Mindful Monday - August 23rd
Good morning and happy Monday!
Bit of a techie email this week with some running wearables, jumping robots, weird headphones, and then rounding things out with a small beer.
But first a little thought:
“Two simple rules that make saying ‘yes’ harder and saying ‘no’ easier:
1. Don't say yes on the spot.
2. When you do say yes to something, schedule when you're going to do it in your calendar right away. Book twice as much time as you think it will take to do it right.
Both rules are helpful, but the second rule is perhaps more important. Scheduling the work helps you realise that saying ‘yes’ has a very real cost. By scheduling double the time, you'll avoid over-committing and have the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities that arise.”
- FS
I really like this one. It’s soooooooo easy to fall into what I call the “yes trap” and end up committing to doing a bunch of stuff that, in all honesty, isn’t how you would love to spend your valuable time. It’s ok to say no.
Garmin Forerunner 745
Garmin have been making GPS gadgets for years, but it’s been a while since I’ve worn one. After struggling to come to terms with a fancy Polar running watch (and getting tired of charging the Apple Watch every day) I found the Garmin Forerunner 745 and have been loving it. It does the basics – easily – but also has Spotify and Garmin Pay, which basically means I can run without my phone, listen to podcasts and music, and pay for stuff with my watch.
I found an excellent used one on eBay for £200.
Weird Headphones
Exercising with headphones can be useful to help while away the miles and/or keep you motivated, but not being able to hear your surroundings can be disorientating and sometimes a bit dangerous. Enter Aftershokz bone conduction headphones. These guys have figured out how to transmit audio through the bones on the side of your head while allowing you to hear the real world around you.
The sound quality is excellent, phone calls work great, and they’re light as a feather. My new faves.
Jumping Robots
The team at Boston Dynamics have been hard at it creating their new masterpiece. Their new robot can negotiate complicated parkour terrain, execute summersaults and other cool tricks. Check out this demo to see what the future looks like.
Small Beer
Alcohol consumption has risen somewhat during the pandemic (and I’m not one to judge), but if you feel that perhaps dialling down the intake would be a good idea, the good folk at The Original Small Beer have created a range of beers that are low in alcohol but high in taste. Check them out here and support the little guy.
Have a great week and stay special.
Big love,
Luke X