Tidy Tidbits with Tyler Moore | Tidy Up Your Life with Home Organization & Daily Routines

In this episode, Tidy Dad reflects on his own journey of adjusting his sleep schedule to wake up early. He outlines his current morning routine that allows for self-care and productivity before the chaos of the day begins. He encourages listeners to find what works for them, rather than trying to replicate his exact routine.

Three key principles that guide his morning routine:

* I give myself the first fruits of the day, before I’m “on.”

* I look for progress I can repeat, not perfection I can’t sustain.

* I rely on a simple sequence of tasks, not an overwhelming set of rules.

He shares specific details about his morning activities, from gentle yoga and cleaning to preparing breakfast and engaging with his children. But this conversation isn’t about waking up earlier. It’s about deciding when YOU get to be a person. You don't need a perfect routine. You need one that fits YOUR season of life. What fuels you?

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In this engaging conversation, inspired by National Quitters Day, that moment when most people quietly give up on their resolutions, Tidy Dad and Jo Piazza explore the theme of quitting as a form of self-empowerment and personal growth. They discuss the importance of letting go of toxic relationships, the societal pressure to optimize every aspect of life, and the joy of embracing simplicity in wardrobe choices.

Jo shares her insights on the significance of having a nemesis and the courage it takes to quit things that no longer serve us. The conversation encourages listeners to reflect on what they can let go of in the new year to make space for joy and authenticity.

👀 Follow Jo Piazza on IG and Substack: @jopiazzaauthor and Over the Influence

🌟 Check out Jo’s books: The Sicilian Inheritance, Everyone is Lying to You (my favorite fiction read of 2025), and The Parisian Heist (coming in July 2026!)

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

Resolution season often comes with pressure: big goals, rigid rules, and quiet guilt when things don’t go as expected. In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tidy Dad sits down with Patty Morrissey, Director of KonMari Club and collaborator with Marie Kondo (yes, that Marie Kondo), to explore a lighter, curiosity-driven approach to starting something new.

I’ve known Patty for years, interviewed her for my book Tidy Up Your Life, and even included this idea in the Routines chapter, because her concept of 30-day experiments completely changed how I approach resolution season and how I start each month. Instead of rigid promises, this framework offers permission to try, notice, and decide, without burnout.

30-day self-care experiments are a way to try out new habits without turning them into lifelong promises. Together, we talk about curiosity over perfection, giving to your life instead of taking away, and how small experiments can quietly reshape routines, self-care, and connection.

If traditional resolutions leave you burned out by mid-January, this episode offers a calmer way forward.

What You’ll Learn

* What a 30-day self-care experiment is

* Why experiments work better than resolutions for habit building

* How curiosity replaces guilt when motivation dips

* How to reflect at the end of 30 days and decide what stays

* Why “giving to your life” creates more lasting change than restriction

Resources:

* Free Monthly Experiment Calendar by Tidy Dad - A simple thought-catcher with a guiding word for each month to make starting feel lighter and more doable

* 30-Day Self-Care Experiments Article from Patty Morrissey

Links:

🌟 Check out Patty on IG: Patty Morrissey

👀 Check out KonMari Club: KonMari Club

📚 Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Follow Tidy Dad on Substack: The Tidy Times

📸 Follow Tidy Dad on IG: @Tidy Dad

Every January, the urge to declutter kicks in, but most challenges fall apart fast. Not because we lack motivation, but because we’re asked to declutter things we don’t fully control: shared spaces, other people’s stuff, and emotional or sentimental categories.

In this episode, Tidy Dad introduces a different approach: a 31-day decluttering experiment focused only on decluttering your own categories of items.

No negotiating. No family meetings. Just your stuff.

Each day features one small, specific category you can tackle in 10 minutes or less, using the same four-step process: Clear, Sort, Assess, Plan.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s momentum. Small wins that build decision-making muscles and help you make space for the life you’re living now.

👇 Grab the FREE January Decluttering Calendar and start with one small win.

We’re also nearing the one-year anniversary of Tidy Up Your Life. If jumping into decluttering feels overwhelming, the book is a great place to start. It focuses on function over aesthetics and offers strategies that apply to your home, habits, routines, and life. It’s available in hardcover, or ebook, or audio book (read by me)!

📚 Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Follow Tidy Dad on Substack: The Tidy Times

📸 Follow Tidy Dad on IG: @Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Shannon Leyko, host of the Paring Down podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Leyko, who recently made a huge life move, relocating her family from Florida to Alaska. (Yes. Alaska. ❄️)

We talk about what it’s really like to move through big transitions—whether that’s a cross-country move, a new job, or a season of loss, and why flexibility and mindset matter more than having a perfect plan. Shannon shares how choosing enthusiasm (even when things feel messy or uncertain) can change the way we experience change.

We also dig into the “fresh start effect.” That moment when a big shift gives you permission to rethink what you want, what you need, and how you want your life to feel. It’s especially timely as we head into that New Year, New You energy.

Shannon reflects on how transitions invite self-discovery, and why creating a living space that supports your energy and happiness isn’t just nice, it’s essential.

If you want a grounding, encouraging listen for a season of change, this one’s for you.

Takeaways:

* Flexibility is crucial during transitions.

* Transitions offer opportunities for fresh starts.

* Mindset plays a key role in handling change.

👀 Follow Shannon on IG: @paring_down

📦 Check out Shannon’s podcast: Paring Down

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Follow Tidy Dad on Substack: The Tidy Times

📸 Follow Tidy Dad on IG: @Tidy Dad

Just because you’re capable doesn’t mean you have the capacity. Tidy Dad and organizing expert Shira Gill talk boundaries, intentional living, and how to protect your time, energy, and family connection, especially during the holidays.

In this episode, Shira and Tidy Dad unpack the difference between capability and capacity, especially during the high-demand holiday season. We talk about setting boundaries, choosing what actually matters, avoiding performative “doing it all,” and checking in with your family to make intentional decisions instead of defaulting to overwhelm.

🌟 Check out Shira’s books: Minimalista, Organized Living, and LifeStyled

👀 Follow Shira on Substack: The Life Edit

📸 Follow Shira on IG: @shiragill

📚 Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Follow Tidy Dad on Substack: The Tidy Times

📸 Follow Tidy Dad on IG: @Tidy Dad

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tyler (Tidy Dad) breaks down what it really feels like to be in full-on holiday surthrival mode. It’s that stretch from Thanksgiving to the ball dropping in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, where everything is joyful, chaotic, and wildly exhausting, like living in a snow globe someone won’t stop shaking.

Tyler shares a real-time look at life in the Tidy Dad household: three daughters, NYC schools teaching straight through until December 24th, nonstop events, and everyone feeling the holiday pressure. He also talks about why the popular “just rest” advice doesn’t work for everyone, and how his version of rest oddly includes organizing toy bins and reworking his morning routine.

In surthrival seasons, the tidying principles apply: cut the excess, name what matters most, and make intentional space for it.

Holiday Surthrival Guide: Tidy up your holidays with your go-to companion guide for thriving while surviving the season. Inside you’ll find my five signature surthrival strategies applied to the holidays, a reflective year-end wrap-up, and a cozy Holiday Bingo game that turns tidying and self-care into something worth celebrating.

In My Surthrival Era Hats! If you’re deep in holiday surthrival season, you might as well accessorize. Get an In My Surthrival Era hat and wear your season with pride. Grab one for yourself… or gift one to a friend who’s in their own season of surthrival. For the month of December, use code TIDYDAD for 30% off your order! ORDER HERE!

Want the full backstory behind why I’m “ignoring the Lazy Genius” this season?I wrote about that, messy mornings, holiday overwhelm, and why rest doesn’t look the same for everyone, in a slightly cheeky Substack piece. Read it here.

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com📸 Follow along on IG: @tidydad

A Tidy Take with Chris Marcum, from Chris Loves Julia & Hey Old Sport - In this episode, Tidy Dad talks with Chris Marcum from the lifestyle duo Chris Loves Julia. Chris is also a home chef and recently founded the brand Hey Old Sport to launch Overachiever, his versatile seasoning blend. Chris shares insights on the spice blend, and how it can enhance meals while accommodating various dietary restrictions. He shares about the importance of flavor in cooking, how to make meal prep more joyful and less stressful, and the significance of prioritizing fresh ingredients and flavors.

Takeaways

* Tidy up your cooking by prioritizing what you want to get out of your food

* Focus on fresh food, real ingredients, and getting flavor out of your food

* The Overachiever seasoning blend enhances flavor and simplifies cooking

Overachiever Spice Blend

Grab the Overachiever seasoning blend HERE: it’s become a staple in our kitchen, and I’m sure it’ll be one in yours too. Bonus: it makes a great hostess or holiday gift.

Recipes

Here’s what’s on Chris’ holiday menu: Get all the recipes HERE!

And here’s my own recipe: Tidy Dad’s Overachiever Chicken Tenders

Crunchy, flavorful, kid-approved, and ready in under 15 minutes

Ingredients

* 1 lb chicken tenderloins (or sliced chicken breast)

* 1 egg + 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)

* ½ cup breadcrumbs

* 2 tbsp Overachiever seasoning blend

* 1 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional, but delicious)

* Cooking spray

Instructions

* Prep your coating:In a shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs + Overachiever (and Parmesan, if using).

* Make the egg wash: Whisk the egg and water in a separate bowl.

* Dip + coat:

* Dip each chicken tender into the egg wash.

* Press into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated on all sides.

* Air fry:

* Preheat air fryer to 400°F.

* Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.

* Add chicken in a single layer (work in batches if needed).

* Air fry 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and cooked through (165°F internal temp).

* Serve:Let cool for 2 minutes, then serve with your favorite dips—honey mustard, ranch, BBQ, or ketchup.

Tidy Tip - Make a double batch of the chicken tenders, slice them up, and store in your snackle box in the refrigerator for quick protein packed snacks or salad toppers!

In this episode: Chris Loves Julia, Hey Old Sport, Overachiever spice blend, cooking, lifestyle, meal prep, holiday cooking, spices, flavor, stress-free cooking, cooking tips

👀 Follow Chris and Julia on IG: @chrislovesjulia and @heyoldsportofficial

🌟 Try the Overachiever seasoning blend: Order it HERE

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Margaret Josephs, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey - In this episode Tidy Dad talks with Margaret Josephs. Margaret shares the lessons that keep her from feeling like a total mess, even when the cameras are rolling. The conversation dives into setting boundaries, surviving complicated social dynamics during the holidays, and knowing when to let go of relationships that no longer serve you. This episode is part humor, part therapy, and 100% Real Housewives energy, with a tidy twist.

Takeaways

* A little tidiness goes a long way. We all have a threshold for how much mess (literal or emotional) we can handle.

* Sarcasm can be an messy social situation survival skill. Margaret discusses how humor and sharp wit help her navigate tough moments, both on and off camera.

* A little drama keeps life interesting, but it’s just as important to recognize when it’s crossed the line.

* Not every relationship is meant to last. Margaret talks about knowing when a friendship or dynamic no longer serves you, and how to gracefully let it go.

👀 Follow Margaret Josephs on IG @therealmargaretjosephs🌟 Check out Margaret’s book: Caviar Dreams, Tuna Fish Budget📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Ashlee Piper, Author of No New Things - In this episode, Tidy Dad chats with Ashlee Piper about rethinking the way we give gifts. Together, they explore how to bring more meaning and mindfulness into the season, shifting the focus from stuff to sentiment.

They talk about why so many of us feel caught in the chaos of consumerism, how to make gift-giving feel personal again, and why teaching kids the joy of thoughtful giving might be the best gift of all.

Takeaways

* Somewhere between wishlists and wrapping paper, some people have lost the true meaning of giving, and replaced it with stress and stuff.

* The best gifts can come from considering a person’s needs, not from spending more. Sometimes an act of service means more than anything you could buy.

* Gifting doesn’t have to be impressive or expensive, it’s about being thoughtful, making the recipient feel understood and seen, and adding utility and joy.

If this episode has you rethinking your holiday habits, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s less about buying more, and more about finding meaning.

That’s why I put these resources together for you this season:

✨ The Holiday Surthrival Download: your guide for thriving while surviving! Inside you’ll find five signature surthrival strategies, a reflective year-end wrap-up, and a cozy Holiday Bingo game that turns tidying and self-care into something worth celebrating.

🎁 The Tidy Dad Gift Guide for Kids: 10 of our family favorites from recent toy events, that inspire connection, not clutter. This holiday season, try to choose gifts for kids that make creativity part of everyday life, and inspire play that lasts all year!

🧦 And Stocking Stuffers for Kids, Under $10: Fun, thoughtful, and also practical finds for kids. Because sometimes the littlest gifts can bring the most joy!

If NYC is on your holiday list, don’t miss the new NYC Experiences Worth Gifting PDF, filled with festive, family-friendly experiences!

Because this year, it’s not about having more things—it’s about making more memories.

👀 Follow Ashlee on IG: Ashlee Piper

🌟 Check out Ashlee’s book: No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad