Friday Fieldwork: The Dad Tune-Up

A few small tweaks now beat a full overhaul in January.

This Fieldwork comes from a recent article about a Preseason Reset that Dads like me need between Halloween candy and Christmas Cookies to keep us sane while preparing us for whatever “new year new you” program we get suckered into. Read more about it here.

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You can’t steer what you don’t notice.

Drifts start small...

skipped workouts,

short tempers,

unchecked busyness

until suddenly the holidays hit and your patience is fishtailing.

Every year we promise January will be different…

but the work that makes it different starts now, in the small daily tune-ups that keep us steady through the holidays.

So before you blow a gasket trying to hang Christmas lights or survive another school concert in a folding chair, pause and figure out what reset you need.

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This Week’s Fieldwork: The Dad Tune Up

1. Pop the hood.
   Where do you feel the drift? Patience, energy, focus, connection? Name it before the noise of the season hides it.

2. Tighten one bolt.
   Pick one small daily action that steadies your system.

   • If you’re drained → eat protein or walk ten minutes.

   • If you’re scattered → jot down your top three priorities.

   • If you’re short-tempered → offer one micro-blessing to a kid or colleague.

   • If you’re feeling withdrawn → choose ten minutes of light connection (a quick game or dance party).

3. Take it for a test drive.
   Don’t wait until January to fix what’s squeaking now. Run the new rhythm for a couple of days or even a week and notice what feels smoother.

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Why It Works

Preventive maintenance keeps the engine (and the dad) from seizing up.

Small, steady adjustments during the preseason make January’s “new you” less about repair and more about refinement.

You don’t need a new engine.

Just a few turns of the wrench before the road gets busy.

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Closing Reminder