Do the hard things first

The phrase “Do the hard things first” might sound simple, but its impact on productivity, mental clarity, and personal growth is profound. It embodies a principle that has long been championed by high performers, entrepreneurs, psychologists, and time management experts alike. The idea is rooted in one fundamental truth: your energy, willpower, and focus are at their peak at the start of the day. When you face your most challenging task head-on, everything else becomes more manageable.

The Science Behind It

Cognitive science supports the idea that we experience decision fatigue as the day progresses. In the morning, your brain is refreshed, and your cognitive capacity is high. This makes it the best time to handle tasks that require deep thinking, creativity, or difficult decision-making. As your day unfolds, your mental energy is gradually depleted by distractions, multitasking, and the demands of daily life. If you leave the hardest tasks for later, chances are you'll avoid them altogether or tackle them with less focus and lower quality.

The Power of Momentum

When you do the hard things first, you gain momentum. That big, uncomfortable task that you've been putting off? Once it's done, you experience a rush of relief and achievement. This feeling fuels your motivation and boosts your confidence, making the rest of your day smoother and more productive.

Imagine starting your day with that long-overdue report, intense workout, or difficult conversation. By finishing it early, you remove a mental burden that's been hanging over you. With that weight lifted, you approach the rest of your tasks with a lighter, freer mindset.

Breaking the Procrastination Loop

Procrastination is often a result of avoiding discomfort. Hard tasks are uncomfortable—they might be boring, difficult, time-consuming, or emotionally challenging. But putting them off doesn’t make them disappear. It makes them grow in your mind, taking up more mental space and causing more stress. Facing them first disrupts this cycle.

Doing the hard thing first builds your resistance to procrastination and rewires your brain to embrace discomfort as part of growth. Over time, what once felt overwhelming becomes normal—and even empowering.

Builds Grit and Discipline

This principle also develops mental toughness. Every time you choose to take on a challenge first thing in the day, you’re training your mind to do what’s necessary, not just what’s easy. This builds grit—your ability to persevere through difficulty—and discipline, the foundation of long-term success in any field.

Grit isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build through repeated choices. And it starts with choosing the hard road when the easy one is available.

Strategic Planning with the “Hard First” Rule

This doesn’t mean you blindly tackle anything hard at random. It requires intentionality. Identify the most important and impactful task for the day—often referred to as your MIT (Most Important Task). This is the one that will move you forward the most or carry the highest consequences if left undone. That’s your “hard thing.”

Planning your day the night before helps. Make a short list of priorities and circle the one that’s both important and challenging. That’s your starting point.

Real-Life Examples

Writers often start their day writing before checking emails or social media. Their creative energy is highest in the morning, and once they’ve written, they’ve already “won” the day.

Athletes schedule their toughest training early to ensure it gets done before distractions creep in.

Leaders and entrepreneurs often tackle strategic decisions and difficult conversations first thing to clear the path for execution.


Final Thoughts

Doing the hard things first isn’t just a productivity hack—it’s a philosophy. It’s about choosing growth over comfort, clarity over avoidance, and strength over ease. It’s a simple rule with life-changing potential.

So tomorrow, when you look at your to-do list, ask yourself: What’s the one thing I don’t want to do today? Then do it first. That’s how progress begins.