By Julie Bays, OBA Practice Management Advisor

If you’ve ever spent a day avoiding that one tough task such as drafting a complicated motion, responding to a sticky client issue, or dealing with overdue billing, you’re not alone. But research consistently shows that putting off mentally taxing work increases stress and drains productivity. Lawyers, especially those in solo and small firm settings, often juggle a hundred things at once. Delaying the most cognitively demanding work can lead to rushed results, missed deadlines, and burnout.

One time-tested productivity method is “Eat the Frog”, which encourages people to start their day by tackling the hardest, most important task first. By clearing your mental runway early, you free up time to focus on everything else and ensure critical work is done at your best.

For attorneys, this practice isn’t just about productivity, it’s about professional competence. Prioritizing high-stakes legal work early in the day can lead to more thoughtful legal analysis, clearer writing, and better outcomes for clients.

Try this: Tomorrow morning, before you check email or open your browser, take 30 minutes to dive into the task you’ve been avoiding. Your future self and your clients will thank you.

If you’re not a morning person, use a different approach to carry out your tasks. Here is Mark C. Palmer’s article on 3 Time Management Strategies for Lawyers. Mr. Palmer is the Counsel for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.