> ## 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 #164 - grab the carrots! - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-164/ - Published: 2023-11-20T05:29:44.000Z - Updated: 2023-11-20T05:29:43.000Z - Description: Ways that you can conquer the feeling of being left behind, and thoughts about emails. We look at AI, remote working and travel - oh and we grab some carrots! - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter Hey, Matt here. Welcome to a new week AND to the new readers since[ last issue](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-159/). A reminder that you can find me [on the web](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/) and on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@matt.rutherford?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), which is becoming quite the fun social network. Thanks for joining me - now, onto the good stuff! ![upload in progress, 0](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2023/05/mattsig_personal-Background-Removed-1.png) --- **Monday Motivation.** Let this week be the one where you [finally conquer the constant feeling of being behind. ](https://zenhabits.net/still-behind/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Meetings.** [Should this meeting have been an email?](https://calnewport.com/should-this-meeting-have-been-an-email/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) The excellent Cal Newport weighs in on the trade-offs between synchronous vs asynchronous collaboration. The alternatives are some excellent ideas. **To-Don’t.** [ The Anti to-do list.](https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-anti-to-do-list?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) What if you made a list of the actions, behaviours and habits to avoid? [From the excellent Sahil Bloom - I recommend following his newsletter. ](https://sparklp.co/3b612ba9/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **AI.** [The way we user computers is about to fundamentally change.](https://www.gatesnotes.com/AI-agents?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) My old boss predicts a future where we all have an AI Personal Assistant. **Email.** What would happen if you took a one-month break from email? I can’t imagine how that would work for me, [but this person did it and lived to tell the story. ](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-i-learned-by-taking-a-month-long-break-from-email?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Remote.** [The world’s best countries for remote working. ](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/global-remote-work-index-2023?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) The WEF future of work team has ranked 108 countries on what they offer as remote working destinations. On the flip side, [here’s what happens when the nomads come to town. ](https://restofworld.org/2023/digital-nomads-visa-pricing-out-locals/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ✍️ ****Journal Prompt:** What's something new you'd like to learn to enhance your career? ([More prompts here](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/tag/journal-prompts/)) --- ![airplanes window view of sky during golden hour](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1488085061387-422e29b40080?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDEwfHx0cmF2ZWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzAwMzkyMzA1fDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Eva Darron](https://unsplash.com/@evadarron?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) **Travel.** [The 59 most beautiful places in the world. ](https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/most-beautiful-places-in-the-world?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) These lists are obviously hugely subjective, and I’d add Florence, Italy into the list for sure. **Stretch.** [The 24 best exercises](https://www.self.com/gallery/essential-stretches-slideshow?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) to improve your flexibility. **Music.** [How to discover new music.](https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-find-new-music-amid-all-the-streaming-abundance?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Getting away from the algorithms is a good move to update your listening habits. You can also check out the Stuff mixtapes. **Playtime.** Adults need a break too, [here’s 70 activities for more fun as an adult.](https://lifegoalsmag.com/play-activity-ideas-fun-adult/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Rabbit.** [Grab the carrots and avoid the hedgehogs. ](https://codepen.io/Yakudoo/full/YGxYej?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Finally**. [Guess the neighbours.](https://neighborle.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Neighborle gives you the outline of a country, and all you need to do is guess the other countries that border it. Sounds easy, right? 🎶 A reminder that every day I add to my [mammoth 2023 highs playlist.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nKbhvL8ZbH346FrxFkQwW?si=ed416af1341e4842&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) The list is now well over 320 tracks long, everyone a banger! --- ### 🔈 Stuff to Listen to... ![Vince Clarke: Songs Of Silence - Review - ALBUM OF THE WEEK!](https://louderthanwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cover-Vince-Clarke-Songs-of-Silence.jpg) 🎧 This weeks musical recommendation is Songs of Silence from Vince Clarke There are very few people who have had as much of a musical influence on me than Vince Clarke. From Depeche Mode, to Yahoo, through the Assembly and onto Erasure he has been a constant presence in my music collection. More recently, techno-ish work with Martin Gore, VCMG popped onto my radar and again I was listening to VC. Now comes Songs of Silence, a first real solo album combining drone-y electronics and strings to create a thoughtful and gentle collection of tracks that were recorded during lockdown and provide an anxious soundtrack to darker times. I love the use of organic and electronic sounds together, and even some vocals along the way. This is a stunner of an album, and I suspect will be a classic for some years to come. Highly recommended. [Listen to Vince Clarke - Songs of Silence here](https://open.spotify.com/album/31pmASRti6IjbYo67KbrJi?si=wewfEgpNS4m5bvOFmxLsHA&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) > **Stuff someone said.** > *If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.* > [Laozi](https://iep.utm.edu/laozi/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk#:~:text=Laozi%20is%20the%20name%20of,%2825%2D220%20C.E.%29.)