So you wake up, grab your phone, go to the bathroom, make a coffee, light a candle, do your gratitude journaling — all while scrolling, by the way — and call it a morning routine.
You tell yourself you’re preparing for a productive day.
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Cool. Except now it’s noon, and you’ve done nothing that actually matters. You’re already low on motivation and energy.
You don’t want to hear this, but your morning ritual probably does more harm than good. You don’t need it.
You need a win — and the bigger, the better.
You need to eat your frog.
What Is a Frog?
The term comes from Brian Tracy’s book Eat That Frog!, and it’s simple:
Your frog is the task you least want to do but most need to do.
It’s something — big or small — that will impact your life in a meaningful way (for better or worse), but it’s uncomfortable enough that you keep putting it off.
You already know what it is.
It’s that project you promised to deliver weeks ago.
It’s the uncomfortable conversation you keep trying to gather courage for.
It’s the pile of messages and emails you still haven’t answered.
Basically, it’s the thing quietly chewing on your brain, draining your energy, while you pretend to be productive organizing your desktop folders.
And here’s the catch — it doesn’t go away. Tomorrow, next week, a month from now — it’ll still be there.
If you’re still unsure what your frog is, ask yourself:
- What tasks am I constantly postponing that keep getting more urgent — and if I ignore them completely, could lead to serious consequences?
- What’s the one thing that would instantly relieve a huge amount of anxiety if I finally did it?
- What’s the one thing that would make me say, “At least I did that today”?
Be honest with yourself — it’s usually obvious.
Learn to Prioritize
The key here is to recognize real repercussions. A lot of the things we stress about aren’t that important — and you can either discard, delegate, or postpone them.
Cleaning your house? Hire someone.
That side project you think will make money but actually just distracts you? Drop it.
Some things matter more than others. We often chase tasks that bring instant results because they feel productive. But the real progress usually comes from doing what doesn’t reward you right away — the things that pay off long-term.
Like this article I’m writing for you, dear reader.
Honestly, I didn’t want to write it today. It’s my first post here, I’m a bit nervous, and it’s already late — my “productive morning” is long gone.
But I know that building my audience matters. I could’ve finished one of my graphic design projects that would pay me today. But that’s a fire I’m willing to let burn.
Why You Should Do It First Thing in the Morning
Because your brain is fresh, your willpower is full, and the world hasn’t had time to drain your energy yet.
“But what if my motivation kicks in later in the day?” you might say.
That just means your schedule is broken.
If your sleep routine is solid, your natural motivation will peak in the morning. And let’s be real — you only have a small window each day when you’re truly productive.
But you waste it polishing unimportant tasks, doomscrolling, eating sugary junk, and draining your mental battery. By the time you face something important, you’re out of energy and out of will.
So what’s the fix?
Build a Frog-Killing Habit
Throughout the day, notice tasks that come to mind — the ones you keep avoiding. Write them down.
Before bed, review the list. Pick one or two tasks for tomorrow, depending on how time-consuming they are. This helps you fall asleep without overthinking what needs to be done the next day.
If the task is huge, break it into 30–60 minute chunks you can tackle each morning.
Before you sleep, remove as much friction as possible for the next morning.
For me, that means putting my phone out of reach and placing my notepad and pen near the door — so I can head outside and write without delay. (Yes, I like to write outdoors, with fresh air and the sound of the waves.)
In the morning, start only with what helps you wake up — nothing more.
If your sleep schedule is right, you won’t need much anyway. For me, it’s a cold shower and my yerba mate.
Then, devour that frog like it’s an oyster you hate — but you’re trying to look sophisticated in front of your friends.
The Friction and the Freedom
Yes, the first few minutes will suck. It’ll feel like pushing through thick, stretchy film — Lord of the Rings reference (if you know, you know).
But then, something shifts. The tension that’s been sitting in the back of your mind dissolves. You feel sharper, lighter, and oddly proud.
The rest of your day flows.
After that, go ahead — do your journaling, your yoga, your meditation, or whatever else you do to feel productive.
But I can almost guarantee you’ll be too fired up to stop.
You’ll ride that wave into another task, and another, and another.
Do the hardest thing before breakfast, and suddenly the rest of the day feels easy.
Skip it, and you’ll spend the day chewing guilt.
So tomorrow morning, skip the candles. Skip the affirmations.
You already know what your frog is — you thought of it halfway through this article. So tomorrow, prove to yourself you can eat it.
And enjoy the taste of freedom.