When You Can't Eat The Frog, Try Appetizers First

One of the more popular productivity tips is to eat the frog. It means you tackle your biggest, most important work first thing in the morning.

I tried to follow this, but it doesn't always work for me. We all have our "down" days when we don't have the energy to do anything, especially in the morning (even after drinking two cups of coffee).

Instead of forcing myself into it (you know how difficult this is), I check my to-do list for smaller, easier tasks. After an hour or two, I'd have a couple of tasks ticked off, and I'd have found my rhythm. That's the perfect time for me to finally eat the frog.

Those easier tasks, when completed, are wins. Seeing the boxes ticked off is rewarding. I feel good and I'd like to do more. I think: It's going to be a productive day!

When I get the rhythm, I just have to keep going. Once there, it's easier for me to focus, and I can finally start working on that daunting task.

The smaller tasks work exactly like appetizers—stimulating the appetite.