The Tidy Times from Tidy Dad is a monthly newsletter designed to help you rethink how to declutter, organize, and make space for what matters most.
The Headlines
A New Kind of Tidy Up
3 Things to Declutter This Month
Maintenance Department: Quarter 1
"Tidy Up Your Life" is a National Bestseller!
Tidy Talks: Conversations Worth A Listen
Hot Off The Press
Airing Your Dirty Laundry
Behind the Stories
Tidy Dad's Book Stack
February Joy Plotting
My February Experiment
I don’t feel great (physically) about myself right now. That’s a big thing to say.
I’ve made space for so much—launching a book, adjusting to a new routine at a new school, being present for my girls—but there’s something about self that has felt a bit elusive.
My body. My energy. My habits.
It’s been a big shift going from walking two miles each way to school every day (easily clocking 20 miles per week as part of my work commute) to just six blocks (about 3 miles total per week). My closer school has had a positive impact on many routines—I love coming home for lunch—but my movement, my eating, and how I feel in my body? That’s still something I’m figuring out.
An Inspired Nudge
Last month, I had a Zoom call with Patty Morrissey, who’s now working with Marie Kondo as they launch the KonMari Club. For the first time, I got to be in the same (virtual) space with Marie Kondo, someone who inspired so much of my own personal tidying journey.
As part of the club, they’re inviting participants to name self-care experiments each month, and February’s focus is on body. That sparked something for me.
I talk about 30-day experiments in Chapter 3 of Tidy Up Your Life. You identify a new routine that you think could enhance or support your life, and you fully commit to trying out that routine for thirty days. During that time you reflect, stay curious, and consider what you're learning about yourself along the way.
And I realized: I already knew what I wanted to experiment with.
The Experiment: Will I Enjoy Working with a Coach?
For a long time, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of working with an online health coach. For over a year, I’ve been following a coach in the UK on Instagram who specializes in working with teachers. Last summer I trained for my first triathlon. But figuring out my own plan during the school year—the mental load of navigating food, exercise, and structure—has felt overwhelming.
So I finally reached out. I scheduled a call. That felt like a huge first step.
Why a coach? Because it's a way for me to stop doing all the work. I’m outsourcing the thinking work. I’m asking for support in creating a new routine. On my own, I might be able to figure it out, but I want guidance, support, encouragement. And—midway through the call—the health coach said, “You’re going to be laughing with it, mate.” That’s the energy I need right now.
The Mindset Shift
This experiment isn’t about transformation. I’m not trying to become a new person, and I’m certainly not training to be a fitness model (although never say never 🤣).
It’s about curiosity. About seeing if I enjoy working with a coach. That’s it.
So this February, my question is simple:Will I enjoy working with a health coach?
I'm excited to find out.
3 Things to Declutter This Month
Have you heard of soft decluttering? In January, I contributed to an article for The New York Times titled “The Easiest Way to Feel More Organized” that introduced an alternative to the all-or-nothing, full-home decluttering marathon. Writer Elizabeth Passarella captured it perfectly: "Some people like the cold-turkey challenge of Dry January to jump-start healthier drinking habits. But what if you crave a softer, Damp January approach to decluttering?"
The idea is simple: small, manageable projects that create noticeable change—without the overwhelm of a full-home purge. There’s satisfaction in: Clearing the dining room table so you can actually host a dinner party; Sorting through toys just enough to make the room easier to vacuum; Tackling one drawer instead of an entire closet.
I like to think my decluttering calendar (in Chapter 1 of Tidy Up Your Life) approach fits right into this mindset. It’s about tidying with intention—working in sync with the season and moving items out at just the right time, when others are actively looking for those very things.
And while winter is still firmly here (I always joke that January, February, and March are not the months to make rash life decisions), spring is on the horizon.
If you’re feeling inspired to start soft decluttering, here are three categories of items to consider letting go of this month!
1. Spring Clothing: The Quick Closet Refresh: Instead of a full wardrobe overhaul, scan your closet for short-sleeve and layering pieces—items you’ll reach for as the weather warms up. Focus on the obvious departures: shirts that are stained, stretched out, or never get worn. After choosing what to keep, set aside items to sell or donate. If you’re feeling ambitious, do a hanger flip—turn all of your hangers backward, and as you wear items, return them normally.
2. Spring Gear: Spring means jackets, umbrellas, rain boots, and sports gear—but before making the full transition, take some timefor a soft declutter. Tackle one bin, one shelf, or one hook at a time, and pull out anything outgrown, broken, or no longer needed (do the kids still fit into those rain boots?). Other quick spring gear checks:
Sunglasses – Any scratched or too-small pairs? Toss or donate!
Baseball caps & sun hats – Do they still fit? Are they misshapen or stained?
Outdoor toys & sports equipment – Deflated soccer balls, forgotten frisbees, or sidewalk chalk that’s turned to dust? It's time to let it go!
Rain gear check – Make sure all raincoats still fit and umbrellas actually open!
3. Travel gear/bags: Before spring break sneaks up, (we're still tracking flights for a possible trip to Colombia) do a soft declutter of your most-used travel bags, backpacks, and totes. Grab one bag at a time and empty it completely—then do a quick sort.
Toss the trash – Crumpled receipts, snack wrappers, and expired travel wipes? Gone.
Check travel-sized items – Are your mini toiletries still good? Refill, replace, or toss anything leaky or nearly empty.
Streamline essentials – Keep only what you actually use (one lip balm per bag, not five).
Assess your luggage – Are zippers working? Let go of anything damaged or unused.
Since we’re pretty much stuck at home hibernating right now, our spaces need to support us—keeping things comfortable, functional, and running smoothly. Whether you live in an apartment, a house, or somewhere in between, these Quarter 1 maintenance tasks are a great place to start to help keep things running (and they spell out Tidy Dad! 🤣)
Tidy up home cleaning supplies and home maintenance products
Inspect weatherstripping around windows and check doors for drafts
Dust ceiling fans and reverse the fan direction to push warm air down
Yearly winter roof check, look for ice dams or damage from heavy snow
Deep clean kitchen appliances (don't forget to also clean underneath)
Assess home security, ensure cameras, locks, and alarms are functional
Declutter winter gear and consider storing extra winter items in your car
“Tidy Up Your Life” is a National Bestseller!
Tidy Up Your Life is a nationalbestseller—and it’s all thanks to YOU!
Tidy Up Your Life was published on January 7, 2025, and it made the USA Today Best-Selling Booklist 2 weeks in a row! The audio book made the list of “Audible Bestsellers” and the list of “Top Audible Listens.” It’s incredible to see this book finding its way into so many homes.
Exciting news: Tidy Up Your Life is also available in the UK!
If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, it is available wherever books are sold. 😊 You can order online, or request a copy directly from your local bookstore and they should be able to get it for you! Thank you for being part of this journey—and if you’ve already read the book, I’d love for you to leave a review on Goodreads or your retailer! Every review helps new readers discover it.
I've been ALL OVER your podcast feed lately, as I've had the opportunity to be a guest on some incredible podcasts shows to talk about Tidy Up Your Life. These could be a fun listen while you declutter, organize, tidy or clean! Here are the most recent links, in case you missed them:
For this first edition of “Airing Your Dirty Laundry” I’m answering my own question—but going forward, I’d love to hear from YOU! If you have an organizing, tidying, or cleaning dilemma, send it my way (along with a photo of the area!) to tidydadnyc@gmail.com (or you can reply directly to this email), and I'll choose some to tackle in upcoming editions of The Tidy Times.
Dear Tidy Dad: We have this cabinet underneath our kitchen sink that we use to store cleaning supplies and bags. Is there a way to better organize the space?
Dear Under-the-Sink Struggles:It looks like you’re not making full use of the vertical space or depth in your cabinet. Right now, everything is stored on one level, leaving valuable space unused. Here are two ways to maximize it:
Install pull-out drawers – Measure your cabinet and add stackable or sliding drawers to create multiple levels. Store cleaning supplies on the bottom and use the top drawer for cleaning tools, sponges, or other essentials.
Add a revolving tray – Place a revolving tray under the bag holder so you can easily rotate and access more items instead of digging through a cluttered space.
These small changes will help you see and reach everything more easily while keeping your cabinet organized!
Behind the Stories
My Behind the Stories email series delivers essays, insights, and writer's notebook prompts to get you thinking! Catch up on January’s editions —and subscribe to get the next one!
Tidy Dad's Book Stack
Welcome to Tidy Dad’s Book Stack—a mix of reviews, library finds, and books I can’t stop thinking about, from my past month of reading. From practical reads to page-turners, these are the titles that have caught my attention and might just earn a spot on your bookshelf, too!
February Joy Plotting
In Tidy Up Your Life, I share about the concept of “joy plotting”, where I take a few minutes to envision the moments of joy that I'm likely to experience in the coming week or month. This is a practice that I encourage you to try! Here are a few things on my joy plotting list:
I'm loving this smoothie recipe! A smooth, protein-packed pick-me-up for busy mornings!
Ingredients: 5 oz cold brew coffee, 1.5 cups milk (your choice), 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 cup ice. Blend everything together until smooth.
Pour into your favorite cup, and enjoy!
¿Cómo se dice "break"? We’re headed to Madrid, Spain for our February break, and we can’t wait to explore, soak in the culture, and, of course, enjoy those afternoon siestas!
Walking Home for Lunch! It’s seriously one of the greatest gifts of this season — stepping away from work, resetting, and enjoying a moment of calm in the middle of the day.
