Undoing Urgency — How to Stop Drowning in Tasks and Start Living With Purpose

The Art of Manliness

Feeling overwhelmed by an endless to-do list? Like you're constantly putting out fires but never getting ahead? You're not alone. Many people today feel like they're drowning in urgency — filling every minute with tasks that feel critical in the moment but may not truly matter in the long run.

Here to help us understand how to escape this cycle is Matt Reynolds, a strength coach, business owner, and the author of Undoing Urgency: How to Focus on What Matters Most. Today on the show, Matt explains what creates that feeling of being overwhelmed by urgency, how to distinguish between status and true value, and why you can only effectively pursue 2-3 major goals at once. We discuss using the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to identify what tasks truly matter, how to apply the concept of "minimum effective dose" beyond just fitness, and why sometimes the pursuit of a goal matters more than achieving it. We end our conversation with concrete steps you can take today to start undoing urgency in your life.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• Matt's previous appearances on the AoM podcast:
  • Episode #826: From Novice to Advanced — The Weightlifter’s Journey
  • Episode #302: My Workout Routine & The Benefits of a Strength Coach
  • Episode #154: Strength Training for Everyone
• AoM Article: The Eisenhower Decision Matrix — How to Distinguish Between Urgent and Important Tasks and Make Real Progress in Your Life
• AoM Article: Motivation Over Discipline

Connect With Matt Reynolds

• Matt's website
• Barbell Logic
• TurnKey Coach