Monday, July 26, 2010

More About Frogs...

If you didn't see my post last week about frogs or procrastination, check it out first.

It is a universal phenomenon that people tend to think that their frog, or unfavorable challenging task/project is going to take too much time, so it sits on our task list as a priority of some sort, and time passes. We don't start it because we are waiting for a big pocket of time to open up in our crammed schedules. What ends up happening is, even if we don't think we are stressed about not doing it, we are, and adding more stress to ourselves is never productive.

What we need to do is just get started...even 10 minutes tackling it and maybe we'll discover that it really won't take as much time as we think. So really, as the folks at that famous sneaker place say, "Just Do It" and you will benefit ten-fold by reducing your stress level, increasing energy, happiness and productivity. You will have eaten a frog or two off of your task list and it won't taste too bad either.

Good luck!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Eat Frogs This Summer!

A friend and colleague sent a motivational video clip to me on tackling our toughest project or task first thing each day, because she knows as a professional organizer that is something I advocate. I truly believe that once we knock off our tough task each day it provides more energy and motivation to be more productive.

Brian Tracy, best selling author and motivational speaker, has written books on this topic, and this video clip Eat That Frog! | Eat That Frog Movie is a great synopsis of how to combat procrastination directly by working on our tough task 1st thing each day. Procrastination and its sister clutter, can make us avoid tasks we know we need to do. Procrastination is something we all do...even organizers. It drains us of energy, motivation, enthusiasm and happiness.

I tell my residential and business clients to figure out their hard task or frog as part of their end of day wrap up (planning period). The next morning set a timer for 15 minutes and start on the frog. I guarantee when the timer ends you will continue your project.

Good luck as you chip away at your summer to do list by eating those frogs!