Hey there ๐,
Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day”?
Twain’s quirky advice has been a beacon for procrastinators everywhere, myself included.
Procrastination, as defined in a study I stumbled upon during one of my lengthy research detours, is a “voluntary but irrational delay of an intended course of action“.
Here’s a confession: I am an expert at doing everything but doing the thing I’m supposed to be doing. I think about the thing, make lists about the thing, talk to other people about the thing…
My brain, it seems, thrives on the stress of having tasks hang over me, especially since working from home has given my procrastination habits free reign.
After trying a myriad of “get stuff done” techniques, one has helped make a difference: eating the frog. This approach isn’t about a newfound motivation but accepting that if I donโt tackle the hardest task first, it only becomes more daunting and less likely to be done as the day goes on.
The frog metaphorically grows wartier and more repulsive the longer I delay (as noted inย The Creative Lifeโsย advice on tackling hard tasks first).
When a task has been looming large for too long, my first step is to dissect why I’m avoiding it. More often than not, it boils down to a lack of desire, particularly when it involves writingโa task that demands a significant mental toll from me.
My solution? Break it down to the smallest possible steps:
- Choose the topic.
- Open the a template.
- Write one paragraph, no matter how rough.
Annoyingly, once I start, momentum usually carries me through, and I can tackle the yucky, or boring, or challenging task.
Have you ever tried “eating the frog”? Does tackling the hardest task first work for you? I’d love to hear your strategies or struggles with procrastination and how you manage to stay on top of your safety responsibilities.
Libby & the SafetySocial team.
P.S. that image is the least-worst one Chat GPT came up with ๐
This Week’s Best of…
Something to Read (Articles)
Did you negotiate your salary? While this article primarily focused on engineers, the core message resonates across professions, including safety. The article masterfully illustrates the value of enduring a brief, albeit uncomfortable, salary negotiationโemphasising how a mere five minutes can significantly influence your career trajectory and financial well-being.
The author’s analogy in the opening paragraphs draws a powerful comparison, making a compelling case for the importance of negotiation.
This perspective is not only relevant but crucial for anyone looking to advocate for their worth in the workplace. Whether you’re an engineer or a safety professional, the principle of negotiating your salary holds universal value.
Check it outย here.
Something to Listen To (Podcasts)
Health & Safety Angels – Special Episode – Reworked with Dr. Stephanie Fitzgerald.
“I think “resenteeism” is this new term that people talk about at the moment where they’re stuck at work, either financially or in career progression or whatever it may be, and they’re not enjoying it, and they really resent being there.”
It’s worth a listen as Fitzgerald dives into why so many of us feel stuck in jobs that make us miserable and how to shift things without always needing to quit.
Itโs an easy, thoughtful episode thatโll leave you thinking differently about work, wellbeing, and how to get more out of both.
Spotify linkย here
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