Consistency Is Key
Let’s be honest—most things worth doing in life come down to consistency and a little bit of routine. Whether it’s drinking your morning coffee the same way every day, showing up to the gym, or how you approach a workday—or a batter stepping into the box—the people who do things well? They show up the same way, over and over. Even when it’s boring. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
And let’s be real: it’s easy to stay consistent when life is smooth and predictable.
But when things get chaotic? When you’re in transition, stressed, out of rhythm—that’s when consistency becomes harder… and even more important.
So the question becomes:
How do you stay consistent when life is anything but?
For us, the answer has been simple:
Find routines you can take anywhere.
Stuff that works whether you’re at home, visiting family or friends, living in a hotel, or somewhere in between.
Where We’re At Right Now
Here’s a real-life snapshot: we’re in the middle of a military move. We’ve checked into our next duty station (Hawaii), but we’re still waiting for base housing to open up. For now? Hotel life. Dad & Mom + 4 Kids. It’s been about four weeks—and it looks like it could be several months until a house on base becomes available to us.
It’s times like this that I have to take a breath and remind myself in the words of Forrest Frank:
“God is good. All the time.”
Life doesn’t hit pause just because we’re in a season of transition. The kids still need structure. We still need to work, cook, clean, move our bodies, find a little sanity—and maybe even enjoy a moment or two in the chaos.
Some days, it feels like a total mess. But we’re learning—over and over—that the way we respond to this season is what our kids will remember. And if we can stay consistent in the things that matter—the things that help them feel safe and grounded—even when everything else feels up in the air, that’s a win.
So What Does “Consistency” Actually Look Like for Us?
It’s not about perfection or having every moment scheduled. It’s about sticking to the things that help us feel like us, no matter where we are.
For our family, that looks like:
- Eating dinner together every night (luckily, this hotel has grills and a nice courtyard)
- Prayer—consistently before meals or just randomly throughout the day
- Moving our bodies—I’ll be honest, Mikel is crushing it right now. She’s doing a 100 miles in a month challenge. While I could use some more discipline in this area.
- Prioritizing health and nutrition—which isn’t easy in a hotel, but Costco’s been clutch (and there are three Costco locations closer to us now than at our last duty station)
We try to show up every day in ways our kids recognize:
Loving. United. Focused on what matters. Still moving forward.
Consistent.
Why Dads Especially Need to Be Consistent
As dads, we carry a lot. Not just physically (shoutout to all those piggyback rides), but emotionally and mentally, too. Our tone sets the tone. The way we act, respond, lead, and love creates a ripple effect in our home.
So if we want peace, we have to model peace.
If we want discipline, we have to live discipline.
If we want joy, we have to fight for joy—even when it’s hard.
And to do any of that?
We’ve got to be consistent in showing up as the best version of ourselves.
For me, that means finding time to run, read, or work out—even if it’s just a couple of pages or a quick mile. Whatever helps clear my head, keep my energy up, and stay mentally in the game.
So, What’s Your Anchor?
Every family has something that holds them together. Some kind of rhythm or tradition that keeps everyone grounded when life’s spinning.
For us? It’s simple: dinner together every night.
No matter where we are or what kind of day we’ve had, we make the effort to sit down together as our daily touchpoint and share a meal. It’s our reset. Our regroup. Our reminder that we’re in this together—and that it matters to slow down and be present.
What’s yours?
What’s one thing your family can hold on to when things feel uncertain, busy, or just plain hard?
Think about it.
And then do your best to make it stick.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about being perfect.
It’s just about showing up—again and again—for the people who matter most.