My Number One Productivity Hack: Eat The Frog Mondays

Mondays have a reputation for being rough. The weekend is over, the to-do list is long, and suddenly, even the smallest tasks feel overwhelming. But instead of easing into Monday by procrastinating (and regretting it later), I use my number one productivity hack—I eat the frog.

If you haven’t heard the phrase before, it supposedly comes from Mark Twain’s famous advice: “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” There is some debate on wether or not Mark Twain actually said this phrase. As with so many things, people take a lot of liberties with “famous quotes”! But either way, I like the concept.

Although I’m not out here actually eating frogs, the idea is solid—tackle your hardest or most dreaded task first, and the rest of your day (and week) feels easier. There’s even a whole book about this concept, Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, all about using this strategy to boost productivity.

How Eat The Frog Monday’s Work

For me, Monday is the perfect day to eat frogs. I take a look at my to-do list and pick out the things I’ve been avoiding—tasks that have been lingering for days or just the stuff I really don’t feel like doing. Those tasks get my attention first. I set aside one hour every Monday to work through them, usually in two half-hour sessions.

And here’s the funny thing, more often than not, I realize these tasks aren’t nearly as bad as I made them out to be in my head. Something I’ve been dreading for days might take 15 minutes tops. And even if it’s a bigger project, I make progress by dedicating at least 30 minutes to it. Either way, it gets handled, and I don’t have to keep thinking about it.

This one simple productivity hack has completely changed how I start my week. Instead of spending days feeling stressed about what I should be doing, I know it’ll get taken care of on Monday. And once it’s done, my entire week feels lighter. Plus, I just love checking things off my list!

Why Eat the Frog Mondays Reduce Stress

You know that feeling when you have a task hanging over your head? Even though you’re not actively working on it, it still takes up space in your brain? It’s like annoying background chatter draining your mental battery. That’s exactly what happens when you put off those dreaded to-dos! They don’t disappear, they just sit there, nagging you.

By tackling them first thing on Monday, I stop that cycle before it even starts! Instead of spending my week feeling guilty about the things I’m putting off, I take care of it right away. No more mental clutter, no more carrying stress from one day to the next.

And the best part? I almost always realize that these tasks weren’t as awful as I made them out to be. The email I’ve been avoiding? Sent in five minutes. That phone call I didn’t want to make? Done before I even finish my coffee. Cleaning out the pantry? One shelf is done before the 30 minutes is up! Even if a task does take a little longer, I make progress, which is way better than letting it loom over me indefinitely.

There’s something incredibly freeing about knowing that by Monday afternoon, those annoying, stress-inducing tasks will be off my plate. It sets the tone for a more productive, more relaxed week—because instead of dreading what’s ahead, I know the worst is already behind me.

This Productivity Hack Frees Up the Rest of the Week

The rest of the week is now my playground! Well, not exactly. I mean, I do still have work to do BUT I’ve gotten the things I tend to procrastinate on checked off my list right away. The remainder of my week has less stuff in general and more time for things I do enjoy- win/win!

It Builds Momentum for the Rest of the Week

There’s something about starting Monday with a big win that sets the tone for the rest of the week. When I knock out my most important tasks first, I feel accomplished right away—and that momentum carries over into everything else I do. Instead of dragging my feet on other to-dos, I find myself checking things off faster because I’ve already proven to myself that I can tackle the hard stuff.

It’s like a mental reset. Rather than spending the week avoiding tasks or playing catch-up, I’m ahead of the game. Productivity breeds more productivity, and by the time Tuesday rolls around, I’m already in a groove—without the stress of unfinished frogs lurking in the background.

Staying Flexible When Life Happens

As much as I love my Eat the Frog Mondays, life doesn’t always cooperate. Some Mondays are packed with appointments, unexpected obligations, sick kids or just days where things don’t go as planned. When that happens, I don’t stress—I simply move my frog-eating session to the next available day. The key is staying flexible and rolling with whatever comes my way instead of getting worked up over a schedule change that I can’t control.

On the flip side, sometimes a “frog” pops up midweek—something I’d normally save for Monday but needs to be handled right away. Thanks to this routine, I’ve developed the habit of dealing with those things instead of putting them off. And honestly, half the battle is making things a habit. Once you train yourself to take action instead of procrastinate, it becomes second nature.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. As long as I’m tackling those pesky tasks consistently, whether it’s Monday or another day, I’m staying ahead instead of constantly playing catch-up

Ready to Try My Number One Productivity Hack?

Mondays might never be fun, but they can at least be productive. And honestly, checking off those tasks you dread first thing feels a whole lot better than spending the entire week avoiding them. So why not give Eat the Frog Mondays a try? Your future self (the one who isn’t stressing about that thing you’ve been putting off) will thank you.

I’d love to hear what you think of this productivity hack! Do you already tackle your hardest or most important tasks first, or are you more of a push-it-off-until-it’s-urgent kind of person? Drop a comment below and let’s chat!

And if you want more tips on productivity, decluttering, simple living and organizing, be sure to sign up for my bimonthly newsletter. It’s packed with helpful ideas—plus, it gives me an excuse to show up in your inbox with more motivation (and possibly a few more frog-related metaphors).