The Morning Kickstart
Before anything productive happens, I chug a LaCroix. Not sip. Not casually enjoy. Chug. This is a non-negotiable part of my life. If I’m feeling wild, I’ll chase it with either another LaCroix, a coffee, or a Dr Pepper… because hydration is important.
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While my second drink is going down, I run a Call of Duty “systems check.” This means playing one casual match in Black Ops 6 to make sure my settings, FPS, and life choices are still intact.
Then, I queue up a ranked match to see if today is going to be a good day. If I do well, I might play another. If I win again, another. If I start to lose? I immediately pretend that I had things to do and “decide to stop.”
Then, reality kicks in. I shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed while debating why I even played ranked that early.
The morning doesn’t start without my LaCroix. If you’re as obsessed, get it here.
My gaming sanity check starts with PC, and I’ve got the best controller here if you’re serious.
Morning Chaos: The Family Edition
By the time I’m done getting ready, Katie (my fiancée) and the kids are up and moving. I make her coffee (See The Greatest Coffee Maker Ever), help the kids get ready, and we do the classic “why are you not wearing socks?” routine before they’re out the door.
And then? Silence. The workday begins.
The family chaos doesn’t stop until I make Katie her morning coffee. Our secret weapon? Ninja Coffee Bar.
The Workday: Structure vs. Pure Chaos
I like planning. I love schedules. But let’s be real, everything I do right now is “figure it out as you go.”
- Writing blogs? Figure it out.
- Growing a brand? Figure it out (Check out my post on Building A Brand and Business).
- Building a gaming business from scratch? Definitely figuring it out.
That said, I try to schedule everything I possibly can. With kids, structure is survival. If I let things slide too much, I see it in their behavior, sleep patterns, and how many times they tell me they’re hungry despite just eating.
So I lock down as much structure as possible, even when my day is full of unpredictable projects.
Planning my day feels like herding cats, but my Skylight Calendar helps keep my work halfway organized
#ChannlerG #BuiltNotBought #FamilyFirst #MuleMindset
Gaming & Work-Life Balance (Or Lack Of)
Gaming naturally fits into my day in two places:
- First thing in the morning (the streaming rollercoaster)
- At night with Katie (when we get time together)
Do I separate work from personal life? Not really. But I don’t have to force balance either because when everyone leaves for the day, I get quiet, uninterrupted work time.
My ranked match ritual demands the right gear; my headset right now is the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless, and I’ll never game without it.
The “I Need a Break” Activities
When I need a real break, I do what every dad does: Go to the bathroom and scroll Instagram. Don’t question it. (No, but for real, check out Avoiding Burnout While Building A Brand).
But outside of that, here’s what helps me reset:
- Watching Formula 1 (if you know, you know)
- Playing golf
- Listening to music
- Browsing shoes and pretending I’m not buying another pair
What I Wish Was Part of My Routine
- Working out every day. I want to be that guy. I really do.
- Reading more. I used to read daily, and now I just think about reading daily.
- Perfectly managing my time. But let’s be real, the second I get into a good game, my “free time” is gone.
One day, I’ll work out like a pro. Maybe with Peleton or at least a good Kettlebell Set.
Or finally read more with Kindle Unlimited.
The Takeaway: Balance is Overrated, But Priorities Aren’t
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Balance doesn’t mean a perfect schedule. It means knowing what actually matters, prioritizing the right things, and being okay with things not being perfect.
Some days, I feel like I nailed it. Other days, I question all of my decisions. But every day, I get to build something I love, spend time with the people who matter, and still make time to lose SR points while I do it.
And honestly? That’s a pretty damn good life.