Are You Fixating on What Doesn’t Really Matter?

Something to ponder:

‘There is an epidemic taking place of majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors’

I have had this quote swirling around my head for a few weeks. I was on the “morning nap lap” with my youngest daughter Fiadh, hunting out shaded paths and praying for a puff of breeze when I found myself vigorously nodding in agreement as Dr Attia’s words rang through my ears.

IV Drips, ice baths, massage, supplements, red light therapy, green juices – It’s so easy to get sucked into the vortex of the “minors”; they are shiny, safe, accessible, marketed incredibly well and don’t demand much discomfort. However if you are truly interested in expanding your capacities, you have to do the work within the majors, consistently. This is the foundational work that drives change; The quality of your sets and reps. The disgusting metres.

I am not telling you to ignore the little things, but rather to prioritize. Fixation on the minors can disguise itself as productivity. Checking off the easier task, avoiding the meaningful but harder work. Take mobility as an example. Is mobility important in training? Yes. But if you’re spending the bulk of your time flapping about on a foam roller instead of lifting the barbell, are you truly advancing toward your goals?

Something to practise:

“Eat That Frog” Approach

Every day, you face tasks that range from easy and comfortable to difficult and meaningful. The problem is, we often procrastinate on the hard but impactful tasks and instead spend time on things that feel productive but don’t deliver real results. The solution? ‘Eat the frog.’

The “frog” represents the task that is most important but often uncomfortable or challenging. Eating it first ensures you’re making progress on what truly matters before distractions take over.

How to Practice:

At the end of each day, identify your frog – the most important task that, when completed, will create the biggest positive impact on your progress.
When you wake up, tackle it first thing – before checking emails, scrolling social media, or doing anything minor.
Resist the urge to multitask. Give your full attention to eating the frog, knowing that once it’s done, the rest of the day will be lighter.

Remember: Discomfort often signals significance. If the task feels hard or daunting, it’s likely the exact thing you need to do to create meaningful growth.

Something to pose:

Are you focusing your time, energy, and identity on things that give you a safe feeling of productivity but don’t actually move the needle forward?

This is an important question for you to honestly reflect on. It’s easy to gravitate toward tasks that feel safe, comfortable, and give the illusion of productivity. But meaningful progress doesn’t come from doing the easy work, it comes from consistently turning up to do the hard, challenging and often uncomfortable work we tend to avoid. The work we resist is usually the work that matters most.

Remember: This meaningful work can often be boring.

‘As long as you live, keep learning how to live’

~ Seneca