5 Thought Friday
Training for a December half marathon, so implementing a few tips from last week’s book on breathing. Check out the results in #3 below
1. What I am currently reading, viewing, or listening to:
Thought you may find this APP on improving working memory useful; Dual N-Back. Been using for two weeks and it really requires some deep concentration (memory).
The premise: An N-Back Test is a working memory test. Basically, there will be a master list of numbers or letters you must try to memorize. The "N-Back" naming comes from the test asking you what number appeared "N" numbers ago. Check it out and test your working memory.
I have only elevated to level 2 at this point, so a long way to go!
2. Gratitude Practice (for improved happiness):
Celebrated my mother’s 90th birthday virtually this week with the family. Grateful for how resilient she has been over the years by overcoming two heart attacks and breast cancer. She even flew by herself to Macau to visit us in 2018, which we celebrated with a trip to Phuket, Thailand and a Tomahawk!
Love you, Mom!
3. Wellness ideas to consider:
Implemented the breathing techniques from The Oxygen Advantage during three, 10 kilometers (~6 miles) half marathon training runs this week. I ran using only nasal breathing and very surprised how great I felt running vs. mouth breathing, although my pacing was 10% slower than prior runs.
I also did a lot of breath-holding exercises to simulate training at altitude and improve oxygen saturation.
Want to check your breathing health? Take the Blood Oxygen Level Test (BOLT). I tried several times and scored around 25 seconds each time.
4. What I’m eating, drinking, buying, or whatever else is on my mind:
I am all about the data, so purchased a YuWell Pulse Oximeter to track my oxygen saturation. Checking if the breathing techniques I am implementing in #3 above are actually working.
Thanks for the help, Will!
5. Quote(s) I am Pondering:
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” Lao Tzu, author Tao Te Ching
I had a few ups and downs this week, so needed to get back to my stoic reading and also the Tao Te Ching!
Happy Friday!
Mike
