This next habit is my favourite. It can also be one of the most challenging yet most satisfying ones to accomplish. And this isn’t just a habit we do once and have it set in place. It is something that we work on day after day after day.
Mark Twain once said that if you ever have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning. And if you ever have to eat two frogs, eat the big one first. Why? Because you can go through the rest of your day knowing that the hardest task is now complete.
Think about what the hardest, most challenging task is that you need to accomplish. Wouldn’t it be nice to scratch that off your list first thing in the morning? How satisfied would you feel knowing that each and every task after that gets easier and easier? When you can start with the hardest task, you build momentum. Each task afterwards takes less energy, and you build on those small wins.
How you start the day sets the tone for the rest of your day, and yet many of us go through the morning in a panic. Our thoughts are scattered, we’re rushing around, and nothing is intentional. When you start your day this way, the rest of your day can often feel very similar.
How many times have you planned to go to the gym after work and all day long, you dread having to make the trek for your workout ultimately ending with you staying at home? If you ate the frog and got that workout out of the way first thing in the morning, you’ll never have to worry about another missed workout.
What about taking time in the morning to read, meditate, and mentally prepare for your day? Have you dreamt about having some quiet time to yourself but can never seem to get it to work out? What about waking up 30 minutes earlier and setting that time aside for yourself? Enjoy a coffee in the quietness of your home.
Don’t get me wrong, these are not easy tasks to accomplish. This is why I love this habit so much. It is one of the hardest things to do, yet most satisfying once complete.
Are you going to eat the frog?
