👓 Stuff #139 - how trust works

I've travelled to the sun for a few weeks, so I'm putting this together and sending from Spain.  I hope this edition of Stuff finds you safe and well.

Thank you for all the love for my first DJ mixes in a few years, I'm glad you're enjoying listening to an old fella reignite his passion!  Thanks also for the comments on the redesigned website, I appreciate those!

Last week, the most clicked link was the door game, and as I suspected it was onle of the most clicked links EVER on the newsletter.  If you didn't check it out, please give it a go.

This week, the list is strong and I keep up my commitment to more original writing, with something that will hopefully resonate if you suffer from stress at work.  The musical recommendation is also an absolute belter. don't miss that.

Finally, before the list - I'd really appreciate if you'd consider sending this issue of Stuff to a friend or five, just hit forward and let them know this is something you enjoy.  They'll thank you for it, and I'll love you even more!

Thanks for being here, see you next Monday...

1. Monday Motivation:   Let this week be the one where you work on your attention span.   Research shows that our attention spans are decreasing, some people even believe they have been stolen!  Whatever the root cause, better focus must be good, so here are six secrets from neuroscientists that could increase your attention span and here are 15 more ways that you can improve focus and concentration.
2. Your new superpower:  I really liked this article, which explains the difference between different sides of stress, and how to manage them.  It's important to be able to recognise when you are feeling stress. I'm a firm believer that SOME stress can be an advantage, and I captured some ways that you can leverage your stress positively at work.
3. How trust works:  Less reading, more interaction - this clever site explains how trust works, and how game theory explains how trust evolves (and degrades).   Great exercise to understand Game Theory.
4. Take care: I enjoyed this post about moving past (and using) your regrets. The two questions suggested are an excellent way to reframe anything you regret, using these could save you extra therapy sessions.  
5. TWIL:  Ocearch is a cool site that tracks 'giants of the sea' that have been tagged around the world.   You can monitor and track 370 sharks, or follow Thalia, a loggerhead turtle that is making its way through the Mediterranean.
6. Take a break:  Cityhop is a lovely site, click to start and find yourself exploring a random city with some chilled-out beats.   Beautifully done.
7. Working from a beach:  LifeAt is a clever application that creates a virtual workspace for you to be at your most productive.  You can choose a background, the sounds/music you want and even run a pomodoro timer for focus sprints.   The app will track your concentration, and help you get things done. I'll be testing this out over coming weeks.
8. AI-ght:  PowermodeAI looks like it is coming for Google Slides and Powerpoint, enter a prompt and this clever AI tool will generate slides for you. AI is also starting to find serious practical applications; this new tool is able to detect lung cancer faster and more accurately than existing techniques.  I'm looking forward to seeing significant breakthroughs powered using the evolving power of computing and AI.
9. You can still be a star: Have you ever wanted to learn how music works? This fun little course will teach you the basics of how music is made, so you can get ready for next years Eurovision.
10. Finally:  When I was a youngster, I had a box with 7 or 8 games in it, a compendium.  Lofi Games is the same thing + lofi music, a little collection of classic games you can play with a chilled soundtrack. Ideal for a ten-minute break at work.

Transforming Stress into Strength: Nine Practical Ways to Leverage Stress

Workplace stress is something we all deal with at one point or another. It’s easy to let it drain us, hinder our productivity, and dampen our overall well-being. But what if we could change our perception of stress and use it as a tool to boost our performance at work?

Stuff that MattR'sMatt Rutherford

🎧 My aural treat for you this week is Sus Dog, the new release from Clark, a British electronic musician.  

This is the follow up to a previous Stuff favourite, Playground in a Lake, and moves Chris Clark into a slightly different space.  Alongside the foreboding electronica there are more vocals.  Clark himself sings on a number of tracks, but Sus Dog also has guest appearances from executive producer Thom Yorke (more of a duet than I expected) and German/British singer Anika.

I've listened to this multiple times since it came out on Friday, and I love it.  There are some ghostly, towering tracks but also a nice organic feeling about the songs.  I suspect this will be on heavy rotation over the coming weeks, there is a lot to take in.

Highly recommended album.

💤 Sleep Hygiene: The Secret to Restful Nights and Energized Days

Sleep 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.

Stuff that MattR'sMatt Rutherford