Written by: Alice Dartnell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
You’ve probably heard of the popular time management strategy of “Eat That Frog” coined in his book by productivity guru Brian Tracy. But what if I told you that sometimes this might be the very opposite of what you need to maximise your time!
Why? Because time management is not just about managing time, but also about managing your energy!
So, while this approach has proven effective for many, it's important to recognise that it might not be a one-size-fits-all solution, and there are instances where the "Eat That Frog" concept may not align with an your preferences, habits, tasks and energy.
As Michael McDevitt, co-founder and CEO of Tandem Legal Group says:
“The secret is in the scheduling. This made a big difference for me and my friends. I know Mr. Twain recommended eating that frog first thing in the morning, but we found that it was not always ideal to battle the Thing right after hopping out of bed. We are each creative at different times of day, physically energetic at different times of day, and sociable at different times of day. Knowing ourselves and knowing the top priority for each day, we would allot two hours in our daily calendar labeled ‘Frog-Eatin’ Time!’ Then we’d build the rest of the day around it.
Let me share why, and also a secret solution that might work better for you!
Understanding the "Eat That Frog" concept
"Eat That Frog" is based on the idea of facing your ‘difficult’ challenge first thing in the morning, so the rest of your day feels like a breeze. It is about getting the hardest task out of the way first.
This makes total sense – it’s like when kids eat their worst veggies from their plate first. They gulp it down early and then the rest of their meal tastes better! In theory it means no more dreading the rest of the day or procrastinating.
BUT… it might not work for everyone and you may be one of those people it doesn't work for!
Afterall, everyone is unique and individual, and have different issues and challenges that affect their time management and productivity.
Why the 'Eat That Frog' might not work for you
Whilst I agree that high-impact tasks should take centre stage in your schedule. However, here are five reasons why the 'Eat That Frog' Time Management concept might not work for not work for you.
Reason 1: Chronotype variability
A chronotype is your inner ‘timekeeper’ that determines whether you're an early bird or night owl. We are all different and this personal alarm clock within us might be the reason eating the slimiest frog first thing in the morning might not work for you!
Some people are naturally more alert and focused in the morning (morning chronotypes), while others are more productive during the afternoon or later in the evening (evening chronotypes). For those who are not at their peak in the morning, attempting to tackle a difficult task first thing may result in suboptimal performance, procrastination, failure and self-criticism.
Reason 2: Diverse work styles
Personally, I am a ‘chip away at it’ type person, and I am likely to break large tasks down into the smallest of bites. I also rather do a little work every day than crack long hours and then take a long weekend off. However, some of my clients get through their meaty projects by blocking out big chunk of time and going for it! Whether eating the frog works for you is going to depend on your work style.
Reason 3: Getting into the flow
The "Eat That Frog" concept places a heavy emphasis on tackling the most daunting task immediately to get it out of the way. I totally understand this and some days I need to do this too. However, some days what I need is a ‘warm up’. The first things in the day need to be easy wins to allow me to tick a few things off my list, clear some space on my plate and get going – doing 5 easy things makes me feel like I am flying and it build my momentum, motivation and confidence for the next (bigger, scariest, slimier thing!). Afterall, wouldn’t just dive right into your PB weight at the gym without a little warm up first!
Reason 4: Energy management
As I mentioned, time management is not just about managing your time but also your energy! For whatever reason, your energy (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) might not be ready first thing in the morning to tackle the ugliest frog first! Sometimes it is better to listen to your inner self and go with the flow, rather than force yourself to work on something because the time management techniques tell you too!
Reason 5: Complexity of tasks
As I always say, not all tasks are created equal. Diving in head first into the meatiest tasks first might actually being doing you more damage than good! Some complex projects may require careful planning, research, consultation and collaboration before they can be tackled effectively. Rushing into such tasks without proper preparation could actually lead to mediocre and substandard outcomes.
To eat that frog, or not to eat that frog…
The "Eat That Frog" time management concept by Brian Tracy has undoubtedly proven effective for many productivity-seekers, especially leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners. I am not saying it doesn’t work and I often adopt this principle when I am working on challenging projects.
However, it's essential to recognise that no single approach works universally for everyone. Factors such as chronotype, work style, creativity and energy management significantly influence your time management.
For true effective time management, we must tailor our time management methods to align with our uniqueness, tasks and preferences, rather than adhering rigidly to a one-size-fits-all approach. Ultimately, the key to effective time management lies in finding a strategy that boosts productivity, motivation and results that work for you!
Alice Dartnell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Alice Dartnell is a time management and energy management coach, trainer, speaker, and author, who is passionate about empowering people to create a life by design, not by default! Known as an expert in time management and energy management, Alice doesn’t teach time management in the traditional sense. Instead, she focuses on the importance of energy management and mindset as the way to improve time management. Alice believes that time management actually isn’t about managing time! Instead, it is about managing you, other people, your tasks and most importantly, your energy! She works with individuals on a 121 basis, as well as through programmes, workshops, and courses. Additionally, she delivers training to org
