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Stop procrastinating! Learn how the 'Eat the Frog' principle helps you complete unpleasant tasks immediately and make the rest of the day more productive.
“Eat the Frog” doesn't sound very appetizing for now, does it? Don't worry, this isn't about real frogs or the French delicacy frog legs, but about a smart method that you can use to improve your time management during your studies. This principle can help you stop putting off unpleasant tasks and make your studies less stressful. Let's take a closer look at what's behind it and how you can easily integrate it into your everyday university life.
The idea behind “Eat the Frog” comes from writer Mark Twain, who once said: “If you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you'll have the good feeling that nothing worse can happen.” In a figurative sense, this means: You do the most unpleasant or difficult task right at the beginning of the day so that you have it behind you. There are always such “frogs” in your studies: the homework that you've been putting off for weeks, the math tasks that frustrate you, or the chapter in the script that you simply don't understand. By completing these tasks first, you'll have the rest of the day free to do other things.
As a student, you often have a lot on your mind: lectures, seminars, assignments, exams — and then you also want to enjoy life in some way. The problem with this is that the more you push ahead of yourself, the more stress builds up. That's where Eat the Frog comes in. Why the principle works so well is obvious:
1. You'll be more productive and have less stress
The most unpleasant task is no longer being put off before you. You do them right away and can then focus on easier things. This takes the pressure off you and reduces the constant inner restlessness that you have when you know that there is still something waiting for you.
2. Your brain is at full speed in the morning
A lot of people are most productive in the morning—maybe even you! Instead of spending time doing easy tasks right in the morning, use your fresh energy to do the “frog”, which may require a lot of concentration.
3. You feel more successful
When you've completed the most difficult or unpleasant task of the day, you feel like a champion. You start your day with a sense of achievement and are then much more motivated to do other things.
1. Find your “frog”
Every evening or at the beginning of the week, think about what your “frog” is for the next day. What are you pushing ahead of you right now? What gives you a stomach ache when you think about it? This can be a big task, such as writing a term paper, or even a smaller task, such as studying for a particularly difficult subject.
2. Start your day with the frog
When you get up and start your university assignments, be the first to focus on this difficult or unpleasant task. Avoid checking your email first or distracting yourself with other small tasks. Start killing the frog right away.
3. Break the frog into smaller pieces
Sometimes the frog is so big that you can't “eat” it all at once. For example, a bachelor thesis — you won't write it in one morning. In such cases, it is helpful to divide the frog into small, doable bites. Just write the first chapter today, or just edit a few pages of your research. As a result, the task no longer feels overwhelming.
4. Reward yourself after the frog
Reward yourself when you've completed the task! Take a short break, go for a walk, meet up with friends or simply enjoy the feeling that the worst part of the day is over. These small rewards help you apply the principle regularly.
Examples of “frogs” in student life
To make the concept even more tangible for you, here are a few typical examples of frogs in everyday student life:
• Start a term paper: Writing the first sentence is often the biggest hurdle. Just start and the rest is easier.
• Study for exams: Especially when a subject is difficult for you, it is tempting to postpone studying again and again. Start your day working on just that subject.
• Unpleasant organizational tasks: Whether it's registering for a seminar, clarifying exam questions, or consulting with a professor — things like that are easy to leave behind. Get it done right away and you'll notice how good it feels not to have to think about it anymore.
The “Eat the Frog” principle may sound simple, but it has a big impact. As a student, you are constantly busy and are often tempted to postpone the most difficult tasks. However, if you learn to eat your “frog” first thing in the morning, you'll notice how much freer and more productive you go through the day. The most unpleasant task is done — and suddenly everything else doesn't seem so bad anymore. So what task are you pushing ahead of you right now? Start tomorrow and enjoy the rest of the day feeling good that the frog has been eaten and maybe reward yourself with a few fresh frog legs in a Riesling sauce.
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