> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Stuff #103 - six words are all I have - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-103/ - Published: 2022-09-12T04:35:56.000Z - Updated: 2022-09-12T04:35:56.000Z - Description: I'm back in some sunshine, and looking at self-care, soft skills and kindness as muscles that can be developed. We'll also talk about book clubs, memoirs and the incredible Elastic Man! - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter 👓 Hi from **Murcia**, I'm Matt... I'm back in Spain for a few weeks, working from somewhere warm as the 'soft' days arrive in Dublin. It's been an interesting week of news - so I hope this week's Stuff provides some distraction from the news cycle. **Thank you for being a part of Stuff.* If you received this email from an excellent friend, and would like to subscribe, [please go here](https://mattrutherford.co.uk/newsletter?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). If you'd like an archive of Stuff from the beginning of 2022 - [it's here](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/tag/newsletter/).* Onward with the **Stuff that MattRs** this week... 1. **Monday Motivation:** Let this week be the one that you grow your [self-care skills](https://stff.me/103selfcare?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Let's start with '[You Feel Like Sh\*t](https://stff.me/103feellikeshit?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)', a simple (fun) game that seeks out your needs for self-care. Then, maybe follow one of these two self-care bots on Twitter which send you regular reminders of activities that benefit you. [EverydayCareBot](https://stff.me/103everydaycarebot?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) or [SelfCareBot](https://stff.me/103selfcarebot?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) will both look after you. 2. **Your new superpower:** I often get asked about [switching disciplines or entire careers](https://stff.me/103switch?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), and what skills will help people get to their desired goal. The secret is **always** [to focus on the soft skills that make you desirable](https://stff.me/103softskills?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **wherever** you might choose to work. *I tend to search for three key soft skills; curiosity, communication and critical thinking.* 3. **Essential Reading:** Kindness is a contagion that has a positive effect on both sides of the exchange. [Research has found the benefits are far deeper than originally thought.](https://stff.me/103kindness?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) You can start with [the simplest of acts. ](https://stff.me/103elevator?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 4. **Take care:** The next time you are waiting for something, try letting your mind wander rather than picking up your phone. [Your mind would prefer that.](https://stff.me/103wander?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 5. **TWIL:** The world dreams most frequently about snakes. [There is now a map of what appears most commonly in dreams around the world. ](https://stff.me/103dreams?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) In Armenia it's Grapes, but Albania - WTF? 6. **Silence negative chatter:** [Six practical techniques to help you calm your mind when you need it most.](https://stff.me/103monkey?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 7. **Join a book club:** Think about a book club, [is this what you imagine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDxgPIsv6sY&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)? Not any more, as [this clever site](https://stff.me/103bookclubs?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) can help you find or organise a group that is perfect for you. 8. **Will think about it some more:** [Six-Word Memoirs, an extraordinary project](https://stff.me/103sixwords?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Writers and readers condense their biography. The merest essence in six words. What would your simple sentence be? 9. **Fancy a quick trip?** Hit [Random Street View](https://stff.me/103random?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) to visit somewhere new. Does exactly what it says on the tin! 10. **Finally:** [Elastic Man](https://stff.me/103elastic?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Just do it, you won't regret watching his little eyes! [Book Notes: How the Future WorksHow The Future Works looks at ways to enable teams and organisations to take advantage of the flexible work revolution.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/03/favicon.png)Stuff that MattR'sMatt Rutherford![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2022/09/how-the-future-works-1.jpg)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/book-notes-how-the-future-works/) I wrote some notes and a small review on this excellent book about flexible working. 📫 Do you love independent writing? [I recommend The Sample.](https://thesample.ai/?ref=1153) Every day, they will send you a novel newsletter you might like, no obligation. 🎧 My **aural stuff** for you this week is an excellent playlist of ambient electronica featuring relaxing and contemplative sounds from Japanese musicians. [Listen to Ambient Japan on Spotify here. ](https://stff.me/103japan?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ### Stuff that someone said: > "To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was the Queen." **Emmanuel Macron ([via](https://stff.me/103macron?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk))** 👓 If you ever need an Icebreaker for a meeting, [check out The Questions:](https://www.thequestions.app/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) it's my free pile of random questions to kick start your conversations.