We’ve all heard the standard productivity advice — we should “eat that frog” and conquer our hardest, most consequential tasks first, so we don’t waste the whole day procrastinating. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
Stop Procrastinating and Tackle That Big Project
Three tips to help you focus on what’s important — even when you don’t want to.
May 16, 2022
Summary.
It’s human nature to put off uncomfortable or undesirable tasks, or to make the easy choice in the moment. But if something is a legitimate priority, we’ll have to get it done eventually — and sooner is better than later. In this article, the author lays out strategies we can use to ‘trick ourselves’ into getting started on projects that might feel onerous or overwhelming, but really need to get done: 1) start with an easy behavior change, 2) commit to a certain date, and 3) make it an experiment.
New!
HBR Learning
Time Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Time Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make smarter, more purposeful choices about how you spend your day.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
Time Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Time Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make smarter, more purposeful choices about how you spend your day.