, I can do this!”
Now isn’t that worth eating a frog first thing in the morning? Go ahead. Try it!
{Please pass this writing tip along to others.}
Does this mean I have to pay the stack of bills that has grown into a mountain? Oh, well, I have a good excuse today: I’m off to the dentist. But I’ll wake up and do it first thing tomorrow. Probably.
that’s how I got my TAXES out yesterday
Hi Deb!
LOL… love the title and the tip is a great one. If you don’t get that “thing” done and over with, it will mess up your whole day (or week)!
Thanks for sharing.
Deb
The frog I ate today…Well, it wasn’t quite first thing, because I had a client call scheduled. But then…It was on to the final review of the income taxes, filling in one more form for financial aid, then off to Staples to create the copies–one for the College Board, one for us, and the joy of copying all those little pieces of paper that won’t go through the sheet-feeder. THEN to the Post Office!! So tonight I’m tipping a virtual celebratory glass that those tiresome tasks are OFF MY DESK!! (Also want to acknowledge the best $$ I spend are for the accountant to put it all together.) Such a relief. Took the dog on a really long pre-bedtime walk.
Best frog this week!! Thanks Debra!
Well I didn’t eat my frog early today and have procrastinated on my blog post today. However I am on my way to eat the frog and will get it out of my mind.
Thanks for your tips looking forward to the next one. Maybe no more eating frogs though–not the greatest thought.
I have to eat a toad then. My procrastination is uuuugly! But, I do like your motivation and will try it today!
Thanks for the frog tip!
The frog I ate today…Well, it wasn’t quite first thing, because I had a client call scheduled. But then…It was on to the final review of the income taxes, filling in one more form for financial aid, then off to Staples to create the copies–one for the College Board, one for us, and the joy of copying all those little pieces of paper that won’t go through the sheet-feeder. THEN to the Post Office!! So tonight I’m tipping a virtual celebratory glass that those tiresome tasks are OFF MY DESK!! (Also want to acknowledge the best $$ I spend are for the accountant to put it all together.) Such a relief. Took the dog on a really long pre-bedtime walk.
Best frog this week!! Thanks Debra!
Well I didn’t eat my frog early today and have procrastinated on my blog post today. However I am on my way to eat the frog and will get it out of my mind.
Thanks for your tips looking forward to the next one. Maybe no more eating frogs though–not the greatest thought.
Really? I can’t just let him simmer? Frogs are best served well cooked . . .
Dang, I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow when I balance my checkbook –
Melissa