Happy Monday, fellas. Hope the weekend treated you well.

The countdown is officially on. If you’re still grabbing last-minute gifts, Godspeed. We’ll be back in your inbox with a short-and-sweet note on Wednesday, then we’re clocking out for the rest of the holiday week.

📕 DAD WISDOM

This December

There’s something about December that slows you down, whether you want it to or not.

You watch them set out cookies for Santa. Practice lines for the school play. Get overly serious about lights, lists, and little traditions that won’t always feel this big to them.

And for a second, you can almost see a future December. The one where they’re taller. Cooler. Less interested. The one where some of this magic has quietly moved on.

No matter what stage you’re in as a dad…sleepless nights, early mornings, eye rolls, or car keys in hand, this version of them only exists right now. This season. This age. This December.

So take the photo. But don’t forget to put the phone down and actually sit in it.

Have the extra cookie. Stay up a little later. Soak it in.

Because time doesn’t tap you on the shoulder when it’s about to speed up.

RAD DAD

Bill Shufelt

Photo via AthleticBrewing.com

Bill Shufelt is the founder of Athletic Brewing.

Before Athletic, Bill was a former college athlete and hedge fund trader who wanted a way to stay social, active, and present without sacrificing the next morning.

For him, non-alcoholic beer wasn’t about rules or judgment; it was about optionality and being ready when life starts early (because kids don’t sleep in).

Fatherhood sharpened that mindset. Bill has talked about thinking ahead to the dad he wanted to be and realizing that energy, clarity, and consistency mattered more than default habits. Athletic grew out of that same idea: creating options that fit real life, not force tradeoffs.

He also talks a lot about getting kids outside. Nature as a reset. Less pressure. More presence. Whether it’s a trail run, a surf session, or a backyard hang, the philosophy is simple: build habits that support the life you want, not fight it.

DAD TOYS

Gnarly Nutrition Electrolytes

This might not be the sexiest thing we’ve featured, but after trying a bunch of electrolyte powders, this one stuck. And let’s face it, most of us are probably under-hydrated anyway.

No weird junk. No neon chemicals. Just straightforward electrolytes that do their job without wrecking your stomach or leaving a bad aftertaste.

Get it here.

🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE EYING UP

» Screen Free Digital Camera

» Long Range Walkie Talkie (fun for the kids)

» The NASA Archives (Coffee Table Book)

DAD BOD

9 Days To Come Up With A Plan

We know, we know. Everyone and their mom says “this is it.” New year. New promises. Same life.

You’ve got 9 days…not to reinvent yourself, just to make a plan that actually fits dad life.

A few things to think about:

Shrink the goal. Consistency beats ambition.
Pick one non-negotiable. Something you’ll do even on bad days.
Plan for chaos. What’s your minimum when life blows up?
Don’t do it solo. Accountability > motivation.

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a plan, and 9 days is plenty.

PS: We’re running a low-key Dad Day challenge and keeping guys honest in Slack. Nothing extreme. Just showing up and not ghosting by week two.