Tidy Tidbits

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I’m joined by Martin, my personal trainer who’s been quietly working behind the scenes during my past year of physical transformation.
If you’ve ever wondered how I rebuilt my fitness routine without joining a gym, or how I stayed consistent through a full year, this conversation pulls back the curtain.
We discuss how sustainable fitness looks a lot like tidying your home: you don’t need brand-new skills, you just need to layer on routines so that they are actually working for you. Together, we break down how small, realistic shifts, like tracking food and using resistance bands, can create lasting change without burnout.
In this episode, we talk about:
* Why progressive overload doesn’t require a gym (and how simple resistance bands can actually work to achieve the same goals as fancy workout equipment)
* How food tracking became a low-pressure tool instead of an obsession
* The power of realistic plans over perfect plans
* Why routines matter more than motivation, and how to put them on autopilot
* Why accountability changes everything (and how to find the right support)
* Reframing fitness as fuel for a full life—not another thing to “fail” at
Tidy Takeaway:
Sometimes you need to ask for help. That’s a powerful first step towards making progress.
Important Links:
👀 Follow Martin on IG: @theteacherspt
💪 Book a FREE discovery call with Martin: details HERE!
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📚 Order my book: Tidy Up Your Life
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

I’m starting this episode with a hot take. I recently shared a post on Instagram with 3 hot takes, including one about Disney, and people had thoughts. It got me thinking about why travel feels joyful for some and exhausting for others.
Here’s the core idea: Not all vacations are meant to give us the same thing.
Some trips are about amusement, fast-paced, full, distracting.
Some trips are about a muse, slower, quieter, and inspiring.
Neither is wrong, but different seasons of life can call for different kinds of travel.
In this episode, we talk about:
* The simple framework our family uses to plan trips without burning out:
WHY → WHO → WHEN → WHERE → HOW → WHAT
* We start with WHY, because when the intention is clear, everything else gets easier.
* I walk through how this framework shapes our travel decisions, from family trips across Europe to a largely decision-free February cruise booked by my very thoughtful past self.
* We pack light, in carry-on bags only! These duffel bag backpacks are our favorite, and they set us up with code TIDYDAD to share for a 15% off discount.
Tidy Takeaway:
If travel planning feels overwhelming, it’s usually not the destination, it’s the missing intention. Start with the WHY, and the rest gets lighter.
Important Links:
📚 Order my book: Tidy Up Your Life
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad talks with Kate Strickler, the creator of the Instagram account Naptime Kitchen, and the author of the book “I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen: And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy (Small Habits and Mindset Shifts to Find Contentment and Joy in Life)”.
Together, we explore the mindset shifts needed as we move into February, when the “new year, new you” energy of January often fades and self-doubt creeps in. This conversation focuses on finding the middle ground, breaking free from all-or-nothing thinking, and building sustainable habits that actually stick.
If you’ve ever felt like you “failed” a New Year’s resolution, this episode offers practical reframes and gentle strategies to help you reset without starting over.
In this episode, we talk about:
* Why January should be viewed as a starting line, not a pass/fail test
* The importance of the middle ground—and why progress still counts
* How to rethink “failure” by asking better, more curious questions
* What to do when a goal feels too big or unsustainable
* Why consistency matters more than motivation
* How to identify one small, doable step to get back on track
* Letting go of the all-or-nothing mindset
Tidy Takeaway
Sustainable change isn’t about perfection, it’s about adjusting, learning, and choosing small actions you can repeat.
—
Reel mentioned by @No.Food.Rules, about the “all or nothing” mindset”:
Important Links:
👀 Follow Kate Strickler on IG: @naptimekitchen
🌟 Kate’s book: “I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen: And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy (Small Habits & Mindset Shifts to Find Contentment and Joy in Life)
📚 Order my book: Tidy Up Your Life
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad sits down with Kyshawn Lane, the home maintenance expert behind Weekly Home Check, who’s built a community of almost 2 million followers on Instagram by helping people care for their homes.
Together, they unpack why ignoring maintenance can lead to expensive surprises, and why doing one task a week is often more effective than tackling everything at once. Home maintenance doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and a simple, weekly system can save time, money, and stress. If you’ve ever thought, I should really deal with that… but then didn’t, this episode is for you. You don’t need to be “handy” to feel confident in your space. You need an approachable plan that makes maintenance manageable.
In this episode, we talk about:
* Why home maintenance feels overwhelming and how systems make it manageable
* The cost of ignoring small issues until they become big repairs
* How Kyshawn learned home maintenance as a first-time homeowner
* The power of a 52-week, one-task-a-week maintenance checklist
* How learning your home builds confidence and connection, not just savings
Important Links:
👀 Follow Kyshawn Lane on IG: @weeklyhomecheck
🌟 Sign up for Kyshawn’s FREE 52-Week Home Maintenance Checklist
📚 Order my book: Tidy Up Your Life
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe

Cooking isn’t just about food. It’s about confidence, creativity, and learning how to make decisions in real time.
In this episode, Katie Kimball and I get into the real skills beginners need in the kitchen, from knife skills and reading recipes to planning meals, managing grocery budgets, and thinking on your feet. We also talk about why cooking is such a powerful life skill for teens and young adults. Cooking builds independence and problem-solving, and shared meals build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Wondering how to actually get your teens in the kitchen? Teens Cook Real Food is a comprehensive cooking course designed specifically for teens and young adults.
It’s a self-paced online cooking course, teaching over 70 skills like how to read recipes, knife skills, how to boil water, how to make salads, cook veggies on the stovetop and in the oven, how to incorporate herbs, spices, acid, and sauces, how to cook meat and eggs, how to bake bread, and tips for meal planning, grocery shopping, and sticking to a food budget. And MORE! It includes real-food demos, chef talks and kitchen science via professionally filmed video lessons. It’s massively epic.
They’re also offering a FREE 3-video series for parents, including a 15-minute workshop on the mindset shift needed for parenting teens. You can start there!
If you’ve ever wished your teen could confidently make a meal, this is worth your time.
👀 Follow Katie Kimball on IG: @raisinghealthyfamilies
🌟 Check out Teens Cook Real Food + sign up for the FREE 3-video series for parents
📚 Order my book: Tidy Up Your Life
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tidydad.substack.com/subscribe