> ## 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 #146 - drawing a line - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-146/ - Published: 2023-07-17T04:04:40.000Z - Updated: 2023-07-17T04:04:39.000Z - Description: This week, I've been thinking about boundaries - between work/life and the other personal guardrails that help you stay healthy. Other stuff includes mindfulness, small talk and an addictive game of draggy boxes. - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter I'm sending this week's Stuff from [Wexford](https://www.visitwexford.ie/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), on the south-east coast of Ireland, enjoying a weekend away from the city with some friends. However, Stuff doesn't stop! [Last week](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-145/), the most clicked link in [#145](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-145/) was [How to Find Joy by Tony Robbins](https://www.tonyrobbins.com/mind-meaning/how-to-find-joy/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), some excellent advice for all of us. This week, I have been thinking about boundaries, and how to draw the line, I'm grateful for you joining me as we think about this together. > **Before I get to the list, I have a favour...** *After some great TV recently (Succession, Ted Lasso, Silo, Breeders), I'm looking for some suggestions to impress my colleagues and friends, so could you hit reply (or comment underneath) and recommend something for me to watch please? I'll post a list here next week!* Thank you all for being here on our joint journey of curiosity. Till next Monday, enjoy... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2023/05/mattsig_personal-Background-Removed-1.png) --- ## 👓 The Big Stuff - drawing the line It has been a tough day, maybe a tough week but it's time to sign off and try and enjoy some quality time. How do you ensure that you don't transfer emotions from work, to your precious home life? The secret is robust [work-life boundaries](https://pumble.com/blog/work-life-boundaries/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a set of 'rules' that you can employ to ensure you don't transfer. I try and use my walk (or commute) home as the boundary between my two worlds, with minimal checking of phones/email during my down time. [There are plenty of other work-life boundaries you can set. ](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/boundaries-at-work?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk#:~:text=Setting%20boundaries%20at%20work%20means,and%20personal%20life%20more%20effectively.) [Boundaries are suddenly everywhere](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/14/what-are-relationship-boundaries-jonah-hill?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), maybe down to [this guy](https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3m3py/what-an-actual-therapist-thinks-of-jonah-hills-boundaries-texts?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- but alongside [boundaries at work](https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-set-boundaries-at-work?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) there are ways to draw a line in other areas of life. I've often talked about the fact I try to keep [guardrails around technology](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/ditching-your-smartphone-is-it-for-you/), it's an example of my boundary from the always online culture. [Personal boundaries are as important as work-life](https://psychcentral.com/relationships/what-are-personal-boundaries-how-do-i-get-some?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), and [finding ways to set them politely](https://www.scienceofpeople.com/how-to-set-boundaries/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) will help ensure that you maintain healthy relationships with the people (and the world) around you. 🦾 **Monday Motivation:** *Let this week be the one where you turn your [fear of failure into increments of curiosity.](https://nesslabs.com/fear-of-failure?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)* ## 🧠 The Other Stuff - **Mindfulness:** [What would it be like if we could learn deep appreciation for any moment? ](https://zenhabits.net/lifetime/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) *Connected to my thoughts about [noticing joy in Stuff #145](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-145/)* - **Small Talk:** [Fifty great ways to start a conversation.](https://twitter.com/overmind01/status/1676206566888939520?s=20&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) See also, my free icebreaker app, [The Questions. ](https://thequestions.app/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) - **Overachievers:** Are you an [insecure overachiever?](https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180924-are-you-an-insecure-overachiever?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) How to recognise [the five signs](https://medium.com/better-advice/5-signs-you-are-an-insecure-overachiever-3dde1522512f?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), and what to do with the [insatiable Drive to Achieve more.](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/motivation-your-brain-insecure-overachievers-dealing-drive-tomalak/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) - **Career**: [This job decision matrix is a few years old](https://blog.kindel.com/2012/04/26/the-job-decision-matrix/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), but a really useful tool to bring you clarity of thought for your career. - **Tools:** [Simple Stupid Tools is one of my most used websites](https://www.simplestupidtools.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), if you need to do something simple like make a QR code or convert a file, this site has you covered. ✍🏼 **Journal Prompt of the week:** *What are some positive coping strategies you use when you're anxious?* [(Want more? Try here)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/tag/journal-prompts/) ## 🌞 The Little Stuff - **Hoodmaps:** [Brilliant opinionated maps of your city.](https://hoodmaps.com/dublin-neighborhood-map?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) *Dublin is uncanny!* - **Life before internet:** [Young people have no idea what we did after work. ](https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/06/life-before-cell-phones-internet-after-work.html?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) - **Diners:** I love an American (style) diner - [but why do they all look that way?](https://youtu.be/fYSfG%5F6Sv5g?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) - **Finally:** [Draggy Box](https://draggy-box.glitch.me/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), I'm not fully sure what's going on here, but I like it. [💤 Sleep Hygiene: The Secret to Restful Nights and Energized DaysSleep is essential, and without it, we may feel like zombies trudging through life. Unfortunately, quality sleep can often be elusive, as hectic schedules, screen-time, and stress take a toll on our rest.![](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://images.unsplash.com/photo-1617624969413-932d9b07f000?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDE4fHxzbGVlcHxlbnwwfHx8fDE2ODQ1ODk3NjZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/sleep-hygiene-the-secret-to-restful-nights-and-energized-days/) ## 🎧 Aural Stuff ### On the Stuff Speakers this week... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2023/07/image-1.png) 🎧 This week's musical recommendation is the beautiful new album from [Anohni and the Johnsons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anohni%5Fand%5Fthe%5FJohnsons?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), My Back was a Bridge for you to Cross. An intensely soulful album that reflects on the potential destruction of the planet. Taking inspiration from 60's blue eyed soul like Marvin Gaye, this collection is a really beautiful thing, recorded with minimal production (almost live sounding) and a real heartache for current situations. I've listened to this a lot since it was released a couple of weeks ago and it continues to improve with every listen. I think we'll see this on a lot of 'best of 2023' lists in December. Highly recommended. [Listen to My Back was a Bridge to Cross by Anohni here](https://open.spotify.com/album/4g6x7cqgxfkuqA8lfvIKMf?si=bfMuUEOvQzqtrXmNPCDfsw&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 🎶 Anohni featured on day #147 of my [mammoth 2023 highs playlist.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nKbhvL8ZbH346FrxFkQwW?si=ed416af1341e4842&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) [Journal Prompts - AnxietyFinding time for introspection and reflection is a vital tool for growth, here are fifty journal prompts to help with Anxiety![](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://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517971071642-34a2d3ecc9cd?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDh8fGpvdXJuYWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjg3MTgwNDkyfDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/journal-prompts-anxiety/) ## 👂🏼 Stuff Someone Said > “A great way to understand yourself is to seriously reflect on everything you find irritating in others.” [Kevin Kelly](https://kk.org/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- note, a key inspiration for this newsletter