“If it is 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.” —Mark Twain
When there are a million things coming at you daily, it’s important to create a system for your success. The company todoist recommends these tips for better productivity. As a coach, I see the results in my clients with being able to think clearly, raising confidence, shutting off work at the end of the day and better sleep.
The first step is to identify the frog. What is the most important task of the day? Here is where it is great to have a system to live by so that you can identify the most important task. I call it your love note. At the end of every day, write yourself a note 15 minutes before you shut down for the day. Give yourself instructions and priorities for the next day in this note. It is an incredibly loving thing to do for yourself. When a fresh day starts, you already have a clear outline of what today will bring. Other handy tips are:
Block your calendar for times to work.
Decide when you respond to emails and do it 1-2x a day.
Un-invite yourself to meetings you don’t have to attend.
Change your meetings to 30 minutes vs. 60 minutes.
Eat the Frog
Do the hardest thing first. Often starting is the hard part. Jump in knowing your first can be full of mistakes. This is not a time for perfection but rather an attempt at completion. “The best is the enemy of the good.” Voltaire said. It is often our best that keeps us from taking the first step. Cannonball into the biggest challenge first thing. Don’t put off what can be accomplished today.
Repeat Every Day
Make your systems that work for YOU. There is nothing magical about success. It is the repetition of what works over and over every day. This repetition leads to results which increases confidence. Focus, systems, and work/life balance are three of the foundations that create a great work environment. These three you have total control over. Want a tip for focus? Try working in time chunks. 20-45 minutes on/ 5-20 minutes off for 4 rotations. Then take a big break. Back to work with time chunking! Need help with this? Book a session today!
Namaste,
Laura
The information in this article comes from todoist: Productivity Methods