> ## 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 #96 - Slow down and wander - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-96/ - Published: 2022-07-25T04:45:00.000Z - Updated: 2022-07-25T04:44:59.000Z - Description: It's time to slow down and get more things done, as well as discovering Flânerie. We'll discover that Fridays are dead, and some ancient methods for coping with anxiety. - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter 👓 Hi from **Dublin**, I'm Matt... Big thanks for all the positive messages about [Stuff Mixtape #3](https://stff.me/stuffmix3?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), I hope you enjoyed my weird and eclectic track selection for July! I also want to welcome the new readers that joined Stuff over the last couple of weeks, I hope the mail finds you safe and well wherever you are. **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 where you SLOW down and get more things done. [Your brain has been begging for it](https://stff.me/96slowdown?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), and science shows that [doing some things more slowly increases their effectiveness](https://stff.me/96slowlearning?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Even some of the very [highest achievers use the power of going slowly](https://stff.me/96genius?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) to achieve greatness. 2. **Your new superpower:** [Seven ways to gain influence in your company without having a title.](https://stff.me/96influence?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Some excellent practical advice from Lolly Daskal - item #1 is particularly important. 3. **Essential Reading:** I spent Friday in a nearly empty office, I got tons done but it's clear that [nobody wants to be in the office on Friday.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/07/15/its-official-fridays-office-are-over/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) For balance, here's the incredible [Malcolm Gladwell sharing that he thinks Working From Home is not doing us ANY good.](https://stff.me/96gladwell?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 4. **Take care:** In the 'age of anxiety', it might be time to turn to ancient wisdom. [Some practical advice for handling anxiety, with nine techniques from the Stoics. ](https://stff.me/96stoics?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) 5. **TWIL:** I was always told that where I grew up (the UK) was on the opposite side of the world to Australia. Turns out that's a load of rubbish. [The Antipodes Globe will find your REAL opposite place](https://stff.me/96antipodes?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). (Tip - the opposite side of the world to the UK is in the ocean) 6. **Just go for a wander:** [Make some time today to indulge in the art of Flânerie.](https://stff.me/96flanerie?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Just take some time out and go for an aimless stroll, it'll do you the world of good. 7. **From this to that and back again:** [This very clever site](https://stff.me/96tinywow?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) will solve all of your (tech) problems by letting you solve any file related problem you have. 8. **This image does not exist:** Do you think you can tell the difference between a computer and a human? [What about the art they produce?](https://stff.me/96image?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) It's much harder than it looks. 9. **A history of Fly Fishing by JR Hartley:** [The weird old book finder](https://stff.me/96weird?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) will help you seek out an unusual, vintage text based on any keyword you choose. Its full of fun, [but you won't find anything unusual INSIDE a digitised book](https://stff.me/96found?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). 10. **Finally:** [Probable - a simple game of prediction](https://stff.me/96probable?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), I've managed 6 in a row. Can you do better than me? **Recommended Stuff to make you Smarter** 📚 [The So What Strategy is an excellent business book](https://www.amazon.co.uk/So-What-Strategy-Revised/dp/0648402568/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=11GBDXK08TOBL&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) to help you develop your story telling skills, and answer the most uncomfortable question you will get asked at work. So What? I found this a really useful guide to build compelling stories to support ideas in the workplace. 📺 Highly recommend the new Apple TV Drama Series, [Black Bird](https://tv.apple.com/ie/show/black-bird/umc.cmc.30gx1y8nwthydkrvhqu156p3?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) starring Taron Egerton and created by mystery author Dennis Lehane. It's the story of a charismatic criminal and his time in prison. I'm really enjoying it. 👓 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. 🎧 My **aural stuff** for you this week is the truly **epic** playlist compiled by Stuff favourite, Kieran Hebden - also known as Four Tet. Running to over 1800 songs, and 155 hours with 140k followers, it is unlikely we'll get through this before next weeks Stuff - but its an amazing playlist to stick on random and uncover something new for your curious ears. Oh - and it has a weird emoji name that I can't copy in here! [Listen to Four Tet's epic streaming playlist on Spotify here.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uzbATYxs9V8YQi5lf89WG?si=9afed78d77c14762&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ### Stuff that someone said: > "People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures." **[FM Alexander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.%5FMatthias%5FAlexander?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)**