Worst Things First

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — Francis of Assisi

Worst Thing First is a productivity technique where you tackle the most challenging or daunting task on first thing in the morning, and earlier in your week.

As a mentor and high-performance coach at Microsoft, I have seen firsthand the impact of the Worst Things First pattern.

This simple yet powerful approach can help you win your day and your week by defeating procrastination and creating momentum.

But it’s not just about getting things done – Worst Things First is also a key to managing personal energy, both for individuals and teams.

By focusing on the toughest, most important tasks early in the day or week, you can create a sense of accomplishment and gain the energy you need to tackle the rest of your to-do list.

In this article, I’ll share how to use Worst Things First to become more productive, energized, and successful.

The “Worst Things First” pattern in Agile Results is a productivity technique where you tackle the most challenging or unpleasant tasks on your to-do list first. I wrote about Worst Things First in Getting Results the Agile Way.

By addressing the most difficult tasks early in the day, you build momentum and motivation to complete the rest of your tasks.

It helps you avoid procrastination, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve your overall productivity.

The concept of Worst Things First has been around for a long time and is similar to the idea of “eating the frog” popularized by Brian Tracy.

Eat That Frog

The “Eat That Frog” technique is a renowned time-management strategy created by Brian Tracy, a well-known motivational speaker and author of self-help books.

The core idea of this strategy is to confront the most challenging and daunting task on your to-do list first thing in the morning instead of delaying it.

The underlying concept of this technique is based on the adage that if you start your day by eating a live frog, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that the most difficult thing is done for the day.

By incorporating this approach into your personal or work life, you can boost your productivity, minimize stress, and effectively attain your goals.

Despite the use of a frog as a metaphor, it’s important to note that no real frogs were harmed in the creation of this technique. Some may dislike the analogy, but it’s crucial not to miss the point of the approach.

The Story Behind Worst Things First

Working at Microsoft, I faced a common problem – the looming feeling of big tasks that needed to be accomplished during the week.

To combat this, I started prioritizing the highest risk or most complex tasks early in the week.

This approach led me to realize that I had the strongest energy in the morning, and I began matching my energy to my tasks to create breakthroughs.

This led me to create the “worst things first” approach, which has helped many people achieve their goals and succeed in their work.

Benefits of Worst Things First

The Worst Things First strategy is a time management technique that can help you prioritize your tasks and boost productivity.

By tackling the most challenging or unpleasant tasks first, individuals can avoid procrastination and reduce stress levels.

This approach can also increase motivation and provide a sense of accomplishment, leading to greater job satisfaction and work-life balance.

Reduce procrastination: When you tackle the hardest or most unpleasant task first thing in the morning, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and it can motivate you to keep going with other tasks.
Improve focus: When you have a daunting task hanging over your head, it can be difficult to concentrate on other things. By getting it out of the way early on, you can free up mental space to focus on other priorities.
Increase productivity: Often, the hardest task is also the most important one. By completing it first, you can ensure that you’re making progress towards your goals and achieving the most meaningful work.
Boost confidence: Overcoming a difficult task can give you a sense of confidence and self-assurance that carries over into other areas of your life.
Reduce stress: When you have a long to-do list, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. By tackling the hardest task first, you can alleviate some of that stress and feel more in control of your day.

Examples of Worst Things First

Here are a few examples of how people use the worst things first approach:

Starting with a cold shower: A friend of mine starts his day with a cold shower, à la Wim Hof style. It’s the most challenging part of his morning routine, but he finds that once he’s done it, he’s energized and ready to take on the rest of the day. By tackling the hardest thing first, he sets the tone for a productive day.
Doing a hard workout: I personally like to start my day with a challenging workout. It’s the hardest thing I have to do all day, but once I’ve completed it, I feel a sense of accomplishment and have a surge of energy that carries me through the rest of my day. Plus, it’s a great way to clear my head and focus on my priorities for the day.
Tackling a difficult project: Another example could be starting your workday by tackling the most difficult project on your to-do list. By getting it out of the way first thing in the morning, you’ll feel a sense of relief and accomplishment that can carry you through the rest of your workday.
Having a difficult conversation: Sometimes, the worst thing you need to do is have a difficult conversation with someone. By tackling it early in the day or week, you can remove the weight of the conversation from your shoulders and move on to other tasks with a sense of relief.
Cleaning the house: For some people, the worst thing they need to do is clean the house. By tackling this task first thing in the morning or on a designated day of the week, they can free up mental space and have a clean environment to work and relax in.
Writing code: A software engineer begins her day by reviewing the most complex and challenging code she needs to write. This way, she ensures that she’s dedicating her most productive and focused time to this high-priority task.
Studying for a class: A student starts his day by tackling the most difficult subject he needs to study. By doing this, he ensures that he’s using his freshest and most alert mind to tackle the toughest material, which also helps him better retain the information.
Sending a critical email: An entrepreneur schedules the most challenging and uncomfortable task she needs to do for the day in the morning, such as making a difficult phone call or sending a critical email. This way, she can avoid procrastination and the associated stress that comes with putting off a challenging task.
Creating an outline for writing project: A writer starts his day by tackling the most daunting part of his writing project, such as outlining or editing. By doing this, he’s able to make significant progress towards his goal and gain momentum, which makes it easier to continue working on the project throughout the day.

Fear-Setting and Worst Things First

Tim Ferriss, author and entrepreneur, uses fear-setting to list out his fears related to a situation or decision, confront them, and take better decisions with clarity and confidence.

In contrast, worst things first is a practical approach that involves tackling the most challenging tasks first thing in the morning, freeing up mental energy and reducing stress.

Fear-setting is a mental exercise to help individuals confront their fears, while worst things first is a practical approach to time-management.

Both techniques complement each other and can help individuals overcome fear, procrastination, and achieve their goals.

Example of Fear-Setting

A simple example of using fear-setting could be if someone is considering quitting their job to start their own business. They might list out all their fears related to this decision, such as fear of failure, fear of financial instability, fear of losing respect from their peers, and so on.

They would then analyze the worst-case scenarios that could happen if they quit their job, such as going bankrupt, losing their home, or damaging their reputation.

By doing so, they can confront their fears and develop a plan to mitigate the risks, such as saving up money as a cushion or doing market research to ensure there is a demand for their business idea.

Fear-setting can help individuals gain clarity and confidence to take action towards their goals, even when they are facing uncertainty or fear.

How To Use Fear-Setting

Here are the steps to follow:

Define the situation or decision: Start by identifying the situation or decision you want to analyze. This could be related to your personal or professional life.
List your fears: Write down all the fears and anxieties you have related to this situation or decision. Be as specific as possible and write them all down.
Visualize the worst-case scenario: Imagine the worst possible outcome of this situation or decision. What is the absolute worst that could happen? Write down the worst-case scenario in detail.
Identify the potential benefits and costs: Next, think about the potential benefits and costs of taking action or not taking action. Write down all the potential outcomes, good and bad.
Mitigate the risks: Once you have identified the potential risks and benefits, create a plan to mitigate the risks and minimize the negative outcomes. Write down specific actions you can take to address the worst-case scenario.
Take action: Finally, take action towards your goals, armed with a clear understanding of the potential risks and benefits and a plan to mitigate the risks.

How To Use Worst Things First for Your Day

A simple example of using worst things first for your day would be to identify the most important and challenging task on your to-do list, and then tackle it first thing in the morning when you have the most energy and focus.

This could be something like writing a difficult report or making a critical phone call that you’ve been putting off.

By completing this task early in the day, when you have the most energy and focus, you’ll build momentum and set yourself up for a more productive and successful day.

You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and motivation to tackle the rest of your tasks with greater efficiency and momentum.

Here’s a step-by-step example of using worst things first for your day:

Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to complete for the day.
Identify the task that you dread the most or is the highest priority and requires the most mental energy or focus.
Schedule a specific time for that task early in your workday when you have the most energy and focus.
Focus exclusively on that task until it’s completed, avoiding all distractions.
Take a break or switch to a less demanding task to recharge your energy levels.
Repeat this process with the next most challenging or high-priority task on your list until you’ve completed all of your tasks for the day.

How To Use Worst Things First for Your Week

By prioritizing the worst things first, you can start your week on a strong note and build momentum for the rest of the week.

Here is a simple example of using worst things first for your week:

On Sunday, make a list of the most important and challenging tasks you need to complete during the week.
Identify which of these tasks are the worst things, i.e., the ones that you have been avoiding or dreading the most.
Schedule the worst things for Monday or Tuesday, when you have the most energy and focus.
Use the momentum from completing the worst things to tackle the other tasks on your list for the rest of the week.
Review your progress at the end of each day and make any necessary adjustments to your plan for the next day.

Balancing Worst Things First with Small Wins for Momentum

While the Worst Things First approach can help you prioritize and tackle your biggest challenges, it’s also important to balance it with quick wins to gain momentum.

Sometimes, the big tasks can feel overwhelming, causing you to get stuck and lose motivation. In these cases, breaking down the task into smaller, more manageable steps can be helpful.

One way to balance the Worst Things First approach with quick wins is to create a daily or weekly task list that includes both big and small tasks.

Start your day by tackling the worst thing first, but also include some smaller tasks that you can quickly complete. These small wins will help you build momentum and give you a sense of accomplishment.

If you find yourself getting stuck with your worst thing, try breaking it down further into smaller tasks.

This will help you make progress and keep moving forward, even if the overall task is still challenging. Remember, the key is to strike a balance between tackling your biggest challenges and gaining momentum through small wins.