Eat the Frog Technique: Defeats Procrastination Once and for All

Ever heard about the frog who mastered time management? He didn’t croak under pressure; he just decided to ‘Eat That Frog!’ for a ribbiting success story!

Rest assured, no animals were harmed in the making of this peculiarly-named productivity method. Still, you may be wondering: what does eating frogs have to do with managing more productive teams? 

“Eat the Frog!” is a time management strategy that advocates tackling the most challenging tasks first, prioritizing productivity, and effective goal achievement.

We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you understand this time management method. 

What is the “Eat the Frog” technique?

Many credit self-help author Brian Tracy for coining “Eat the Frog” in his best-selling book Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time.

However, he’s been quick to attribute the concept to a famous Mark Twain quote:

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

If you know anything about Mark Twain, he’s crafted a legacy based on characters who work smart, not hard.

As a manager, you probably pride yourself on delegating tasks to others, but sometimes you have to Eat the Frog (or paint the fence if you’re more of a Tom Sawyer fan).

Take this advice from Brian Tracy and Mark Twain

In Tracy’s eyes, Twain’s quote is a commentary on procrastination. Unfortunately, we can’t always pass off the work we don’t want to do. In some cases, that’s a blessing in disguise.

That’s why Tracy suggests that we get our most significant and critical tasks out of the way first. An important task might feel like eating a frog at the time, but it’s essential for getting things done throughout the rest of your day.

How does the Eat the Frog technique work?

Here is how Eat the Frog works, in a nutshell:

1. Pick the most critical task
2. Do the most challenging task first
3. Focus on one thing at a time
4. Break big tasks into smaller steps
5. Set goals and deadlines
6. Avoid distractions
7. Review your progress at the end of the day

It’s about tackling the big, important stuff early and staying focused. 

I talked with my co-worker, Preethi, about her experience applying the Eat the Frog method to larger groups. She broke the process down into three simple steps:

1. Create a training or presentation to explain the habit’s premise, concepts, and benefits.
2. Create a “Frog” folder or list where each team member can place their most difficult or unenthusiastic to-dos weekly.
3. At the start of each workday, have teams select two tasks from this folder and complete them before beginning their routine work.

Let’s take a more detailed look at how you can introduce the Eat the Frog method into your daily routine.

How to start using the Eat the Frog method

Ultimately, Eat the Frog involves breaking your tasks down in order of priority. Here’s how to get started.

1. Put your focus on the most difficult task first

Take some time at the end of each day to rank your tasks for the following day based on priority. It can be tedious initially, but this small act can help you hit the ground running each morning.

2. Eat that frog every morning

When you wake up the next day, focus on your most challenging task. You might need a cup of coffee (or two) to get motivated, but you’ll soon find a bit of momentum. It’s essential to use this initial momentum on tasks that matter.

3. Go about the rest of your day

Once you’ve accomplished your big task for the day, you can move on to the next high-priority task on your master list. Repeat this process until you whittle your to-do list down to nothing. Use the sense of accomplishment to your advantage to knock out your remaining tasks.

4. Repeat

It’s easy to find yourself deviating from the Eat the Frog approach at times — but never wait until the end of the day for that most important task. Stick with this routine, or choose a different productivity method altogether.

If you Eat the Frog each workday, you’ll start to see your highest priority work get the most brainpower. This can only lead to better results.

You can use emojis in your task list to note your frog for that day.

10 benefits of using the Eat the Frog method

1. Momentum riding 

The biggest benefit to Eat the Frog is riding the momentum. Your focus will waver more and more as the day wears on. The nice thing about Eat the Frog is that your work gets easier as the day progresses.

Once you’re in that staring-at-the-clock, browsing-social-media phase, you’ll be working on some of your most manageable tasks of the day. The last thing you want is to feel burned out before you’ve completed your most challenging task.

2. Easing into simpler tasks 

Once the toughest frog is “eaten,” transitioning to simpler tasks becomes smoother. The sense of accomplishment gained from conquering the most significant hurdle provides a positive mindset, making it easier to handle less complex tasks with increased efficiency. 

This method encourages a gradual and effective progression through your to-do list, ensuring a more productive and manageable workflow.

3. Reduced burnout 

“Eat That Frog!” can help decrease burnout by providing a structured and strategic approach to task management. When individuals prioritize and tackle the most challenging task early in the day, they often experience a sense of accomplishment and reduced stress. 

This proactive approach minimizes the accumulation of daunting tasks, preventing the feeling of being overwhelmed. Additionally, by focusing on high-impact tasks first, individuals can better balance challenging and routine activities, preventing monotony and burnout associated with repetitive tasks. 

4. Leveraging peak cognitive function 

When you stop procrastinating and hit the ground running each morning, you might be surprised by the benefits. Take it from author and Inventium CEO Amantha Imber:

5. Encourages deep work 

Eat the Frog is a powerful tool for cultivating deep, focused work. By addressing the most challenging task at the outset of your day, you eliminate procrastination and sharpen your concentration on the task at hand. 

Even a few of our team members here at Hubstaff have given the Eat the Frog method a shot. Some of us have been more disciplined than others, but a few of our Hubstaffers swear by the method:

6. Overcoming procrastination 

Eat the Frog is a potent antidote to procrastination, providing a structured approach to overcome the tendency to delay tasks. You confront procrastination head-on by prioritizing and addressing the most challenging task. 

This strategy breaks the cycle of avoidance, as completing the most formidable task creates a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

7. Efficiency when combined 

Eat the Frog increases efficiency when combined with other strategies by providing a structured and focused approach to task management. When paired with techniques such as time blocking, where specific periods are allocated for particular tasks, Eat the Frog ensures that the most crucial and challenging tasks are addressed during optimal times of the day. 

Additionally, when integrated with tools like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in focused, timed intervals, individuals can enhance their concentration and productivity during the dedicated time set aside for “eating the frog.”

8. Adaptability 

This method significantly enhances adaptability by instilling a proactive and flexible mindset. People practicing this method develop resilience and adaptability to unforeseen challenges by first addressing the most challenging task. 

When you save your mental energy for big tasks, it’s less stressful when minor changes occur, or you need to take time to complete a new task. 

9. Enhanced time management

Eat the Frog provides a structured approach to organizing one’s day effectively. Prioritizing the most significant task early on encourages individuals to focus on high-impact activities that align with long-term goals. 

This strategic prioritization ensures that time is allocated to tasks that contribute the most to overall objectives. “Eating the frog” becomes a cornerstone for efficient time allocation, helping individuals navigate responsibilities with purpose and intention. 

10. Boost in daily achievement 

Eat the Frog is a catalyst for boosting daily achievement by emphasizing completing significant tasks from the outset. By confronting the most challenging task early in the day, individuals experience a profound sense of accomplishment. 

This early win sets a positive tone, fostering increased morale and motivation that permeates throughout the rest of the day. The satisfaction derived from tackling the most formidable hurdle creates a momentum that propels individuals toward further achievements. 

What is considered a “frog” task?

If you’re intimidated by the Eat the Frog concept, you might be overthinking it. In writing this post, I’ve realized I employ the Eat the Frog method almost every week as a Blog Writer and Editor without even knowing it.

As I’m writing this section, I glanced at my Sprint today and realized that my decision to “Eat the Frog” — write this post — actually started late last week.

For me, blog writing is my main priority. I have other tasks that would have been more fun to work on while a bit more checked out on Friday, but I chose to get a head start on this post because I knew that:

1. It would be challenging and time-consuming. Putting it off would only hurt me in the long run.
2. Writing is the most impactful work that I do. In theory, I provide the most value to Hubstaff when writing. By that, I mean:
   • The more posts I write or update, the more leads we can generate for Hubstaff.
   • More leads usually equate to more trials and more subscriptions.

That’s why, as it currently stands, my Sprint looks like this:

As you can see, I’ve moved writing this post to the top of my Sprint and marked it as a five-point task. Next, you’ll see that I have two four-point tasks to write product pages. These tasks are my “frogs,” so to speak.

Next, I have some minor updates on a webpage I’m building. Then, I’ll probably wrap up my week by writing questions and hosting our weekly trivia game on Friday.

While I’d much rather research which NBA player holds the record for most turnovers or which country has the highest number of redheads per capita for our trivia game, it’s not the most productive use of my time. Trivia can wait until later this week when I’ve finished the work that moves the needle for our company.

I believe an unbiased approach to prioritizing tasks separates Eat the Frog from other time management techniques.

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The Pomodoro Technique and Time Blocking help you be productive by slicing your focus into small, timed chunks. The problem with these methods is that they put added pressure on you to work around a countdown clock.

The nice thing about the Eat the Frog method is that you always work ahead of your deadlines.

By knocking out the most challenging and vital projects first, you won’t need to worry as much about how long tasks take you. You’ll likely finish your most difficult tasks well ahead of schedule if you start on them early enough.

Using the Pomodoro Technique, Time Blocking, or other time-based methods allows you to procrastinate and put off the tasks you don’t want to do. So, how can you resist the urge?

Battling instant gratification

This battle between our brains’ logical and emotional components has been the subject of countless studies. While procrastination isn’t good for one’s long-term well-being, the emotional part of the brain craves instant gratification.

While you might experience an endorphin rush for knocking out a minuscule task, it doesn’t mean you made the right decision. You might also feel endorphin rushes as a response to pain, stress, and plenty of other negative experiences.

One could argue that instant gratification impacts us negatively because of the endorphin rush.

For instance, you might feel accomplished after a particularly productive Pomodoro, but probably not for the right reasons.

By timing yourself, you’re adding stress to a situation that probably doesn’t require it. Regardless of how productive you were during that Pomodoro, entering a break period relieves this stress and gives you an endorphin rush.

This creates a false sense of accomplishment when finishing a Pomodoro. It’s not tied to doing exceptional work; it’s the relief of getting done with a timed session.

When using the Eat the Frog method, you probably won’t feel the same rush as other productivity methods. That’s because you’re using logic to think beyond instant gratification to

Eat the Frog for entrepreneurs

Since entrepreneurs aren’t at the stage where they can delegate tasks, it’s hard to stay focused on larger goals.

Small, administrative tasks still need to be done, but they don’t propel a business forward like strategy, day-to-day operations, and other more crucial tasks. So, how do you balance smaller and more important tasks to create a positive impact?

Using Eat the Frog as an entrepreneur

When you venture out on your own, there’s never a shortage of work. If you fail to plan, it’s easy to find yourself buried in smaller tasks. You’ll quickly find yourself content with surviving instead of thriving.

That’s why successful entrepreneurs learn to master task management by considering the big picture. That could come in the form of writing a business plan, developing a budget, or advertising to grow your business.

Practicing the Eat the Frog method as an entrepreneur is easier said than done, though. Tandem Legal Group CEO Michael McDevitt took to Forbes to explain how his experience got off to a rocky start:

If Michael’s experience is relatable, maybe it’s time to reassess the ugliest frog in the room: finding a way to clear away emails, put out fires, and tackle other unexpected obstacles without derailing your workday.

Sharing the Frog: The case for virtual assistant software

Nobody likes spending time and money, but one of the best productivity hacks is knowing when to seek help from others. It can be challenging as an entrepreneur to know when you need to outsource or hire a virtual assistant.

But ask yourself: Will making this difficult decision help your business in the long run?

With the best virtual assistant software at your disposal, you can delegate tasks like responding to emails, scheduling social media posts, and even vetting applicants. That way, you can focus on meeting your goals and growing your business.

Of course, you won’t find immediate gratification if you go this route. You’ll have to work extra to research, train, and find the right software.

Fortunately, some tools can serve as task management and virtual assistant solutions.

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Add the Eat the Frog technique to your workflow with Hubstaff

With our Hubstaff Tasks add-on, you can take your to-do lists to new heights. Virtual Kanban boards, Sprints, and Epics make creating a task hierarchy perfect for executing the Eat the Frog method easy.

Start by using the labels feature to note what the frog will be that day. You can add comments, attachments, and other details to each Task if you pass it off to other team members. Or, if it’s a task only you can handle, switch to Sprint view and drag it to the top of your list.

Sometimes, the biggest frogs will need to be broken into smaller pieces. You can achieve this by creating your Epics. From there, you can add assignees to each subtask, track time spent, and see real-time budget updates.

If you’re managing a remote team, you’ll benefit from virtual Stand-ups. With Stand-ups, you can limit time spent in meetings by creating an automated system where employees can share their upcoming tasks and any obstacles encountered.

Worst things first: Eating the frog each day

The wonderful thing about Eat the Frog is that you’re in control. That said, you’ll need to be honest with yourself about what your most demanding tasks are.

Like all productivity methods, some days will be easier than others. Your biggest challenge will be finding consistency and helping your team do their best work daily.

Of course, you might find that Eat the Frog isn’t for you. If so, check out our thoughts on other popular productivity and time management methods.