At the start of a new year, I like to zoom out and think about anchor habits — the habits that quietly hold everything else together, no matter how busy or unpredictable life gets.

One of my most important anchors is building protein-centric meals. Not because it’s trendy or easy, but because it supports steady energy, focus, and strength in a way that compounds over time.

Rather than overthinking daily protein targets, I often encourage people to start with one simple place: aiming for a protein-forward first meal. It’s not a rule — just a steady starting point that tends to ripple out into better energy and fewer crashes later in the day.

But, First name / friend, , if your feeling of busyness keeps you from accomplishing those things that are most important to you, you have to think about it.

While being busy feels like a badge of honor in today’s world, it is important to pause and wonder: what are we really busy doing? 

Too often, I find myself caught in the whirlwind of busyness—feeling scattered, overwhelmed, and ironically, unproductive.

And often I will get to the end of the day and think, “I felt so busy today… but what did I accomplish?”

Busyness gives us the illusion of accomplishment. We equate being in motion with making progress, but the truth is, they’re not the same. 

The constant ping of notifications, the endless to-do lists, the multitasking—it can feel like we’re running a marathon. And yet, when we finally stop, we realize we’re still at the starting line.