The Fact Is That “eat a Frog” During the Day
You’ve probably heard the old “eat a frog” advice , which says that in the morning, the first thing to do in the morning is to do your worst thing. This works well for some of us, but there are good reasons to eat the frog afterward.
Writer David Kaolo at Unclutter says doing small tasks in the morning helps him gain momentum for larger tasks later in the day:
I like to set myself up for early wins with one or two quick wins early in the morning. For example, if I know that I need to sit down at my computer and write a proposal, I can first clear a few emails from my inbox, do another small thing (like returning an object to a colleague), re-read an article related to my proposal, and then I start writing. I’ve found that if I take a few simple things off my to-do list, I experience some of the benefits outlined in the Progress Principle above, and I can use that momentum to tackle the big frog day project. … A couple of small successes can go a long way.
The principle of progress mentioned by Kaolo was invented by researchers Teresa Amabile and Stephen J. Kramer. They analyzed thousands of workers’ diaries , asking them for details of their day. Amabile and Kramer explain some of their findings in an article in the Harvard Business Review :
Of all the things that can increase emotion, motivation and perception during the work day, making progress in meaningful work is the most important. And the more often people experience this sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run.
In short, eating a frog first thing can help you feel successful, but small victories can also be good for you. Try both methods, notice how they affect your motivation, and then choose the option that works best for you. Check out the full post below for more details.
Eat the frog later? | Unobstructed