Hello [Name],
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically—to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside.”
—Stephen Covey
In a recent Bujo U office hours, Kathy, a longtime member of our community, raised an insightful point. She noticed that our encouragement to tackle the “most dreaded task” first thing in the morning might seem at odds with our guidance to focus on your top priority for the day. It's a great question—and one that opens up an even deeper reflection on what it means to live and plan intentionally.
At its heart, Bullet Journaling isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about helping you connect your daily actions with your deeper intentions. Whether that intention is set for a life chapter, a month, or just a single day, how you start your morning matters.
For me, the priority I choose each morning is often the very thing I’ve been resisting—what some call the “frog.” It’s the big, important task that somehow feels heavier than the rest. But I’ve come to realize that resistance usually signals importance. These tasks tend to block momentum not just in our notebooks, but in our minds.
Take larger creative projects, for example. They often come with friction—mental fog, emotional avoidance, even physical fatigue. And yet, they’re the very work that moves us forward in meaningful ways. Knowing I have the most clarity and energy in the morning, I often commit that time to breaking those big blockers down. I’ll queue up some music, cut up my favorite fruit, or simply identify the smallest step I can take.
Tackling one of these friction-heavy tasks early does more than just check off a to-do. It clears the path for better flow, making space for joy, focus, and momentum in the rest of the day.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, try this:
