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Books Self Help Eat That Frog! for Students

Eat That Frog! for

Students
22 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Excel in
School

by Brian Tracy 2020 192 pages

4 100+ ratings

Self Help Productivity Psychology

Listen

Key Takeaways

1. Prioritize Your Most Important Tasks

 Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one
you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do
something about it.

Identify your frogs. Every day, you face a multitude of tasks and
responsibilities. The key to success is identifying your most crucial, high-
impact tasks - your "frogs" - and tackling them first. These are often the
tasks you're most likely to procrastinate on, but they're also the ones that
can make the biggest difference in your academic and personal life.

Eat that frog! Once you've identified your most important task, commit to
completing it before moving on to less critical activities. This approach
ensures that you're always making progress on your most significant goals,
even if you accomplish nothing else that day. By consistently prioritizing
and completing your most challenging tasks first, you'll build momentum,
boost your confidence, and dramatically increase your overall productivity.

2. Take Full Responsibility for Your

Success

Taking responsibility is one of the best things about growing

up.

Embrace personal responsibility. As you progress through your academic

career, you'll face a critical turning point: the shift from having others make
decisions for you to taking full control of your life. This transition can be
daunting, but it's also incredibly empowering. By accepting complete
responsibility for your actions, choices, and outcomes, you gain the power
to shape your future.

Focus on what you can control. While you can't control everything in your
environment, you always have control over your reactions and responses.
Instead of blaming external factors or making excuses, concentrate on what
you can do to improve your situation. This mindset shift allows you to:

Actively seek solutions to challenges

Learn from mistakes and setbacks
Continuously improve your skills and knowledge
Develop resilience and adaptability

By taking ownership of your education and personal growth, you'll be better

equipped to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

3. Set Clear, Written Goals

Nothing will propel you toward success faster than the

practice of having clear, written goals.

Write down your goals. The simple act of putting your goals on paper
dramatically increases your chances of achieving them. Use the "Three P
Formula" when writing your goals:

Present tense: Write as if you've already accomplished the goal

 Positive: Focus on what you want to achieve, not what you want to
avoid
Personal: Use "I" statements to make the goal your own

Make your goals specific and time-bound. Instead of vague aspirations,

set concrete objectives with clear deadlines. For example, "I have an A in
Chemistry by June 15th" is more powerful than "I want to do better in
Chemistry."

Review and revise regularly. Keep your goals visible and review them daily.
As you progress, update and adjust your goals to reflect your changing
priorities and circumstances. This constant engagement with your goals
helps maintain focus and motivation, propelling you toward success.

4. Plan Your Day in Advance

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you

can do something about it now.

Create daily to-do lists. Take 10-12 minutes each evening to plan your next
day. This small investment of time can save you up to two hours of wasted
effort the following day. Write down all your tasks and prioritize them based
on importance and urgency.

Use different lists for different purposes:

Master list: Capture all long-term goals and ideas

Monthly list: Plan major tasks and deadlines for the coming month
 Weekly list: Break down monthly goals into weekly action items
Daily list: Identify specific tasks to complete each day

By planning in advance, you'll start each day with clarity and purpose,
knowing exactly what needs to be accomplished. This proactive approach
reduces stress, increases focus, and helps you make consistent progress
toward your goals.

5. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything

20 percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of

your results.

Identify your high-impact activities. The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 Rule,

suggests that a small portion of your efforts will produce the majority of
your results. In your academic life, this might mean:

20% of your study time yields 80% of your learning

20% of your assignments account for 80% of your grade
20% of your extracurricular activities provide 80% of the value for
college applications

Focus on the vital few. Once you've identified your high-impact activities,
allocate more time and energy to these areas. This doesn't mean neglecting
other responsibilities, but rather ensuring that you're investing your best
efforts where they'll have the greatest impact.
Regularly reassess your priorities. As your circumstances change, so will
your high-impact activities. Periodically review your tasks and commitments
to ensure you're still focusing on the most important 20%.

6. Break Large Tasks into Manageable

Steps

There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that
is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants
and a burning desire to achieve it.

Use the "salami slice" method. When faced with a large, daunting task,
break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This approach makes
the overall task less overwhelming and allows you to make steady progress.

Create a detailed action plan. For each major project or goal:

1. List all the steps required to complete the task

2. Organize the steps by priority and sequence
3. Set deadlines for each step
4. Take immediate action on the first step

Maintain momentum. As you complete each small step, you'll build

confidence and motivation to tackle the next one. This steady progress
helps overcome procrastination and keeps you moving toward your larger
goals.
7. Develop a Sense of Urgency

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where
you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at
your command, and better tools will be found as you go
along.

Cultivate a bias for action. Highly successful people are characterized by

their ability to take quick, decisive action. Develop this habit by:

Starting tasks immediately, without unnecessary delay

Setting self-imposed deadlines for your work
Challenging yourself to complete tasks faster than expected

Enter a state of flow. By working with urgency and focus, you can enter a
highly productive mental state known as "flow." In this state, you'll feel
energized, clear-headed, and capable of tackling even the most challenging
tasks.

Create artificial deadlines. To increase your sense of urgency, imagine

scenarios that require immediate action. For example, pretend you're
leaving for a month-long trip tomorrow and need to complete all essential
tasks before departing. This mental trick can help you prioritize and act with
greater speed and efficiency.
8. Focus Your Attention and Avoid
Multitasking

Focused attention is the key to high performance.

Eliminate distractions. The modern world is full of interruptions that can

derail your productivity. Take control of your environment by:

Turning off notifications on your devices

Finding a quiet, dedicated study space
Using website blockers to limit access to time-wasting sites

Practice single-tasking. Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is

inefficient and can lead to more errors. Instead:

Focus on one task at a time

Work in concentrated blocks of time (e.g., 30-60 minutes)
Take short breaks between tasks to recharge

Improve your ability to focus. Like a muscle, your ability to concentrate can
be strengthened with practice. Try techniques like:

Mindfulness meditation
The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-
minute break)
Gradually increasing your periods of uninterrupted work
By cultivating deep focus, you'll complete tasks more efficiently and retain
information more effectively.

9. Prepare Thoroughly Before

Beginning

Proper preparation is like getting everything ready to

prepare a complete meal. You set all the ingredients out on
the counter in front of you and then begin putting the meal
together, one step at a time.

Set up your workspace. Before starting any task, take the time to create an
optimal work environment:

Clear your desk of unnecessary items

Gather all required materials and resources
Ensure you have a comfortable, ergonomic setup

Plan your approach. Take a few minutes to outline your strategy for tackling
the task:

Break the task into smaller steps

Identify potential challenges and solutions
Set specific goals for the work session

Overcome perfectionism. While preparation is crucial, don't let it become

an excuse for procrastination. Aim for "good enough" to get started,
knowing you can refine your work as you progress.

By thoroughly preparing before you begin, you'll reduce stress, increase

focus, and set yourself up for success from the outset.

10. Use Technology Wisely

Technology is just a tool.

Harness technology's potential. The digital age offers unprecedented

access to information and tools that can enhance your learning and
productivity. Take advantage of:

Online learning platforms (e.g., Khan Academy, Coursera)

Productivity apps for task management and scheduling
Digital note-taking and organization tools

Avoid technology pitfalls. While technology can be a powerful ally, it can

also be a significant source of distraction. Implement strategies to maintain
control:

Use website blockers during study sessions

Set specific times for checking email and social media
Practice digital detoxes to reset your focus

Continuously evaluate your tools. Regularly assess the effectiveness of

the technology you're using:
 Commit to trying new tools for at least two months before switching
Focus on consistency rather than constantly chasing the "next big
thing"
Consider analog alternatives (e.g., paper planners) if digital tools aren't
working for you

By using technology intentionally and maintaining a balanced approach, you

can leverage its benefits while avoiding its potential pitfalls.

11. Practice Creative Procrastination

Creative procrastination is one of the most effective of all

personal performance techniques. It can change your life.

Procrastinate strategically. Since you can't do everything, choose wisely

what to put off. Deliberately delay or eliminate low-value activities to make
room for high-priority tasks.

Set "posteriorities." Just as you prioritize important tasks, actively decide

what you'll do less of or not at all. This might include:

Limiting time spent on social media

Scaling back involvement in less impactful extracurricular activities
Saying "no" to non-essential commitments

Regularly reassess your commitments. Use "zero-based thinking" to

evaluate your activities:
 Ask yourself, "If I weren't doing this already, would I start doing it now?"
Be willing to let go of activities that no longer align with your goals
Focus your energy on tasks that provide the highest return on your time
investment

By practicing creative procrastination, you create space for what's truly

important, allowing you to make significant progress on your most valuable
goals and responsibilities.

Last updated: July 29, 2024

Review Summary

4 out of 5
Average of 100+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Eat That Frog! for Students receives mostly positive reviews, with
readers praising its practical advice on time management and
productivity. Many wish they had read it earlier in their academic
careers. The book offers simple, actionable steps to overcome
procrastination and achieve goals. Some readers find the content
repetitive or basic, but most appreciate its straightforward approach.
The book's focus on personal responsibility and empowering
students to make better choices is highlighted. Overall, it's
recommended for high school and college students looking to
improve their study habits and time management skills.
About the Author

Brian Tracy is a renowned author, speaker, and business consultant

specializing in personal and professional development. He has
written over 45 books and produced numerous audio and video
learning programs. Tracy's expertise spans economics, history,
business, philosophy, and psychology. He has consulted for major
corporations and addressed millions of people worldwide through
seminars and talks. Tracy's work focuses on leadership, selling, self-
esteem, goal-setting, and success psychology. He is the Chairman
and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company dedicated to
training and developing individuals and organizations. Tracy's career
includes successful ventures in sales, marketing, real estate, and
management consulting.