Have you picked up a copy of Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
yet? No? Why? Are you procrastinating??? If so, HOP on over to Amazon.com and get the ebook version for Kindle
Now, read the introduction and chapter one. I will wait…
Are you done yet?
Are you feeling inspired like I was?
If you have not purchased the book, and are curious about why I would be promoting something as beastly as eating frogs, hang on. We are not talking about real frogs but the things which you postpone and push-off and wish they would go away but you know they have to be done. According to Mr. Tracy, “Your ‘frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it.”
Yeah, I have a LOT of frogs each day. So, I have to go with his recommendation to eat the ugliest frog first. I try to tackle the worst of the many items on my list so that the rest of the day seems like a breeze. Want an example?
I hate cleaning the bathroom. Geez… I hate cleaning. PERIOD. So, when I noticed some funky stuff starting to accumulate in the shower, I knew I had a frog to eat. I put it off for an entire day but when I headed to bed, there is was. Taunting me. So, I decided that the first thing I would do the next morning, as soon as my feet hit the floor, was going to be to clean that shower.
Did I do it? Yup. Was I happy about it? Nope. But, it was nice going about my day, knowing that the biggest and ugliest frog was a distant memory.
That incident is a prime example of what Mr. Tracy encourages us to do.
Before you have time to think about it or talk about or wish it was not something you needed to do, DO IT. Get rid of it. Mark that item off your list.
Now, this is not a book that you can read and feel good and put it on the shelf to collect dust. You have to WORK through it. So, I went to the store and purchased a basic, spiral notebook. I assigned a day to each page and every night, I list the things I need to do on the next day. I put an asterisk by my biggest frog.
In the morning, I know exactly what I have to do and I can get it done. On days when I follow these principles, it has been amazing. Do I do this every day? Not yet but I am a work in progress.
I really enjoyed the first chapter, and the quotes were very inspirational. The problem I seem to face is that I rarely have time until later in the day, when I am already tired.
I understand that, Nicole. I do find myself getting up a little earlier than I used to because I want to get some things done. I don’t set an alarm. I just wake up… but by 9 PM, I am exhausted.
Okay, I have finally quit procrastinating the activity at the end of Chapter 1 and I set my goal, listed all activities required to achieve my goal, and made a daily action list that will help me achieve the goal!
I must admit, at first it seemed like a huge goal, but when I break down the activities and have my daily list it doesn’t seem so big. I only have 5 things to do daily- and everyday 1 of the things changes! Yes, I have 4 unchanging daily frogs-but I think I can tackle them with the help of my husband and kids (since some of them do involve them!!)
I think delegating is a sign of a very intelligent woman! If a frog is easier to eat in pieces, then it is certainly easier when someone is helping eat those pieces. OK… thinking about this is starting to make me queasy. LOL