Having a newborn has made me realize something.
I don't need to get better at doing everything. I don’t need to do it all at once.
I need to find ways to do less of the stuff that doesn't matter as much.
Between taking care of the baby, being there for my wife, and keeping the house running.
There seems to be a lot on my plate.
So instead of trying to become more productive, I've been finding ways to make everyday life easier.
Here are 5 things that have been working for us:
1. Paper plates. Yes, really.
The dishwasher never ends. You load it, run it, unload it, and somehow there's already another pile waiting.
So for now, we're using paper plates.
Is it a forever solution? Probably not.
But right now, it's one less chore. And it makes meals super simple.
2. Automate the boring stuff
Our robot vacuum runs automatically every day.
We don't have to remember to vacuum or wait until the floors get embarrassingly dirty.
It just runs. We still deep clean once a week, but this keeps the house a tad more tidy throughout the week.
Same goes for laundry. I've made it a habit to throw a load on at 4 p.m. after work.
3. The Steve Jobs approach to getting dressed
I bought a bunch of the same T-shirts and crewnecks.
Same shirts. Same general style.
I'm not trying to dress fancy. I just don't want to waste mental energy figuring out what to wear.
Decision made. Moving on.
4. A home gym that pays for itself
Getting to the gym takes time, especially with a newborn at home.
And it’s hard to step out of the house sometimes.
So I've invested in some simple workout equipment for home.
No fancy setup. Just enough to get meaningful training done without adding another trip to my day.
Depending on your equipment costs and gym membership, a home setup can pay for itself in a few months.
5. Two bassinet stations
We have one upstairs and one downstairs.
Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. Just simple, sturdy setups that serve their purpose.
This way, we're not constantly moving things between floors.
Sometimes, you don't need the latest baby gear. You just need something that works for your family.
None of these ideas are revolutionary.
Paper plates. A robot vacuum. The same shirts. A few weights. An extra bassinet.
But they all have something in common.
I'm not trying to squeeze more productivity out of every hour.
I'm trying to make our everyday life require fewer chores.
More time to be present with my wife and son.
More time to train.
More time for the things that actually matter.
And honestly, some of these solutions might be temporary. We're figuring things out as we go.
That's the point!
This week’s Rep:
Pick one recurring task that takes more effort than it should.
Ask yourself: Can I simplify it, automate it, or eliminate it?
Make one small change this week.
You might not need more discipline. You might just need one less thing to think about.
Until the next one dads,
John Guevara