Sometimes we choose books. But I also think… sometimes books choose us. Which is how I ended up spending marathon training with Jessica Simpson. Not a sentence I ever thought I’d write.

When Podcasts Stopped Working

During training, I hit a wall with training and how to keep my mind occupied while running 15 plus miles each weekend. I like to listen to Bravo rewatch podcasts but those started to run stale. I’d listen for 45 minutes, then fumble around trying to find the next one. It started to feel like more work to find something engaging to listen to than the run itself.

Book #13

So about six weeks ago, before a 15-mile run, I tried a new strategy. I searched “best books for runners.”

I didn’t want a fiction book. My mind wanders too much mid-run, and I didn’t trust myself to keep track of a plot. So I opened my Libby app and started plugging in non-fiction titles from a “best of” list.

Books 1 through 12? Not available. Number 13? Open Book. Available now.

And just like that… Jessica Simpson entered my marathon training era.

My Unexpected Running Companion

Now, I knew Jessica the way most 90s kids did. Britney. Christina. Mandy. Jessica. They were four different blond artists who took the pop music landscape by storm. I can still sing along to each of their signature tracks, but don’t know much about them beyond that, apart from Jessica. Now I know a lot about her story.

For several weeks, it was just me, my runs, and her audiobook. Not all celebrity memoirs are worth the 12 hour listen time. But Jessica’s book (which she also narrates) is fascinating.

There were threads in her story that stuck with me. The tension between a public persona and a private self. The gap between who people expect you to be… and who you actually are. The work of untangling old stories, family dynamics, faith, identity.

Chapter by chapter, there was this quiet resolve in her voice. This belief that life could get better… if you just kept putting one foot in front of the other. That was a mantra I learned while walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain with my dad and sister, and a mantra I came to believe during my marathon training.

Race Day

On marathon race day, I had about 50 minutes left in the audiobook. I debated whether to finish it or listen to something else, but I thought, “Jessica has gotten me to this point, she can get me through the first few miles.”

Which she did. And then… a twist.

Read more

It already feels like one of those “Did that really happen?” memories.

But yes, yes it did.

I have the photos to prove it.

Over spring break I walked 114 km of the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain with my dad and sister, and it was one of the most epic trips of my life.

I’m still unpacking the aha moments, the lessons, and the memories that will stay with me for a long time. I’ll share more of that in time, but as the Camino taught me, don’t rush the journey.

For now, I’m starting with something simple: answers to the logistical questions that might help you consider making the Camino a trip for you, too.

Read more

I recently found myself in a contentious debate on Instagram after a video tour of our apartment went viral. I filmed the video just moments before our new landlords came to do a walkthrough of the apartment. It was the first time they’d ever stepped inside our space and also the first time we had ever met them. We had tidied up a bit, and to me, it felt pulled together for a Tuesday afternoon after school. Here’s the video:

I pressed post, and to date the video has over a million views.

Videos that go viral on Instagram are a double-edged sword. At first, the video is shown to your actual followers, and the comments are generally kind. But as the views start to gain momentum, there is a noticeable shift.

Here’s what someone commented:

A couple of things before we go on. People are entitled to their opinions. I know that small apartment living isn’t for everyone. I also know better than to get into keyboard fights with random strangers on the internet, especially when their profile image is a cartoon dog and they have zero posts and zero followers.

But when @kellylawson12819 attacked my pen name, temptation won over.

At first I tried to kindly explain the heart behind my book, Tidy Up Your Life, and the idea of “not always tidy, but easily tidied.” I’m still in the business of marketing and selling my book and I fully believe in the principles. You never know who might become a reader. But @kellylawson12819 wasn’t buying it. She kept commenting. For days. On multiple posts. And then it turned into something more than disagreement.

So I used the most powerful tool we all have online: I hit block.

My message around “tidying” isn’t meant for every person.

The principles in Tidy Up Your Life? They’re not about perfection. They’re about progress. Life happens, messes happen. In 2026, I’m still very much a work in progress.

There’s a section from the epilogue of Tidy Up Your Life that still resonates with me. It’s about a tower of blocks and that one piece that feels like it’s holding everything together. The one you’re afraid to touch. Here’s the excerpt:

In life, as in building a tower out of blocks, sometimes it feels like there’s that one block holding everything in place. If you study the cover of this book, you’ll see an example of this. Do you see that small blue circle block? What might happen if that one block were removed?

Removing that one block could unsettle the delicate balance of blocks, causing other pieces to shift. What once felt stable and secure might become uncertain or precarious. Yet removing that block could also open up new possibilities, reveal a way to rebuild in a manner that might better align with your aspirations, values, and priorities.

Maybe you’ll find that you can pull out one “block” in your life that you thought was holding everything together—a job, a relationship, a belief, a routine, a decision—and examine it anew. Maybe then you’ll find that the entire tower you’ve built on that one thing doesn’t have to fall apart. Or perhaps instead of trying to build a taller tower and stacking “more and more” pieces on top of one another until it collapses, you’ll find that life is more like a game of Jenga, with a stable foundation where small blocks can be removed, rearranged, and reinserted in different spots, places where they fit even better, and that growth comes gradually.

I’m still removing, rearranging, reinserting. Imperfectly. Intentionally. And also publicly.

So let’s dive in. Here’s what I’m continuing to tidy up in 2026:

Read more

I remember when the girls were younger, the sense of accomplishment I would get when they were all finally tucked into bed. Emily and I would sit on the couch, take a deep breath… only for one, two, or all three of them to walk right back through the playroom door to find us. I’d have to muster every ounce of patience I had left to calmly ask them what they needed, and then walk them back to bed… again.

Now substitute toddlers for three girls ages 10, 8, and 6… and the story is the same.

They’ve gotten bigger, but they still wander out. Water. A hug. “Can you turn off my light?” Nearly 11 years into parenting, and the bedtime song and dance continues.

I’m not sure that witching hour ever really goes away.

For the past two school years we’ve been revamping our afternoon and evening routine. One reason is the age of our girls and they expressed interest in selecting a few activities. The other reason is that we all switched schools last year, which means they get home from school at 2:30pm now instead of 4:30pm. That has given them an extra 10 hours of after-school time each week. It’s a pretty incredible gift.

It’s also a gift for me to no longer work at our former school. You can read more about that saga here.

Now let’s get into the details of our week and what’s working and what’s in-flux. Then we’ll end with questions to ask yourself when considering your rhythms and routines.

Read more

Part 2 is focused on my “workdays”:

There are three work identities I navigate every day.

1. First, my work inside the home as a dad: parenting, cooking, cleaning, caring for our home, and managing the logistics of life.

2. Second, my work as a New York City public school teacher.

3. And third, my work as “Tidy Dad.”

I consider all of these identities “work” because each are activities that require mental or physical effort to achieve a purpose.

I’m deeply passionate about each of these roles. I have a strong vested interest in all three. They shape how I spend my time, how I make decisions, how I engage with the world, and how I see myself.

The most important job I have is being a dad. All other work gets tidied around that priority.

Let’s unpack my relationship with all three.

My Work as Dad

Nearly eleven years ago, my head and my heart were completely rewired when I became a dad. I remember holding my oldest daughter for the very first time and feeling the enormous weight of caring for this tiny child.

After she was born, I didn’t return to the classroom until the following school year. I was the first man at my school to take full paternity leave. I spent May, June, July, and August at home with her and with my wife, Emily.

I look back on that time as a remarkable gift. Together, Emily and I learned how to care for our new baby. We were both responsible. We were both capable. We made decisions together. We were both exhausted, and binge watched so many shows during nighttime feedings. In no small way, those four months changed the trajectory of our marriage.

We became a team. We learned how to manage parenting, cooking, cleaning, caring for our home, and the endless logistics of life together.

That mindset still guides us today.

My mornings and my after-school evenings are devoted to my children. And I teach at the same school where my children attend. Three children is a lot. Managing our apartment and cottage is a lot. Navigating the highs and lows of parenting is a lot. It’s an incredible work load.

When Emily and I started designating tasks inside and outside the home as work, it was incredibly helpful. Whether you’re grabbing groceries or sitting in a meeting with a supervisor, it’s work. The goal isn’t to split things perfectly 50/50. The goal is to name the work, talk honestly about the tasks we enjoy and the ones we don’t, and figure out how to tackle the seemingly never-ending to-do list together.

There are only twenty-four hours in a day. As we’ve simplified routines and built systems that work for our family, the responsibilities have started to feel a bit more manageable. Plus I have ruthlessly tidied up my professional life as a teacher. I’ve learned that when things at home feel difficult, it’s often because something is out of balance with my other two work identities.

My Work as Teacher

Last April, I published a four-part series called Tidy Up My Life: 2.0. It was the first series I chose to place behind a paywall. It centered on my work life at my former school. I worked there for 13 years, a number some might call unlucky. Two years ago, I made the decision to leave. It wasn’t just a career pivot. It was a necessary exit.

Here are links to those four articles: Part 1: The Devil Wears a Necktie, Part 2: Sorting with the Enemy, Part 3: Receipts, Proof, Timeline, Screenshots, and Part 4: The Traitorous Exit.

Like last year’s series, the rest of this story will also be behind the paywall, because it’s more personal, and I’ve learned not everything needs to live on the public feed.

Read more

The post was an attempt to share some of the routines that are working for me in this season of life and act as a sort of reintroduction of Tidy Dad. But without much context, it left many people feeling overwhelmed.

The comments largely boiled down to the same sentiment, “You just need to rest, take a breath.”

As I wrote in my book Tidy Up Your Life, I hate it when people tell me that. Because shocker… we all have different definitions of rest.

It made me realize that the message I was trying to convey about routines that are serving me in this current season, might not have been meant for Instagram. Instagram is designed for quick glances, shoppable content, easy recipes, not layered conversations.

After a few hours, I took the post down.

But here, I’m going to give it another go.

This is the first installment in a four-part series, loosely titled, “Life at a Glance,” that unpacks how my mornings work, what my workdays look like, how afternoons and evenings unfold, and the things I’m trying to tidy up in 2026. The goal of the series is to help you reflect on your own routines and consider how you might tidy things up.

Let’s start with mornings.

Mornings Are Sacred

Ever since my children started waking up at the butt crack of dawn, mornings have been my sacred time.

Seven days a week, I wake up to a 5:00am alarm and try to go to bed most nights by 9:00pm. My alarm is strategically set to go off before my children wake up. The quiet of the apartment, alone in the darkness, fuels me for the day ahead.

The 5:00am weekend wake-ups are relatively new, but time has proven that I’m a better human with a consistent sleep schedule.

Here’s what my morning time typically looks like.

My Current Morning Routine

• Awake by 5:00am

• 10 minutes of yoga while coffee brews

• Clean one area of the apartment (about 15 minutes)

• Workout cycle: resistance bands and core training (about 1 hour)

• Make breakfast for the family (choose things from cookbook)

• Shower and get dressed

• Try to clean up breakfast

• Out the door by 7:45am

This is the similar breakdown that I shared on Instagram, and followed it up with slides outlining all the other routines for work, afternoon, evenings, etc. It was a lot to take in. You might also look at just my morning routine and think, that doesn’t look restful at all. It looks like work. But rest isn’t one size fits all.

And since we have a bit more time here, let me explain things a bit further.

I’ve intentionally layered my mornings with activities that feed my mind, body, and spirit. In many ways, this routine feels like giving something to myself first so that I can give more fully to my family and to the students I teach later in the day.

I shared more about this mindset in a recent episode of Tidy Tidbits.

In January, I added a short yoga practice to my routine when I first wake up, which has helped reduce muscle soreness and tightness. I set the coffee to brew, and by the time my practice is finished, the coffee is ready to pour. I do the identical practice most mornings, so the routine runs almost on autopilot.

Back in December, I began shifting my workouts to the morning to relieve some of the pressure I used to feel trying to squeeze exercise into the already frenzied after-school hours.

Lately it’s been fun to experiment with breakfast recipes from the cookbooks on our bookshelf. Instead of just taking up shelf space, they now feel purposeful and useful.

For me, rest doesn’t always mean stillness. Rest means rhythm. Knowing what to expect and having a predictable cadence to my mornings, which is often in contrast to my workdays.

My morning routine doesn’t feel rigid. It feels more like a collection of things that bring joy.

Resetting My Social Media

One of the biggest shifts in my morning routine this year has been my relationship with social media and news. Back in January I did a major reset of my feeds.

I unfollowed almost every account that publicly broadcasts minute-by-minute emotional interpretations of world events, along with all major news organizations.

It’s important that I understand what’s going on in the world, but I realized that I needed to separate that from my social media algorithm.

Over the past few months I’ve essentially rebuilt my feed from scratch, and how and when I consume the news. It has been a positive shift.

The Season I’m In

I want to acknowledge that this is a layered conversation. Different seasons of life place different demands on us.

I’m sharing my morning routines from the perspective of a 39-year-old father of three daughters, ages 10, 8, and 5, who walks six blocks to school every day and has been a teacher for eighteen years.

This routine works for me right now. It might look completely different in another season. And that’s okay.

That was one of the messages that was clearly lost in translation from my initial Instagram post.

Questions for You

• When you reflect on your own “life at a glance,” what do you notice about your mornings?

• Have you ever taken the time to write out what actually unfolds between waking up and leaving the house?

• What fuels you?

• What drains you?

Leave a comment

First, The Tired Dad posted about something he calls the Quiet Hour. No screens. No phones. Just kids reading, crafting, imagining, while he and his wife sit alongside them doing the same. No multitasking. No “productive” background activity. Just a family being in the same room together quietly for an hour before bedtime.

Then Jo Piazza published a Substack essay outlining 57 ways to go analog this year. The list is delightfully unserious in the best way. Suggestions include things like: “Take out a piece of paper and make up nicknames for all your friends,” or “Do a sticker-by-number book. They’re surprisingly soothing.”

Over the Influence

SLOW DOWN: 57 Ways to Go Analog This Year

If I had a dollar for every person who has told me their resolution this year was to get offline more, I would have many dollars. If you’ve told me this feel free to send me all the dollars, or better yet, pre-order The Parisian Heist, because there is no greater analog joy than reading about a feminist art heist and the untold story of Jo van Gogh while sipping a spicy margarita…

Read more

3 months ago · 40 likes · 10 comments · Jo Piazza

The message was clear: when we are feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed, maybe the answer isn’t doomscrolling on another app. Revolutionary.

So, in an effort to experiment, I went to our family pantry. Not for snacks, but for art supplies.

Inside was a sizable stash of Diamond Art, amassed courtesy of my mother, who is a prolific and unapologetic diamond painting artist. For the first time in my life, I decided to try it myself, alongside my wife and our three daughters.

We set a timer for one hour. The kids grabbed their projects. We gathered around our tiny Yoto player and listened to the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Read more

A few weeks ago, my friend and author Jo Piazza sent me a book in the mail from Quite Literally Books. It’s called The Home-Maker. It was first published in 1924.

The premise feels deceptively simple. A husband works relentlessly, yet there’s no ceremony for his effort. No promotion. No public recognition. No sense that he’s “winning.” He feels like he’s failing financially, emotionally, and domestically. He wants to care for his children. Wants to become a poet. But time and money are both in short supply. He neglects himself. He’s miserable.

His wife stays home. She stewards money and material goods with care. She stretches what they have. She makes it work. And yet, she has ideas. She has ambition. She has a sharp mind and a deep hunger for more. But in order to belong, she must perform a very specific version of womanhood each week at her social club, curating herself to fit what’s expected. She’s miserable.

Then the twist: they switch roles.

Read more

I’m calling this three-part December mini-series Real Life Surthrival. It’s tied to my “surthrival” theme, but it’s also a real-time look at how things are actually going in our home, and spoiler: it’s not perfectly tidy. Who has time for that?

Here’s Part 1 and Part 2.

One of my proudest tech accomplishments of 2025 is surprisingly small: I finally figured out how to program our lights.

Every morning at exactly 5:00 a.m., I walk into a very quiet living room and click, the lights turn on. Soft. Dimmed. Programmed exactly how I like them. It’s like the house saying, “Good morning, Tyler.”

I used to walk around and turn on all the lights. Now my little smart plugs do the work for me.

And at night, I’ve programmed them to turn off at 9:00 p.m.

That might not sound like much, but it is for me.

I’m not a natural tech guy, but figuring out those plugs was such a win.

In this season of life, I’m leaning into tools, sometimes with a little tech, that make the everyday feel simpler. Now I’m trying to make other aspects of life feel like my lightbulbs: programmable, predictable, and not something I have to think about before coffee.

And by that, I mean the files, forms, emails, and to-do lists. I categorize all these things under the umbrella of “life admin”. The flow of incoming information, from email to snail mail to piles or papers in backpacks, can feel relentless.

It’s a lot to manage, but going into 2026 it’s a project I’m determined to tidy up!

Date night meets “Adobe School”

This tidy up journey started a few months ago, when Emily and I went to an Adobe event and learned about Adobe Acrobat Studio and PDF Spaces.

The Adobe crew set up stations where people talked through how they actually use Adobe to organize files and manage projects. From business, to home renovation, to life management, to travel plans, it was a real-time look at the tools in action. It became clear that these were systems built to quite literally tidy up tech lives.

Something clicked. Sort of like those lights at 5:00 a.m.

The Three Workflows

On the subway ride home, it hit us: we hadn’t been thinking about “life admin” in terms of workflows. We’d been lumping all the tasks, all the paper, all the to-dos into one large category, which made it difficult to name priorities and share the work.

The problem wasn’t just the volume of information, it was that things were coming in from everywhere (email, mail, backpacks) with no clear place to land.

To start, we realized that we needed a few clear categories: parenting, business, and life admin.

Uncovering the problem/solution

After naming the workflows, it became much easier to see the problems, and then choose tools and systems that actually supported them. That’s where Adobe stepped in.

1. Parent Workflow

Problem: Kids’ calendars, permission slips, activity schedules. Too many places, too much back-and-forth, too many papers in our mail file!!!

Solution: We can snap photos or scans of important documents, school papers, forms, all of it, and upload them to a PDF Space, a shared, AI-powered workspace built around digital files like PDFs, where Emily and I can both ask questions of the PDF Space via the AI Assistant. Then we can recycle the paper. (Paper clutter is one of my arch enemies.)

I love that we can turn everything into clear digital or printable versions the whole family understands. Adobe also has an AI Assistant that can summarize long PDFs, answer questions right inside the document, and pull out the key info without hunting for it. My favorite way to use the AI Assistant is asking about important dates, like when I should show up for the school concert, or when parent-teacher conferences are, so I can stay on top of things without having to remember too many dates.

2. Business Workflow

Problem: Contracts, PDFs, writing edits, podcast notes/scripts, deliverables, graphics, screenshots, photos and videos, etc!!

Solution: We can use Sharepoint to pull files and plug into PDF Space for work being published across Tidy Dad. We can share files with one another and keep records of tasks, submissions, and pending items.

Adobe Express Premium is integrated in Acrobat Studio, and the Express templates make design work easy! There are seemingly endless templates to choose from: PDFs, IG posts, IG story templates, cards, memes, graphics, you name it. I can edit on my computer or phone and I love that Adobe handles the design part so I can spend my energy on the text and ideas.

My idea for a “Home Rules” checklist came over my lunch break at school. I logged into my Adobe Express account, I searched for PDF templates and landed on a simple checklist layout. I added my text, tweaked the color and font, and within minutes it was ready to print, laminate, and hang up where my daughters could see it.

Everything lives in one digital home base I can open on my phone or my laptop, with templates ready whenever inspiration (or a deadline) hits.

3. Life Admin Workflow

Problem: Mail, doctor forms, travel docs, insurance, receipts, lease, mortgage: The clutter that has a major impact on your life if you can’t find it!

Solution: We can take scans of important documents and upload them to a PDF Space in Acrobat Studio that my wife and I can both access. It’s secure enough for sensitive family paperwork: birth certificates, passports, medical info, etc. and syncs across devices, so we can pull things up on our phones whenever we need them.

One feature that’s really cool is the AI Assistant inside PDF Spaces. Since these documents live in a shared space, my wife and I can both ask questions directly inside the documents. It’s almost like having a helpful third set of eyes keeping track of things for us.

It can also summarize long PDFs, extract key info, and answer questions right where the documents live, plus we can personalize how the AI Assistant responds, so it actually feels useful instead of overwhelming.

Low Tech Dad Embraces Acrobat Studio

As I close out 2025 and step into 2026, I’m trying to become the best tech-version of myself. We all have a limited amount of time. We can only take on so much. Less digital clutter means more space for family, creativity, and being able to locate what you need, when you need it.

Tidying your digital life is one of the quiet, and productive ways to make space for what actually matters.

So if you’re looking to tidy up your tech life, here are a few things to try:

• Start by building one digital home. Decide where things live and who needs access to them.

• Go paperless when you can. When paper enters your home, snap a photo or scan it, recycle the paper, and organize the digital file right away.

• And learn how to use Adobe to create something simple: a family calendar, a set of home rules, even a holiday card.

Make sure to check out Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Express!

Leave a comment

Tyler Moore, aka Tidy Dad, is a father of three daughters, a cleaning and organizing expert, and a full-time NYC public school teacher. He’s gone from scrubbing toilets to appearing on the Today Show and publishing his bestselling book, Tidy Up Your Life and hosts the top-ranking podcast Tidy Tidbits, which helps people make space for what matters most. For Tyler, the goal isn’t always a perfectly tidy home, it’s a home that’s easily tidied. You can find him on Instagram @tidydad and his newsletter on Substack, The Tidy Times.

Skincare that keeps him glowy, comfy clothing built for repeatable outfits, protein snacks that keep the hanger at bay, and items to help him workout and care for the home. The best gifts say: I see you. I appreciate you. And yes, you do need moisturizer.

I’m sharing my top picks across five categories: comfy clothes, glow-up skincare, snacks + sips, workout gear, and home helpers that make life just a little easier.

Let’s jump into the list - plus I got you some extra discount codes wherever I could!

BONUS: My “In My Surthrival Era” hats are live on Etsy. Grab one for yourself… or gift one to a friend who’s in their own season of surthrival. And for the month of December, I’ve added a discount code for you! Enter code TIDYDAD for 30% off.

Comfy Clothes

For the man who wants to look put together… without actually trying.

1. For men who want jeans that stretch more than their patience. I have the “athletic fit" jeans and the “slim fit” navy khakis. Shop through my link to get 15% off!

2. Upgrade his basic t-shirts with this pack of classic tees, and pair it with denim. I have the dark denim shade, and also love these grey jeans. These polo shirts are lightweight and breathable, and this is my go-to solid black hoodie!

3. I’ve been gradually replacing all of my pajamas and loungewear with Jambys. They’re just so comfortable! I love that you can pair the tees and hoodies with a pair of coordinating shorts OR pants, and it can all mix and match together. You can use code TIDYDAD to get 20% off your entire order from Jambys.

4. These are my favorite khaki pants for work because they’re so comfortable! They also sell some of their shirts on Amazon, and I just got this tee in baltic blue. It matches my “winter” shade of blue I discovered during a recent color analysis.

5. Once I discovered these waterproof sneakers, they became my go-to for every day. Rainy commutes? Drizzles on the weekend? No problem. They’re lightweight, breathable, and actually stylish. The Weekend sneaker in Pine/Dune is my newest!

6. This light denim jacket earns a spot as the superhero cape of dad life. It’s stylish, layerable, and ready for playground duty or date night. It goes with everything, doesn’t wrinkle easily, and lets you leave home looking put-together every time!

BONUS: For the winter, make sure he has a warm balaclava and touch-screen gloves!

Glow-Up Skincare

For the man who cleans his pores… because men deserve dewy skin too.

1. For men who are new to skincare, start with this 4-piece set that clearly explains each step. It’s like minimalist skincare with maximalist impact.

2. Brickell makes lots of great skincare products specifically for men. I love this men’s exfoliating body wash, and their under eye cream. This one is haircare, not skincare, but it’s a good one. My barber introduced me to hair styling powder!

3. This overnight lip mask is great all year, but especially in the dry winter months!

4. Men get tired too, with the under eye bags to prove it. Get him a set of cooling under eye patches, that says: I see your exhaustion, and I raise you hydration.

5. I’ve been “eyeing” an LED eye mask for a while, and have been trying out this one for the past few months! I love using it to relax right before I go to bed. I have also been enjoying their charcoal face wash daily detox, dark circle defense balm, and instant redness corrector. It’s a whole line of skincare formulated for typical male skin needs, like shaving irritation and oiliness. (Also available on Amazon)

6. Speaking of shaving, I’m a big fan of this razor handle and cartridge. They have a gift set with a razor handle, extra cartridges, travel shave gel, and a blade cover!

BONUS: Even more of my favorite skincare, haircare, and shaving items!

Snacks + Sips

For the man who lives on caffeine and protein... what more do you need??

1. I recently discovered this protein iced coffee, and now I’m obsessed. Caffeine AND protein? Yes please! It also comes in a fun sampler pack to try out flavors.

2. My favorite protein powder comes in chocolate, vanilla, and cookies and cream flavors! It blends easily, and tastes creamy (not chalky). I put this in my breakfast protein smoothies, or drink it after a workout. Use code TIDYDAD for 12% off!

3. I enjoy these savory protein bars as an easy swap for chips with lunch, and these sweet protein bars as an easy swap for dessert, or as a topper on a yogurt bowl.

4. I’ve been putting this Overachiever seasoning blend on everything from chicken and steak to potatoes and vegetables. It is truly all purpose seasoning!

BONUS: My favorite Amazon snacks + sips: snack drawer approved!

Workout Gear

For the man who believes a little sweat can solve a lot of life’s problems.

1. These resistance bands (plus the higher-weight bands and leg bands) are my go-to for home workouts or working out at the park. They’re compact, travel-friendly, and somehow make every move feel ten times harder, but in the best way.

2. This pull-up bar has been the star of my “I Can Do Chin-Ups Now” comeback story. Pair it with liquid chalk for practicing on the bars at the park too!

3. If he’s running outside, especially in the early mornings or in the evenings, this reflective hat, with light-up armbands, and warm running gloves are essential. He’ll get bonus points for looking like a safety-conscious superhero as he runs!

4. And because tracking progress is half the fun, I love my Fitbit. Steps, sleep, heart rate, recovery… it keeps me consistent and accountable, and keeps me moving.

BONUS: My favorite exer-vising fitness finds, all in one place!

Home Helpers

For the man who wrote the book on tidying, cleaning, and organizing… oh wait, that’s me.

1. Blast the grime away! This is my FAVORITE cleaning tool to use.

2. Let him remove the wrinkles from his clothes, and ditch the iron!

3. These sneakerasers wipe away scuffs and grime in seconds. Perfect for keeping those white sneakers looking fresh… even if the rest of life’s a little messy.

4. Part pep talk, part practical guide, my Tidy Up Your Life book can help men clear their mental and physical mess so they can make space for what really matters.

BONUS: My favorite cleaning products for any room in your home!

Leave a comment

Which ones are you wrapping up for the men in your life? Tell me in the comments!

Tyler Moore—known online as Tidy Dad—is a father of three daughters, a cleaning and organizing expert, and a full-time NYC public school teacher. He’s gone from scrubbing toilets to appearing on the Today Show and publishing his bestselling book, Tidy Up Your Life, which helps people make space for what matters most. For Tyler, the goal isn’t always a perfectly tidy home—it’s a home that’s easily tidied. You can find him on Instagram @tidydad and his newsletter on Substack, The Tidy Times.

Emily and I appreciate and respect the “Lazy Genius” (Kendra Adachi) and typically follow her principles, but I recently realized that I’m ignoring some of her advice.

To be clear, this is not a Tidy Dad takedown of the Lazy Genius… it’s me laughing at how I’m doing the exact opposite of her advice in real time.

Yesterday over my lunch break, Emily showed me a video where the Lazy Genius said, “If you have time to clean out a closet, you have time to take a nap.”

This followed another video she posted about December not being the time to start anything new.

Both videos made me laugh because… well… I spent the better part of Thanksgiving break organizing like the self-described Tidy Dad that I am, and yesterday I introduced an entirely new system with the girls that I’m calling Home Rules.

If you’re counting, that’s two strikes for yours truly against the Lazy Genius’ advice.

But here’s what I’d say in my defense: in many ways, we’re still digging ourselves out of the hole that has been our entire fall. Life has been unfolding at a relentless pace, and at times I’ve felt like I’m just failing at life.

While that’s far from the truth, I’ve been searching for small, meaningful ways to help our home run a little bit smoother. Over Thanksgiving break, we finally tackled the random bins that had been collecting random toys in the playroom. We filled the 7x-load washing machine at the laundromat and actually got caught up on laundry. We started “The Great Toy Edit” by making space for the new things that will come in over the holidays. The apartment feels reset in a really nice way.

But Emily and I did soooooo much of that work. And we need more help from the girls.

On Monday (yes, the very first day back at school after Thanksgiving break) I sat down and drafted the Home Rules.

I wrote out all the things Emily and I repeat over and over to the girls as “I can…” statements, just like we do at school. I created a PDF, printed two copies, and even laminated them. One is by the entryway door, and the other is in the bedroom our three girls share. I figured if we actually laid out these Home Rules and explained why they matter, maybe the girls would start doing them without being prompted.

And then I thought: what if we add a tiny reward system? I ordered tickets to put in a jar whenever we catch them following a Home Rule on their own. At the end of the night, we draw a ticket, and that girl gets to open the next part of the Advent calendar. This year we actually have two Advent calendars, one gifted to us by Lindt Chocolate and one gifted to us by Our Generation Dolls, so the girls have double the chances.

And… we let them work toward a certain collective ticket number and celebrate with something fun as a family. They’ve already pitched a “50-ticket cash-in” for a trip to the bagel shop to get bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwiches for breakfast.

I know you might be thinking this entire system sounds like “wishful thinking…” and trust me, part of me agrees, but for the month of December we’re going to give it a go. It’ll be a Surthrival experiment!

Sometimes reward systems do work when energy is low and you need a bit of excitement or motivation. At this point, I’m grasping at straws, or in my case, tickets. Emily and I are trying to build a team mindset in our home around sharing the workload, and in this season of surthrival, now feels like the time to see if it’ll work.

Maybe it will, and maybe it won’t.

Which also leads me to wonder… should I instead take the advice from Lazy Genius and just go lay down and take a nap?

But here’s the thing: for some people, rest looks like taking a nap instead of organizing. Not starting anything new. Slowing down. But maybe we don’t all rest the same way.

For some of us, getting a physical handle on our space is how we rest. For me, clearing a surface is mentally grounding. A tidy corner feels like a deep exhale.

So yes, enter the Home Rules. It feels like a good idea, and we’re giving it a try.

Maybe my mantra is, “If you have time to take a nap, you have time to clean out a closet.” But if Lazy Genuis’ mantra is better for you in this season, then stick with that.

Here’s where you come in. The comments are open. What do you think? What have you tried? What’s your current strategy for “stop doing all the work?”

Leave a comment

Quick reminder: My “In My Surthrival Era” hats are live on Etsy. Grab one for yourself… or gift one to a friend who’s in their own season of surthrival. For the month of December, I’ve added a discount code for you! Enter code TIDYDAD for 30% off.

Tyler Moore, aka Tidy Dad, is a father of three daughters, a cleaning and organizing expert, and a full-time NYC public school teacher. He’s gone from scrubbing toilets to appearing on the Today Show and publishing his bestselling book, Tidy Up Your Life and hosts the top-ranking podcast Tidy Tidbits, which helps people make space for what matters most. For Tyler, the goal isn’t always a perfectly tidy home, it’s a home that’s easily tidied. You can find him on Instagram @tidydad and his newsletter on Substack, The Tidy Times.

On Monday, I was back at school, chaperoning a field trip. That evening, I headed straight to an event for the Walton Family Foundation, where I spoke to a room of 75 teachers. Then Tuesday brought a full day of teaching, with a hurried intermission over my lunch break to make a lasagna, followed by our school potluck.

At exactly 8:01 a.m. yesterday morning, as I dropped off Margaret with her teacher and walked to receive my class for morning arrival, I sent Emily a text: “I feel like I’m failing at life. Too much is going on.”

She quickly sent me a reassuring text back.

She was right. There is A LOT all going on at the same time. And things aren’t really letting up.

Read more

I’ve been tracking flights all week, refreshing every few hours, waiting for confirmation that this trip, one that’s been in the making for over a year, is actually happening. Don’t judge me (or maybe do), but tomorrow night I’m scheduled to fly from New York City to Las Vegas… for BravoCon.

Yes, it’s an official convention celebrating all things Bravo. Real Housewives, Top Chef, Below Deck. I cannot wait.

Read more

Somewhere between the third delay, the overpriced snacks, and watching the girls sleepily read their books, I turned to Emily and said, “I’m so tired.”

It’s been a season of delays, hiccups, and energy running on empty. But it’s also been a season of maintenance, the word I chose back in September to guide me through the fall. I said at the time that the word might sound boring, but maybe it was genius.

Now, sitting here on the other side of October, still exhausted from the back-to-school grind and all that life’s thrown at us lately, I think I was right.

Maintenance hasn’t meant doing nothing. It’s meant learning what to let go of, what to leave undone, and how to stretch my capacity for the unknown. It’s been about sustaining the systems that work and making small tweaks where I can.

We’ve all had those seasons when our capacity feels completely mismatched with the demands being thrown our way. But we can’t just throw in the towel, we still have to keep our metaphorical planes up in the air. We can’t stop altogether, but we can pause long enough to ask: What might make life a little easier right now? What’s bringing me energy, and how can I invite more of that in? What is this season trying to teach me?

Before we step into November, and all the joy (and chaos) that comes with it, I want to pause and look back at what I’ve maintained this fall: the quiet routines and small decisions that have helped me stay grounded.

Here are ten things that have kept me steady this season.

Read more

In my dream it was the end of the school year, and I’d just finished packing up my classroom. Summer was calling, but before I could leave, I wanted to show my grandma my time card, the one Margaret had moved for me every day, from “out” to “in” and from “in” to “out.” Only this time, the card felt different. It was special.

As I walked out of the school office, I folded the card again, just to be sure. Yes, it really did become a McDonald’s hamburger box. A little magic, tucked inside an ordinary day. In dreams, anything is possible.

I walked to my grandma and showed her the time card and how it could fold up into a hamburger box. She was delighted. My grandma loved McDonald’s. She’d light up whenever she unwrapped a burger, so of course I thought she’d love this one too, a time card that could transform into something that made her smile.

Morning meanings

Sometimes I wake up from dreams like that and reach straight for my writer’s notebook. I jot down the dream fragments before they fade, and later, when I have a little time and space, I’m able to analyze them, constructing a sort of meaning.

On the surface, this dream is about my grandma. She passed away a month ago, and she keeps showing up in my dreams. But there are other layers too.

Read more

It’s been a wild and chaotic start to the school year. And while yes, the start of October does feel better than the start of September, our to-do list is still miles long as we try to find our rhythm in this new season of life.

It’s so easy for Emily and me to dwell on what’s undone, the girls’ wardrobes that need sorting, the pantry that feels more like a storage unit, the ever-growing stack of papers we keep meaning to file.

But today, I want to pause and celebrate one area of our apartment that’s actually coming together.

The kitchen.

Read more

Instead of runway shows, I published a new Tidy Tidbits episode with La Casa Almodóvar, my very first “Small Take”, featuring Sara and Peterson’s 750 sq. ft. apartment. Their story is such a great reminder of the “just enough” mindset. They managed to gut-renovate their NYC rental, something I sometimes daydream about myself.

Emily spent the weekend in Indianapolis with her family celebrating her mom’s 65th birthday, while I took the girls to Pennsylvania. We hauled back my bike, dropped off a few things, and made room for new ones. The outdoor swimming pools were open and it felt so nice to hold onto a little bit of summer. Somewhere in there, I did make one fashion purchase. I kept circling back to this sweater, and eventually, I gave in. It feels like the perfect NYC Dad sweater, Central Park-ready and very much this stage of life.

I’ve also been taking longer, intermittent breaks on Instagram lately. Between the back-to-school season and toiling with a new book proposal concept that I’m not sure will ever see the light of day, (working title: Do I Have to Clean This Up?), I needed a bit of space to think and breathe.

And now, after months of behind-the-scenes work, this is the week where everything comes together. My part in the Real Simple Home is finally ready to share!

Today, as of 10am the embargo has lifted, and I get to show you the finished photos from the apartment project, a space I’m so proud of. More will be coming in the October issue of Real Simple magazine and online, but for now, I’m just grateful to be included among such a talented team of designers and to see all those months of work brought to life.

Read more

Year 18 of teaching and the pre-school jitters are still alive and well. My dad likes to remind me that the butterflies just mean I still care deeply about the work (and the responsibility) of being a teacher. He’s right…but I could also use the sleep!

Labor Day weekend always brings a big shift for our family rhythms. For me, it’s the moment Summer Tidy Dad officially hands things over to School Year Tidy Dad.

This year, after our summer away, we made the epic return home to NYC, unloaded the car, and walked straight to our favorite pizza spot. Because nothing says we’re home quite like a good slice of NYC pizza.

Over dinner, my wife Emily invited us all to share our favorite summer memories and what we’re looking forward to in the school year to come. It’s a way to close out two months away and begin to usher in a new school year.

So before I welcome a brand new group of students tomorrow, I’m sharing my unofficial summer top 10 list. These items aren’t ranked, and aren’t complete. They’re just some of the memories I’ll carry with me into the season ahead.

Read more