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Eat the Frog…. an unusual time management tip

September 5, 2013 By Karen Main 31 Comments

Eat a live frog every morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day….Mark Twain

I found this printed on a daily planner in a shop last week.  I had a giggle and wandered off.procrastination

The next morning I sat staring at my intray, full of bills to pay, notices to read and filing, yep yucky boring filing.  I glanced over at my camera, my pretty ideas notepad and my coloured pens.   You know what I was thinking……that intray can wait and wait it did.

It waited and waited, I had a quick flick through to see if anything was desperately urgent….no

My frog did not get eaten, instead it hopped around, distracting me, nagging me leaving me uneasy the rest of the day.

I am not a huge procrastinator, most of the time I am the opposite.  Many years ago, way before children even, I discovered a way to double even triple my effectiveness.  I avoid double handling by actioning things as I see them.  My DO IT NOW approach.

Even those with the best discipline fall into the procrastination trap occasionally.   Notices and mail are my downfall.  Once I shove a few of those pesky papers into the in tray, it grows easily.    Then it becomes a large and overwhelming task.  It becomes my frog.

Over the weekend I checked in with Miss 8’s homework progress.  She had done all the fun stuff and was avoiding her spelling words.  It’s just not fun she told me.

Then I said it, “You need to eat the frog first darling”.

“I NEED TO DO WHAT!” she exclaimed.

I said it again very slowly and precisely.  “Eat the frog first.”

“Seriously Mum do what?”

I casually explained that the frog is the last thing you want to do and the first thing you should do.   I went back to the shop, Kikki.K, and bought the notepad and we have decided to share it.

I sat at my desk on Monday and I grabbed that frog and gobbled it up.  Clean in tray, filing up to date and bills paid, notices actioned.   My mood immediately lifted and remained high the rest of the day.  No unpleasant unfinished tasks waiting to be completed, dragging me down.

l then headed off to check in with my new yoga guru.   When I came home my afternoon’s work was all fun and creativity.  I enjoyed it more this time, the frog was gone and with it went my guilt.

Do you procrastinate?  What is your frog?

Leave your comments below and share this post on your favourite social media platform and I will choose the most needy and creative “frog’ to receive the Kikki.K day planner.

Entries close Monday 9th September.

Signature large photo Signaturelarge_zps82b3ad36.png

Filed Under: Create and Explore, What matters most Tagged With: creative, Family, Motherhood, stationary

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    September 5, 2013 at 5:57 pm

    What isn’t my frog at the moment!!? In tray (like you), laundry, unfinished doors and windows, rubbish from construction, camp permission slips, cooking dinner…cleaning up from dinner….The state of overwhelm becomes the state of existing in numbness! So instead, I had a coffee with a friend, planned a trip to Costco with a friend for next week, and have the cleaning lady coming tomorrow. I think I’ll thaw out by Saturday and breath. (Fingers crossed)!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 6, 2013 at 7:40 pm

      Kelly your honesty is glorious. So many frogs and so little time. Oh bugger it off to Costco and enjoy your cuppa the frogs will wait.

      Reply
      • Kelly says

        September 10, 2013 at 10:36 pm

        Ribbit!

        Reply
  2. Kalee says

    September 6, 2013 at 1:01 am

    I love that quote and story! My frog is definitely returning emails which is terrible. I LOVE getting emails, but then replying is takes a lot of time and effort. I need to keep it short but cover enough information and make sure I proofread everything twice! :p

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 6, 2013 at 7:39 pm

      Kalee I reply straight away when possible and tend to not over think too much. I am quite candid some times too. Agree with the proofreading as my candidness can sound wacky.

      Reply
  3. Amy says

    September 7, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    I do procrastinate and it mostly involves home fixup stuff (a/c checkup, carpet cleaning, etc.). Things that I can get done and see the results immediately (like laundry or organizing) I have no problem with. But I totally agree with just getting the stuff done – you do feel better and then your brain isn’t thinking back on it every few hours.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 7, 2013 at 11:14 pm

      The laundry and organising never leave us alone, I can see how the house fix up stuff is your frog. Thanks for visiting

      Reply
  4. Norine of Science Of Parenthood says

    September 7, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    This was adorable! And HELPFUL!!! Next time I find myself procrastinating on something that needs doing, you know I’ll be thinking EAT THE FROG! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 7, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Oh Norine enjoy your frog. Thanks for the visit .

      Reply
  5. Rabia says

    September 7, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    What a fun and creative way to think of it! I’m going to try and eat a frog as soon as I get into work on Monday. Happy ShareFest!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 7, 2013 at 11:16 pm

      Rabia have a giggle as you think of the frog Monday, great way to start the week. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply
  6. Franticmommy says

    September 7, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    Eat The Frog is actually a book I believe and I love the idea. I want that notepad! 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 8, 2013 at 8:27 am

      Rebecca the note pad is very cute, my daughter now uses it for her Homework too. A book must Google this, thanks.

      Reply
  7. Vicki M. Taylor says

    September 7, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    My frog is definitely housecleaning. If I’d just set my mind to it and get it done, I could maintain better. But, instead I do a little here, a little there, just to get by. I’m more distracted by e-mail, bills, my pets, jigsaw puzzles, writing blogs, and reading. By the way, I love frogs. I collect them in all forms. I have them in and outside of my house. Followed you from SITS. Have a blessed day!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 8, 2013 at 8:28 am

      Vicki I love that jigsaw puzzles distract you, they always distracted my Mum, she would have one on the coffee table she continually worked on. Thanks for popping over.

      Reply
  8. Mo at Mocadeaux says

    September 8, 2013 at 12:50 am

    Love this, Karen! Wise words by Mr. Twain put into action by wise mama Karen! I just heard a piece on the Today show yesterday with the tip, “Remember OHIO – Only Handle It Once. Of course, if it is a frog I really DO only want to handle it once! Great post!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 8, 2013 at 8:29 am

      OHIO love that thought Mo.

      Reply
  9. Susan Michael Barrett says

    September 8, 2013 at 5:21 am

    Karen! This is a terrific post and question. Doing the fun or easy stuff first and avoiding the frog (or hardest, least desirable task on my list)? I have a knot (pod?) of them. Not just one. With chores, it’s folding laundry or shopping. With office tasks, it’s filing. With writing, it’s sitting STILL long enough for any gold to trail out my fingers.

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 8, 2013 at 8:33 am

      Susan the visual I have of that gold trailing out of your fingers is beautiful. Maybe pick one frog and wrangle it first, then untie the knot.

      Reply
  10. Kimberly Amici says

    September 9, 2013 at 3:49 am

    What a great reminder. I am sure I heard this a long time ago but seem to have forgotten because I have been letting the items on my to do list cause dread all day long. My frog varies each day so I want to start identifying it and go for it.

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 9, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Yes the dread on the To Do list. Get rid of them early and enjoy a dreadless day. Good Luck

      Reply
  11. Kristen Daukas says

    September 14, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    Love it. I may have to print that one for the office and for the girls planners because it’s SO true. And you get so much more done in the day because you’re not subconsciously avoiding getting TO the frog!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 15, 2013 at 7:39 am

      Oh Kristen what a huge compliment. Yes that little frog is a pesky distraction of we don’t deal with it early in the day.

      Reply
  12. marty says

    September 20, 2013 at 6:45 am

    Well I have to say you sucked me with the whole frog thing! I have a large family and there is always something dramatic going on and I get sucked in and use at as excuse not to do what I need to do

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      September 20, 2013 at 8:55 am

      Marty now you can think of those excuses as frogs and tackle them before they get loose. So glad you took an interest in the frog.

      Reply
  13. Angie says

    January 21, 2014 at 4:23 am

    Hello Karen! I am visiting because we are in a blogging group together through The Sits Girls.

    Angie@wahfamilieslivegreen

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      January 21, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      Hi Angie thanks for the visit, I am heading your way too.

      Reply
  14. Sheri Dacon says

    January 22, 2014 at 9:39 am

    I’m visiting from the SITS girls tribe challenge. I love this time management tip! I actually read a book about eating a frog a couple of years ago, but I need to back into this practice! Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      January 23, 2014 at 8:26 am

      Sheri I have heard about this book since writing this post. It is such a fun way to remember a great time management tip.

      Reply
  15. Victoria Stanton says

    March 16, 2014 at 3:56 am

    So glad I wandered across this post. I’m re-starting my blog now that I’ve added two girls to my grandchildren list. AND a new business is in the works that will rely on social media to succeed. Thanks again for the info.

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      March 16, 2014 at 9:59 am

      Congratulations on two new grand baby girls and I wish you every success in your new business. Don’t forget to eat your frog first.

      Reply

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Karen Main is a Life Leadership Coach for people who are ready to make a change in their lives.
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And when she’s not working, you can find her indulging in a long walk with the dog, laughing with her kids or at her favourite yoga class Read More…

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