Block It or Lose It
Designing a Life Where Work Matters, But Doesn’t Take OverInside this issue
On My MindYour calendar is already shaping your life. It’s deciding what gets your best energy. It’s deciding what gets pushed to “later.” It’s deciding what quietly disappears. This week on Gap to Gig, I sat down with Alex Tuck, founder of Tuck Consulting Group, who runs a remote-first consulting firm from a farm in Vermont while raising four kids. Alex timeboxes everything. Work. Runs. Reading with his kids. Transition time. Even sleep. When I asked what he hopes his children learn from watching him work, he said, “Work is a really important part of my life… but it’s not my life.”  That idea runs underneath the entire conversation. We talk about structure. About modeling boundaries. About guilt. About phones. About what happens when things break. About letting your kids help shape the rhythm of family life. Work should matter. It’s the thing we’ll spend most of our waking hours doing, but it can’t quietly expand until it crowds out everything else. Alex doesn’t leave presence to chance. He builds it in. Timeboxing Without Becoming RigidWhy it MattersIf it isn’t scheduled, it’s optional. Alex and his wife run their home from a shared calendar. His company runs on quarterly OKRs broken into clear execution blocks. His personal life gets the same structure. “If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist for us.”  That includes workouts. Reading time. Family logistics. Recovery. Why it WorksTimeboxing isn’t about controlling every minute. It’s about deciding in advance what deserves focus. Alex describes himself as naturally disorganized. Structure is what allows him to execute consistently.  And he adjusts when needed. If a block needs 10 more minutes, he shifts it. If he finishes early, he uses the extra time intentionally. The structure stays. The rigidity doesn’t. How to Do It
Pro TipAlex protects a 30-minute daily block just to set his schedule and treats it as non negotiable. Start there. You don’t need a perfectly color coded week. You need one intentional move. The Phone Drop RuleWhy it Matters Presence doesn’t compete well with devices. Alex said it plainly: “These things are the most toxic thing and most enabling thing that we’ve created.”  Why it Works Instead of relying on discipline, Alex creates friction. He leaves his phone in another room. He blocks work apps during family windows. He designs his environment so distraction has to work harder. How to Try It Tonight:
No announcement. No big speech. Just presence. Time to Sprint: Protect One Block This WeekYou don’t need to redesign your entire life. You need one protected block. Why it Matters If you wait for open space, it won’t show up. Work expands. Notifications multiply. Requests stack up. Unprotected priorities disappear. Why it Works One defended block sends a message to yourself and your family. This matters. That could be a run. A hobby. Reading before bed. One-on-one time with your child. A walk after dinner. How to Do It
If something breaks, adjust the timing. Don’t delete the commitment at the first inconvenience. Alex said things break all the time. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s steady refinement.  Pro TipTell your family what that block is for. When they understand why it matters, they’re more likely to protect it with you. Your MoveIf someone studied your calendar for a week, what story would it tell about what you value most? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. Connect with AlexAlex Tuck runs Tuck Consulting Group, a consulting firm intentionally built around flexibility, value creation, and meaningful impact rather than chasing pure revenue metrics. He models visible boundaries. Public calendars. Real time off. Clear priorities. If you’re building something and don’t want it to consume your life, his perspective is worth following. Follow Alex On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextuck On his website: https://www.tuckconsultinggroup.com On the Show This WeekContinue the ConversationMost dads don’t need another productivity hack. They need a way to make work matter without letting it take over. In this conversation, Alex Tuck walks through how he timeboxes his days, builds his consulting firm around flexibility instead of revenue obsession, and intentionally blocks time for runs, family rhythms, and even recovery. He doesn’t pretend the system is perfect. Things break. Schedules shift. Kids get sick. But the structure makes it easier to reset instead of drift. If you’ve ever felt the quiet guilt of stepping away from work, or the competing guilt of stepping away from your kids, this episode will feel familiar. It’s a practical look at how to design your calendar in a way that reflects your values instead of just reacting to demands. Check it Out🎧 Alex Tuck on Timeboxing Your Way to Meaningful Work and Present Fatherhood Listen on your favorite podcast platform The Last LaughOne is locally sourced. The other is a kiwi. |
