Now that Seneca is over a year old (he’s currently around 1 year, 3 months old), I am currently out of the trenches (the first year of child rearing is like trench warfare, World War I style).
Some lessons I’ve learned, on ‘productivity’ and how to stay ‘productive’ with a kid:
1. BOGO
BOGO: Buy one, get one (free).
This means:
Do what is good both for you and your kid.
For example, SENECA hates staying at home (as do I). Thus I will take him out on all these adventures to the local park, skate park, shopping (outdoor) mall, indoor mall, etc:
Also photography is my passion. So I will thus make lots of photos of him while we’re out and about– playing on the water fountain, visiting the TESLA store and having him sit in the new Model S PLAID, etc:
2. Sleep is godlike
The best advice I ever got on child rearing:
Sleep/nap when your kid sleeps/naps.
No matter how much you may be tempted — if you’re tired as fuck, and your kid is (finally) asleep, use that opportunity to power nap anywhere. In the car with your front seat reclined (while your kid naps in the car seat), at home (just lie on the floor), on the couch, or in bed.
3. Don’t workout if you’re tired
If you’re tired, just sleep more. Working out when you’re exhausted is a very bad idea.
4. How to workout at home
In the early days, if you wanna workout, just buy a kettlebell and workout at home. I love the 105 pound beast kettlebell (48 kilograms).
5. Work on the only truly truly essential
When you got a kid, it is the ultimate zen filter. It makes things very easy to know:
What is essential, what is *NOT* essential?
Ruthlessly cut and prune anything which is not essential to you.