2x2: Fave Games

Hey all, Welcome to this week's edition of 2x2. My new-ish iteration of the long-standing Friday newsletter that has been going out every Friday since 2015 or so. As always with 2x2, below are a couple of resources, tools, diversions, books, tools, toys, or other types of recommendations for you to check out; and then, secondly, are a couple of ideas, stories, or tips from me. Enjoy! Check this out 1: Some favorite games at “Casa Blanca” Because of several people getting Covid at my boys’ school, they ended up with a 4-week holiday break over December and January. We spent a lot of time playing games (we are a gaming family anyway). Here are some favorites of ours right now. - [Root:]( This is the top game at our house right now (thanks, Mike!). It feels like Settlers of Catan meets Risk. This is definitely more advanced and in-depth — thus my younger two boys (5 and 8) struggle and I have to help them with their turns. My 10yo is great at it. We already have plans to play this tomorrow (Saturday) after breakfast. - [Skyjoe:]( Perfect for casual game night with anyone at just about any age. - [Bang:]( This has been our family favorite for a several years now. There are several expansion packs as well, and about once every six months we will get a new expansion. - [Bannanagrams:]( We will often sneak in a round of Bananagrams before bedtime, or during lunch. - [Crew:]( If you like card games such as hearts, spades, etc. Then you’ll enjoy this. - (Bonus) [Dominion:]( This is a deck-building card game that my family got into back before we all started having kids. We got so many of the expansion decks that I had to build my own custom card box. Anyway... we haven’t played it in ages, but listing out all these other games reminded me how much fun Dominion is. :) 2: [The best Wordle words to start with]( Speaking of games, [Wordle]( has become a hit with my whole family (in-laws, kids, et al). The best is when my mother-in-law sends over a screenshot to show her guesses before any of us have had a chance to do that day’s Wordle. 🙂 Something to think about 1: Eliminate Small Decisions A small decision is something trivial: What to have for breakfast; what to wear; when to begin work; when to take your lunch break; etc. Many of these small decisions can be automated and routinized by deciding in advance... thus, effectively removing them as unique decisions you make every single day. By automating your small decisions and eliminating them from your life, you can get back your much-needed energy to allow for a greater capacity to focus on the bigger decisions of your day-to-day life and the more challenging problems you are trying to solve. 2: Goals + Habits Goals give you a direction to go. The right habits and routines will keep you moving forward toward your goals. * * * — Shawn P.S. Some of [our favorite memes]( recently. [In-Depth App Training for Power Users]( To unsubscribe, click [here](. Blanc Media, 714 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030, United States