Making the Meatballs

Last Friday I was catching up on some podcasts and one resonated pretty hard with me … we often don’t make time for the things that actually matter the most.

I’ve been putting off sitting down with my dad to learn how to make his meatballs for about a month. Not for any reason other than it takes a long time, sometimes family stuff can be emotional and complicated, and I haven’t wanted to commit for some reason. It sounds small, but it’s not. It’s time with him, it’s a memory, it’s something I’ll carry forever (and for real, they are DELICIOUS). I kept saying “soon.”

Sound familiar?

Whether it’s meatballs, time with family, or getting your workouts in so you can show up healthier, happier and more present for the people you love, it’s all the same problem. 

The things that matter most are somehow the easiest to postpone.  And why is that?  Because, life is hard.

Life is full, and carving out intentional time for what counts takes real effort because we are often stuck in a “busy loop”. A loop of things that are not important (cough cough doom scrolling…cough), but take up time and keep us busy.  The busy loop can be things that are actually a smidge important, but maybe we aren’t managing our time well.  Checking emails, doing tasks that need to get done at work but aren’t necessarily “mission critical” these things all matter.  But reality is, there is a lot of time wasted on poor time management or shit you really don’t need to be doing at all (or can significantly reduce). Like… an alarming amount.  

For a lot of you, one of those things you keep pushing off is your health. Here’s the real question: how many bad habits are quietly crowding out the things you actually want to prioritize? 

Usually it comes down to one of these:

• You created a narrative that you tell yourself… “you have to do these other things” or something bad will happen.  But will it? If you check email 2x a day instead of on the hour, will the world explode?
• You’re scared you’ll fail. So ask yourself, what would you need so that you won’t? Accountability? Someone to show you how? That’s not weakness, that’s smart.
• You’re scared it’ll be hard. How can you break it into smaller, less daunting pieces?
• You’re not sure what to do. Do you know someone who does? Ask them.

Here’s where most people miss it, a calendar audit.  I know that sounds “business-y” and wicked lame, but have you actually looked at where your time goes? Are you moving hazardously through the day on autopilot, or have you intentionally planned out when you do what?

Three simple ways to protect your workout time:

1. Schedule it like a meeting. Put it on your calendar with a set day and time. Non-negotiable. Research shows people who schedule workouts are significantly more likely to follow through than those who “plan to go when they can.”
2. Anchor it to something you already do. Before work, after drop-off, at lunch. Pairing exercise with an existing routine removes the decision fatigue of figuring out when — and decisions are where habits die.
3. Start with the minimum effective dose. What is the smallest amount you can do that still satisfies the need?  If it’s fitness, no need to jump into 6 days a week, maybe start with 2! A manageable commitment builds momentum, and momentum builds everything else. (and to note, studies consistently show that regular exercise improves focus, energy, and productivity meaning you actually get more done on the days you work out, not less… just sayin’😉)

If fitness and a wellness routine is something important to you, know that when you’re healthy and showing up for yourself, you show up better for everyone else too, your kids, your partner, your dad, the people who need you. That’s not selfish. That’s the whole point. 

You don’t have to figure this out alone. At MSC, accountability coaching is built right into what we do. We help you build the habits, stay consistent, and work through whatever has been getting in the way. You have a whole team in your corner, and we’ve got you🤘.

Talk soon☺️,
T

PS: …and by the way, I made 50 meatballs and 5 quarts of “Gravy” (#iykyk) with my Dad Ricky last Saturday. It was a blast, I learned a lot, and I even dug into a family tree book about my family in Italy that I have NEVER seen. My belly and my heart are still full:) 

PSS: Did you know you can try MSC for 2 weeks FREE? CLICK HERE to get started with a No Sweat Intro Session. Our No Sweat Intro is 30 minutes and we will show you around the gym, talk about your goals and if it sounds like a good fit… we will collaborate on a realistic plan that will help you get there and support you every step along the way💪. Small groups, big support, BIG fun… we would love to meet you.