Eat the Frog - And Why It Should Be Your Motto this Year
If you are like me and hold onto things, sweat the small stuff or just beat around the bush then “Eat the Frog” is the motto for you. My friend Kate Taylor from One Take Kate, introduced me to this term Eat The Frog in her blog post about goals and ever since I am hearing myself chucking the term around.
Eat the Frog or Swallow the Frog as it is also known is the idea that you just do that thing you don’t want to do, you get it done. The frog is that one thing you have on your to-do list that you have no motivation to do and that you’re most likely to procrastinate on. Eating the frog means just to do it.
As Mark Twain once 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.”
This week, I have had a lot weighing on my mind but in particular, broaching the subject of a dear friends wedding. Invited last year, I was all action, trying to save Money for this beautiful overseas wedding to be held this year. As time went on, I realised it just wasn’t going to happen. I stopped getting my nails done, I've limited dinners out, I've even given up diet coke, but it wasn’t happening. I broached the subject at my Christmas party with the couple last year saying I sadly wasn’t going to make it, but I know they still held hope.
It was looming. TODAY. I got the event invite. The “we need confirmation now” invite. This was something I had been stressing about all week. Sad to miss the wedding but also the fear that my friends were getting closer and I would be left in the dust.
Taking Kate’s advice, I ate the Frog. I clicked that “Can’t Go” and wrote my message for all to see. In that moment I instantly felt better.
Although I still have that FOMO, Fear of missing out, fear of being left behind I feel better. I have done all I can, and I’ve made the right choice.
The idea is to do put each task into one of four categories: 1. Things you don’t want to do and don’t need to do. 2. Things you don’t want to do, but need to do. 3. Things you want to do and need to do. 4. Things you want to do, but don’t need to do.
You want to do the things you need to do but don’t want to do first. This way you’ve done the ‘worst’ thing already and are happier to do the other tasks by comparison.
So the beauty of Eating the Frog...You are getting it done, that thing you don’t want to do, thus releasing stress and getting a rush endorphins which for me, keep me going throughout the day. I get proud of myself, and suddenly everything is more relaxed as I tick things off my list. It’s all about taking action.
Make it your motto even if just for a week and see how you go. May it be drinking Apple Cider Vinegar or just merely answering an email, Eat the Frog babes!
Main Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash