> ## 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 #192 - five extra minutes! - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-192/ - Published: 2024-06-17T04:26:54.000Z - Updated: 2024-06-17T04:26:53.000Z - Description: Power up your communication skills, find a mentor and learn the best cheat to speed up your work. Learn lessons from a granny, and some intentional breathing, finally play a quiz today. - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter *Sending this from Madrid where I've been at a beautiful wedding - I hope this week finds you happy and healthy.* Each week, I seek out great content to support **our** personal growth. I’ll couple that with some links that I know you’ll find interesting. Elsewhere, you can find my [daily notes here](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/tag/daily-notes/), and I’m [posting on Threads](https://www.threads.net/@matt.rutherford?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) as well. Thanks for joining me - now, onto the list! ![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 power up your communication skills. [This (short) video by Alan Alda](https://bigthink.com/the-well/alan-alda-how-to-communicate-better/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) explains how changing the way you use language can make your communication more effective AND inclusive. It’s only 7 minutes, but I watched it twice in a row, and the insights are excellent. **Five**. [What would you do with five extra minutes?](https://joshspector.com/five-minute-challenge/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) I love this tiny little hack. **Mentoring**. [How to get a mentor.](https://www.scienceofpeople.com/mentorship/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) I’ve had a few requests in my inbox for mentoring, and I’m a massive advocate of having someone to strategise and plan with. [This guide to finding that person is excellent.](https://www.scienceofpeople.com/mentorship/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Cheat**. One of the best productivity hacks is to learn the keyboard ‘cheats’ in your most used apps. [This handy website puts them all in one place.](https://hotkeycheatsheet.com/en?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Stop reaching for your mouse by learning the most common ones. **Detox**. [My month without a smartphone.](https://collabfund.com/blog/my-month-without-a-smartphone/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) An excellent article on reducing smartphone dependancy. I’ve just spent two weeks on vacation, and reduced my phone usage whilst I was there (down 34% according to screentime). I’d still need to focus really hard to [ditch my smartphone.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/ditching-your-smartphone-is-it-for-you/) **Enough**. [How much self-improvement is too much.](https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/24091379/how-to-be-enough-habituation-hedonic-treadmill-comparison?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) The idea of a [hedonic treadmill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic%5Ftreadmill?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) really resonated with me. Knowing when you have had enough is important. ✍️ ****Random Journal Prompt:** How did I celebrate my achievements, big or small this week? [Over 550 more journal prompts here](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/tag/journal-prompts/). ![shallow focus photography of stack of books](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1491841573634-28140fc7ced7?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDE2fHxib29rc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MTgyODM5MTJ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Chris Lawton](https://unsplash.com/@chrislawton?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) **Books.** [Littler Books has five minute summaries of hundreds of books.](https://littlerbooks.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) All free and compiled by humans, this an excellent way to test whether a book will be useful to you before you buy it. [Boiling this incredible book down to 17 bullet points is very useful. ](https://littlerbooks.com/summary/mans-search-for-meaning?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Grandma**. [Five life lessons from a 90 year old Grandmother. ](https://www.wealest.com/articles/grandma-life-lessons?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) #1 and #3 are absolutely perfect. **Burnout**. [Five ways to protect yourself from stress and work overload.](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five%5Fways%5Fto%5Fprotect%5Fyourself%5Ffrom%5Fstress%5Fand%5Foverwork?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) #2 and #4 really resonate with me as ways that can help. One of these is ‘in the moment’ and one is a more long term strategy. **Breathing**. [Intentional breathing can help control stress](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) responses in your body. One thing that I have learned from establishing a daily meditation habit in 2024 is that breathing is a powerful way to help get control of my mind. [Back in stuff #123 I shared some other techniques that have helped me.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-123/) **Streets.** [71 of the most beautiful streets in the world](https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/most-beautiful-streets-in-the-world?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). I’ve been to a few of these, but there are so many more lovely places to visit. Maybe you have a beautiful road near you that you can make a trip to? **GenderSwap.** [This amazing database has a huge (and growing) list of excellent cover versions](https://genderswap.fm/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). They all have a key theme in common. **Finally**. [Quizl. A daily trivia quiz game](https://quizl.io/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Simple implementation but with some excellent quiz questions. 🎵 My mammoth 2024 playlist has fantastic tunes added every day. [You can follow along here.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1WDYisQq2nyIS2pqqvh8gr?si=8d9f596fc62f4e7b&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ### 🔈 Stuff to Listen to... ![Bolis Pupul: Letter to Yu Album Review | Pitchfork](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/6567477147e0b8c8cbb50911/16:9/w_1280,c_limit/Bolis-Pupul-Letter-to-Yu.jpg) 🎧 This week's aural treat is something a little more lively, the excellent new album from Belgian electronic artist Bolis Pupul. Letter to Yu is the follow-up to Topical Dancer from 2022\. Whilst the collaboration with Charlotte Adigery is finished, the sound carries on in the same vein. Crisp electronica, made for the dancefloor with pop-friendly vocals and some funny touches. Alongside the dancefloor action, there are some chilled and contemplative moments. I hope you enjoy it. [Listen to Letter to Yu by Bolis Pupul here](https://open.spotify.com/album/4NWbM9F8OhWw9pVM0dVNRk?si=0SA4e4MbRjGmC6I3zPyPkQ&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ### Stuff Someone Said (feel free to share) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2024/06/Newsletter-Quote-pics--2--1.png)