
Hosted by Tidy Dad · EN

After finally taking down a giant birthday balloon arch that had slowly turned a corner of our living room into an unexpected clutter magnet, I found myself considering, “What does it actually mean to be organized... enough?”Inspired by a recent contribution to Real Simple magazine, I’m sharing practical, realistic strategies for organizing common problem areas, shaped by how our family organizes a 750-square-foot New York City apartment.In this episode:* Why “organized enough” may be a better goal than perfectly organized* How “flexible organization systems” can adapt as your life changes* Why the goal isn’t “always tidy”, but “easily tidied”Mentioned in this episode:* IKEA Boaxel modular storage system (Plus what it looked like for Real Simple)* Over-the-door hooks for “pending clothes”* Tiered file bin for sorting mail as it comes in* Lazy Susans for refrigerators and freezersMore from Tidy Dad:📚 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, I’m sharing a simple three-part framework for organizing school papers and artwork in a realistic, functional way. We’ll talk about how to decide what to let go of, what to keep, and how to create systems that honor your children’s creativity without letting artwork and worksheets take over your home.Mentioned in this episode:* 5-tier paper file system* File storage boxes with hanging folders* Art display frames with extra storageIf you’re overwhelmed by piles of school papers, artwork, worksheets, and projects, this episode will help you create a simple system for incoming papers, sorting, storing, and letting go of paper clutter while still preserving the memories that matter most.More from Tidy Dad:📚 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

This week on Tidy Tidbits, I’m joined by Julia Clarke for a fascinating conversation about what happened when her family downsized from a three-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom apartment in Glasgow, Scotland. I first read her story HERE.We talk about the assumptions many of us carry about space, privacy, and what kids “need,” and how their family unexpectedly found more connection, simplicity, and ease by living smaller.In this episode, we discuss:* Why they chose to downsize* The tradeoffs between more space and better location* Privacy, screens, and modern family life* Why smaller spaces can lead to simpler routines* The surprising ways their family became happier and more connectedIf you’ve ever wondered whether bigger is always better, this conversation might make you rethink what “just enough” really looks like.More from Tidy Dad:📚 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

This week on Tidy Tidbits, I’m sharing the 15-minute weekday cleaning routine that quietly changed my life. What started as a survival strategy during a chaotic season of parenting and work became the foundation for a calmer home, less mental clutter, and more manageable routines.I break down my “one space per weekday” system, explain why spreading cleaning across the week works for certain seasons of life, and share how small, repeatable routines can help tidy up your life beyond just your home.Grab a free download of my Weekday Cleaning Checklist!More from Tidy Dad:📚 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

What if one small shift could completely change the energy of your home at night?In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I sit down with Jon Gustin, fatherhood creator, advocate for sobriety, and author of The Tired Dad: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most. With a community of over 1 million followers, Jon shares honest, grounded insights on parenting, presence, and what it really means to show up for your family.Together, we talk about a simple but powerful routine his family calls “Quiet Hour.” No screens. No distractions. Just intentional time together through reading, crafting, and creativity.Our family has been listening to audio books while doing diamond art. It sounds simple… but in today’s fast-paced, screen-filled world, it’s actually a radical act of connection. And sometimes, the simplest routines are the ones that bring us closer to what matters most.More from The Tired Dad:📚 Order Jon’s book: The Tired Dad: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most🗞️ Subscribe to Reflections In Modern Parenthood: thetireddad.substack.com📸 Follow Jon on IG: The Tired DadMore from Tidy Dad:📚 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

People always ask if my life is always tidy. Short answer: it’s not.It’s often easier to focus on what isn’t working than to name what actually is.We’re so used to thinking about what we should be doing better or more efficiently… but what if we paused to name the routines that are already serving us?In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I share 5 simple routines I rely on daily to keep things tidy (putting away shoes, putting away clothes, washing dishes in the evening, 10-minute resets and meal planning) to keep our home tidy without aiming for perfect.More from Tidy Dad:📚 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

When was the last time you actually used a cookbook? Not your phone. Not a blog post. A real physical cookbook, with a spine, pages, and a table of contents. In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I share how a simple weekend organizing project unintentionally brought cookbooks back into our daily routine and completely changed how we plan meals, reduce decision fatigue, and connect as a family.Important Links:We’ve been cooking through our family’s cookbook collection!-What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers-Oh $#!% What’s For Dinner? by Maria Sansone-The Blood Sugar Balance Cookbook by Meredith Mann -Kids Cook by Betty Crocker-Cookbookery Collective - The cookbook exclusive Substack I’ve been loving! More from Tidy Dad:📚 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

What feels “normal” in parenting often depends on where you live… until you step outside your bubble.In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tyler is joined by Tara Clark (Modern Mom Probs) for a fun, honest, and slightly unhinged conversation about the everyday choices parents make and judge… even when we say we don’t.This is a conversation about:* Tiny tot transportaion in strollers and wagon* How environment shapes parenting norms* City life vs. suburb life differences* Scooters, screens, and survival-mode decisions* Why “doing what works” looks different for every familyThis is a light, rant-style episode with plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever had a strong opinion about how kids get from point A to point B… this one’s for you.And here’s the NY Post article about our family in “stroller wars” that I referenced!🎧 Listen, follow, and leave a review to help more people find Tidy Tidbits.Important Links:👀 Follow Tara Clark on IG: @modernmomprobs📚 Order Tara’s book: Modern Mom Probs: A Survival Guide for 21st Century Mothers🎧 Listen to Tara’s podcast: Modern Mom Probs (I was a recent guest!) —📚 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

What if the thing you’ve been thinking about doing for years… actually started with one small step?In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I sit down with author Ruth O’Leary, whose novel introduced me to the idea of walking the Camino in northern Spain. At the time of recording, I was preparing to walk that very path with my dad and sister, proof that inspiration can turn into action.We talk about what it really looks like to start something new, especially when it feels overwhelming or out of reach.Ruth shares how she didn’t publish her first novel until her late 50s, and how life experience helped her push past imposter syndrome and finally go for it. We also unpack the power of small, consistent steps, including the Pomodoro Method, and why you don’t need hours of time or a perfect plan to make meaningful progress.This conversation is a reminder that:* You don’t need to have it all figured out* You don’t need the perfect timing* You just need to take the next stepWhether your goal is writing a book, training for a race, building routines, or simply showing up better for your life, this episode will leave you feeling inspired to begin.Important Links:👀 Follow Ruth O’Leary on IG: Ruth O'Leary📚 The Weekend Break: Four Friends, Four Secrets, One Explosive Weekend📚 A Week to Remember: Three strangers, the Camino, One Week to Change Everything📚 The Last Week of Him: Thirty Years of Friendship, Three Women, One Devastating Truth—📚 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

Shopping these days is overwhelming, especially as an expectant parent staring down a long list of things you’re told you need. Do you buy new? What’s actually safe to buy secondhand? And how do you stop overspending on things you’ll barely use?Today’s episode is sponsored by Stork Exchange, and I’m talking with founder Ben Norment, a fellow dad of three who knows firsthand what it’s like to navigate the overwhelm.We get into the big questions every parent faces:* What do you actually need?* What should you always buy new?* And what’s perfectly safe to buy secondhand?Ben breaks down the categories that matter most, including why car seats should always be purchased new, and where families can save significantly by choosing open-box or gently used gear.Important Links:👀 Check out Stork Exchange (use code TIDY10 for 10% an order of $100 or more) —📚 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