> ## 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 #123 - breathe deeply... - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-123/ - Published: 2023-02-06T05:56:28.000Z - Updated: 2023-02-10T13:27:25.000Z - Description: It's time to up your reading, and improve your decision-making skills. I find ways for AI to make your life better, as well as share some ugly buildings. - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter Hey from **Dublin**, I hope that the weeks mail finds you safe and well. It's a public holiday here in Ireland, celebrating [St Brigid of Kildare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid%5Fof%5FKildare?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) who apparently was able to turn water into beer, which is every reason to be beatified. I approve 100%. A **big thank you** to new visitors over the last month, I've seen a decent bit of growth despite some clean-up from subscribers that don't open the mail at all. *If you're enjoying Stuff, I'd ♥️ if you would hit 'forward' and share this with a friend, if not hit 'reply' and tell me how I can make Stuff better for you.* As always - **thanks for being here -** it's great to have you join me each week! If you received this from an amazing friend, [get your own copy here.](https://mattrutherford.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2022/10/mattsig_personal-2.png) ## The Stuff Ten ### Links to make us smarter and more super... 1. **Monday Motivation:** Let this week be the one where you improve your reading. [If you spend 1% of your day reading](https://medium.com/personal-growth/if-you-spend-just-1-of-each-day-reading-your-life-will-be-37x-better-in-a-year-4c87177be329?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), the benefits compound. You can [build a simple system to read 30 books a year.](https://jamesclear.com/read-more?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Here are [three more tips to help you read more.](https://markmanson.net/how-to-read-more-books?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) You could even form a habit, [20 pages per day will take 30 mins and will change your life](https://mattkendu.medium.com/20-pages-a-day-will-change-your-life-b6a0c57eec5a?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). You can use my [free tracker to help build the habit.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/freehabittracker/) 2. **Your new superpower:** I had to make a [tough decision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision-making?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) at work this week, I'm grateful for the people around that helped me [get more comfortable making the choice](https://amivora.substack.com/p/getting-more-comfortable-making-hard). What also helped was falling back on a [framework](https://review.firstround.com/the-6-decision-making-frameworks-that-help-startup-leaders-tackle-tough-calls?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- I used [this process to make my tough call.](https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/decision-making-process-steps?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 3. **Essential Reading:** Are you moving fast, [or moving with velocity](https://nesslabs.com/vectors-of-action?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)? *Growth is a direction, not a destination.* 4. **Take care:** Any budget, any challenge - [now AI can help generate your skin care routine. ](https://glow-ai.vercel.app/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) [There is also a club.](https://www.groundhog.org/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 5. **TWIL:** [Punxsutawney Phil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punxsutawney%5FPhil?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) is not the only [weather predicting rodent in America.](https://groundhog-day.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 6. **Breathe deeply:** [I've been using a deep breathing technique](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/best-breathing-exercises-for-sleep?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) (4-7-8) to help get to sleep for a while now, now there is [an app that can help you alleviate stress, energize yourself or even improve endurance](https://www.breathwrk.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). *Bonus Stuff -* [*more ways to help improve your sleep.*](https://peterattiamd.com/understanding-sleep/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 7. **No more pop-ups:** [Super Agent sits in your browser and stops the annoying cookie pop-ups](https://www.super-agent.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), I've been using this for a few weeks and it's brilliant. 8. **Global Eyesores:** [The ugliest buildings in the world](https://www.buildworld.co.uk/blog/archives/the-ugliest-buildings-in-the-world?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), as decided by Twitter. Including a UK and US specific list. There are a few in here which I really like, [Balfron Tower in London](https://balfrontower.co.uk/the-building/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) is a design classic! 9. **Ask Bill, or Yoda, or Michael Scott:** [Askfamouspeople.com uses AI to let you have a conversation with famous people](https://www.askfamouspeople.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). I had a decent chat with Bill Gates. *Alternatively, you can [have a chat with a cat.](https://catgpt.wvd.io/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)* 10. **Finally:** [Weaver is a new way of playing one of the oldest puzzle games.](https://wordwormdormdork.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) It's great to see how close you were to the perfect solution. nave 💡 Why do we love brands like Nike, Coca-cola, and Apple? Because they tell great stories. **[Stories for Selling](https://storiesforselling.substack.com/)** is the newsletter that sends you a new, short, re-applicable case study every week on a marketing campaign where brands tell stories effectively. It's all built for you to take home key lessons and reapply them in your business or content. And it's totally free. **[Sign up here](https://storiesforselling.substack.com/).**" ## 🎧 Aural Stuff ### What's on the Stuff speakers this week? 🎧 Celebrating [Black History Month](https://blackhistorymonth.gov/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) with this excellent [playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EIfOoiRUAlYGI?si=87ee8dcd23904464&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) charting some amazing artists. From futuristic R&B to proto-rock'n'roll via all points in between. I highly recommend putting this playlist on for 3 hours of top tunes. [Listen to Black History Month on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EIfOoiRUAlYGI?si=a3bac8162af8434b&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. ## Stuff someone said ### "Surround yourself with people where your desired behavior is the normal behavior." - James Clear