Waking up with a big, scary task hanging over your head ruins the entire day. You spend hours dreading it, scrolling on your phone to avoid it.
Consequently, by 4:00 PM, the task is still not done, and you are exhausted from the stress. The solution is simple but painful.
You have to Eat the Frog. This famous productivity hack is the secret to true relaxation.
Doing the hard thing first buys you freedom. Here is why tackling the worst task immediately is actually the lazy person’s best friend.
The Science of “Dread”
Why is procrastination so tiring?
Basically, carrying a mental burden burns energy. Every time you think about the unfinished task, your brain releases a tiny spike of cortisol.
Therefore, putting it off doesn’t save energy; it wastes it. By the time you finally start, you are already drained.
3 Steps to Swallow the Frog
The goal isn’t to work harder. The goal is to work for 30 minutes so you can relax for 8 hours.
1. Identify Your “Frog” the Night Before
Waking up without a plan is dangerous.
Instead, decide on your “Frog” before bed. It is usually the task you want to do least. It is the phone call you are avoiding or the email you don’t want to write.
Write it down. Now, your morning brain doesn’t have to think. It just has to execute.
2. Do It Before the Coffee Kicks In
Willpower is a finite resource. It is highest in the morning and gone by lunch.
Use that morning burst to kill the frog. Do not check email first. Do not scroll Instagram.
If you wait, the distractions will win. If you do it at 8:00 AM, you are free for the rest of the day.
3. Reward Yourself with Sloth
This is the most important part.
Once the frog is eaten, give yourself permission to be lazy. You did the hard thing. Consequently, the rest of the day is bonus time.
Enjoy the Netflix binge without the guilt. You earned it.
Common Questions About Frogs
Where did this phrase come from?
Mark Twain famously said, “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.”
What if I have too many frogs?
You can only have one main frog per day. If everything is a priority, nothing is. Pick the one that gives you the most anxiety.
I am not a morning person. Can I do it later?
It is riskier. However, if your energy peaks at 10 PM, eat the frog then. Just don’t let it ruin your afternoon.
Conclusion
The anticipation is always worse than the action.
So, open the document. Make the call. Eat the frog now, and enjoy the sweet taste of freedom.
Tell me in the comments: What is the one task you have been putting off all week? Mine is calling the dentist.
