Jeff I’m glad to hear you are deleting social media. Distraction in our society is one of our great ills. It can come in many forms, not just the electronic kind. You are so fortunate to have each other to love and support. In less than a week I’ll be at a retreat for several days in the woods where phones don’t even work. If at all possible try zero internet for a month. I think you would find it a valuable and insightful journey. All the best!
You two are the best. Thank you for sharing and being so honest. FWIW, I gave up social media a few years ago and have no regrets. No more doom scrolling. And now I find other ways to connect with people. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Jeff, as someone who faces mental health issues, and has been on this battle for at least a decade at this point, I want to extend some sympathy. One of the hardest things about that is people don’t get how difficult and debilitating it can be; unless a person experiences it themselves it’s really hard to communicate this point. Even our partners or family members who witness it have only an idea of what it looks like, and their understanding is still limited. That said, all the steps you want to take that you brought up in the video will help. I’ll strongly encourage exercise. Start small at first, pick an activity you enjoy and do it once or twice a week until you build momentum. Then gradually increase it to the point it challenges you but also gives you satisfaction in the doing part. Consistency is key, of course, so until you find that balance be cool with yourself. The results will follow, don’t stress about that. It does help immensely with mental health, and your physical health will improve on its own.
From my experience, getting burned out on strenuous sports can lead to less physical and more mental activity. Body chemistry is part of it, but too much overthinking can lead us down rabbit holes, when we are not distracted in a good way, by friends and activities. Everyone is different, but it helped me to find messages of hope and support, and reasons that tomorrow will be better than today (and today is not that bad, either, it could be worse). A lot of negative thoughts can be dispelled by realizing a few solid facts grounded in reality. Anyhoo, take care, and also take it easy.
@@darbyl3872 Finding the right balance for yourself and your body is really key. I can totally see getting burned out on whatever activity you do and that is counterproductive. The goal is not to do a lot, I think, but to do something consistently so it helps us manage our health. Personally, I dislike objective goals like "lose X amount of weight" or "run 5k/10k/marathon" or whatever. My "marathon" is doing it almost everyday. I'm not racing, competing, tracking stats or anything like that. My only goal is to get out the door and move a little. Some days I perform really well, and some days I just fudge it. But I'm always glad I did it even when I wasn't feeling it and did it half-assed. Also, I'm very ok with taking rest days if I'm not feeling rested, or sleeping in if I need to. I don't put pressure on these things.
Y’all are the best! I am so glad you mentioned your late pledges. I relate to the struggle to prioritize myself over obligations and I hope this year brings some new habits to make myself healthier (mentally and physically). Thank you for bringing so much of yourselves into the channel and please follow through on making your off-camera life a priority.
My goals are similar to Jeffs' in that I need to tackle my mental health and physical fitness. Part of this though is starting to journal; putting 2 minutes a day to one side to write down what is being felt and experienced in that day and to look at, and comment on, my goals. Part of my goals will also be doing more board games, as I have only started getting into (mainly solo) board games, around August / September, and out of the 20 or so that I have bought I've only played 3 . . . a couple of times each!! Even though I wanted to do more my brain was just saying "Nope, I'm going to tirelessly scroll through TH-cam", so I need to get myself mentally awake again! Glad you've both got some goals set out, I hope it all works out for you both.
I feel you on the journaling thing - I just started to bullet journal and even taking like 15-30 mins a day to do that has already been really helpful!
Hey! Very recent subscriber here, new backer for the upcoming podcast as well. I just fell in love with you guys over Christmas break. Your honesty is refreshing and I love your “vibe” as you called it. ❤ I can’t wait to listen to your future podcast. Thank you! And wishing you a wonderful 2025!
Creating a game is exciting and a big challenge! I've been creating a few for a couple of years now haha. The creative bursts that come in waves are amazing. Keep going! The reducing screen time is such a big problem for me too. Good luck to us both with that!
I really love hearing you both talk about self-care and setting time aside for yourselves rather than just content, content, content with your resolutions. The amount of, and rate at which you produce content has always been mind boggling to me, even knowing that I have no real idea how much time and work go into it all, and while I would not presume to say you SHOULD do this, or you SHOULDN'T do that, I never want you to push yourselves to the point of burnout for our sakes. Love you both! Happy 2025!
Happy new year to you both! All the good vibes and best wishes in the new year. I completely understand with the monthly videos becoming competitive with yourself, but I would say I love the videos where you are able to just quickly talk about a few different games that you have played recently. So even if you don't include the stats, and/or don't do it monthly just whenever you have a few games to talk about, I do love those videos! But I'm excited to see whatever you guys want to make this year!
We will be keeping the Board Game Snapshots and Reviewapaloozas going where we get to talk about games (and sometimes show them!) that we are playing :)
We all love you Jeff. The real magic of the channel is the two of you. Having said that, I get that when you are working full time the last thing you want to do is more work in what little free time you have. It is important you look after yourself and then it is all the more special and enjoyable when you are in videos. I wish you both the best and look forward to whatever you put out in 2025, KAY!
Love the resolutions for improving physical and mental health as well as setting healthy boundaries around work hours and social media comsumption. For me, I want to continue with my swimming and strength training and move out of my comfort zone by learning some of those games that I've been intimidated by. I'm looking at you, Unconscious Mind and Trickerion! Maybe 2025 will be the year I play my first Lacerda game....? Good luck with everything in 2025! Appreciate you both and what you do!
As someone who works from home, for themselves, I totally understand your natual inclination to work 24/7 Jamie. I've started blocking out the weekends, even in my calendar, as not working. If I can't get something done during the normal work hours, it doesn't get done. It's a lot harder to do in practice than it sounds, especially since I'm single and do not have anyone there wanting my attention.
I really need to do that too! I think because editing and TH-cam has always been a “hobby” I’m so used to doing it on off hours but I need to get out of that mindset!
Good luck with all your resolutions! I hope you can get back to being healthy with everything and setting boundaries for work. When you were talking about collabs it was funny because I always feel like everything happens so early and you feel like everything happens so late 😆(doesn't help that I'm on the west coast _and_ have kids)
Love all these resolutions! Board game related ones are great, but I especially appreciate wanting to be more present and less tech-focused as well as exercise! I honestly know that my gaming and content creation suffer because I like to stay active, but it just helps in so many areas of life: health, mood, appearance, sleep, focus, confidence. 2025 is gonna be a great year for y'all I just feel it. Excited for the Jamie streams!
My last year's resolution was to play all the games on my shelf of shame because it was making me feel bad. I went from over 80 games to only 3 left unplayed and I feel so much better for it and found some great games I already had lol. This year I want to try and play games that I haven't played in the last year. I too want to focus on my physical health. I was very active then I was hit by a cluster of health issues 5 yrs ago that made it impossible to stay active but now I have a handle on my health I want to get back to enjoying being active again 😀
I highly recommend the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. He talks about the concept of identifying KEYSTONE habits and focusing on those, i.e. habits that will also encourage other healthy habits as well. For example, for me, one of them is running. If I’m running regularly or training for a race (it’s been a long long time for me, lol), then I will eat healthier, focus better on sleep hygiene, and drink more water. But it’s not those habits I’m focusing on, it’s the running. Make sense? But yes, great book.
You both are a lovely couple that we really enjoyed watching, but completely understand the stress Jeff is under. As we all struggle to accept our limits, I am glad Jeff will pulled back for his mental health. Much love, and look forward to the podcasts and new direction you all are taking.
I really feel you on the gaining weight thing. It’s so hard to prioritise yourself and your health when you’re in a bad place especially when medication you’re on is working against you. Deciding to make the change is the first step and I hope you’re happy with the progress you make by the end of the year. Curious to see how Jeff cutting back on BGA will impact the stats over the next year as you normally have so many. Jamie might actually get close to matching your plays this year 😂 I love stats too. Numbers are the best. As are numbsters 😂
Makes sense, to cut down on social media and such. I too should likely do the same. Less digital seems like a good idea. I left Reddit year ago, one of my best decisions
Jamie, I love time-blocking too! It’s essential for balancing work and "me" time-without it, work takes over, and burnout hits fast (cue grump mode!). It’s tough when your hobby turns into work. I’m sure that constant thought of, “Should I be filming this?” makes it hard to fully relax while gaming. Content creation definitely comes with the pressure of always being "on." I’m excited to see what this year brings-it’ll be great! I’d love to see quarterly goal check-ins and updates on how you’re improving your processes. I’d genuinely enjoy those (I could talk about schedules and Airtable for hours, haha!). Also, yes to reducing social media-I deleted all my accounts from my iPhone, and it’s been the best decision ever! Right now, I’m focused on my health, marriage, and kids-cherishing every moment after everything my daughter went through (she’s on the mend and walking again!). Life feels so fragile, and I just want to make memories. Thanks again for the inspiring video! -Amber (A Meeple Family)
Love the openness and Jeff I suspect your friends will allow you the grace you need. A resolution I have is to make some board gaming friends rather than forcing board games down my family and friend's throat. I suspect the more I am able to explore my 'obsession' the healthier I will be able to incorporate in my life. Thanks again for the content looking forward to the pod.
My brain is pingponging around in my head! What was the question? Oh, no. I’ve never had an espresso before. They’re good. 😂 Good on you guys for putting yourselves/mental health first. Yes! Quit Reddit it’s so much better. My goals are 10,000 steps everyday and try to cull games that are only okay.
It was tough for me to come to grips with "it's ok to choose a video game over a board game" AND "it's ok to have other hobbies". Nearly all of my content consumption is board games, and it's ok not to like playing solo; it's ok to prefer a video game by myself. I'm still a gamer, and that's ok.
You've said so many things I relate to I probably can't recap it all. I also struggle with keeping interest in anything once it feels like an obligation and I experience anxiety with having things scheduled because it starts feeling like a demand. I'm much more likely to do something for the benefit of someone else, like miniature painting for a group, than for myself. My goals this year are pretty similar to both of you. First I want to prioritize self care and setting clear boundaries between work and other life. Like Jamie, I need to shut off my work brain so I can fully immerse and and enjoy other activities. I also want to decrease my time spent staring at a screen. I work online and most of my friends are also through Discord, so stepping away from screens is hard! One way I'm planning to do this is to shift some of the time I've spent on BGA to actually going and sitting down to play solo games in my "me" time. This will also mean the games we own are actually getting played. I still want to play BGA, but be in less games total and block in times of day where I take my turns rather than feeling like I need to constantly take turns the second they show up. Physical health is also something I always want to improve, which should naturally fall into place more as I reduce screen time and focus on my needs.
I think everyone has pretty much summed things up in the comments, but you can never hear it enough, so I’ll add: You are two fantastic humans. Your content is one of the main reasons I found this hobby, enjoy this hobby, and continue to come back to this hobby. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You are making a difference.
I’m not good with commitment either. I rarely do collaborations or go to conventions because it causes a lot of anxiety for me. Mostly negative self talk like: what if I don’t meet their expectations, what if I say something that comes across rude, what if I get sick and I have to cancel last minute, what if I get myself into a social situation where I feel so out of my element but can’t get myself out of it, what if I embarrass myself in front of these people? lol I’m on the fence to go to Level Up this year even though I am only a few towns away from it!
Tbh I’m honestly just impressed by the confidence of people in their rule knowledge to publicly correct someone. I don’t think I’ll ever be that confident in my ability to play a game correctly to do that 😂 not that it matters anyway as long as you’re having fun
@ I’m not usually the one that learns the rules anyway 😂 I have a friend who borrows some of my games that she’s interested in and learns them then when we have a games day she teaches me how to play them. It would be a perfect system but she’s moving states soon 😭 we did recently play draft & write records though and loved it!
Jamie, I'm currently painting Final Girl Series 1 and 2 and I was wondering if Jeff had painted your copy but you just mentioned painting yourself. I wasn't sure if you dabbled in the hobby. I can't remember from the playthrough I watched if your copy is painted... these minis are so easy to paint quickly. Just wondering if you've tackled them.
Ive been mulling over this idea for a dating sim board game for the last few months. This year I'm going to start putting in work to make it happen. Just one of those "for me" passion projects.
1500 games haha. thats crazy. i dont have time for 150. i can totally relate to finding that incoming game ceiling. ive been on the cull journey for a minute and it isnt exactly going well haha
unsolicited input coming: it helped me a ton to plan 'measurable' things, not the whole day, just the things that i need to change or aren't easy for me. try to not say, "i want to do more / less of xyz", try to plan specific things, like "every evening at x o'clock, i play half an hour on my steam deck" or "every monday afternoon at x o'clock, i start to paint 1 mini figure." and it doesn't matter if you finish those things or if your head is into it a 100%. just set those things up and try to establish a routine. that way you can correct course and plan those things better. reading the comment again, i guess, that's what time blocking means. :D it's just a thing my therapist tried to teach me and i wanted to share. ^^
I have played many many different kind of sports in my 40 year old life and the most fun I've ever had is when playing mixed gender volleyball. No matter the skill level or the athletic ability of individuals it is fun for everyone. Just always wear a kneepads to avoid injuries. If you can find the right group, it's just a blessing from the skies.
For me…spend more time outdoors, drink more water and less Diet Coke, get back to reading books, sign my game design with a publisher,… Good luck to all. ❤
Oh! I played Rez Arcana Duo - I am now going to just go buy the full version. Not enough cards in the duo. Does the full version play well at two players? Do you suggest getting the expansions right away? or wait?
Jamie I think all of your ideas are great, but can you quantify more. Say do five fun videos will be success for the year. I'm trying to do that with my own resolutions, if I don't I will not have the feeling of success..
Jeff I’m glad to hear you are deleting social media. Distraction in our society is one of our great ills. It can come in many forms, not just the electronic kind. You are so fortunate to have each other to love and support. In less than a week I’ll be at a retreat for several days in the woods where phones don’t even work. If at all possible try zero internet for a month. I think you would find it a valuable and insightful journey. All the best!
Thanks so much for talking openly about mental health…it’s really so so important. Love you guys :)
💜
Good luck on all your goals! Hope 2025 brings all the peace and happiness you two deserve!
You two are the best. Thank you for sharing and being so honest. FWIW, I gave up social media a few years ago and have no regrets. No more doom scrolling. And now I find other ways to connect with people. Keep doing what you’re doing.
💜💜💜💜
Jeff, as someone who faces mental health issues, and has been on this battle for at least a decade at this point, I want to extend some sympathy.
One of the hardest things about that is people don’t get how difficult and debilitating it can be; unless a person experiences it themselves it’s really hard to communicate this point. Even our partners or family members who witness it have only an idea of what it looks like, and their understanding is still limited.
That said, all the steps you want to take that you brought up in the video will help. I’ll strongly encourage exercise. Start small at first, pick an activity you enjoy and do it once or twice a week until you build momentum. Then gradually increase it to the point it challenges you but also gives you satisfaction in the doing part. Consistency is key, of course, so until you find that balance be cool with yourself. The results will follow, don’t stress about that.
It does help immensely with mental health, and your physical health will improve on its own.
From my experience, getting burned out on strenuous sports can lead to less physical and more mental activity. Body chemistry is part of it, but too much overthinking can lead us down rabbit holes, when we are not distracted in a good way, by friends and activities. Everyone is different, but it helped me to find messages of hope and support, and reasons that tomorrow will be better than today (and today is not that bad, either, it could be worse). A lot of negative thoughts can be dispelled by realizing a few solid facts grounded in reality. Anyhoo, take care, and also take it easy.
Wise words. Physical activity is one of the cornerstones of my mental health.
@@darbyl3872 Finding the right balance for yourself and your body is really key. I can totally see getting burned out on whatever activity you do and that is counterproductive. The goal is not to do a lot, I think, but to do something consistently so it helps us manage our health.
Personally, I dislike objective goals like "lose X amount of weight" or "run 5k/10k/marathon" or whatever. My "marathon" is doing it almost everyday. I'm not racing, competing, tracking stats or anything like that. My only goal is to get out the door and move a little. Some days I perform really well, and some days I just fudge it. But I'm always glad I did it even when I wasn't feeling it and did it half-assed.
Also, I'm very ok with taking rest days if I'm not feeling rested, or sleeping in if I need to. I don't put pressure on these things.
love your openness and genuine honesty. good to hear from some humans for a change.
💜
I saw a lot of silly, fun content this past year so I think Jamie did complete that one :)
And I always appreciate Jeff's vulnerability during videos.
YAY thanks!! haha
Y’all are the best! I am so glad you mentioned your late pledges. I relate to the struggle to prioritize myself over obligations and I hope this year brings some new habits to make myself healthier (mentally and physically). Thank you for bringing so much of yourselves into the channel and please follow through on making your off-camera life a priority.
💜💜💜💜
My goals are similar to Jeffs' in that I need to tackle my mental health and physical fitness. Part of this though is starting to journal; putting 2 minutes a day to one side to write down what is being felt and experienced in that day and to look at, and comment on, my goals. Part of my goals will also be doing more board games, as I have only started getting into (mainly solo) board games, around August / September, and out of the 20 or so that I have bought I've only played 3 . . . a couple of times each!! Even though I wanted to do more my brain was just saying "Nope, I'm going to tirelessly scroll through TH-cam", so I need to get myself mentally awake again! Glad you've both got some goals set out, I hope it all works out for you both.
I feel you on the journaling thing - I just started to bullet journal and even taking like 15-30 mins a day to do that has already been really helpful!
Hey! Very recent subscriber here, new backer for the upcoming podcast as well. I just fell in love with you guys over Christmas break. Your honesty is refreshing and I love your “vibe” as you called it. ❤ I can’t wait to listen to your future podcast. Thank you! And wishing you a wonderful 2025!
awww thanks for your support!!! 💜
Creating a game is exciting and a big challenge! I've been creating a few for a couple of years now haha. The creative bursts that come in waves are amazing. Keep going!
The reducing screen time is such a big problem for me too. Good luck to us both with that!
Creative bursts for sure do come in waves!! Thanks!!
I really love hearing you both talk about self-care and setting time aside for yourselves rather than just content, content, content with your resolutions. The amount of, and rate at which you produce content has always been mind boggling to me, even knowing that I have no real idea how much time and work go into it all, and while I would not presume to say you SHOULD do this, or you SHOULDN'T do that, I never want you to push yourselves to the point of burnout for our sakes. Love you both! Happy 2025!
Thanks for being such a great support!!! :)
Happy new year to you both! All the good vibes and best wishes in the new year. I completely understand with the monthly videos becoming competitive with yourself, but I would say I love the videos where you are able to just quickly talk about a few different games that you have played recently. So even if you don't include the stats, and/or don't do it monthly just whenever you have a few games to talk about, I do love those videos!
But I'm excited to see whatever you guys want to make this year!
We will be keeping the Board Game Snapshots and Reviewapaloozas going where we get to talk about games (and sometimes show them!) that we are playing :)
@@FostertheMeeple Yes! The reviewapaloozas are truly my favorite!
We all love you Jeff. The real magic of the channel is the two of you.
Having said that, I get that when you are working full time the last thing you want to do is more work in what little free time you have.
It is important you look after yourself and then it is all the more special and enjoyable when you are in videos.
I wish you both the best and look forward to whatever you put out in 2025, KAY!
KAYYYY 💜
Love the resolutions for improving physical and mental health as well as setting healthy boundaries around work hours and social media comsumption. For me, I want to continue with my swimming and strength training and move out of my comfort zone by learning some of those games that I've been intimidated by. I'm looking at you, Unconscious Mind and Trickerion! Maybe 2025 will be the year I play my first Lacerda game....? Good luck with everything in 2025! Appreciate you both and what you do!
Those are some great goals!! I hope you do try a Lacerda, we hope to play more of them this year!
As someone who works from home, for themselves, I totally understand your natual inclination to work 24/7 Jamie. I've started blocking out the weekends, even in my calendar, as not working. If I can't get something done during the normal work hours, it doesn't get done. It's a lot harder to do in practice than it sounds, especially since I'm single and do not have anyone there wanting my attention.
I really need to do that too! I think because editing and TH-cam has always been a “hobby” I’m so used to doing it on off hours but I need to get out of that mindset!
Good luck with all your resolutions! I hope you can get back to being healthy with everything and setting boundaries for work.
When you were talking about collabs it was funny because I always feel like everything happens so early and you feel like everything happens so late 😆(doesn't help that I'm on the west coast _and_ have kids)
thats so true!! haha Time zones are the worst!
Literally standing at the stove running to the tv screaming and clapping YES JEFF YES. I really needed that today, thank you
💜
Love all these resolutions! Board game related ones are great, but I especially appreciate wanting to be more present and less tech-focused as well as exercise! I honestly know that my gaming and content creation suffer because I like to stay active, but it just helps in so many areas of life: health, mood, appearance, sleep, focus, confidence. 2025 is gonna be a great year for y'all I just feel it. Excited for the Jamie streams!
It's funny because we know how good exercise is for you but for some reason it's so hard to just do it!! ha
My last year's resolution was to play all the games on my shelf of shame because it was making me feel bad. I went from over 80 games to only 3 left unplayed and I feel so much better for it and found some great games I already had lol. This year I want to try and play games that I haven't played in the last year.
I too want to focus on my physical health. I was very active then I was hit by a cluster of health issues 5 yrs ago that made it impossible to stay active but now I have a handle on my health I want to get back to enjoying being active again 😀
WOW from 80-3?!?! Thats amazing!!
good luck and succes for in 2025
Ohhh, _Habit Tracker!_ I thought Jamie said she wanted to be a Hacky Sacker again. 😂
That too honestly 😂
I highly recommend the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. He talks about the concept of identifying KEYSTONE habits and focusing on those, i.e. habits that will also encourage other healthy habits as well. For example, for me, one of them is running. If I’m running regularly or training for a race (it’s been a long long time for me, lol), then I will eat healthier, focus better on sleep hygiene, and drink more water. But it’s not those habits I’m focusing on, it’s the running. Make sense? But yes, great book.
Oh I haven't read that one! I did read Atomic Habits a few years ago and I really liked that one!
You both are a lovely couple that we really enjoyed watching, but completely understand the stress Jeff is under. As we all struggle to accept our limits, I am glad Jeff will pulled back for his mental health. Much love, and look forward to the podcasts and new direction you all are taking.
💜💜💜
I really feel you on the gaining weight thing. It’s so hard to prioritise yourself and your health when you’re in a bad place especially when medication you’re on is working against you. Deciding to make the change is the first step and I hope you’re happy with the progress you make by the end of the year.
Curious to see how Jeff cutting back on BGA will impact the stats over the next year as you normally have so many. Jamie might actually get close to matching your plays this year 😂 I love stats too. Numbers are the best. As are numbsters 😂
I'm also curious to see how it will change the stats!!
Makes sense, to cut down on social media and such. I too should likely do the same. Less digital seems like a good idea. I left Reddit year ago, one of my best decisions
Jamie, I love time-blocking too! It’s essential for balancing work and "me" time-without it, work takes over, and burnout hits fast (cue grump mode!). It’s tough when your hobby turns into work. I’m sure that constant thought of, “Should I be filming this?” makes it hard to fully relax while gaming. Content creation definitely comes with the pressure of always being "on."
I’m excited to see what this year brings-it’ll be great! I’d love to see quarterly goal check-ins and updates on how you’re improving your processes. I’d genuinely enjoy those (I could talk about schedules and Airtable for hours, haha!). Also, yes to reducing social media-I deleted all my accounts from my iPhone, and it’s been the best decision ever!
Right now, I’m focused on my health, marriage, and kids-cherishing every moment after everything my daughter went through (she’s on the mend and walking again!). Life feels so fragile, and I just want to make memories. Thanks again for the inspiring video!
-Amber (A Meeple Family)
💜💜💜 Hope you have an amazing year!!
Love the openness and Jeff I suspect your friends will allow you the grace you need. A resolution I have is to make some board gaming friends rather than forcing board games down my family and friend's throat. I suspect the more I am able to explore my 'obsession' the healthier I will be able to incorporate in my life. Thanks again for the content looking forward to the pod.
That's a great goal!! 💜
I'm so out of shape at 49. I can confirm it is much harder to start habits as you get older.
My brain is pingponging around in my head! What was the question? Oh, no. I’ve never had an espresso before. They’re good.
😂
Good on you guys for putting yourselves/mental health first. Yes! Quit Reddit it’s so much better.
My goals are 10,000 steps everyday and try to cull games that are only okay.
Jeff has deleted Reddit from his phone, so much better already!
It was tough for me to come to grips with "it's ok to choose a video game over a board game" AND "it's ok to have other hobbies". Nearly all of my content consumption is board games, and it's ok not to like playing solo; it's ok to prefer a video game by myself. I'm still a gamer, and that's ok.
TOTALLY! It's all okay - I feel like we all judge ourselves way harsher than anyone else about that kind of thing!
You've said so many things I relate to I probably can't recap it all. I also struggle with keeping interest in anything once it feels like an obligation and I experience anxiety with having things scheduled because it starts feeling like a demand. I'm much more likely to do something for the benefit of someone else, like miniature painting for a group, than for myself.
My goals this year are pretty similar to both of you. First I want to prioritize self care and setting clear boundaries between work and other life. Like Jamie, I need to shut off my work brain so I can fully immerse and and enjoy other activities. I also want to decrease my time spent staring at a screen. I work online and most of my friends are also through Discord, so stepping away from screens is hard! One way I'm planning to do this is to shift some of the time I've spent on BGA to actually going and sitting down to play solo games in my "me" time. This will also mean the games we own are actually getting played. I still want to play BGA, but be in less games total and block in times of day where I take my turns rather than feeling like I need to constantly take turns the second they show up. Physical health is also something I always want to improve, which should naturally fall into place more as I reduce screen time and focus on my needs.
Great goals!! Wishing you lots of luck! 💜
I think everyone has pretty much summed things up in the comments, but you can never hear it enough, so I’ll add: You are two fantastic humans. Your content is one of the main reasons I found this hobby, enjoy this hobby, and continue to come back to this hobby. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You are making a difference.
💜
New Merch!!! Yes please!! Jeff Bidgaaa Slapshot shirt?!?
great idea!
I'm saying y'all met all your resolutions. Mostly because I love all your content
Appreciate you!! haha 💜
I’m not good with commitment either. I rarely do collaborations or go to conventions because it causes a lot of anxiety for me. Mostly negative self talk like: what if I don’t meet their expectations, what if I say something that comes across rude, what if I get sick and I have to cancel last minute, what if I get myself into a social situation where I feel so out of my element but can’t get myself out of it, what if I embarrass myself in front of these people? lol
I’m on the fence to go to Level Up this year even though I am only a few towns away from it!
I hope you do go to Level Up! I think of all the cons, it's a great entry point!! 💜
Tbh I’m honestly just impressed by the confidence of people in their rule knowledge to publicly correct someone. I don’t think I’ll ever be that confident in my ability to play a game correctly to do that 😂 not that it matters anyway as long as you’re having fun
I feel that big time haha
@ I’m not usually the one that learns the rules anyway 😂 I have a friend who borrows some of my games that she’s interested in and learns them then when we have a games day she teaches me how to play them. It would be a perfect system but she’s moving states soon 😭 we did recently play draft & write records though and loved it!
Jamie, I'm currently painting Final Girl Series 1 and 2 and I was wondering if Jeff had painted your copy but you just mentioned painting yourself. I wasn't sure if you dabbled in the hobby. I can't remember from the playthrough I watched if your copy is painted... these minis are so easy to paint quickly. Just wondering if you've tackled them.
I haven’t painted mine yet because it’s so tiny and my eyes are so bad 😂
Ive been mulling over this idea for a dating sim board game for the last few months. This year I'm going to start putting in work to make it happen. Just one of those "for me" passion projects.
Do it!! I think everyone needs passion projects/hobbies!
1500 games haha. thats crazy. i dont have time for 150. i can totally relate to finding that incoming game ceiling. ive been on the cull journey for a minute and it isnt exactly going well haha
Yeah we are 10000% collectors at heart - it's our fav hobby! haha
Jamie is the reverse procrastinator
No term has described me better haha
unsolicited input coming: it helped me a ton to plan 'measurable' things, not the whole day, just the things that i need to change or aren't easy for me.
try to not say, "i want to do more / less of xyz", try to plan specific things, like "every evening at x o'clock, i play half an hour on my steam deck" or "every monday afternoon at x o'clock, i start to paint 1 mini figure." and it doesn't matter if you finish those things or if your head is into it a 100%. just set those things up and try to establish a routine.
that way you can correct course and plan those things better.
reading the comment again, i guess, that's what time blocking means. :D
it's just a thing my therapist tried to teach me and i wanted to share. ^^
totally! I also just started a bullet journal which is helpful for accountability!!
I have played many many different kind of sports in my 40 year old life and the most fun I've ever had is when playing mixed gender volleyball. No matter the skill level or the athletic ability of individuals it is fun for everyone. Just always wear a kneepads to avoid injuries. If you can find the right group, it's just a blessing from the skies.
Ohhhh I (Jamie) LOVE volleyball - I used to play rec mixed volleyball all the time and it was always so fun!
@FostertheMeeple That is so cool!
Board game resolution, actually log my plays for longer than a month😅 other resolution much like Jeff’s is get my mental and physical health in order.
💜
decades ago i resolved to not make resolutions - been good ever since.
I would do that too but I have fun making them 😂
For me…spend more time outdoors, drink more water and less Diet Coke, get back to reading books, sign my game design with a publisher,… Good luck to all. ❤
Great goals!! We are also getting back into reading more this year!!
But what are your resolutions for Juno and the kitten??? Quadrupeds need love too!
Their only goal - stay cute - they are already crushing it
If only it was so easy for the rest of us! #nailedit
Any way to watch the 2024 game a thon somewhere besides the review?
Unfortunately no :( the stream didnt save because it was too long
Everytime you say Nandor I just think of the part when he’s on the news😂 “Nandor Delarentez”
😂😂😂
Oh! I played Rez Arcana Duo - I am now going to just go buy the full version. Not enough cards in the duo. Does the full version play well at two players? Do you suggest getting the expansions right away? or wait?
The full version is excellent at 2! (We didnt think a duo version was necessary - we just bought it for the extra content!)
Jamie I think all of your ideas are great, but can you quantify more. Say do five fun videos will be success for the year.
I'm trying to do that with my own resolutions, if I don't I will not have the feeling of success..
Good suggestion! I have all of my goals more quantified in my bullet journal and milanote!
Silly videos. I know I was laughing at the beginning of your solo Distilled video.
I was laughing while thinking of it too haha
Steam decks are the best. So easy to pick up and play.
We love ours!!!
Pls no silly content
Only silly content, got it!