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Jan 20, 2025

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Hey there, friends! Welcome back to The Lora Shipman Show! I’m your host, Lora, and I’m so glad you’re here today. If procrastination has ever kept you from crushing your goals, this episode is going to be a game-changer. Today, we’re diving into powerful tools and strategies to help you kick procrastination to the curb and take charge of your time like a boss. Episode 346 starts right now!

 


 

Segment 1: Recognizing Procrastination’s Impact

Let’s get real for a moment. Procrastination isn’t just about putting things off until the last minute. It’s sneaky. It shows up as thing that MAKE you feel productive. Things like…

  • Checking email instead of starting that big project. 

  • Scrolling social media instead of sending that important proposal. 

  • Grabbing a quick bite to eat, promising yourself you will start 

  • Sending a quick text

  • Or insert whatever you think you do without realizing that you are procrastinating

If you do recognize that you are doing these things, don’t beat yourself up. We all do it. For me it’s checking email and looking for little tasks that I can knock off my to do list because it FEELS good - like I am actually getting things done.

Here’s the thing: procrastination steals time, energy, creativity and even your confidence. I know because I’ve been there. Back when I first started my business, I would avoid tasks like creating financial reports or drafting complex strategies. These were tasks that felt overwhelming, so I kept pushing them to the bottom of my list. The result? More stress and less progress.

If this sounds like you, keep listening because I’m about to share 6 tools that will help you break the procrastination cycle and reclaim your time.

Let’s Dive In!

 


 

Segment 2: Tool 1 - Brian Tracy’s "Eat That Frog"

First up is a classic: Brian Tracy’s "Eat That Frog." The idea is simple. You identify 3 frogs that you have to eat for the day. It’s a non-negotiable thing…you have to eat 3 frogs a day.

One is a BIG, hairy bullfrog

The second is a medium-sized frog 

And the third is a little toad

The strategy is to eat the biggest, ugliest one first and then move down the line. The smaller the frogs become the easier they are to eat and before you know it, you tackled all three. Imagine if you reversed the order. How horrifying would it be if you had the big, hairy frog looming over you all day. You would probably avoid it and procrastinate eating it.

It’s the same with work…

Your “frogs” tend to be the most important and often the most dreaded tasks on your to-do list.  If you tackle your BIGGEST to-do or frog first thing in the morning before distractions creep in, your results or what you can accomplish in a day begins to multiply as your day moves progresses and before you know it, you accomplished more than you thought was possible.

Here’s how it works for me: Before I end my day, I write down my BIG THREE for the next day. Then I rank them - identifying which is the biggest frog and the item I am avoiding the most. I block off the first hour of the next day just for that task alone. Guess what I usually discover?

  • The frog often wasn’t as bad as I had imagined, AND it took less time than I anticipated. 

Checking off that first ugly task of the day, usually sets the tone for the rest of the day, making me feel productive and like I have my power back and ANYTHING is possible!

Here’s a little mind hack for you… Write your frog down before bed. It mentally prepares you to conquer it when you wake up.

 


 

Segment 3: Tool 2 - The 5-Second Rule by Mel Robbins

Next, let’s talk about Mel Robbins’ 5-Second Rule. This rule is also a very simple concept and easy to remember. Mel’s rule is so effective because it disrupts procrastination at the root. The moment you feel yourself hesitating, count backward: 5-4-3-2-1…and GO!

For instance, if you’re sitting on the couch thinking, “I’ll start that presentation in five minutes,” try this instead: count backward and get up immediately. This simple trick activates your prefrontal cortex, which helps you move from thinking to doing.

I’ve used this rule countless times—especially when I’m not in the mood to do my daily 3.5 mile walks on cold dark mornings. Before my brain can talk me out of it, I count down and just start moving. It works every time.

 


 

Segment 4: Tool 3 - The Pomodoro Technique

This is a favorite of mine. It helps me get large projects completed in the fastest amount of time and it’s perfect for those who feel overwhelmed by big tasks. Here’s how it works…

You break your work into  focused 25-minute segments called “sprints” with a 5-minute break in between. So basically, you disappear for 25 minutes…no phone, no texts, no email. My recommendation is you put all your devices on airplane mode so you are unreachable. After your 25 minute work-sprint you take a break. Get up from your desk, leave the room you working and change the scenery for 5 minutes. Do this for a total of 4 sprints. 

After you 4th sprint take a longer break of about 30 minutes. Do something to help you reset your brain like going for a walk.

After four intervals, you take a longer 15-30 minute break.

I love the feeling of what I have completed during a really good Pomodoro session. 

I used this technique to write a big content guide for a client. Instead of tackling it all at once, I focused on one section per Pomodoro. Knowing I only had to work for 25 minutes made it manageable—and I finished the guide faster than expected.

Pro tip: Use a timer app or a physical timer to keep yourself accountable.

 


 

Segment 5: Additional Tools

  1. Time Blocking: Schedule specific times for tasks on your calendar. Treat these blocks as non-negotiable appointments. This helped me prioritize and avoid distractions. I use Google calendar for this. It helps me designate specific times for focused work, client calls, and administrative tasks, making my day more productive.

 

  1. Task Batching: We all know this is a favorite of mine. I could not live with out it. Again, it’s a simple concept (notice how all the simple concepts are the most effective). Here’s how it works. Group similar tasks together. For example, set aside certain times of the day for certain tasks. For me I batch create lots of areas of my business. Some of the easiest things for me to batch create are: Blogs, Email Campaigns, Podcast Episodes, Caption Writing, Social Media Graphics, Video Editing. You will find that once you batch like tasks together, you get into “flow state” quicker and your work becomes better and more efficient.

 

  1. The Eisenhower Matrix: This tool helps you prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. Divide your tasks into four categories:

    • Do it now

    • Schedule it

    • Delegate it

    • Delete it

When I started using this matrix, and recognizing how much value I was putting on tasks that were unimportant, I realized how much time I was wasting on unimportant tasks—and it freed me up to focus on what really matters.

 


 

Segment 6: Your Time Management Toolkit in Action

Let’s bring it all together. Imagine what it would look like if you started your day by identifying your frog, using the 5-second rule to jump into action, and working through tasks in Pomodoro intervals. Combine this with time blocking and batching, and you’ve got a powerhouse system to beat procrastination and level up your productivity.

The best part? These tools don’t just save you time—they build momentum and confidence.

 


 

Outro:

That’s it for today’s episode, friends! I hope these tools inspire you to take control of your time and tackle procrastination head-on. Remember, progress starts with small, consistent actions.

Weekly Challenge:
Before you go…you’ve got homework. Here it is:  Identify your frog for tomorrow and tackle it first thing in the morning. Then, try the Pomodoro Technique for one of your tasks and let me know how it goes. Share your results with me on Instagram or LinkedIn!

ChatGPT Prompt:
And as always, I have a ChatGPT Prompt for you to try out: "Help me identify my most important task for tomorrow and give me a step-by-step plan to complete it using time management techniques like time blocking or the Pomodoro Technique."

Thanks for listening to The Lora Shipman Show! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little help crushing procrastination. Until next time, keep moving the needle in your business and life. See you next week!