The Modern Day Caveman

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Disney nerd, pop culture enthusiast, and a passionate sports fan. A keen traveler and blogger sharing insights and thoughts from around the globe.
  • Day 19: Family Time and Facing the Truth

    Day 19: Family Time and Facing the Truth

    After a day spent with family yesterday, Day 19 was much the same.

    The day started with a lovely cooked breakfast courtesy of my mum. She’s certainly been looking after me since I moved back home!

    One of the many perks of living with parents!

    The rest of the day consisted of a family walk, followed by a stop at the pub (that’s becoming too much of a regular occurrence!) before heading back home to watch some classic British TV: Only Fools and Horses.

    I’ve really enjoyed spending quality time with my parents since moving back. Granted, it’s not always easy living under the same roof again, but I think spending time with your parents as an adult, when you’re a little more mature than in your teenage years, is seriously underrated.

    As I mentioned yesterday, I did feel a little guilty about not being more productive on my Sunday, but I did manage to tick a few small things off.

    One thing I think I should mention – if I’m being honest with myself and you, dear readers – is that I’ve had a bit of a wobble this past week with gambling.

    If I’m being fully transparent, I ended up gambling away nearly all of my birthday money. It started as a bit of fun, a harmless flutter to pass the time, but before I knew it, it was gone – and with it came that familiar wave of regret I’d promised myself I was done feeling.

    At the time, I justified it because it wasn’t money earned from work or sales on eBay, but the truth is, I just feel angry, frustrated, and filled with regret.

    It’s a setback, and not one I’m proud of. But talking it through last night and having an honest conversation with myself actually felt like a pivotal moment, reminding me that recovery and growth aren’t linear.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 13,351
    • Garmin Stress Score: 38
    • Mental Health Rating: 5/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Poached eggs, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast
    • Lunch: Egg fried rice, halloumi, ‘dirty’ fries, spring roll
    • Dinner: Noodles, Quorn ham roll
    • Snacks: Sweets

    It’s not easy admitting when you slip up, but I’m realising that honesty is the first step to getting back on track. I can’t change what’s happened, but I can control what I do next – and that’s exactly where my focus will be.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 19. Sundays are a lot more crowded!
  • Day 18: A Little Work, A Little Play

    Day 18: A Little Work, A Little Play

    Day 18 marked a full week since my birthday, and honestly, it’s flown by!

    Today was a Saturday and for the first few hours of the morning I was pretty productive.

    I caught up on my journalling, walked to ‘The Mountain Ahead’ and even did a bit of overtime to get ahead on sales outreach for next week – something I don’t think I’ve ever done before on a Saturday morning!

    The rest of the day was a bit of a chilled one, spending some quality time with my parents, watching football, drinking beer, and playing with remote control cars! If you’re wondering where I get my ‘big kid’ side from, my dad’s definitely to blame.

    Racing RC cars with The Modern Day Caveman senior!

    At weekends, I often feel guilty for not working on my side projects or being productive, but as time goes on, I’m learning to allow myself time to do things that are good for my mental health and soul, rather than constantly putting myself down.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 14,123
    • Garmin Stress Score: 50
    • Mental Health Rating: 7/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Plant-based sausage sandwich, orange juice
    • Lunch: Quorn ham and salad roll, mini cheddars
    • Dinner: Homemade pizza, garlic doughballs
    • Snacks: Ice cream, popcorn, sweets

    Today was a good blend of being productive while still having some fun and spending quality time with loved ones. Days like this are a reminder that balance is essential for good mental health.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 18.
  • Day 17: Back on Track (Mostly)

    Day 17: Back on Track (Mostly)

    As the week’s gone on, my motivation’s definitely returned. Today was proof of that – I had a productive day at work, catching up on overdue tasks and sending out a ton of sales emails to hopefully set me up for a strong week ahead.

    This motivation carried through to my run to ‘The Mountain Ahead’. I managed to smash my previous records and not only was today’s run the fastest I’d ever done, but it also included me running up the steep hill which I’ve previously had to walk up.

    It’s nice to see that I’m physically improving each day (despite the stiff legs earlier in the week), and now I’m super motivated to go and beat my record again on my next run!

    After my early evening run, I did go to the local brewery to meet my parents for a few beers – something of a Friday night tradition in our house.

    I did feel a little guilty – I’d promised myself I wouldn’t drink this weekend, but peer pressure and weak willpower got the better of me.

    After some thought, I am going to allow myself this weekend to get through my birthday food and drinks, but come Monday, my diet is getting a serious rocket up its backside!

    One thing I’ve really noticed lately is just how much alcohol affects both my stress levels and sleep quality. As you can see below, my stress score was 35, with the majority of my high stress coming in the evening, when I was drinking. Comparatively, in the days prior, my stress score has been between 22-27.

    I think I definitely need to spend some time apart from drinking to see how my health improves.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 11,790
    • Garmin Stress Score: 35
    • Mental Health Rating: 7/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk, orange juice
    • Lunch: Scrambled eggs, sourdough toast
    • Dinner: Plant-based chicken fajitas, nachos
    • Snacks: Banana, apple, chocolate, sweets, popcorn

    The more I pay attention, the more I see how much the small choices add up. It’s not about perfection right now – just awareness and consistency.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 17.
  • Day 16: Manifesting the Next Step

    Day 16: Manifesting the Next Step

    After the fitness struggles of the previous few days, Day 16 was back to normality and my walk to ‘The Mountain Ahead’ felt a breeze with a renewed sense of purpose.

    On my walk to the summit and back, I listened to a few podcasts – the most interesting one focused on manifestation.

    I’ve always been good at manifesting and visualising my goals, but the struggle has been in actually setting achievable steps to accomplish them. The podcast, combined with my renewed mindset, actually gave me a little bit more clarity on how to go about achieving these things.

    I’ve linked the podcast below – definitely check it out if you get the chance!

    It’s given me a lot of food for thought and today I managed to tick off a few things I’d been meaning to do off the back of it. It’s got me thinking about spending some time writing down my goals and the actions I can take to move towards them.

    The last few days, I’ve felt a little unmotivated in terms of pushing forward against my debt, fitness and mental health, so I definitely think spending some time really thinking about why and what this is all for will be a big help.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 10,612
    • Garmin Stress Score: 27
    • Mental Health Rating: 7/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk
    • Lunch: Pittas, hummus
    • Dinner: Lentil bolognese, garlic bread
    • Snacks: Banana, apple, chocolate, kiwi, chocolate chip cookie

    I might not have all the answers yet, but today gave me something just as valuable – direction. Now it’s time to start turning those visions into steps forward.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 16.
  • Day 15: Light After the Struggle

    Day 15: Light After the Struggle

    After pushing through the pain of my blisters and stiff legs yesterday, I thought today might be a little easier. I was wrong. Very wrong.

    All throughout the day I’d felt fine, my blisters had gone down a little and I felt raring to go.

    I’d planned to run to ‘The Mountain Ahead’ and the first kilometre I felt fine, but then suddenly my legs locked up and I literally felt like they’d turned to stone.

    It was that bad that I had to turn my run into a walk. Despite this, I made it to the top and I’m glad that I did, because the view at the top was fantastic.

    Today was the 5th of November, Bonfire Night here in the UK, and as I reached the top, fireworks were lighting up the sky in the distance. It was a small but perfect reminder that even after the toughest days, there’s still beauty to be found if you look for it.

    Other than my painful run turned walk, there wasn’t a whole lot to report today. I feel I’ve definitely lost a little bit of the momentum I’ve had in the past 2 weeks, but I’m still exercising, journaling, practicing self-awareness and focusing on bettering my mental health, and that’s what matters most.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 10,931
    • Garmin Stress Score: 24
    • Mental Health Rating: 6/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk
    • Lunch: Pittas, hummus, mini cheddars
    • Dinner: Bean enchiladas, chips
    • Snacks: Strawberry jam on toast, birthday cake, bread, apple, chocolate

    Some days you run, some days you walk – but as long as you keep showing up, you’re still moving forward.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 15. Unfortunately I couldn’t capture the fireworks going off in the background!
  • Day 14: The Hard Days Count Too

    Day 14: The Hard Days Count Too

    After a long and frankly emotional weekend, normal service was resumed with me being back to work.

    I’ve always struggled returning to work after any prolonged period of time, and this was true today, despite only taking one extra day off.

    It really knocked me out of my rhythm and I felt very unproductive throughout the day. When I feel unproductive and procrastinate, it can really impact my mental health. Thankfully, today I managed to control this and stayed aware of a potential spiral.

    Developing tools and techniques over the weeks and months to come is going to be important for maintaining a positive mindset.

    My diet definitely took a bit of a nosedive over the weekend, and that ate (pardon the pun!) into today too. Granted there’s still cake and chocolates to be eaten from my birthday, but today was a particularly naughty day, eating a French baguette pizza in the evening, undoing the good work of a deliciously healthy poke bowl earlier!

    I am obsessed with poke bowls at the moment!

    But diet-wise, I’m not being overly critical in these early stages. I knew there would be a lot of temptation with my birthday and dining out. It’s definitely something I want to improve in the future, but for now, my main focus is on controlling my mental health and exercising daily.

    Speaking of which, today’s walk to ‘The Mountain Ahead’ was actually a real struggle. The blisters from my active weekend, combined with some intense shin splints made my walk feel twice as hard as previously.

    I was wishfully thinking I could do over 80,000 steps in the past three days and come away scot-free – but unfortunately that was not the case today!

    Nevertheless, I made it there and back, in the pouring rain I may add, and it felt good to have done it despite what was, a challenging day.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 9,919
    • Garmin Stress Score: 22
    • Mental Health Rating: 6/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk
    • Lunch: Pittas, hummus, mini cheddars
    • Dinner: Mexican poke bowl (spicy rice, avocado, edamame, black beans, halloumi)
    • Snacks: Strawberry jam on toast, birthday cake, French baguette pizza, apple

    A tough day, but one that showed me how far I’ve come. Where I might have crumbled before, today I kept moving forward – and that’s progress in itself.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 14.
  • Day 13: The Power of Love

    Day 13: The Power of Love

    Day 13 of my 365 challenge arrived and, coincidentally, it marked my 13th anniversary with my girlfriend.

    As mentioned a few days ago, the past few weeks we’ve been on a ‘break’, giving each other space to process everything that’s happened over the past 2 years and I spend some time focusing on self-improvement and my mental health.

    After the lovely, reflective day we had on my birthday, I was really looking forward to spending some more time together and reconnecting.

    What I didn’t quite expect was just how emotional I’d be.

    We’d planned to go to the zoo, before going for a little bit of shopping and then out for dinner. Well, before we’d even got out the car at the zoo, we were both emotional wrecks, crying and discussing our emotions. We literally sat and chatted for about an hour in the car park before composing ourselves and heading in to make the most of the day.

    Once we did, the rest of the day felt incredibly grounding. We reminisced about how much we’ve been through together over the past 13 years: finishing school, starting our careers, buying and selling a house, getting our dog, travelling, and navigating some really hard times. It’s a lot for anyone to go through, let alone as a couple.

    Rhinos have to be the coolest looking animals of all!

    We talked for hours, and it honestly felt like we could have carried on all night. Looking back, I still can’t quite put into words what it feels like to be loved so unconditionally. After everything I’ve put her through – the mental health struggles, the addiction, the mistakes – she still finds it in her heart to love me.

    I know I’ve taken that for granted before, but today really reminded me how lucky I am to have that kind of love in my life.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 23,198
    • Garmin Stress Score: 42
    • Mental Health Rating: 5/10
    • Remaining Debt: £39,781.83 (-£303.50 down on yesterday)

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, orange juice
    • Lunch: Quorn chicken & stuffing sandwich, crisps
    • Dinner: Margherita pizza, garlic bread
    • Snacks: Caramel Frappuccino

    It was tough seeing her and knowing it’ll be a while before we see each other again, but today reminded me how strong our bond really is. We’ve been through a lot, and even with the space between us, there’s still love and respect there. That means more to me now than it ever has.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 13.
  • Day 12: Rest and Reflection

    Day 12: Rest and Reflection

    After a nice, low-key birthday yesterday, the plan for Day 12 was much of the same.

    A lazy morning was followed by a 2-hour walk with my Mum, where we caught up and chatted through things – again something I’m feeling much more open to doing but also getting a lot of enjoyment from.

    The rest of the day was spent pretty much playing video games, doing a few things on my to-do list, and eating through my birthday snacks!

    It’s been nice to just spend some time without any plans to worry about and just be present and reflective.

    I also had a few drinks again last night, and looking at the data today, it’s clear alcohol really does have an impact. Both my stress and sleep scores have been noticeably worse than last week, which is something I’ll need to take more seriously moving forward.

    I’m planning to really limit my alcohol intake over the next few weeks – hopefully I’ll see an improvement.

    Metrics

    • Steps: 17,151
    • Garmin Stress Score: 36
    • Mental Health Rating: 7/10
    • Remaining Debt: £40,085.33

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Poached eggs, sourdough toast, orange juice
    • Lunch: Noodles, cheese rolls
    • Dinner: Roast dinner
    • Snacks: Birthday cake, chocolate

    Sometimes progress looks like movement; other times, it’s found in stillness and reflection. The more I pay attention to what truly affects my wellbeing, the more control I start to feel again.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 12. A beautiful day today.
  • Day 11: Another Year Wiser

    Day 11: Another Year Wiser

    Day 11 marked my 29th birthday and, in truth, I was dreading it a little.

    When I was younger, I absolutely loved my birthday – seeing family, receiving gifts, and having parties with friends.

    As the years have passed and I’ve gradually gotten older, I’ve hated ageing and feeling like the years are passing by so quickly. This year, I was apprehensive about heading into my final year of my twenties.

    A lot of this apprehension has come from feeling like I haven’t achieved enough for my age. Despite being aware of this, it’s still hard not to feel the pressure I’m putting on myself.

    Given everything that’s happened this year, I really just wanted a chill, low-key birthday without too much fuss.

    My girlfriend and I have been having some space from one another these past few weeks whilst we both try and process the events of the past 12 months, but she came back to celebrate my birthday with me.

    We went for a mammoth hike, walking over 30km across the Cheshire countryside. We were out for about seven hours, including a pub stop near home, but the time flew by completely as we chatted away and caught up on everything that had happened over the past few weeks.

    I thought things might be a little awkward given we’d decided to have some space from one another whilst we worked through things, but we chatted in detail about everything – from my feelings, her feelings, mental health, and the future. There was a lot we both got off our chests, and it really felt therapeutic.

    We got back home and it was time for some much-needed calories!

    Birthday tea was homemade pizza (courtesy of my mum!), followed by birthday cake and some birthday drinks, whilst watching Indiana Jones. Not a bad birthday after all!

    Metrics

    • Steps: 41,455
    • Garmin Stress Score: 46
    • Mental Health Rating: 8/10
    • Remaining Debt: £40,085.33

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk, orange juice
    • Lunch: Quorn baguette, crisps
    • Dinner: Pizza, garlic doughballs
    • Snacks: Mini Cheddars, birthday cake, chocolate

    Another page turned, and another reminder that progress isn’t always measured in numbers or milestones. Sometimes, it’s simply being able to breathe a little easier, reconnect with someone you love, and realise you’re not the same person you were a year ago. Maybe 29 won’t be so bad after all.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 11, my 29th birthday. Let’s make this the best year ever!
  • Day 10: Payday, Progress, and Perspective

    Day 10: Payday, Progress, and Perspective

    Day 10 arrived, and with it, a much-needed payday!

    I started my full-time role at the beginning of October, and I’ve now completed my first full month in the job. Genuinely, I think this might have been the most anticipated and exciting payday I’ve ever had.

    With it, I managed to pay off just under £2,000 of my debt – and with a few direct debits scheduled for some of my credit cards next week, my debt figure should finally drop below the £40,000 mark. It’s a huge step in the right direction, and I’m hoping I can carry this momentum into the months ahead.

    Of course, I’m incredibly fortunate to be living back with my parents, who aren’t charging me rent while I get myself back on my feet. It means I can put almost my entire salary toward clearing my debts – something I’m deeply grateful for.

    The past 10 days have made me so appreciative of the people around me, friends, family, and especially my parents, and moments like this really drive home how much their support means.

    Money aside, tomorrow is my birthday, marking my 29th lap around the sun. My 28th year was the toughest, most mentally challenging year of my life, and it pushed me right to the edge.

    During my run to The Mountain Ahead, I actually got quite emotional when I reached the summit. It felt like all the pain, frustration, and self-hatred of the past year came to a head in that moment. As I took those final strides, it honestly felt like saying goodbye to that dark chapter and looking forward to a brighter, more hopeful 29th year – as cheesy as that sounds!

    Today was also Halloween, and when I was younger, I always had Halloween-themed birthday parties. My mum (the star that she is!) kept the tradition alive by making a spooky-themed dinner for us all! Even on the eve of my 29th birthday, it’s clear that I’m still a big kid at heart.

    Fantastic Monster Burger!
    “Worms in mud”

    Metrics

    • Steps: 11,965
    • Garmin Stress Score: 30
    • Mental Health Rating: 7/10
    • Remaining Debt: £40,085.33 (-£1,936.97 down on yesterday)

    Food Log

    • Breakfast: Weetabix, milk, orange juice
    • Lunch: Cheese and tomato omelette
    • Dinner: Plant-based burgers, sweet potato fries, spaghetti, “Worms in mud”
    • Snacks: Homemade raspberry jam on toast, apple, popcorn

    A good day all round – big progress on the financial front, emotional clarity from reflection, and gratitude for the people who keep me grounded. Here’s to turning the page on 28 and stepping into 29 with purpose.

    The view from ‘The Mountain Ahead‘ on Day 10. An emotional run today!