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Good morning, fellow chaos managers. Today we've got 3 tactics, 2 confidence boosts, 1 system to help you limit screen time for kids.
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On today’s menu
3 Bite-Sized Tactics: Marriage, Parenting & Mental Health
2 Confidence Boosts
1 System: System for Limiting Screen Time
Odds & Ends: Date Ideas + Past Hits + Other Reco’s
3 Bite-Sized Tactics
Marriage Connection - The Fika Ritual
The Swedish concept of Fika isn’t just a coffee break it’s a cultural staple of slowing down, reconnecting with partner across from you, and banishing your phones to another room like the shameful little rectangles they are.
Why it matters:
Builds intentional pauses into an otherwise rushed routine
Creates space for low-pressure, screen-free connection
Strengthens bonds through consistent, shared rituals
How it works:
Pick a time but protect it like it’s Taylor Swift tickets
Brew coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and add a treat with it
Sit down. No phones. No Netflix running in the background. Just you two
Try this with your partner or family:
Make “Fika Fridays” a weekly tradition after dinner
Do a Sunday afternoon tea + pastry ritual with your kids
Use it as a midweek marriage check-in for 20 minutes
The magic isn’t in the drink or snack but it’s in the ritual. The deliberate pause. The repeatable rhythm. Over time, this silly little break becomes proof that you two actually choose connection… even when you’re one Lego injury away from losing it.
Parenting - The Family Ceremony Ritual
In Ethiopia, the bunna (coffee ceremony) is slow, deliberate, and all about connection. Meanwhile in America, our “coffee ceremony” is hitting the Keurig before someone yells for a snack. The point isn’t the drink but it’s the ritual of slowing down and letting everyone take part.
Why it matters:
Transforms “feed the kids” into “bond with the kids” (maybe bribes them into being nice)
Builds patience and presence through shared process, not just shared consumption
Gives kids ownership and a role in family traditions
How it works:
Pick a simple ritual your family can repeat weekly or seasonally
Center it on food or drink: hot chocolate, smoothies, pancakes, popcorn whatever buys you peace
Slow it down: let them stir, pour, sprinkle, or serve. Yes, it’s messier. Yes, it’s worth it
Try this with your kids:
Hot Chocolate Ceremony: On cold evenings, let each child add a topping. Marshmallows? Sure. Cinnamon? Fancy. Whipped cream? Now it’s a party.
Smoothie Saturday: Everyone drops fruit into the blender, then shares a “highlight of the week” while sipping
Pancake Sunday: Kids take turns mixing batter, flipping pancakes (with supervision!), or choosing fun toppings
The magic isn’t in the food it’s in the ritual. The slowing down. The side chatter. The fact that for 15 minutes, you’re not just shoveling calories into small humans, you’re making repeatable memories they’ll actually remember.
Mental Health - The Parent Guilt Reset
Parent guilt is sneaky. It shows up when you scroll Instagram, miss a school event, or just want five minutes alone (heaven forbid). Left unchecked, it feeds depression and makes parenting feel heavier than it already is.
Why it matters:
Guilt drains your energy faster than your toddler drains an iPad battery
Depression thrives on isolation; guilt keeps you from reaching out
Breaking the cycle frees you to be more present with your kids
Try this:
Catch the thought: When you notice guilt creeping in (“I’m not doing enough”), pause and name it out loud
Reframe it: Replace “I’m failing” with “I’m learning and adjusting like every parent”
Limit triggers: Maybe step away from the highlight reel known as social media
Build your lifeline: Share openly with a partner, friend, or therapist so guilt isn’t living rent-free in your head
Recharge regularly: Walk, journal, breathe, or sip coffee in silence like it’s a spa day
The win isn’t being perfect but it’s loosening guilt’s grip one small reset at a time.
How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential
Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.
Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.
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The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.
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2 Confidence Boosts
“Putting down devices doesn’t mean losing time it means choosing what your family will remember.”
Choosing presence over pixels builds memories more than any screen ever will.
“Screens don’t replace silliness, books, or bedtime whispers they only compete with them.”
When you protect the small moments, you protect what truly shapes your kids.
1 System – The Limiting Screen Time System
Because parenting isn’t about banning screens forever. It’s about teaching your kids (and honestly yourself) how to use them without turning into overstimulated zombies who think Paw Patrol is real government.
The Problem
Screens aren’t evil. But here’s what happens when they run the house:
Every “5 more minutes” turns into a hostage negotiation
They’d rather scroll YouTube Kids than build a fort, play outside, or make questionable Play-Doh muffins
You tell yourself it’s “educational,” but 47 episodes later they’re fluent in toy unboxing videos
Congrats, your preschooler just out-binge-watched you.
The Solution: Boundaries → Alternatives → Modeling → Environment → Positives
You don’t need to throw tablets in the garbage. You need a system that stops screen time from being the family’s default setting.
Step 1 – Boundaries (The Rulebook)
Set consistent rules & schedules before another “just one more episode”:
Use household rules that everyone follows (e.g. no screens during meals or right before bed).
Decide the daily/weekly limits (write it down, stick it on the fridge).
Lock in screen-free times (meals, mornings, before bed).
Use timers or parental controls so you’re not the human countdown clock.
Rule: The limit is the limit. No courtroom appeals, no “but it’s Friday.”
Why it works: Children know what to expect, reducing nagging, arguing, and negotiation. Consistency helps habits form.
Step 2 – Alternatives (Replace, Don’t Just Remove)
Offer engaging alternatives & encourage unstructured play rather than always scheduled activity or entertainment:
When screen time is limited, have a “menu” of non-screen activities ready: art, outdoor play, reading, playdates, imaginative play, sensory bins, etc
Keep only a limited set of toys and books out at a time
Store the rest in bins/closets and rotate them every week
When you rotate, it feels like Christmas morning so old toys suddenly become “new” again
Pair rotations with a few evergreen options (puzzles, craft supplies, building blocks, play dough, etc) so there’s always a fresh spark
Why it works: Kids focus better when they have fewer options, and the weekly rotation keeps things exciting without Amazon Prime showing up like a third parent.
Step 3 – Modeling (Monkey See, Monkey Do)
Modeling healthy screen behavior because kids copy you, not your lectures:
Parents I know its hard but limit your own screen time when children are watching or expecting attention such as no phones at dinner or during play
Show them you choose other activities reading, playing outside, crafts, music, exercising, staring out the window like a philosopher
When watching anything with them actually talk about the show and explain what is going on so they pick up language
Why it works: Kids imitate adults; they internalize norms. Shared tv/media time can be more meaningful and helps with media literacy.
Step 4 – Environment (Stack the Deck)
Use environmental controls and remove temptations by setting up the house so screens aren’t in charge:
Create screen-free zones (e.g. bedrooms, dining room) or times (e.g. mealtimes, one night a week) in the home.
Charge devices in a common space, not bedrooms.
Use parental controls (device features or apps) to limit access or timer settings.
Out of sight = out of mind.
Why it helps: If devices are less obvious or readily available, it reduces impulsive or habitual use. Structural changes reduce friction to enforcing limits.
Step 5 – Gradual Changes (Reinforce the Good Stuff)
Don’t make screens the only carrot. Balance it out:
Start by cutting non-essential screen time such as dinner or engaging play time
Use screen time as a reward for good behavior, rather than punishments or emotional regulation.
Praise them for choosing play or reading instead.
Plan a fun family outing as the “reward,” not just more iPad time.
Celebrate small wins; make new norms positive (family time, more outdoors, etc.).
Recently when we’re tired and put the tv on we put on a show our child wouldn’t interested in and has been less interested in watching and resorted to playing
Why it helps: Abrupt changes often provoke pushback, tantrums, or non-compliance. Gradual change is more sustainable and less stressful for both kids and parents.
Bottom Line
Screens don’t ruin kids.
Unmanaged screens do.
This system keeps you from being the Bad Cop every time and turns screen time into a tool instead of a tyrant:
Boundaries stop endless negotiations.
Alternatives stay fun because less is more, and weekly rotation keeps it fresh.
Modeling shows them it’s possible to survive
Environment makes screens optional, not inevitable.
Positives teach them life offline is fun too.
Your kids will still love screens.
But they’ll also love other things to…. like you. And that’s the point.
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Odds & Ends
Past Articles That Hit Different:
System for Having Hard Conversations - 3 step system to stop tiptoeing around tough topics to get on the same page. View here
System for Quickly Repairing After a Fight - Limit resentment after a fight by quickly repairing within 24 hours. View here
Family Vision & Goals System - running a family without shared goals is like trying to use your GPS without knowing the destination. View here
Sunday 15-Min Weekly Planning - The ritual that prevents weekday chaos and saves your sanity. View here
Marriage Autopilot System - detect if your marriage is drifting into roommate mode and what to do. View here
System to Divvy Up Chores Fairly - End the "I do everything" fights with a framework that actually works. View here
Recommendations:
SmartPhone Nation by Kaitlyn Regehr - Building digital boundaries when offline isn’t an option
The Art of Screen Time by Anya Kamenetz - A book about how your family can balance digital media and real life.
At Home Date Ideas
DIY Trivia Night: Use a trivia app or each make up 5 questions about anything—pop culture, history, or your relationship. Compete to see who’s the champ.
Post-It Love Notes: Each grab 5 sticky notes and write quick affirmations or inside jokes. Stick them in random places for your partner to find over the next week.
S’mores Indoors: Toast marshmallows over the stove (or use the microwave) and make s’mores. Add a twist: try odd toppings like peanut butter or fruit.Browse other ideas
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