Welcome to the first Ultimate Coffee Date of 2020! Whether you think it’s the start of a new decade or the last year of the old one (apparently I want it both ways), Deborah and I are glad you’re spending part of the first weekend of the year with us! Even if you aren’t making any New Year’s resolutions, we hope you are resolved to visit and comment on other coffee date posts–we’ll keep the link-up open until noon on Sunday.
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First Ultimate Coffee Date Of 2020
If we were having coffee, I would ask you how your holiday was. You probably know I spent too much time working, but I did make time to relax and enjoy my family–and get hooked on two new games:
(view on Amazon via my Amazon Affiliate link)
(view on Amazon via my Amazon Affiliate link)
Do you like to play board games?
If we were having coffee, I probably would ask if you’ve made any New Year’s resolutions, although I do like the push-back I’m seeing against the typical “New Year, New You” messaging.
It really resonates with me, not because I think I’m perfect, but because I have celebrated enough New Years to have learned that big changes come slowly, usually by making small changes that stick. Building on this theme, if we were having coffee, I would share a few positive changes I made last year that have stuck.
My biggest new habit is listening to the Forward Day By Day podcast and Morning Prayer From The Episcopal Church In Garret County podcast while I take Scooby on his morning walk. The Forward Day By Day podcasts are only a few minutes long, while the Morning Prayer podcasts last about 15 minutes. Together, they get me through our one mile walk and help me start my day in the right mindset.
Another habit I have tweaked is my morning coffee routine. Before I got my hyperthyrodism diagnosis, I thought my shakiness was due to a new sensitivity to caffeine. I cut back to one cup of coffee at Starbucks (giving up my free refill) and started drinking water as soon as I got to my desk instead of nursing that second cup through the morning. That really helped increase my water consumption, which had dropped pitifully low.
The other good habits I adopted were fitness related. I have a solid stretching and planking routine I do after Cyclebar, and after Orangtheory I take as much time as I can before the next class starts to stretch. I also started doing a short dynamic warm-up before running– after I saw the horror on my physical therapist’s face when I confessed to never warming up before a run.
Scooby wondering if I’ll ever be ready to go.
If we were having coffee, I also would share the changes I’m still working on. In years past I might have referred to these as resolutions, but by avoiding that label I’m less likely to give up on them if I haven’t made them stick by February.
First, I would dust off the broken record that is my commitment to moving more at work. I thought my recent DVT issues would have scared me into action, but some days I have so much going on, I can sit at my desk for hours without realizing how much time has passed. I need to take inspiration from this post from 2014 and make my health my priority–even when my in box is worthy of “The Scream” filter.
Yes, I still use paper files–mostly to help me prioritize what to do next.
The other healthy habit I haven’t given up on adopting is stretching and foam rolling after a run. If I can do it at Cyclebar and Orangetheory, why is it so hard to do at home? Maybe if I hold my coffee hostage until I actually do this stretching routine I put together in 2013 I’ll make some progress on this goal.
What would you tell me over coffee?
Did you make any changes in 2019 that stuck?
Are you making any resolutions or committing to any new habits?
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I love your morning routine of listening to uplifting/thoughtful podcasts while walking your dog. What a good start to the day!
Since my Achilles tendonitis I am convinced that a dynamic warm-up drill is essential for all runners. Good for you for adopting that habit!
I’m glad your Achilles’ is on the mend! Injuries suck, but I do adopt new habits after each one to try to avoid a relapse
Nice resolutions! I do not have a drip coffee pot so my coffee brews a whole pot within a min. There is no time for stretches for me:) haha. I probably should though.
How does it work that quickly? I’d love that.
Holding your coffee hostage before stretching is a great idea. I have had to incorporate more stretching into my routine this past year too and it is so easy to forget!
Here’s to many Scooby walks in 2020! Listing to some uplifting podcasts along the way is a wonderful way to start the day.
Well, on my evening walks I lean towards true crime, so it’s a balance!
I’m not much for resolutions, altho I do have a few things I could do better! Working part-time has been good for me, mentally, although my bank account isn’t very happy about it!
Happy New Year!
I’m sure your mental — and physical — health is worth it! If we didn’t have something we were working on, I think life would be boring. 😉
I can relate to almost everything you mentioned….the dynamic warm-ups, the post-run stretches (I do a lot of the same ones you do), the water intake, etc etc etc! When we were on our recent trip, my water intake was low (unintentionally)…and when we got back, I was a bloated mess (my body retains water like a sponge when I’m dehydrated LOL). And board games…I’ve always been a fan. We had an hour long Clue “marathon” last Sunday evening with our oldest daughter and her boyfriend…it was so fun!
Oh, Clue is so fun. Did you see thhe Knives Out movie? Highly reccomend it if it’s still out — great family movie.
I can’t stand that “New Year New You” thing. That said, I haven’t seen it used this year, thankfully. I’m not a resolutioner either, although taking on the AIP diet for 6 weeks will sort of feel like one. In November 2018 my Dexascan showed a large muscle imbalance between my medial and posterior glutes. I worked on strengthening those medial glutes all year and am able to handle 4x more weight now than I started with.
That’s amazing on the strengthening – it’s awesome to see those results! I’ve only seen a few WW ads, and even those seem toned down, but I don’t think the college bowl games we’ve been watching are the mostpopular for diet ads – they are still pushing beer and burgers. 😉
Even though I’ve always been good at foam rolling, I found as I’ve been so busy the past few months, it get ignored more often. For me the solution was doing it before the run! You can add that to your dynamic warmup. 🙂 I know, I know, time, but your body will thank you for it.
Long ago I started a post about caffeine, and I really need to finish it up! I’ve noticed a pattern in my resting heart rate after long run day. Not sure if it’s due to more caffeine (I usually stick to decaf tea on non running days) or just the exertion of a longer run.
Everytime I try to get us into board games or puzzles it never sticks. Seriously, though, we don’t do enough fun stuff & I complain about that often!
I really enjoy my soul strolls, which are filled with positive mantras. I can’t wait for her to release more of them, but now I have a new appreciation for just how hard all that is!
Scooby would not be happy if I did more before I took him out! My husband doesn’t like to play games much, but he’ll join in with the kids or friends.
We just started doing the hunt a killer box- I saw it on FB and got hooked. I like that stretch routine you posted good idea! Hope work calms down for you a bit!
Ooh, I’ll have to check that one out.
Love your game idea. I do it with friends but it would make family gatherings more fun.
I’m not into resolutions if if I were I’d say Relax more, read more, knit more and go to the gym when I cannot run and go for walks at lunch rather than eat at my desk and work.
Those would be good goals, but I know how hard they are to implement!
I have that unicorn game too, it’s a lot of fun! I feel like I’m always trying to work more on stretching and foam rolling too. I’ve gotten better about doing a warm up before a run but I need to work on the after-run stuff this year.
I guess we’re all making progress!
As someone that also worked over the holidays, I can relate to making sure to carve out enough time to actually enjoy the holidays. I am glad that you were able to as well 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation on the board games as my family needs some new games!
These are fun ones!
I love your habit of starting the morning with some positive, uplifting podcasts – sounds like a great way to start the day!
I had to chuckle at your reference the horror on your PT’s face – I’ve gotten that same look…I admit to not warming up before runs too. I need to follow your lead!
It’s an unmistakable look – even if they try to hide it!
Oh, my eldest son bought Code Names for me for Christmas! We haven’t cracked it open yet, but he said I will love it! I drink a liter of water first thing every morning to get things kick-started, and then continue to drink water throughout the day. I feel like it really makes a difference in how I feel all day. I’m in a fitness step challenge for January, so I’m hoping that will get me up and moving more, especially at work.
Well, we all like Codenames so you should try it soon. 🙂
This year I am going to stick with some dynamic warmup prior to my runs too! They are only leg swings, and take probably less than a minute, so there’s no excuse. I really do think they help!
It’s crazy why we resist!
I have to admit I do NOT playing board games. If I came with a tagline it would be “most likely to be a sore loser in a board game” 😀 I blame having a brother who made it impossible to play any games nicely growing up.
I also feel like “new year same me” – not that I don’t want to improve myself, but I don’t need to be a “new” me. I too have a few new positive habits that I want to continue building upon. Probably the one that’s the “biggest deal” is that I’m getting up earlier during the work week and have actually started working out in the AM. It’s still early days though.
No resolutions, just thinking about pushing forward in a positive way and staying fit and healthy.
LOL, my husband will sit games out too. I think he gets too competitive. I don’t need to win every time, and have gotten used to losing to my son every time. 😉 I love that you are joining the morning workout club!
We’re on the same page with resolutions! I’d like to keep up some of the healthy habits I started, too! Happy New Year!
Same to you, Erica!
I’m trying to up my water and my move around during the day as holy crap my hip is hurting today in a way it hadn’t all week when I was chasing kids.
Oh board games. My post isn’t getting done, but I have your FB comment in mind. Do you know Scattergories? If not, you need to. It’s such a great game. You get a list of categories and role a letter. Before the timer runs out you have to think of a word/phrase that fits the clue. I’m not a huge board game person, but I love my favorites: Monopoy, Tribond, Scattergories. Will look at those you mentioned.
I think we used to play Scattergories – I looked at it after your FB post. I haven’t heard of Tribond. I sit so long at work my butt hurts. 🙁
Tribond is fun. You get three items and you need to find the commonality. We like it so much that the rules are long lost and we just use it as a card trivia game.
Unfortunately, with my accident, I am a new me this year. I hate it but this is what I have to work with.
Our holidays were ok. Different but we had each other. I have my fingers crossed that I can make something fabulous out of the new year.
I am betting by this time next year all this frustration and pain you are dealing with will be a distant memory!
My family loves board games – we played a lot of Ascension over the holidays, though that’s more of a card game with a board for organizational support.
I’m pretty good about dynamic warmups, but abysmal with stretching after a run. I think there’s a switch in my brain that says “ok, done” as soon as I step inside after running. Maybe I should stay outside until I stretch?
Yes, I do think that’s it! Once I’m in the house I want coffee. And food. And a shower. And to post my running photo on social media …
Ooo, I haven’t played Unstable Unicorns yet but I have it! I’m just trying to find people who’ll have board game night with me!
That photo of Scooby is absolutely adorable! <3! I'm really bad about warming up too–I need to work on that!
It’s a fun game and the tides can change quickly!
I’m really working on both blogging more consistently and working on other writing projects more!
I’m not much for resolutions either but I do get how going into a new year makes people want to start fresh and make goals.