Preseason Reset: Every Dad Needs a Tune-Up
Because maintenance matters more than upgrades.
Less story + more actionable steps = Friday Fieldwork, Check it out below:
It never happens in a crash.
It starts with a skip.
One missed workout.
One bedtime story cut short.
One prayer you’ll “get to tomorrow.”
And before you know it, you’re moving fast…
but not toward the things that matter most.
You’re grinding.
You’re showing up.
You’re checking boxes.
But something’s off.
It’s like when your car starts pulling slightly to the right. You don’t notice it at first…
you just grip the wheel tighter, pretending everything’s fine.
Then one day you look up and realize, you’ve been fighting the drift instead of fixing it.
And this is where the preseason comes in, before all the “new year, new you” hype starts rolling. The holidays can send you into a full-on skid:
candy,
pie,
exhaustion,
parties,
traditions.
It’s the perfect recipe for losing traction.
Before long, you’re snapping at your kids for breathing too loud while you’re trying to untangle Christmas lights.
When really…
you could be sitting back, laughing, and soaking in the craziness you prayed for all year.
That’s why the preseason matters. It’s the alignment before acceleration.
It keeps your spirit, mind, body, and family running in rhythm, so your home feels more like joy than a pit crew at Daytona.
Reflection
Drift doesn’t make you a bad dad. It just means you’re human.
The goal is to notice the pull before it becomes a full swerve.
Most of us don’t need a new engine; we need a small alignment check. It’s rarely the big blowups that derail us, it’s the slow slides we ignore.
When I start snapping faster than I think or checking out mid‑conversation, it’s usually because I’ve drifted a little…
from prayer,
from movement,
from the stuff that keeps me steady.
I’ve tested plenty of fixes; fitness plans, dad devotionals, mindfulness apps. None of them lasted long-term. They all forgot one thing: the kids.
Being mentally, spiritually, and physically fit matters. But actually doing life with them matters more.
That’s what The Daily Dad Reset is built for…
small, doable actions that help dads tune up without disconnecting.
And in January, we’ll dig deeper into how those small tune‑ups fit into the larger system called The Daily Dad Reset.
For now, preseason is about noticing the drift and making the gentle turn back.
Alignment is more about awareness and less about perfection. It’s choosing to steer back toward what matters.
Science / Insight
There’s real science behind drift.
Most of what we do each day runs on autopilot.
Habits built long ago when we were just trying to get through the ever changing world of parenting.
The thing is, our brains like predictability, even if the pattern isn’t good for us.
So when you start to realign, it feels awkward, even wrong, because your brain’s quietly whispering, “Hey, we’ve always done it this way… are you sure?
That discomfort is proof you’re waking up to the wheel again. That’s your cue to turn gently back toward what matters, not slam the brakes.
It’s the moment to pause and ask, “Which habits am I still following on autopilot?”
Those old rhythms might’ve once helped you survive, but they’re not always built for who you’re becoming now.
And realizing that doesn’t mean you failed (especially if your fear of failure is strong like mine).
It means you finally took your hands off cruise control,
realized the GPS was taking you somewhere you didn’t want to go,
and you start deciding not only the destination but how you want to get there
Scripture
After waking up to how many of our habits run on autopilot, this verse lands like a reset button. It’s that moment when we choose to walk intentionally again…
when we stop letting old, well‑worn paths steer our steps and start charting a straighter one forward.
“Make straight paths for your feet.” — Hebrews 12:13
Notice it says nothing about walking perfectly straight. It’s about choosing a direction worth walking.
A direction that doesn’t require a life overhaul or a 60 day retreat.
You just have to stop letting the drift decide your path.
Reset Reminder
This week is about noticing where you’ve drifted and choosing one area to steer back toward center. These antidotes come from the four areas we’ll explore more deeply in January…
simple, practical ways to realign before the season starts.
These are my “check engine” cues right now. The more I can identify how I feel and take one small step to shift it, the better I show up for myself and my boys. Because a lot of us men are emotionally illiterate, we have to start naming our emotions to then figure out what to do to take them back over
Consider it more about awareness and action than planning and perfection.
Feeling restless, tired, or on edge? Move for 30 minutes or eat some protein.
Feeling distracted or unfocused? Keep your phone out of the bedroom or start your morning by naming three priorities.
Feeling heavy, bitter, or anxious? Take 10 minutes of stillness or practice gratitude.
Feeling distant or rushed? Offer a micro‑blessing, a quick word of encouragement or prayer, and reconnect with 30 minutes of play or a few minutes of end‑of‑day attention.
Notice the emotion and then choose one action. The smaller the action the easier it is to start. When your emotions shift back to something positive, feel free to go about your day.
It' is not a giant overhaul…
just one intentional turn back toward re-alignment.
"'You're grinding. You're showing up. You're checking boxes. But something's off.'
That's relatable, because drift means you have been unconsciously allocating your limited time and energy to what feels urgent instead of what matters most.
When we are on autopilot, we optimize for survival, not intention, and by the time you notice the gap between who you meant to be and who you're actually showing up as... the kids are older and the window of opportunity is a little smaller.
Awareness is the first step. Great read!