<i>TLDR: Having kids will develop skills (time management) that will help you achieve your other career goals, in the long run</i><p>I don't have specific advice, but can perhaps offer some hope to give you a long-term view on this.<p>Our first child is now 17 months old. I know everyone says that children will change your life, but you don't realize now how much and it is the magnitude of change that you can't fully prepare yourself for. It is difficult, wonderful, exhausting, and the best thing you'll ever do all-in-one.<p>Undoubtedly, you will find yourself with less free time. Especially early on. What I found, however, is that my natural adaptation to this was to become more efficient, so that I still had <i>some</i> time to hack or spend on me. Less procrastination and better time management. I'm not perfect, by any means, but I'm a lot better than I was as a non-parent. I believe that with (if I am so lucky) more kids, I will become even more efficient.<p>This efficiency buys me <i>some</i> time. However, I am hopeful that when the kids are older and a bit more self-sufficient, this efficiency will really start paying off. This is a very long-term view. I'm talking about a decade from now. However that will also be entering the prime of your career. I also think that parents of older children are laughing at me as they read this (and probably rightly so).