Hello friend,

This past week, I've been thinking about hobbies. I have a long list of hobbies (some on the quirky side, as shared in my latest podcast episode) and, at times, I've felt a little guilty about the time I dedicate to them.

I think the guilt comes from the fact that hobbies are sometimes framed as self-indulgent, "for kids", or something you do when you don't have much else on. But hobbies are important, and their positive impact on our wellbeing is significant. The links between wellbeing, productivity, and performance are undeniable. I wrote an article about this last year. As illustrated in my favourite doodle this week, we are not robots. We need pleasure and downtime.

So I'm making time for my hobbies this weekend, and I hope you can too, even if it is just a few minutes.

Here's this weekend's digest for you.

✏️ Doodle Essays

There are four short doodle essays for you this week:

Rethinking the 8-Hour Work Day Because You’re Not a Robot (my favorite doodle this week)
The Weekly Review: Cornerstone of Sustainable Productivity
Exercise: Before and After
Sometimes, “Good Enough” Really is Good Enough

And if you just want the doodles, here they are:

🎤 Podcast Episode

As mentioned in my intro, I have a podcast episode (a voice note) for you this week on quirky hobbies. I'd love it if you had a listen and then emailed me back to tell me about your hobbies (quirky or otherwise).

Tune in below on Spotify or subscribe to the podcast in your favourite app (search for "Voice Notes on Wellbeing and Productivity"). Alternatively, you can listen to the voice note on my website.

On Quirky Hobbies

May 20 · Voice Notes on Wellbeing...

11:32

💡 Live Events

Next week, I’m running my Weekly Review Workshop, a calm, practical session that will help you build a lasting weekly review habit. It’s happening live on Thursday, 29 May, 13:00–14:00 (UK time), and a replay will be available for seven days.

It’s a small group so far, and I’m curious—what’s stopping people from signing up? Timing? Topic? Something else? I'd really appreciate it if you’ve got a moment to reply and share your thoughts. These workshops are for you, so I want to get them right (and I am not sure I have this time around). Thank you.

You can learn more about the workshop and sign up here: Weekly Review Workshop. If you want to know more about the workshops I'm offering later in the year, you can see the list here: Events.

📚 Read

I enjoyed the following articles this week:

How to Feel Instantly Better (lovely illustration and accompanying words from the OG Doodler, Sketchplanations).
The Yes Damn Effect (via Monday 8 am: I'd not heard of this cognitive bias before but the links with overworking, the finitiute of time, planning, and learning to say "no" are interesting).

If you're curious about the books I'm reading, you can see my library in Tana here: Library.

📺 Watch

How to enjoy your work and get more done with Joe Hudson:

Four ways to make hybrid work for everyone with Tsedal Neeley via TED (I'm starting to use "Anchor Days"":

🎧 Listen

I have two "new to me" podcasts to share with you this week:

The Liz Earle Wellbeing Show
The Matt Walker Podcast (Matt Walker is the author of the Sunday Times Bestselling book, Why We Sleep)

I listen to podcasts in the Snipd app, but you can find shows and episodes I recommend wherever you like to listen to podcasts. Use my referral link to get a month of Snipd Premium for free.

That's all from me today. Have a great weekend.

Best wishes,

Martine

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help: