Tidy Tidbits

This week, I’m turning 40! We’re also celebrating major family milestones, including one daughter graduating from kindergarten and another graduating from elementary school. As Father’s Day and summer break approach, I’m reflecting on this season of life, and revisiting the idea of Surthrival, the space between surviving and thriving. If you’re navigating a surthrival season of your own, this episode is for you!
In this episode, I’m exploring the different seasons of adulthood: building in my twenties, proving in my thirties, and maintaining in my forties. From marathon recovery to family life, I’m sharing why maintaining what matters may be one of life’s most meaningful pursuits. At least for me, in this current season of life.
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

In this episode, I’m joined by Darby Saxbe, PhD, the author of the new book Dad Brain, which explores the science and psychology of modern fatherhood. It’s a fascinating book about the ways fatherhood changes men, challenges them, and reshapes identities in ways we don’t always expect.
If you’re a dad listening, you need to read this book. And if you’re a mom listening, you need to read this book too. It’s a book that I can’t stop thinking about.
📚 Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives
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

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 freezers
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

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 storage
If 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 connected
If 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